From the Department of Social Welfare and Development: 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reiterates to parents and guardians to secure travel clearances for their children, 17 years old and below, who will be traveling abroad without them.

Secretary of Social Welfare Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the travel clearance aims to prevent child trafficking and other forms of abuse that a minor might encounter while traveling abroad.

The issuance of a travel clearance is specified under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

The travel clearance shall be issued by the DSWD to a Filipino minor traveling to a foreign country unaccompanied by his/her parents and to an illegitimate child traveling with his/her father. Personal appearance of the minor is not necessary.

The requirements needed to obtain a travel clearance for minors traveling abroad are:

• Duly accomplished application form;
• Photocopy of National Statistics Office (NSO)-issued birth certificate of minor;
• Written consent of both parents/solo parent/legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country  alone or with a specific companion; and,
• Two pieces colored passport size photo of the minor taken within the last six months.

For minors under the care of their parents, they should present a photocopy of NSO-issued marriage certificate of their parents.

For minors under the care of legal guardians, they should present a photocopy of the certificate of legal guardianship of the minor.

For minors under the care of a solo parent, they should present either a photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, or a photocopy of solo parent certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office.

For minors with a deceased parent, they should present a photocopy of the parent’s death certificate.

For illegitimate minors, they should present a certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from NSO. If they are 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.

If the minor is traveling with a person other than the parents or legal guardian, a photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion should be presented.

The application for travel clearance together with the required supporting documents shall be submitted by the parent/s or legal guardian or a duly authorized representative to the nearest DSWD regional office.  The application forms may also be downloaded from the DSWD website (www.dswd.gov.ph).

The travel clearance is approved and issued within 24 hours as long as supporting documents are complied with and the social worker’s assessment is completed.

As of December 2014, DSWD has issued 40,282 travel clearances to minors traveling abroad. DSWD-Field Office in NCR issued the most number of clearances, amounting to 10,405.

dswd.gov.ph

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Source: http://www.gov.ph/services/travel-clearance-for-minors/

Travel clearance for minors

SUMMARY

Minors traveling either alone or with a person other than the parents or legal guardians are required to secure a travel authority from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

*Illegitimate children traveling abroad who are accompanied by their biological father are still required to secure a travel clearance certificate because parental authority is vested on the biological mother by virtue of the Family Code of the Philippines (Title VI, Chapter 3, Article, 176 of Executive Order No. 209, s. 1987).

Coverage:

• Minors traveling alone to a foreign country;
• Minors traveling to a foreign country accompanied by a person other than his or her parents.

Not covered:

• Minors traveling to a foreign country with both parents, one of his/her parents, or a legal guardian;
• Minor traveling abroad whose parents are in the Foreign Service;
• Minor traveling abroad whose parents are living abroad;
• Minor traveling abroad whose parents are immigrants,
  • The minor, however, should be holding a valid pass, such as a dependents visa/pass/identification card or a permanent resident visa/pass/identification card, which serves as proof that the minor is living with parents abroad and their travel does not constitute child trafficking.
• Any other minor who are not indicated in the aforementioned coverage

Minor traveling alone to a foreign country for the first time:

• A duly accomplished application form;
• A photocopy of the birth certificate of minor;
• Written consent from both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel alone to a foreign country;
• Two colored passport-size photos of the minor taken within the last six months;
• Any of the following that applies:
  • A photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents;
  • A photocopy of the certificate of legal guardianship of the minor;
  • A photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office;
  • A photocopy of the 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;
  • A certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from the National Statistics Office (NSO) for illegitimate children;
  • A photocopy of the parent’s death certificate.

Minors traveling for the first time with a person other than the parents or legal guardians:

• A duly accomplished application form;
• A photocopy of the birth certificate of the minor;
• Written consent of both parents, the solo parent, or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country with a specific person;
• Two colored passport-size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months.
• A photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion
• Any of the following, which applies:
  • A photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents
  • A certificate of legal guardianship of the minor for solo parents
  • A solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
  • A certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent
  • A court decree of separation, annulment or divorce, Tallaq or Fasakh certification from the Shariah court or any muslim barangay or religious leader for separated parents;
  • A certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from the National Statistics Office for illegitimate minors;
  • A photocopy of the death certificate a deceased parent                                                                                                                                  
    • Trunkline: (632)931-81-01 to 07

    • Twitter: @dswdserves

    • Address: DSWD, Constitution Hills, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City

    • Website: dswd.gov.ph