AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996", AS AMENDED, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11983, March 11, 2024 ]

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996", AS AMENDED, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "New Philippine Passport Act".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article III, Section 6 of the Constitution provides that the right to travel shall not be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law. It is the policy of the State to protect the people's constitutional right to travel while ensuring the issuance of a passport or any travel document in line with international instruments and using secure passport personalization and data management technologies to enhance and protect the unimpaired exercise of the right to travel. The State shall only prescribed minimum requirements and shall ensure expeditions actions on the application and issuance of passports and other travel documents.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

Section 4. Authority to Issue, Deny, or Cancel. - Upon the application of any qualified Filipino citizen, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, hereinafter referred to as "DFA Secretary", or any duly authorized consular official may issue passports in accordance with this Act.

Philippine consular officials in a foreign country shall be authorized by the DFA Secretary to issue, deny, or cancel a passport in the area of jurisdiction of the FSP in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

In the interest of national security, public safety, and public health, and in accordance with Sections 5 and 10 of this Act, the DFA Secretary, or any of the authorized consular officials, may deny issuance of a passport or cancel a passport: Provided, That such act shall not mean a loss of, or a doubt issuance of a passport may not be denied if the safety and interest of the Filipino citizen are at stake: Provided, finally, That denial or cancellation of a passport shall not prevent the issuance of an Emergency Travel Document to allow for a safe return journey by a Filipino to the Philippines.

Section 5. Requirements for the Application and Issuance of a Passport. - The DFA Secretary, or a duly authorized consular official, shall issue a passport to an applicant who is a Filipino citizen and who has complied with the following requirements:

Section 6. Prohibition Against Unfair and Discriminatory Practices. - The DFA, as well as its authorized passport-issuing authorities and personnel, shall only require documents to prove the following: (i) identity of the applicant; (ii) the applicant's citizenship; and (iii) lack of legal travel restrictions, consistent with Republic Act No. 11032 or the "Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018".

Section 7. Types of Passports. - The DFA Secretary or the authorized consular official may issue the following types of passports:

Section 8. Emergency Travel Documents. - Types of emergency travel documents:

Section 9. Convention Travel Document. -A convention travel document shall be issued to a stateless person who is likewise a permanent resident of the Philippines or a refugee granted such status or asylum in the country. This document shall be valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance.

Section 10. Grounds for Denial of Issuance of Passport; Cancellation of Passport; or Imposition of Restrictions on Passports. - A passport application maybe denied, or cancelled, or restrictions may be imposed on a passport, based on the following grounds:

Section 11. Passport Database. - The DFA shall have its own database, which shall contain the following: (a) applicants' biographic data, biometric data, and demographic data; (b) record of denials, cancellations, stolen, and lost passports; and (c) such other information as may be necessary to implement this Act.

The DFA, in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Privacy Commission, PSA, and other pertinent agencies, shall implement appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security measures to ensure that the information gathered for the passport database is protected against tampering, loss, destruction, damage, and unauthorized access, use, and disclosure.

Section 12. Validity. - Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years: Provided, That for individuals under eighteen (18) years of age, only a passport with a five (5)-year validity shall be issued: Provided, further, That the issuing authority may limit the period of validity to less than ten (10) years whenever such restriction is necessary in the interest of national economy or political stability of the country.

Section 13. Ownership of Passports. - A Philippine passport remains at all times the property of the government and the same may not be confiscated by any entity or person other than the DFA. Any other government agency, official or employee who confiscates a passport or travel document shall promptly turn over the same to the DFA.

Persons who confiscate or otherwise withhold a passport without authority therefor shall be punished in accordance with Section 22(a) of this Act.

Section 14. Names and Titles. - Passports shall contain the full name of the applicant, but shall not include any title, profession or job description.

The Philippine naming conventions and the relevant laws of the Philippines on the names of persons shall govern the details that shall be reflected in the passport.

Section 15. Loss or Destruction of a Passport. - The loss or destruction of a passport shall be immediately reported to the DFA or a FSP by submitting an affidavit stating in detail the circumstances of such loss or destruction.

A person who subsequently manages to locate his/her lost passport shall turn over the same to the DFA. An affidavit stating the location of the passport and the person or entity in possession thereof shall be submitted in case physical turnover of the lost passport is not feasible.

Section 16. Fees. - Reasonable fees shall be collected for the processing and issuance of a passport or a travel document: Provided, That any fee shall not be increased more than once every three (3) years.

Section 17. Passport Revolving Fund. - The DFA may charge a service fee of not more than thirty percent (30%) of the regular passport fees for such service rendered to applicants relating to the processing and issuance of passports requiring special consideration, waiver, or issuance beyond regular office hours.

The service fees received by the DFA under this section shall constitute a revolving fund to be called as the "Passport Revolving Fund" which may be utilized by the DFA for the improvement of its passporting and consular services and other DFA services except travel and transportation allowances and expenses.

The setting up, use, and disbursement of funds shall be subject to review, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit and will be subject to annual review by Congress. The DFA Secretary shall submit a report on the disbursement of the fund every six (6) months to both the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Section 18. Establishment of an Online Application Portal and Electronic One-Stop Shop. - The DFA, in coordination with other pertinent government agencies, is mandated to establish and maintain an online application portal and Electronic One-Stop Shop readily accessible on its official website to facilitate convenience of application and ease in gathering and submission of the requirements.

Section 19. Offsite and Mobile Passport Service. - The DFA may provide offsite and mobile passport services in areas outside of the consular offices and FSPs.

Section 20. Setting up of Special Lanes. - The DFA, shall arrange accommodations for the application of regular passports by senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, minors aged seven (7) years old and below, solo parents. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), and individuals with emergency and exceptional cases through the creation of special lanes. The DFA shall arrange accommodations for regular passport applications of Muslim Filipinos who are intending pilgrims four (4) months commencing from the date indicated in the official request by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

Section 21. Waiver. - The DFA Secretary may waive any requirement set forth in Section 5 of this Act, as well as the fees for the processing or issuance of passports and travel documents contained in Section 16 of this Act, on humanitarian grounds.

Section 22. Offenses and Penalties. - (a) Offenses relating to illegal withholding of passport; penalties. - Any person or entity without legal authority who confiscates, retains, or withholds any passport issued by the DFA shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and one (1) day but not more than twenty (20) years. and shall pay a fine of not less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00): Provided, That a prosecution under this Act shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 8042 or the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995", as amended.

Section 23. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from effectivity, the DFA shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

Section 25. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in force and effect.

Section 26. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of instruction, proclamations, or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2001 and House Bill No. 6510, was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on December 6, 2023.

Approved: MAR 11 2024

FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR.
President of the Philippines