The Philippine Embassy in Canberra is accepting applications for the issuance of Machine Readable Passports.
The issuance of the Machine Readable Passport by the Philippines is in compliance with the requirements of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for all member-countries to implement Machine Readable Passports before the year 2010.
The Philippine Machine Readable Passport incorporates the biometrics of the holder making it easy to identify the bearer and at the same time minimizes the instances of tampering and falsification. This shall ensure the integrity of the passport and greatly facilitates the travel of its bearer across the borders. Our machine readable passport embodies world class standards and is now at par with the standards of passport issued by the developed countries. It increases the credibility of the Philippines and better secures the identity of its bearer.
The Department of Foreign Affairs started the issuance of the Machine Readable Passports in the Philippines in July 2007 and our foreign missions abroad are in transition towards implementing the new system. As a service to the people, the passport application fee for the new and hi-tech machine readable passport remains the same. The new Philippine Machine Readable Passport has a maroon cover and contains a data summary in a format that is capable of being read by a machine.
In view of the need to incorporate biometrics in the passport and due to the highly technical specifications, all applicants are required to appear in person when filing their application with the Embassy in Canberra.
The passport production process will be done in Manila. The average processing period is 30 days from the time the completed application is received by the Embassy.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow sufficient time for the processing, production and delivery of the machine readable passport.
The current green passport remains valid and can still be used until it expires.
The Consular Section
Philippine Embassy Canberra
