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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
TRAVEL CLEARANCE FOR FILIPINO MINORS
(Source: Department of Social Welfare and Development)
A travel clearance
is a document issued by the DSWD to a Filipino child (below 18 years of age)
traveling abroad alone or with someone other than his/her parents.
WHO
NEEDS A TRAVEL CLEARANCE?
· A
minor traveling alone to a foreign country ;
A minor traveling to a
foreign country accompanied by a person other than his or her parents.
WHO
DOES NOT NEED TRAVEL CLEARANCE?
All minors other than
those cited above, for example:
· A
minor traveling to a foreign country with either parent or with his or her
solo parent or legal guardian;
· A
minor traveling abroad whose parents are in the Foreign Service or living
abroad or are immigrants, provided he/she is holding a valid pass such as a
dependents visa/pass/identification card or permanent resident
visa/pass/identification card which serves as proof that he/she is living
with parents abroad and their travel does not constitute child trafficking.
WHAT
ARE THE REQUIREMENTS IN SECURING A TRAVEL CLEARANCE?
· Duly
accomplished application form;
· Photocopy
of the birth certificate or passport of the minor;
· A
written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian
permitting the child to travel alone or with someone else to a foreign
country;
· As
appropriate,
1. a
photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minors parents or;
2. a
photocopy of the certificate of legal guardianship of the minor or;
3. a
photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the municipal social
welfare and development office or Tallaq or Fasakh Certification from the
Shariah court or any Muslim Barangay or religious leader;
4. in
the case of an illegitimate minor, a certificate of no marriage from the
local civil registrar;
5. in
the case of a deceased parent, a photocopy of the death certificate;
· Two
colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months.
IS
THERE A VALIDITY PERIOD FOR A TRAVEL CLEARANCE?
A DSWD travel clearance is valid for a period of one (1) year from the date
of issuance and shall be valid for multiple travels within the validity
period, provided the conditions under which the travel clearance was issued
have not changed. If a change in condition occurs like a change in traveling
companion, a new travel clearance must be obtained.
WHERE
CAN ONE FILE THE APPLICATION?
The application for travel clearance, together with the supporting documents
required shall be submitted/filed at any DSWD Field Office.
Application forms maybe obtained from any DSWD-Field Office or maybe
downloaded from the website www.dswd.gov.ph. [click
here to download application form in MS Word Format]
On the appointed date, go
to the nearest DSWD Field (regional) office which processed your application
to submit the original copy of your supporting documents and pay PhP300.00
per travel clearance certificate. The travel clearance certificate will be
obtained thereafter.
Other
Frequently Asked Questions…
ARE
THE FOLLOWING MINORS EXEMPTED FROM SECURING A TRAVEL CLEARANCE?
· A
minor with permanent residency card. A minor who holds a valid pass such as
dependents visa/pass/identification or permanent resident
visa/pass/identification card is no longer required to secure travel
clearance from DSWD. A permanent residency card is a valid pass and a holder
of such is exempted from securing a travel clearance.
· A
minor born abroad but has no permanent residency card. It depends on the
minors’ citizenship or residency. A minor who is not a Filipino citizen and
holds a foreign passport is not required to secure a travel clearance. A
minor who is a Filipino citizen and living abroad who does not hold a
permanent resident visa/pass/identification card is required to secure a
travel clearance.
WHO
WOULD GIVE THE CONSENT FOR THE TRAVEL OF A TOTALLY ORPHANED MINOR WHO HAS NO
APPOINTED LEGAL GUARDIAN?
Paternal/maternal grandparents who exercise parental authority over a minor
whose parents are both deceased may issue the consent even without
guardianship order from the Court. But in cases where both the
paternal/maternal grandparents are deceased, relatives/acting guardians of
the minor should work for their legal guardianship over the minor.
WHAT
ABOUT THOSE CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS HAVE MARITAL CONFLICT AND ARE ON HOLD
ORDER?
A minor who is the subject of ongoing custody battle between parents will
not be issued a travel clearance unless a Court Order is issued to allow the
child to travel abroad with either one of his/her parents or authorized
guardian. The family shall be responsible to notify the Bureau of
Immigration to include the name of the child/ren in the watchlist of minors
travelling abroad. It is therefore the Bureau of Immigration’s
responsibility to ensure that no child under the watchlist order leaves the
country.
CAN A
TRAVEL CLEARANCE BE ISSUED TO ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL APPLYING
FOR THEIR VISA IN THE EMBASSY?
Illegitimate children are under the custody of the mother. If they will be
traveling with the mother, they are not required to secure a travel
clearance from the DSWD. If they are traveling with person other than the
mother, they must secure a travel clearance.
IS A
FAXED COPY OF THE PARENTAL CONSENT OF PARENTS RESIDING ABROAD ACCEPTABLE?
Yes, a faxed copy is acceptable. Likewise, a computer generated photo of
minors and emailed documents are acceptable.
WHAT
ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN ABANDONED BY THE MOTHER AND
UNDER THE CUSTODY OF THE FATHER OR OTHER RELATIVES WHO WILL BE TRAVELING
ALONE OR WITH THE FATHER OR OTHER RELATIVES?
Since the mother has the absolute parental authority over her illegitimate
children the father would need to secure a Court Order vesting in him the
parental authority over the illegitimate children. If a parental authority
has been granted to the father, and the minor will be traveling with the
father, he is not required to secure a travel clearance. If the minor will
travel alone or with someone other than the father, he/she is required to
secure a travel clearance.
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