In the Philippine legal system, the transition from a maiden name to a married name is a significant administrative event governed by the Civil Code of the Philippines and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 (Republic Act No. 8239). For married women, renewing a Philippine passport involves specific documentary requirements that depend on whether they are electing to adopt their husband's surname for the first time or simply maintaining an existing passport identity.
I. Legal Basis for Name Usage
Under Article 370 of the Civil Code, a married woman has three options regarding her surname:
- Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband's surname;
- Her maiden first name and her husband's surname; or
- Her husband's full name, but prefixing a word indicating she is his wife, such as "Mrs."
While the law provides these choices, once a woman opts to use her husband's surname in her passport, the Philippine Passport Act dictates that she must provide proof of marriage and, in subsequent renewals, maintain that name unless a legal dissolution of marriage occurs.
II. Basic Renewal Requirements
All passport applicants, regardless of marital status, must provide the following standard documents:
- Confirmed Online Appointment: Appointments must be secured via the official Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) portal.
- Accomplished Application Form: Available through the online booking system.
- Current Passport: The actual physical passport being renewed.
- Photocopy of Data Page: A clear copy of the current passport’s information page.
III. Specific Requirements for Married Women
The documentation required for married women varies based on the "status" of their name in their current travel document.
1. Changing Surname from Maiden to Married
If a woman is renewing her passport to adopt her husband’s surname for the first time, she must present:
- PSA-issued Marriage Certificate (MC): The original copy printed on security paper.
- Apostilled/Authenticated MC: If the marriage took place abroad, a Report of Marriage (ROM) duly registered by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over the place of marriage is required.
2. Maintaining the Married Surname
If the applicant’s current passport already reflects her married name, the process is treated as a standard renewal. Generally, the marriage certificate is not required unless:
- The current passport is a "Brown" or "Green" passport (non-electronic).
- The data in the current passport is blurred or contains typographical errors.
- The DFA system requires a re-verification of the marriage record.
3. Reverting to Maiden Name
Reverting to a maiden name is not a matter of mere preference; it requires legal justification. Under Philippine law, this is permitted only under the following circumstances:
- Death of Husband: Requires a PSA-issued Death Certificate of the deceased spouse.
- Annulment or Declaration of Nullity: Requires a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Court Order and a Certificate of Finality, duly annotated on the PSA Marriage Certificate.
- Divorce (for Foreign Spouses): If the husband is a foreigner and a valid divorce was obtained abroad, the applicant must present the Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce issued by a Philippine court.
IV. Special Considerations and Technicalities
| Scenario | Required Document |
|---|---|
| Marriage abroad | Report of Marriage (ROM) issued by the Philippine Consulate/Embassy. |
| Unreadable MC | A Transcribed Marriage Certificate from the Local Civil Registrar (LCR). |
| Discrepancy in Name | Supplemental Report from the LCR or PSA to correct clerical errors. |
V. Procedural Reminders
- Personal Appearance: This is mandatory for all renewal applicants to capture biometric data (fingerprints, photo, and signature).
- Proper Attire: Applicants must adhere to the DFA dress code (no sleeveless tops, no visible piercings other than earrings for women, and no colored contact lenses).
- Processing Fees: Fees remain standard (PHP 950 for regular; PHP 1,200 for expedited) regardless of the change in marital status.
Failure to provide the specific PSA-authenticated documents can lead to the deferral of the application. It is the legal responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the civil status recorded in the DFA database aligns with the records held by the Philippine Statistics Authority.