I'm sharing this information from the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) because I once witnessed an innocent young boy who was interrogated by an officer from the Bureau of Immigration for travelling alone to Hongkong. The officer asked if he's travelling with someone and the boy simply answered that his mom sent him to the airport and that somebody will meet him at the Hongkong International Airport. The boy was immediately escorted to the Bureau of Immigration office for further questioning since the boy couldn't provide a travel clearance and his mom already left the airport. To all the parents out there, it's your responsibility to be fully informed before sending your child somewhere else!
What is a Travel Clearance?
It is a document issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) to a Filipino child traveling abroad alone or with someone other than his/her parents.
What are the requirements in securing a Travel Clearance?
A. For a minor traveling alone to a foreign country for the first time
1. Duly accomplished application form
2. Photocopy of the Birth Certificate OR the passport of the minor “The social worker may require additional documentary requirements during the assessment of the Travel Clearance application to make sure that no child shall be trafficked and that the child’s best interest and welfare is ensured”.
3. A written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel alone to a foreign country
- 4. As appropriate, a photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents or a photocopy of the certificate of legal guardianship of the minor or in the case of solo parents, a photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office or a photocopy of a certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent or Tallaq or Faskh certification from the Shariah court or any Muslim Barangay or religious leader or in the case of an illegitimate minor, a certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR)* from the National Statistics Office (NSO) or in the case of a deceased parent, a photocopy of the death certificate
*Issuance of Certificate of No Marriage Record(CENOMAR) will take 1-5 days for cases of uncommon surnames and 1-15 days for common surnames
*Issuing office of CENOMAR is the National Statistics Office not the Local Civil Registrar.
5. Two colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last six (6) months
B. For a minor traveling for the first time with a person other than the parents or legal guardian
- 1. Duly accomplished application form
- 2. A photocopy of the birth certificate of minor
- 3. A written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country with a specific person other than them
- 4. As appropriate, a photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents or a certificate of legal guardianship of the minor or in the case of solo parents, a solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office or a certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent or a court decree of separation, annulment or divorce, or Tallaq or Fasakh certification from the Shariah court or any muslim barangay or religious leader or in the case of an illegitimate minor, a certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) *from the National Statistics Office or in the case of a deceased parent, a photocopy of the death certificate
*Issuance of Certificate of No Marriage Record(CENOMAR) will take 1-5 days for cases of uncommon surnames and 1-15 days for common surnames
*Issuing office of CENOMAR is the National Statistics Office not the Local Civil
Registrar
5. Two colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months.
6. Photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion
C. In case of illegitimate children who is traveling abroad accompanied by their biological father, they are still required to secure a travel clearance certificate as parental authority is vested only to the mother of the child, per Article 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines.
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.
