Minors in the Philippines who are about to leave the country are required to get a travel clearance issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This is to ensure the safety of minors from child trafficking or any form of possible abuse outside the country. A minor is defined as a person 17 years of age or below. This guide contains the general information, requirements and procedure to get a DSWD travel clearance.
Traveling with kids could be a fun adventure, not just for them but also for adults. For whatever reason why the kids needs to travel abroad, you must process not just their passports and/or visas but also a DSWD travel clearance.
Well, not all minors needs to get a travel clearance. The only ones who need it are the following:
- Minors traveling alone to a foreign country.
- Minors traveling abroad accompanied by a person not his or her parent or legal guardian.
To simplify this, the first condition (1) means that if a minor is going abroad all by himself/herself, a travel clearance is needed. The second condition (2) means that if a minor is traveling with his/her uncle, aunt, brother, sister, cousin or other relative, you need to obtain a travel clearance.
On the other hand, if the minor is traveling with both of his/her parents, one of his parent, or a legal guardian, there’s no need to get a travel clearance. Same goes to the minor traveling abroad wherein his/her parents are in living abroad or immigrants. Under these conditions, there’s no need to get a travel clearance.
Fee
Most DSWD Field Offices collects a processing fee of ₱300 for each travel clearance with a validity of 1 year and ₱600 for 2 years.
Validity
A travel clearance is valid for the duration of 1 year or 2 years depending on the applied validity. During its validity period, it can be used in multiple travels unless there are no changes on the conditions when the travel clearance was first applied in the office.
For example, come October of this year, a minor is to travel abroad with his uncle. Then his uncle processed and got the travel clearance from the DSWD Field Office. After their travel abroad on October and came back to Philippines, the minor and his uncle again traveled abroad on November. So this time, the travel clearance is used 2 times in their travels.
However, come December, the minor needs to travel outside the country again but this time, he is to travel with his aunt. The previous travel clearance is no longer valid since there will be a change in companion. This time, the minor needs to get a new travel clearance.
DSWD Travel Clearance Requirements
The are different requirements needed in 2 different situations. The first set of requirements are for those minors who are to travel abroad alone. The second set is those minors who are to leave the Philippines with a companion other than his/her parents or legal guardian.
Travel Clearance Requirements for Minors who will Travel to a Foreign Country Alone
- Filled-up application form.
- Photocopy of PSA Birth Certificate of the minor.
- Two (2) colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last six (6) months.
- A written consent letter of both parents, or solo parent or legal guardian allowing the minor to travel abroad.
- If the consent letter is written by Both Parents, you need to submit a photocopy of PSA Marriage Certificate of the minor’s parents and at least one (1) Valid ID of each parent.
- If the consent letter is written by Solo Parent, a photocopy of Solo Parent ID Card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office is needed. If you don’t have a solo parent ID, you may submit a photocopy of Solo Parent Certification from local DSWD Office.
- If the consent letter is written by Legal Guardian, submit a photocopy of the Certificate of Legal Guardianship of the minor.
In case that a minor is an illegitimate child, meaning his/her parents are not married, a Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is required. For deceased parent, a photocopy of Death Certificate is required.
Travel Clearance Requirements for Minors who will Travel Abroad Accompanied by Not His/Her Parents or Legal Guardian
- Accomplished application form.
- Photocopy of PSA Birth Certificate of the minor.
- A written consent letter of both parents, or solo parent or legal guardian permitting the minor to travel abroad. This time, the name of the companion must be included in the letter of consent. (see the first set of requirements above for minor traveling alone)
- For Both Parents, a photocopy of PSA Marriage Certificate is required. At least one (1) Valid ID of each parent is also needed.
- For Solo Parent, a photocopy of Solo Parent ID Card or Solo Parent Certification is required. When solo parent ID card or certification is not available, you may submit 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.
- For Legal Guardian, a photocopy of Certificate of Legal Guardianship is required.
- Two (2) colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last six (6) months.
- Photocopy of passport of the traveling companion of the minor.
Useful Recommendation: In the consent letter, let’s say you are writing as a father, include your full name, name of your child, your birth date, current address, contact number and passport number (if applicable). Include also the destination abroad where your child will travel, the name of his companion and your relationship with him/her. Then affix your signature.
How to Get Travel Clearance
- Go the DSWD Field Office where the minor’s permanent residence is under its jurisdiction. Bring the requirements and cash for the travel clearance fee.
- Get a queue number from the guard on duty and an application form. You may also be asked to write your name on a logbook.
- Fill up the application form and wait for your number to be called.
- When its your turn, submit your duly-accomplished application form along with the requirements on hand. A social worker will evaluate your documents and its completeness.
- Wait for the approval of your application for travel clearance. In most cases, you will be interviewed by the social worker about the purpose of the travel, reasons why you are his/her travel companion and other basic questions.
- If your application is approved, proceed to the cashier and pay for the corresponding fee.
- Wait for the issuance of Travel Clearance Certificate for A Minor.
That was the general guide on how to get a travel clearance including some useful information. Have you successfully acquired a travel clearance? Let us know some tips on the comment section.
