The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) now requires passport applicants to set an appointment ( OFWs are exempted) before proceeding to their new building to file their application. Unfortunately, swindlers also find an opportunity to use this new rule to victimized individuals who only wants to obtain a Philippine passport.

The DFA advisory that was released in its website informed that there are unscrupulous individuals that charges very high fees to individuals who want to set an appointment at the DFA office. The DFA-OCA wishes to remind the public that getting an appointment for passport processing is FREE.

You can set an appointment for passport processing by doing any of the following:

1.    By calling telephone number 737-1000, or

2.    By logging on to www.epassport.com.ph

The DFA-OCA also said that no one in their personnel is allowed to offer passport related services to the public especially in setting of appointments inside or outside of its premises.

The public are likewise reminded not to deal with passport fixers. The same advice goes to the businesses/offices located near the DFA building that are offering passport-related services in exchange of a huge fee.

The DFA also instructed the public to direct to them any urgent concerns and inquiries that they may have.