Passport for Minors: Requirements by Who Accompanies the Child, Fees and Travel Clearance

Decide this first

The documents depend on who goes with the child to DFA. Settle that before you book, and prepare any Special Power of Attorney in advance.

Book early, too: in April 2026, DFA said new passports would be released 10 to 15 working days after application until further notice, and we found no announcement lifting that as of this review. Source: Daily Tribune report of the DFA advisory.

Fee: ₱950 / ₱1,200regular / expedited
Validity: 5 yearsbelow 18
Appointment: Age 8 and up7 and below may walk in
Child appears?: Yeswith a parent or authorized adult

A Philippine passport for anyone below 18 follows the same booking and fees as an adult’s, with two differences: the child must come with a parent or authorized adult, and the documents change depending on who that adult is. For the adult checklists, see passport requirements.

Who will go with the child?

Mother or father, parents married

Either parent can come. Bring a copy of the other parent’s ID.

Mother, parents not married

The mother accompanies the child. Anyone else needs her Special Power of Attorney.

A grandparent, aunt or other adult

They need a Special Power of Attorney from a parent, with the parent’s ID.

The child will travel without a parent

Add a DSWD travel clearance and the parent’s affidavit of support and consent.

What every minor needs

Accomplished passport application form
The child’s PSA birth certificate on security paper (Report of Birth if born abroad)
The child’s school ID; without one, a certificate of enrollment with the child’s photo and the school’s dry seal
The accompanying parent’s passport or valid ID, with a photocopy
For a renewal: the child’s current passport and a photocopy of its data page

Extra documents by who comes

Situation	Add these
Married parents, one parent comes	Copy of the other parent’s passport or ID. DFA’s renewal list also asks for the parents’ PSA marriage certificate, so bring it either way.
Parents not married	The mother accompanies. If she cannot, she signs a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) naming the companion; an SPA signed abroad must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate.
Another adult comes	SPA from a parent naming that adult, a copy of the parent’s ID attached to the SPA, and the companion’s own passport or ID.
Child will travel without a parent	DSWD travel clearance and an affidavit of support and consent from the parent.
Mother has died; father acknowledged the child	The father may accompany with the mother’s PSA death certificate, the child’s PSA birth certificate showing his paternity, and his own ID.
Court-appointed guardian	Letter of Guardianship from the Family Court, the child’s PSA birth certificate and the guardian’s ID.
Adopted child or foundling	Court decree of adoption, ICAB papers for inter-country adoption, or a PSA certificate of foundling with guardianship documents and DSWD clearance. Ask DFA for the full list for your case.

Booking, walk-in and fees

Children 7 and below: may walk in through the courtesy lane with their parent, no appointment needed.
Children 8 and older: book a confirmed appointment for the child at passport.gov.ph.
Fees: ₱950 regular or ₱1,200 expedited, plus ₱50 at the payment center for online bookings. The passport is valid for 5 years.

Need help finding an office? See the list of DFA offices. Need to move the date? See rescheduling an appointment.

On the day

Arrive with the child and all originals plus photocopies
The child and the accompanying adult must both be present for the whole process.
Document check
DFA evaluates the papers against the child’s birth certificate. Names and dates must match across all documents.
Photo and biometrics
The child’s photo, fingerprints and signature (if old enough) are captured. Keep the child’s face clear of hair and accessories.
Note the release date
It is printed on your receipt. Ask the office what the person claiming the passport must bring, or choose courier delivery if offered.

Example: Lola takes a 10-year-old to DFA

Let’s say both parents work abroad and the grandmother will take their 10-year-old. Before the appointment, one parent signs an SPA naming the grandmother and has it authenticated at the Philippine Embassy, then sends it home with a copy of the parent’s passport. The grandmother brings the SPA, the parent’s ID copy, her own ID, the child’s PSA birth certificate and school ID. If the child will later fly abroad without a parent, she also applies for a DSWD travel clearance.

DSWD travel clearance

A DSWD travel clearance is required when a minor travels abroad without a parent or a person with parental authority or legal custody. It is not needed when the child travels with a parent.

Apply online
Create an account on the DSWD Minors Traveling Abroad system and fill in the child’s details, purpose of travel and the travel companion.
Upload the documents
Valid IDs, the parents’ or guardian’s consent and the case-specific documents. A social worker may ask for more.
Track and receive it electronically
DSWD advises filing at least 30 days before departure. Do not use fixers; DSWD says applications through fixers may be invalid.

Renewing a child’s passport

Use the same companion rules above, and add the child’s current passport with a photocopy of its data page. A child who turns 18 renews as an adult and gets a 10-year passport; see passport renewal. Lost or damaged? See replacing a passport.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a passport for a child?

The same as for adults: ₱950 for regular processing or ₱1,200 for expedited, plus a ₱50 payment center fee if you book online. A minor’s passport is valid for 5 years.

Does the child have to come to DFA?

Yes. The child must appear in person with the accompanying parent or authorized adult, for photo and biometrics. Babies too.

Do children need an appointment?

Children aged 7 and below may walk in through the courtesy lane with their parent. Children 8 and older need a confirmed appointment from passport.gov.ph.

Can the father accompany the child if the parents are not married?

Generally no: for a child born to unmarried parents, the mother has parental authority and is the one who accompanies. If she cannot, she signs a Special Power of Attorney naming the companion. The father may accompany if the mother has died and he acknowledged the child, with the documents DFA lists for that case.

Does my child need a DSWD travel clearance to get a passport?

Only in specific cases. DFA asks for it when the child will travel abroad without a parent, and in some guardianship, foundling and adoption cases. Apply online at the DSWD Minors Traveling Abroad system at least 30 days before departure.

My child has no school ID. What can we use?

A certificate of enrollment with the child’s photo and the school’s dry seal. Very young children who are not yet in school rely on the PSA birth certificate and the parent’s documents; bring both parents’ IDs to be safe.

Official sources and further reading

These are the DFA and DSWD sources checked for this guide and for our passport requirements page. DFA updates its minors checklist from time to time, so confirm it on the DFA consular website before your appointment.

Independent guide: PhilippineIDs.com is not affiliated with the Department of Foreign Affairs or the DSWD or any Philippine government agency. Information reviewed on October 30, 2026.