One of the most important responsibilities of mothers, aside from keeping the babies fed and clean, is to acquire your children’s legal identification documents. Birth certificate and passport are usually the first documents obtained for children. It is important that you get your children’s birth certificate, as this will be used throughout their lifetime. Passport is also important as this will serve as their first valid ID and of course, this official document will allow you to enjoy out of the country vacations with your little kiddos.
Thanks to the advancement of technology, birth certificates can now be requested online through the website of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA, formerly National Statistics Office). No need to skip a workday, brave the traffic, and wait for long hours. Simply go their website https://nsohelpline.ph/order-now for your document requests.
The PSA delivers documents anywhere in the Philippines within two to seven working days after the receipt of payment. Delivery charge is already included in the certificate cost. For birth certificates, PSA charges Php350.00 per copy. They accept payment through the following:
- Visa or Mastercard credit card
- Bancnet online
- GCash
- Metrobank
- Security Bank
- Bayad Center
- 711 ECPay
- Bancnet ATM
Passport application is another thing. Before going to any DFA satellite office, be sure that you have set an appointment for passport application through their website https://www.passport.gov.ph/appointment. Unfortunately, there have been issues in scheduling an appointment. If you visit their website now, you will notice that all working days until June 2018 are full.
Fortunately for parents of children aged seven and below, your children can be accommodated in the courtesy lane. Parents can avail of the Courtesy Lane Facility when they are accompanying their children who are seven years old and below. There are parents who claimed that they have also renewed their passports while applying for their children’s passport.
Whether you will avail of the Courtesy Lane Facility or schedule an appointment, be sure to bring all the necessary requirements before heading to the DFA satellite office of your choice. Be sure to bring your marriage certificate, passport of both parents, and your child’s PSA birth certificate.
It might also be helpful to bring toys or books for your children to keep them busy while waiting in line. Food and drinks would be helpful too. Lastly, be sure to bring loads of patience for possible long waiting hours. Good luck!
