How to Renew your Philippine Passport at SM Megamall in 1 Hour

by Shawi Cortez

From the time I stepped in to the 7th floor of SM Megamall Bldg C, it only took me an hour to complete the entire process of having my machine readable passport renewed. 

how to renew this machine readable passport in an hour

Prior to that, I visited the official website http://megamall.passport.com.ph  to set an appointment. The website is very easy to navigate and even has helpful tips for first-time users. I chose my preferred date and time. The booking schedules are from 10 am to 11:30 (with an interval of 30 minutes), and from 1pm to 4pm (with an interval of 30 minutes).

scheduled slots to renew your passport 

Once booked, I received an email confirmation. I printed the filled application form, and braced myself for my appointment date.

email from DFA confirming my passport renewal appointment

Come November 27, I was running furiously to catch my 10:30am appointment. When I reached the DFA office, I realized that they're really not that strict. Having a 10:30 appointment meant you can get in between 10:30-11am. 

First step is Verification. I showed them my printed confirmed appointment and my filled application form. Upon approval, I took a number and was led into the Processing section where there were 5 active windows serving the public. Of all the procedures, this step took the longest. The waiting time.

do NOT forget to print this confirmation

Having arrived there a few minutes early actually gave me a head start from the other applicants. I sat and was surprised that the room was only filled to a third. Ten minutes passed, then the people started pouring in. Must be the 10:30 group, I observed.

They were serving 3040 when I arrived

When I was up, the lady only asked for my previous passport, a photocopy of it, and the printed application form. She didn't even ask for my birth certificate although it was one of the requirements. She took my previous passport, punctured it, asked if I preferred the regular (P950) or express processing (P1,200), and issued a receipt. That only took, what, 5 minutes?

Next step was Payment, which was also a breeze. I just showed them the receipt and handed my P950. 

I then moved to the Encoding section where they had about 10 booths set up. They asked for my filled form, and started typing the information written there. While typing, I was asked to look at the screen to make sure that they are encoding the correct information. After that, they took my photo (you can smile, but you can't show your teeth; and no jewelries), captured my thumbprints and digital signature. They printed out the encoded data in a pink paper and asked me to take a final look to make sure it's accurate. I signed and confirmed its correctness. 

©interaksyon.com 

That's the final step should you wish to come back and pickup your passport.

But being based in Ilocos, I opted to avail of the Courier services. On my way out, there's a section for delivery. I paid the amount of P120 and signed a document confirming my delivery address. The delivery date is within 2 days after the date of the passport release.

All in all, it was a fast and efficient experience. An hour at the DFA is not bad, because it left me enough time to do an early Christmas shopping at the mall.

How was your passport renewal experience?

Important Information

DFA Megamall is located at 

7th Floor SM Megamall Bldg C

EDSA cor J. Vargas Ave.,

Mandaluyong City

Passport Fees:

Regular Processing (15 working days)  P950

Express Processing (7 working days) P1,200

General Requirements for Passport Renewal

• Personal appearance
• Confirmed appointment
• No need to submit a passport size photo
• Most recent expiring or expired passport
• Valid picture IDs and supporting documents to prove identity.

For a list of additional requirements, please refer to the DFA Megamall website.

NCR Satellite and Regional Consular Offices Directory

Other DFA offices within Metro Manila are : 

DFA NCR-East
Ms. Merle Puruganan
7F Building C, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
T: 570-3230 or 570-3231
http://megamall.passport.com.ph

DFA NCR-Central
Ms. Remen Q. Austria
Level 1 Lingkod Pinoy Center, Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City
T: 631-0806
F: 631-0700
dfancrcentral@dfa.gov.ph
http://galleria.passport.com.ph

DFA NCR-West
Mr. Tamara M. Ayo
5th Floor, SM City Manila, Conception St. Manila
T:536-9994 or 536-9995
dfancrwest@dfa.gov.ph
http://manila.passport.com.ph

If you're not in Metro Manila, here's a list of the Regional DFA offices : 

SO Angeles Pampanga
Mr. Amador N. Abutal
3F MarQuee Mall Pulung MaragulAngeles City
T: (045) 304-0193
dfaclarksatellite@yahoo.com

Bacolod
Mr. Joselito B. Blas
2F East Block Square Circumferential Road Brgy. Villa Monte Bacolod City
T: (034) 434-8338
F: (034) 435-6358
dfa_bacolod@yahoo.com
rcobacolod@gmail.com
http://www.rcobacolod.6te.net

Baguio
Mr. Edgar S. Canta
Upper Basement SM CITY Baguio Luneta Hill, Baguio City 2600
T: (074) 422-2258 or (074) 422-1465
F: (074) 422-2255
rco_baguio@yahoo.com
baguio.rco@dfa.gov.ph

Butuan
Mr. Gangco T. Punginaguina
CESIA Bldg. Mantilla Blvd.Butuan City
P: (085) 342-7822
F: (085) 342-5700
dfarco_butuan@yahoo.com
dfabutuan@yahoo.com

Cagayan de Oro
Mr. Abdurraheym S.Y. Macud
Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City
T: (08822) 724-309 or (088) 857 2175
F: (08822) 726-578
rco.cdo@gmail.com
rco.cdo@philcom.ph
http://www.dfa.gov.ph/cdo

Cebu
Mr. Elias J. Balawag
4th Level Pacific Mall-Metro Mandaue, UN Ave. cor. MC Briones St., Brgy. Estancia, Mandaue Cit
T: (032) 520-5898 or (032) 520-6193 or (032) 520-6550
F: (032) 520-6551
dfacebu@yahoo.com
cebu.rco@dfa.gov.ph
cebu@dfa.gov.ph

Cotabato
Mr. Amir Hussein D. AIonto
People's Palace, City Hall, Cotabato City
T: (064)421-3495
(Info Center): (064) 421-3878
F: (064) 421-3495
rcocotabato@yahoo.com

Davao
Ms. Flora Belinda B. Bacosa
3F SM City Davao Quimpo Blvd., Ecoland Brgy. Malina, Davao City
T: (082) 285-4885 or (082) 285-1900
F: (082) 285-1727 or (082) 285-1552
davao.rco@dfa.gov.ph
mindanao@dfa.gov.ph

GenSan
Mr. Jovencio L. Agus
Robinsons Place GenSan, J. Catolico Sr. Ave., Lagao, General Santos City
T: (083) 553-8380
H: (083) 826-9089
F: (083) 554-2742
rco.gsc@gmail.com

Iloilo
Ms. Sheila Marie D. Tu
Yulo Street, Iloilo City
T: (033) 336-1737  or (02) 487-3041
F (033) 335-0221
dfailo@skyinet.net
iloilo.rco@dfa.gov.ph

La Union
Mr. William G. Garcia
Pasado Building Pagdalagan Norte San Fernando, La Union
T: (072) 607-6487  or (072) 607-6510
F: (072) 607-6491
Globe No.: 0917.895.2322
Smart No.:0999.886.2561
dfa_launion@yahoo.com
launion.rco@dfa.gov.ph
http://dfalaunion.yolasite.com

Legazpi
Ms. Maricor E. Jesalva
3rd Floor Pacific Mall F. Imperial Street, Barangay Capantawan
Landco Business Park, Legazpi City
T: (052) 480-3000 or 820-3396
rco_legaspi@yahoo.com
legaspi.rco@dfa.gov.ph

Lipa City
Mr. Glenn F. Corpin
2F Robinsons Place, JP Laurel Highway, Mataas na Lupa, Lipa City
T: (043) 722-0578
F: (043) 722-0590
dfa.co.batangas@gmail.com
batangas.rco@dfa.gov.ph

Lucena
Ms. Jocelyn C. Roxas
3F Pacific Mall Lucena, M.L. Tagarao St., Barangay Ill Lucena City
T: (042) 710-4526 or (042) 373-1119
F: (042) 373-1898
dfarcolc@pldtdsl.net
lucena.rco@dfa.gov.ph

Pampanga
Mr. Arturo V. Rornua
2F Robinsons StarMill City of San Fernando, Pampanga
T: (045) 636-0007 or (045) 636-0009
Releasing Local 103
OIC: local 124
F. (045) 636-0010
rcopampanga@yahoo.com
pampanga@dfa.gov.ph

Puerto Princesa
Mr. Eduardo V. Aro
2F Puerto Princesa City Coliseum, National Highway,Brgy. San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City
TF: (048) 434-1773
dfarcopprincesa@gmail.com

Tacloban
Mr. Geranfel T. Abrillo
Leyte SMED Center Capitol Site Sn. Enage, Tacloban City
T: Consular Section: (053) 321-8233
Administrative Section: (053) 523-0080
F: (053) 321-8237
dfa_rcotac@yahoo.com

Tuguegarao
Mr. Romulo M. Velasco
Regional Government Center, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley
T: (078) 846-4813 or (078) 846-1482
F: (078) 846-2310
rco_tuguegarao@yahoo.com

Zamboanga
Ms. Judith B. Nohay-De Fiesta
Go-Velayo Bldg. Veterans Ave. Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur
T: (062) 991-4398 or (062) 991-2202
F: (062) 991-7958
rcozambo@yahoo.com
rcozamboanga@yahoo.com
rcozamboanga@jetlink.com.ph