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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Delays in passport release expected due to Middle East crisis — DFA

Delays in passport release expected due to Middle East crisis — DFA

Published Apr 8, 2026 02:23 pm
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warns of passport release delays due to the Middle East crisis, with processing now taking up to 15 working days. (DFA photo)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warns of passport release delays due to the Middle East crisis, with processing now taking up to 15 working days. (DFA photo)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has advised the public to expect delays in the release of newly issued passports, citing logistical and supply chain disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday, April 8, the DFA said passport applications filed starting in the last week of March 2026 may be affected by the delays.
10–15 working days processing time
The department said applicants should expect passport processing and release to take 10 to 15 working days from the date of application until further notice—longer than the usual turnaround time.
The DFA attributed the delays to external supply chain issues affecting the production and delivery of ePassports.
“The Department is closely working with its third-party service provider for the printing of ePassports to resolve the current delays and ensure that passport operations normalize as soon as possible,” the DFA said.
Contact channels for urgent concerns
Amid the delays, the DFA advised applicants with urgent or emergency needs to coordinate directly with its offices.
The DFA also urged applicants to reach out through its official channels: DFA Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) Aseana – email: [email protected]; Passport concerns – [email protected]; Consular Offices directory: https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/transparency/co-directory; Hotline for passport appointment concerns: (02) 8234-3488; and Hotline for passport, authentication, and other inquiries: (02) 8651-9400.
Advisory for passport applicants
The DFA urged passport applicants to plan their travel schedules accordingly and allow extra time for processing while the issue is being resolved.
The department has not provided a specific timeline for when normal operations will resume, but assured the public that efforts are underway to address the delays as quickly as possible.

Related Tags

DFA passport delay passport release Philippines DFA advisory 2026 passport processing time Philippines Middle East crisis impact passports
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