Get e-passport, DFA tells OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has advised Filipino passport holders to start securing the new e-passport as non-machine readable passports will no longer be allowed after Oct. 31, 2015.

The Philippine embassy in Riyadh has informed Filipinos in Saudi Arabia that non-machine readable passports will be completely phased out by Nov. 24, 2015 in line with the regulations of the DFA and the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The DFA said that Filipinos holding machine readable-ready passports (green) and machine readable passports (maroon) would no longer be allowed to extend validity of these passports after Oct. 31, 2014.

Those who still hold the old passports after October 2015 will likely encounter difficulties at immigration checks when traveling through any port of entry around the world.

The embassy said strict rules are in place for an extension of the validity of expiring or expired passports.

Passports that are valid for less than six months or those that have already expired may be extended once only in the following instances: Death in the family requiring the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and members of his or her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines; medical emergencies requiring the OFW and members of his or her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines or another country for medical treatment; OFWs returning to their employers abroad with valid employment contracts processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and those going home on final exit visas.

“In these instances, proof of urgency such as a copy of the death certificate, medical certificate, valid employment contracts processed by the POEA or any of the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices in Saudi Arabia, along with plane tickets with confirmed flight details shall be presented,” the embassy said.