In view of the full implementation of the ePassport system and in order to reach and service Filipino passport applicants, the Philippine Embassy embarked on its inaugural Mobile ePassport Service in Toowomba and Brisbane, Queensland on 26 – 30 March 2011.

The consular mission team, headed by Vice Consul Alexander Go, was able to service 188 passport applicants, when only 80 were expected to show up.

Pursuant to instructions from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy ceased to accept applications for machine-readable passports (MRP) on 23 December 2010.

Due to the personal appearance requirement for ePassport photo and fingerprint capture, effective 04 January 2011, passport applicants had the option of applying with either the Philippine Embassy, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney or with a mobile passport service team.

The Embassy’s first Mobile ePassport Service Mission successfully fulfilled the goal of attending to the passport applications of those in Toowoomba and in Brisbane who were affected by the cut-off in the issuance of machine-readable passports (MRP) and the consequent full implementation of the Philippine ePassport last year.

The Embassy’s next Mobile ePassport Service will service Alice Springs and Darwin in the Northern Territory on 28 April – 01 May 2011.