All unclaimed passports scheduled for release before December 2020 will be canceled and disposed of in January next year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a statement late Thursday, Dec. 9, the DFA-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) informed the public that the agency will implement the cancellation and proper disposal of the unclaimed passports on Jan. 10, 2022.
This is in accordance with the DFA Department Order No. 2021-012 on the Disposal of Unclaimed and Spoiled Passports stating that “A passport left unclaimed by its holder one (1) year after the date it was received by DFA Aseana, or by the Consular Office (CO) or by the Foreign Services Post (FSP) shall be cancelled.”
However, the owners of the unclaimed passports may still claim their passports until Jan. 7, 2022 the DFA Consular Office where they were processed.
Those who are unable to claim their passports before Jan. 7 must file a new passport application after securing a certificate of unclaimed passport from DFA Aseana or at the DFA Consular Office where they were processed.
"Passports scheduled for release after December 2020 are not affected and may still be claimed from the DFA Consular Office where they were processed," the DFA reminded.
While no penalty is given for passports claimed at a later date, the public is encouraged to claim their passports within 30 days from its scheduled release. Applicants may authorize another person to claim the passport on their behalf provided the authorized persons comply with the requirements indicated in the department’s website: https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/services/passport/requirements/passport-releasing