How to Renew your Philippine Passport in Kuwait

Kuwait has been the home of many OFWs in the Middle East for decades. It also offers a wide variety of opportunities for our fellow kabayans who live in this country. For those of you who are processing a renewal of your Philippine Passport, you may read the guide below for your information.

In this article, we will talk about the requirements, fees, and procedures for renewing your Philippine passport in Kuwait. We will also address some frequently asked questions about the passport services at the Philippine Embassy in this country.

Applying for a New Passport in Kuwait

The Philippine passport has a validity period of 10 years (previously 5 years). If you need to renew your passport soon, below is an extensive guide that you can follow, even as you are living and working here in Kuwait.

Requirements

To renew your passport, start by preparing these requirements:

• Confirmed appointment (more on this below);
• Personal appearance at the Embassy;
• Duly accomplished Application Form;
• Most recent Passport (original and 1 photocopy of the data page);
• Proof of Philippine citizenship (e.g. original and 1 photocopy of your Civil ID, Residence Card or Work Permit, latest tourist visa, or dual citizenship documents); and
• Additional documents that may be required as proof of your identity (e.g. Birth Certificate).

For minor applicants, the following additional requirements should be prepared:

• Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) (original and 1 photocopy);
• Report of Birth authenticated by the PSA of registered by the Philippine Embassy (if born abroad);
• Personal appearance of either parent (if the parents are married);
• Parents’ Marriage Certificate, issued by the PSA (original and 1 photocopy);
• Parents’ Report of Marriage, authenticated by the PSA or registered by the
• Philippine Embassy (if married abroad);
• Parents’ Passports (original and 1 photocopy of the data page); and
• Personal appearance of the mother and 1 photocopy of the mother’s passport (if the parents are not married).

Fees

As for the fees, be sure to prepare the following amounts for passport-related services:

• Passport Renewal – KWD 19.500
• Replacement of Lost/Damaged Machine-Readable Passport – KWD 29.250
• Replacement of Lost/Damaged ePassport – KWD 48.750
• Expedite Fee for Passport Extension – KWD 3.250 (to get your document on the same day)

NOTE: For expedited processing, applications must be filed before 2:00 pm at the Philippine Embassy. Moreover, please note that the Embassy accepts cash payments in Kuwait Dinar (KWD) only.

How to Book a Passport Appointment

At present, the Philippine Embassy does not entertain “walk in” applicants, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting much of the world. Whether you’re renewing your passport or availing of other consular services, you need to schedule an appointment first.

To set an appointment at the Philippine Embassy in Salwa area, please visit https://www.passport.gov.ph/ for online booking. On the other hand, to set an appointment at the VFS Global Passport Renewal Center in Kuwait City (if this is where you plan to apply for renewal), please visit https://visa.vfsglobal.com/kwt/en/phl.

NOTE: When setting an appointment online, make sure that the information you enter is correct and accurate. Otherwise, you could end up with wrong information printed on your passport, which means that you will need to replace it and spend more than if you had entered the correct data in the first place.

How to Renew Passport During Appearance Day at Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

To renew your Philippine passport, simply follow the step-by-step guide below:

1. Set an appointment online. Go to https://www.passport.gov.ph/, choose a preferred date and time, and fill out the necessary details.
2. On your scheduled date and time of appointment, proceed to the Philippine Embassy and submit the required documents.
3. Go to the Cashier and pay the passport renewal fee.
4. Have your photo and biometrics captured. Make sure that the information on the staff’s screen is correct.
5. Claim your passport after 30 to 40 days. You can claim it personally at the Philippine Embassy or have it delivered to your address.

Video: Filipino Talks About How to Renew PH Passport in Kuwait

An OFW in Kuwait, Joven Reyes, recently shared a video on how to renew your Passport at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. Check out his informative vlog below and take note of the step-by-step instructions:

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions and answers about passport services at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait:

1. How long is the validity of my new passport?

Newly-issued Philippine passports are valid for 10 years. Previously, it was valid for only 5 years.

2. Can I renew my passport online?

No. You can book a passport appointment online, but personal appearance is necessary for the actual process. Besides, you need to be at the Embassy for biometrics capturing.

3. What is the proper attire at the Embassy?

Be sure to wear proper attire when going to the Embassy. Avoid wearing strapless tops, sheer fabric, low-necked shirts, and skirts or dresses that are cut above the knees. Likewise, avoid wearing slippers and other informal footwear.

Moreover, for biometrics capturing, you will be asked to take off your earrings, false eyelashes, contact lenses, necklaces, and facial piercings, if any.

4. How long does it take to renew my passport?

After applying at the Embassy, you will need to wait for about 4 to 6 weeks until your new passport is released. Please be reminded that passports that remain unclaimed after 6 months would be cancelled.

5. Can I check if my new passport is available for release?

Yes, you can check if your new passport is already available for release. Just visit this link at the Philippine Embassy website, where the names and tracking numbers of new passports are posted regularly.

6.What time can I claim my new passport?

At the Philippine Embassy, you can claim your new passport between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, from Mondays to Fridays (except during holidays).

7. What are the requirements for passport releasing?

As soon as you have checked that your passport is ready for release, you can go to the Philippine Embassy and claim it. Be sure to bring your official receipt, as well as your old (previous) passport for cancellation.

For minor applicants, passports may be claimed by their parents, or by an authorized representative with a Special Power of Attorney (SPA).

Notably, please keep in mind that even if you applied for passport renewal at the same time as your family or friends — your passports may not necessarily be available on the same date.

Once you have claimed your news passport, don’t forget to check your details and affix your signature on the 3rd page.

8. Can another person claim my new passport on my behalf?

Yes, another person can claim your passport, provided that he/she is an immediate family member (i.e. spouse, parent, sibling, or child of legal age) and has an authorization letter. Once again, for minor applicants, their passports may be claimed by their parents, or by an authorized representative with an SPA.

9. How can I renew a lost passport?

To renew a lost passport, be sure to prepare these requirements:

• Confirmed appointment;
• Personal appearance;
• Duly accomplished Application Form;
• Most recent Passport, if available (original and 1 photocopy of the data page);
• Proof of Philippine Citizenship (e.g. Civil ID, Philippine government-issued ID,
• Residence Card or Work Permit, tourist visa, or dual citizenship documents);
• Affidavit of Loss;
• Police Report in English;
• Birth Certificate issued by the PSA (original and 1 photocopy); and
• Marriage Certificate issued by the PSA, for married women (original and 1 photocopy).

10. How can I replace a “damaged” passport in Qatar?

The requirements for replacing a damaged passport are the same as those for lost passports, except that instead of an Affidavit of Loss, you will need to submit an Affidavit of Mutilation.

11. Can I apply for a Philippine passport even if I have acquired foreign citizenship?

Yes, you can apply for a Philippine passport again even if you have already acquired foreign citizenship, though you will need to apply for dual citizenship at the Philippine Embassy first.

Some Additional Reminders

Aside from the above pointers, please take note of the following reminders:

• Personal appearance is a must for all applicants.
• Be sure to bring complete requirements. If your documents are not complete, your application will not be processed.
• Be sure to go to the Embassy in proper attire.
• Observe all the health and safety protocols at the Philippine Embassy and its premises.

Opening Hours

The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is open from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, from Sundays to Thursdays (except during holidays).

Contact Information

If you need to make an inquiry or if you would like to report a concern to the Philippine Embassy, you can get in touch with them through the following contact details:

Address: Villa 15, Masjid Al-Aqsa Street, Block 1, Salwa Area, State of Kuwait
Telephone: +965 6990 2188 (Passport and Consular Services) / +965 6500 2612 (Assistance to Nationals)
Email: kuwait.pe@dfa.gov.ph
Website: https://kuwaitpe.dfa.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PHinKuwait/

Google Map Location

Here is the location of the Philippine Embassy on Google Maps, for your reference:

DISCLAIMER: The above guide is presented for general, information-sharing purposes only. For more details about renewing your Philippine passport in Kuwait, as well as to receive the latest news, announcements, and updates about consular services, please visit the official website of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.