THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will cancel beginning January 10 all unclaimed passports slated for issue in December 2020 or earlier.
The agency said in an advisory on Thursday night that those who have not yet claimed their passports may do so at the DFA Consular Office where they were processed until January 7, 2022 (Friday).
Those who are still unable to claim their passports before January 7, 2022 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.
The statement is in compliance with DFA Department Order No. 2021-012 on the Disposal of Unclaimed and Spoiled Passports, which states that “a passport left unclaimed by its holder one year after the date it was received by DFA Aseana, or by the Consular Office or by the Foreign Services Post (FSP) shall be canceled.”
The DFA said that passports due to be issued after December 2020 are unaffected and can still be obtained at the DFA Consular Office.
While there is no penalty for claiming a passport at a later date, the public is advised to claim their passport within 30 days of its scheduled issuance.
Applicants may authorize another person to claim their passport on their behalf, as long as the authorized individual follows the requirements mentioned on the DFA’s website.
