THE public has been reminded by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to claim their passports as it announced that after March 1, it will cancel and dispose of passports scheduled for release until January 2021.
In a statement, The Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) said that starting February 7, it will implement the cancellation and proper disposal of all unclaimed passports which were scheduled for release until January 2021.
This is in accordance with DFA Department Order No. 2021-012 on the Disposal of Unclaimed and Spoiled Passports.
According to the DFA-OCA, those yet to claim their passports, which were scheduled for release in January 2021 or earlier, may do so until March 1, 2022 (Tuesday), at the DFA Consular Office where they were processed.
Affected applicants must file a new passport application after securing a certificate of unclaimed passport from DFA Aseana or at the DFA Consular Office where the unclaimed passports were processed.
Passports that were scheduled for release beginning February 1, 2021, are not affected and may be claimed from the DFA Consular Office where they were processed.
The DFA-OCA said that while no penalty is given for passports claimed at a later date, the public is encouraged to claim their passports within 30 days from the scheduled release.
Applicants may authorize another person to claim the passport on their behalf provided the authorized persons comply with the requirements indicated on the Department’s website.
