177,500 Philippine passport appointment slots open in special off-site locations

Five new DFA Temporary offsite offices are opening by July 7 to accommodate the new passport appointments. DFA photo.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines (DFA Philippines) is opening an additional 177,500 passport appointment slots in five special off-site locations across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido J. Dulay announced the consular service update during a virtual briefing with the media on July 5, 2021.

The new Philippine passport appointment slots will be available in the following new five (5) DFA Temporary Offsite Passport Services (TOPS) offices in the National Capital Region Plus areas by Wednesday, July 7:

1. SM Mall of Asia
2. SM City North Edsa
3. SM Aura
4. Robinsons Place Las Piñas
5. Robinsons Place Magnolia

Appointment slots for all five (5) TOPS can be secured via the DFA’s online appointment system at www.passport.gov.ph.

Each TOPS site has the capacity to receive 500 appointments daily and will operate from Mondays to Saturdays.

With all sites operating at full capacity, the additional 177,500 additional passport appointment slots will become available until the end of September on the DFA’s online appointment system, apart from the regular appointment slots at the Department’s ASEANA office and its consular offices all over the country.

The TOPS offices are open to Courtesy Lane clients such as OFWs with valid or existing contracts, senior citizens, pregnant applicants, children below 7 years old, persons with disabilities, and solo parents. Alternatively, Courtesy Lane clients can likewise access this facility by sending an email to oca.cl@dfa.gov.ph

“The DFA is aware of the demand for passport appointment slots during the pandemic and so we prepared a temporary expansion of our consular operations in off-site locations to address this need while maintaining health and safety protocols”, Undersecretary Dulay said.

The DFA will also open TOPS sites in other regions with significant demand for passport appointments, according to Undersecretary Dulay. He said that with all these additional appointment slots being created, applicants should avoid patronizing enterprising groups or individuals selling passport appointment slots or offering appointment-setting assistance for a fee.

“We advise applicants to avoid falling prey to online fraudsters and scammers who are taking advantage of the situation by charging hefty fees,” Undersecretary Dulay said. He added that passport appointment slots are free of charge and are only available through the DFA’s official website.

Check out the 10-year-validity Philippine passport application and renewal requirements here.

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Source: Good News Philippines