After the death of a spouse, annulment of marriage, or divorce, a woman may decide to go back to using her maiden name. In these cases, she would need to prepare some supporting documents when applying for a new Philippine passport, or renewing an old one.
For those who are planning to revert to their maiden name, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) presents specific requirements, guidelines, and reminders on their official website.
Requirements
Below is a list of documents to be submitted by those who would like to revert to their maiden name in their passports:
By Virtue of Death of Spouse
- PSA-issued Certificate of Death or Report of Death (ROD) of spouse, or authenticated Foreign Death Certificate of foreign spouse with English translation, if applicable;
- PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or Report of Birth of applicant; and
- Latest issued Philippine passport, if available.
By Virtue of Annulment or Divorce
- PSA-issued Certificate of Marriage or Report of Marriage (ROM) with annotation reflecting nullity or dissolution of marriage;
- PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or Report of Birth of applicant; and
- Latest issued Philippine passport, if available.
For Other Reasons of Reversion
- PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or Report of Birth of applicant;
- Notarized Affidavit of Explanation including request for reversion of maiden name in Philippine passport or travel document, and stating she has not availed of the reversion;
- Latest issued Philippine passport or travel document; and
- Any government-issued Valid ID accepted for passport application reflecting the maiden name.
NOTE: The above documents must be provided in addition to the basic requirements when applying for a new passport, passport renewal, or replacing a lost or damaged passport.
Passport Fees
Aside from gathering the necessary documents, applicants must prepare the applicable passport fees, as follows:
- Regular Processing – PHP 950
- Expedited Processing – PHP 1,200
- Penalty for Lost or Damaged Passport – PHP 350
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Step-by-Step Guide
Getting a new passport, renewing an old one, or replacing a lost or damaged passport follows pretty much the same process. Here is an overview of the major steps involved:
- Booking Online Appointment. The applicant must book an appointment through the DFA Online Appointment System, selecting a preferred date, time, and DFA office location. During this stage, she provides the necessary information and pays the required fees. After a successful booking, she prints out the Confirmed Appointment Packet, which includes the completed application form.
- Preparing Documents. Before the DFA appointment, the applicant gathers the required documents, such as the Confirmed Application Packet, PSA Certificates, Valid IDs, and other supporting requirements.
- Personal Appearance. On the scheduled date and time, the applicant goes to the selected DFA office. She submits her documents for checking and verification, before having her biometrics such as fingerprints, photo, and signature taken.
- Claiming of Passport. Within 10 to 12 working days for regular processing, or 5 to 7 working days for expedited processing, the new passport is ready for release. The applicant can opt to pick it up at the DFA office, or have it delivered to her registered address.
For women who would like to revert to their maiden name, passport applications are now easy and straightforward, as long as they have all the necessary documents. Likewise, for minors or persons below 18 years old, visit this link to learn more about the requirements for passport applications and renewal.