How to Correct Errors on a Philippine Passport (DFA Procedures)

Updated for general guidance; procedures and fees may change. Always follow the latest requirements published by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

1) Executive summary

Passports are not “amended.” If there’s an error on your Philippine passport, the DFA issues a replacement passport with the corrected data.
Two tracks exist:
1. DFA-caused/printing or encoding error → corrected at DFA’s cost (you surrender the erroneous passport).
2. Applicant-caused or civil-registry error → you must fix the civil-registry record first (PSA/LCR) if it’s wrong, then apply for a renewal/reissuance with complete supporting documents and pay applicable fees.
Personal appearance is required for biometrics/signature; courtesy lanes exist for eligible groups.
Your passport must mirror your PSA records. If the PSA certificate (birth/marriage, etc.) is wrong, correct that first; the DFA will not “override” PSA data.

2) Legal framework and policy backdrop

Republic Act (RA) No. 8239 (Philippine Passport Act of 1996) and its IRR govern passport issuance, reissuance, and grounds for denial/cancellation.
RA No. 10928 (2017) extended ordinary passport validity to 10 years (for applicants 18+) and 5 years for minors.
Civil-registry corrections are governed by:
- RA No. 9048 (as amended) – administrative correction of clerical/typographical errors and change of first name/nickname in civil registry records.
- RA No. 10172 – administrative correction of errors in the day or month in the date of birth and sex (if the error is clerical/typographical).
- Other statutes/situations (e.g., RA No. 9255 on an illegitimate child’s use of the father’s surname; adoption, legitimation, court decrees on name/sex; annulment, nullity, recognition of foreign divorce).
Key principle: The DFA relies on PSA-issued civil-registry documents (or court/judicial records) as primary proof of identity and civil status. The passport must conform to those records.

3) Identify the kind of “error” you’re dealing with

DFA-caused errors (e.g., letters dropped or mis-encoded despite correct documents presented):
- Examples: “JANE” printed as “JABE”; “1991” printed as “1997.”
- Remedy: Report promptly to the DFA site that released the passport (or any DFA Consular Office). Bring the erroneous passport and the originals you previously submitted. If the mistake is attributable to DFA, they replace it without fee and normally expedite reprinting. You must surrender the wrong passport.
Applicant-side or record-based errors (data on your passport matches your PSA document, but the PSA record itself is wrong; or you supplied wrong data):
- Examples: wrong day/month in DOB on PSA birth certificate; misspelled first name; inconsistent middle name; change of surname due to marriage/divorce/adoption; change of first name under RA 9048; correction of sex/day/month under RA 10172.
- Remedy: Correct your civil-registry record first—through the Local Civil Registry (LCR) where the event was recorded (or via consular civil registry for events registered abroad). Obtain the PSA-issued annotated certificate reflecting the correction or the final court order and entry of judgment (as applicable).
- Then apply for passport reissuance/renewal with the corrected PSA document and supporting papers. Fees apply.

4) Which DFA application type should you choose?

For any correction that results in a new booklet (which is almost all cases): Apply as a “Renewal” (even if your current passport is still valid), because the DFA will issue a new ePassport with the corrected data.
In practice, “New” vs “Renewal” is determined by whether you’ve had a passport before; any change to biographic data still goes through reissuance.

5) Required documents by scenario

Bring originals plus photocopies. The DFA may request additional documents if there are discrepancies.

A. DFA-caused (printing/encoding) error

Erroneous passport (to be surrendered).
Valid ID(s).
The same primary civil-registry documents you submitted (e.g., PSA Birth Certificate, PSA Marriage Certificate if you used your spouse’s surname).
DFA error report (they usually prepare or note this internally).
Fees: Typically waived for DFA-attributable errors; reprint is expedited.

B. Applicant-side mistakes or civil-registry corrections already completed

Current passport.
PSA Birth Certificate (security paper), latest annotated copy if a correction was made (RA 9048/10172).
If married and using your spouse’s surname: PSA Marriage Certificate. If reverting to maiden name due to annulment/nullity/recognition of foreign divorce, bring the final court decision, certificate of finality, and the PSA-annotated Marriage Certificate.
Court orders/Entry of Judgment for judicial changes (e.g., change of name, change of sex beyond clerical scope).
For RA 9255 (illegitimate child using the father’s surname): PSA Birth Certificate with annotation and documents required by the LCR/PSA (e.g., Acknowledgment/Affidavit of Admission of Paternity as applicable).
Government-issued valid ID(s) matching the corrected data, if already updated.
Affidavit of Discrepancy/Explanation (notarized), when your signatures/names across IDs vary or there’s a history of aliases/variants.

C. Minors (below 18)

Child’s PSA Birth Certificate (annotated if corrected).
School ID or Form 137/School Certificate (if applicable).
Parents’ IDs; if only one parent appears, supporting documents establishing custody/authority; if traveling soon, DSWD clearance may be relevant but is separate from passport issuance.
Personal appearance of the minor and a parent or authorized adult (per DFA rules).

D. Overseas Filipinos (applying at a Philippine Embassy/Consulate)

Same documentary logic applies. If the civil-registry event happened abroad, you may need Consular Report of Birth/Marriage/Death and, if corrections were made abroad, recognition/annotation of those changes in the Philippine civil registry (via consular/LCR route) before passport reissuance.

6) Step-by-step process to correct your passport

Diagnose the error.
- If the passport does not match your PSA record because PSA is wrong, fix PSA first (RA 9048/10172 or court).
- If the passport does not match but PSA is correct, assess whether the error is DFA-caused or you supplied it; gather proof.
Complete civil-registry correction (if needed).
- File with the LCR that has the record (or consular civil registry).
- Wait for the PSA-issued certificate with annotation or the final court order + entry of judgment.
- Tip: Many passport delays happen because the PSA annotation is not yet viewable in the PSA database; obtain the latest copy before booking DFA.
Set a DFA appointment (renewal/reissuance).
- Choose the site and processing speed (regular/expedite).
- Courtesy lanes exist for seniors, PWDs, solo parents with valid IDs, pregnant women, minors 7 years old and below (with parent), OFWs with proof, and other categories per DFA policies.
Prepare and organize documents.
- Originals + photocopies, grouped by scenario.
- Bring proof of prior passport data if relevant (old passports, IDs, school records) to help the Evaluator reconcile discrepancies.
Appear at DFA for biometrics and evaluation.
- The Evaluator checks your documents; if complete, you proceed to biometrics (photo, fingerprints, signature) and payment.
- For DFA-caused errors, the site typically documents the case and waives fees; for other cases, you pay the published schedule of fees.
Release/Delivery.
- Choose pickup or courier delivery.
- Turnover of the erroneous passport is required as a matter of record control.
- Processing times vary by volume and site; expedite options are commonly available.

7) Special cases and nuanced scenarios

Marriage and surname choice (women): You may keep your maiden name or use your husband’s surname. If you choose to use (or later to revert), your passport must reflect your PSA-documented civil status and any PSA annotations/court orders (for annulment/nullity/recognition of foreign divorce).
Hyphenation and compound names: The DFA follows the PSA record; if you intend to hyphenate or de-hyphenate, ensure the PSA certificate reflects that format (or you have the proper legal basis/annotation).
Multiple/variant spellings across IDs: Prepare a notarized Affidavit of Discrepancy and as many government IDs bearing the correct, uniform spelling as possible. The DFA may still insist on a PSA correction if the variance is material.
Change of sex/gender marker:
- If your PSA birth certificate contains a clerical/typographical error on sex (e.g., “M” instead of “F” due to encoding), RA 10172 allows administrative correction with medical/record evidence.
- Substantive gender transition is not a clerical error; it typically requires a judicial order before PSA can annotate. The DFA will reflect only what appears on the PSA record/court order.
Adoption/Legitimation/RA 9255: Once PSA issues an annotated birth certificate reflecting the change in filiation/surname, submit that to DFA with other required papers.
Lost or damaged passport with errors: File the loss/damage process and the correction together. Expect affidavits, clearance checks, and applicable penalties in addition to standard requirements.
Imminent travel: If your ticket was booked with the wrong name and your passport is also wrong, carriers may deny boarding. Consider rebooking to match your current passport while you process the correction. In emergencies, DFA posts options like Travel Documents for one-way/emergency travel to the Philippines or limited cases; those do not substitute for a corrected, full-validity passport.

8) Evidence standards the DFA typically looks for

Primary civil-registry proof: PSA documents printed on security paper—latest issue.
Judicial proof (if applicable): Certified true copy of the Decision, Certificate of Finality, and Entry of Judgment; plus PSA annotation tying the court order to the civil-registry record.
Identity continuity: Government IDs, school records, PRC/IBP IDs, LTO license, PhilID, SSS/GSIS/UMID—preferably post-correction and consistent.
Affidavits: When narratives need to be explained (e.g., why an alias appears), submit notarized affidavits (Affidavit of Discrepancy/Explanation; Affidavit of Loss, etc.).
Translations/Authentication (for foreign documents): Foreign records generally need official translation (if not in English) and authentication/Apostille as appropriate before PSA/LCR recognition.

9) Fees, timelines, and practical tips

Fees:
- DFA-caused errors: reprint free/waived.
- Other cases: pay the DFA’s current passport fees (regular vs expedite; delivery fees if any).
- Civil-registry corrections (RA 9048/10172) and court actions carry separate costs at LCR/PSA/courts.
Timelines:
- Civil-registry correction often dictates the overall timeline (from a few weeks to several months, depending on the remedy and PSA annotation).
- Passport reissuance—once documents are in order—generally follows DFA’s standard processing windows; expedite can shorten release but is subject to volume and site capacity.
Name on your ticket: Always book travel using the exact name that appears on your current passport.
Bring more than the minimum: A tidy folder with originals, 2–3 photocopies, and a printed appointment confirmation speeds evaluation.
Check PSA freshness: Obtain a recent PSA copy; evaluators look for latest annotations.

10) Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q1: My PSA birth certificate has a wrong middle name. Can DFA fix my passport without fixing PSA? No. Fix the PSA record first (RA 9048 for clerical/typographical; court if substantial). DFA aligns the passport to PSA.

Q2: The DFA misspelled my surname. Do I pay again? If the error is clearly DFA-caused, the DFA typically replaces the passport at no cost and faster than standard processing. Bring proof and surrender the misprinted booklet.

Q3: I got married. Must I change my surname on my passport? No. It’s optional to use your spouse’s surname. If you decide to change, present your PSA Marriage Certificate (and other DFA-required IDs) and apply for reissuance. If you later revert to your maiden name due to annulment/nullity/recognition of foreign divorce, submit the final court order/PSA annotations.

Q4: I changed my first name via RA 9048. Can I update my passport now? Yes—once you have your PSA-issued annotated birth certificate reflecting the approved change. Bring the Decision/Approval from the LCR as well.

Q5: My sex in PSA was corrected under RA 10172. Will DFA honor it? Yes—submit the PSA-annotated birth certificate reflecting the corrected sex and the underlying medical/record evidence as required by the LCR/PSA during correction.

Q6: Can I travel while the correction is pending? Travel requires a valid passport whose data matches your ticket. If details differ, you may face denial of boarding. Emergency Travel Documents exist but are limited in use and not a substitute for a corrected ePassport.

11) Checklists

DFA-caused error (printer/encoding)

Erroneous passport (to surrender)
IDs
Same PSA documents originally submitted
Request/notation for error reprint at DFA

Applicant-side / PSA already corrected

Current passport
PSA corrected/annotated certificate(s)
Court Decision + Finality + Entry of Judgment (if judicial)
Consistent government IDs
Affidavit of Discrepancy/Explanation (if needed)
Photocopies + appointment printout

Minors

Child’s PSA Birth Certificate (annotated if corrected)
Parent’s IDs and presence/authority
School documents (if any)

12) Model affidavit language (for guidance only)

Affidavit of Discrepancy/Explanation I, [Name], of legal age, Filipino, with address at [Address], after being duly sworn, depose and state:

That my correct name is [Full Correct Name] as evidenced by [PSA document];

That in certain records, my name appears as [Variant/Alias] due to [brief reason: clerical error, long-time usage, etc.];

That this affidavit is executed to attest to my identity and to explain the discrepancy for passport processing and other legal purposes. IN WITNESS WHEREOF… (have this notarized).

(Use only when helpful; the DFA may still require PSA correction if the variance is material.)

13) Bottom line

Fix the record, then fix the passport. The DFA mirrors the PSA/court-validated truth.
DFA’s mistake? They typically reprint at no cost.
Your mistake or PSA error? Complete the civil-registry remedy first, then apply for reissuance with comprehensive proof.
Plan travel only after your passport accurately reflects your legal identity and civil status.