On Assistance-to-Nationals Services
Question:
If I need emergency assistance from the Embassy, what should I do?
Answer:
• If you are in physical danger or require immediate medical assistance, the best thing to do is to call emergency services by dialing 112 on your mobile phone. Once you have secured your safety and/or your physical well-being and you still require the Embassy’s assistance, dial 694 736 488 and the Embassy’s Duty Officer will attend to your concerns.
• The Embassy’s emergency hotline for Filipinos as well as the name of the Duty Officer manning the hotline is also posted on the Embassy’s website (warsawpe.dfa.gov.ph) and facebook page (@PHLinPoland)
Question:
If my visa has expired and I want to return to the Philippines, how can the Embassy help me?
Answer:
• If your tourist visa or residence card has expired, this means you no longer have permission to stay in Poland and should return to the Philippines.
• If you have a valid return ticket to the Philippines and your passport is still valid, you may proceed directly to the airport. Please note that the immigration authorities may impose a penalty on you, in the form of an immigration ban for a minimum of six months, a penalty fee or both.
• If you have no means of going back to the Philippines and your passport is expired, contact or visit the Embassy as soon as possible.
Question:
If my tourist visa is expired, and I still need time to look for work, what should I do?
Answer:
• Please remember that in order for non-EU citizens/third-country nationals to work in Poland or any part of the Schengen area, a work visa and a work permit are required. Tourists are not allowed to work and will be penalized if found working illegally.
• If you wish to work legally in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania, you should return to the Philippines and process your employment contract with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration as per existing procedures and regulations.
Question:
What do I do if I get arrested by police authorities?
Answer:
• Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, a citizen of the Philippines who has been detained/arrested by police authorities in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania may request these authorities to inform the Embassy of your situation.
• Once you have done so and the Embassy has been informed, the Embassy can request to visit you so that Embassy representatives can determine the kind of assistance that can be provided to you.
Question:
What do I do if I am experiencing violence in my work place/home?
Answer:
• Leave your work place/home and seek the help of the police. If you are unable to leave, seek the help of people around you or if you have your phone dial 112 and seek help from the police/emergency services.
• Once you have secured your safety and well-being, please get in touch with the Embassy through our emergency hotline 694 736 488 so we may be able to provide you with the appropriate assistance.
Question:
What do I do if I have an issue with my employer?
Answer:
• Please visit the Embassy and bring your passport and necessary documents to prove your employment relationship with your employer, such as your employment contract, work permit, pay slips, among others. The ATN officer will ask you to fill out an ATN form where you will be asked to write about your concerns.
• The ATN Officer will ask questions and recommend a course of action based on the information provided. Please note that the recommended course of action requires the concurrence of the complaining party, especially if this entails getting in touch with the employer and/or endorsing the matter to the concerned Polish authorities.
Question:
What should I do if my employer informs me that my employment will be terminated?
Answer:
• If you are faced with this situation, seek clarification from your employer about the reason for the termination of your employment then visit the Embassy and make sure to provide your employment documents to Embassy representatives so that the appropriate advice could be given to you.
• As a rule, your employer must have a valid reason for terminating the employment contract. The employer is not required to give a notice of termination if the employee has committed a severe violation of his/her duties or of company policy, has committed an offence that prevents the employee from working or is no longer able to work as a result of illness (if the illness has gone on longer than the period provided for sickness benefit and the grant of rehabilitation allowance).
• The employer is required to give notice if none of the above conditions are met.
• The employment agreement can be terminated by notice given by each party. The termination notice period depends on the period of employment. Notice periods for definite and indefinite period agreements are:
- 2 weeks if the employee was employed for less than 6 months
- 1 month if the employee was employed for at least 6 months
- 3 months if the employee was employed for at least 3 years
• An employee should continue working for his/her employer while the notice period is in force. He/she is entitled to remuneration/salary as provided for in the employment contract.
• In case of agreement for indefinite period, the employer’s notice of termination should state the reason justifying the termination. The law in Poland does not provide the list of possible reasons, but according to Polish law and jurisprudence, the reason should be real, concrete and understandable to the employee.
• In case of agreements for trial period, the periods of termination notice are:
- 3 business days if the trial period does not exceed 2 weeks
- 1 week if the trial period is longer than 2 weeks
- 2 weeks if the trial period is 3 months
Employment and Residence
Question:
What documents do I need to work in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania?
Answer:
• You must be in possession of a work visa or residence permit and a work permit in order to work legally in these countries.
• Please note that initially, it is the employer who applies for a work permit from the relevant authorities. Thereafter, the permission to work is incorporated in the residence permit, as is the case for Poland.
Question:
How do I apply for a residence permit/karta pobytu in Poland?
Answer:
• A Filipino planning to stay in Poland for a period longer than 3 months may apply for a temporary residence permit in Poland. In order to obtain a temporary residence permit, a Filipino has to present documented grounds for their stay in Poland, such as a work permit/endorsement from employer, proof of marriage to a Polish national and proof of continuation of studies in Poland.
• A temporary residence permit is granted for a maximum period of 3 years. However, the validity period of the permit may be shorter if a shorter stay is justified, depending on the basis for application.
• Application for temporary residence permit takes place at the Office for Foreigners of the Voivodeship Office in the Voivodeship where the foreigner resides.
• For reference, please refer to the following information from the website of the Mazowieckie Region (which covers the capital city of Warsaw):
o http://mazowieckie.pl/en/for-foreigners-1/residence/temporary-residence-pe/residence-and-work/1067,Frequently-asked-questions.html
Question:
What do I need to do if I want to change my employer in Poland?
Answer:
• Please take note that a work permit is granted for work with a specific employer, in a specific position and for a period specified in the permit.
• If you transfer to a new employer at the conclusion or termination of your current employment, you will need a new work permit.
• Please make sure that you inform the Voivodeship Office about the change in your employment record within 15 days from the effectivity of the termination of your contract with your previous employer. If you have done this, you have 30 days to find a new job and to update the Voivodeship Office regarding your new employer.
• If you fail to notify the Voivode, your temporary residence and work permit will be cancelled.
• Please note that this can only be done once during the validity period of the permit.
Question:
Are Filipinos required to pay tax in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania?
Answer:
• All persons, whether locals or foreign citizens, receiving income or remuneration in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania, are obliged to pay tax.
• The tax rate for personal income tax is around 19% in Poland, 20% in Estonia, 24% in Latvia, and 15% for Lithuania
Question:
Are Filipinos working in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania required to sign up to the social insurance program in these countries?
Answer:
• Employers of non-EU nationals in these countries are required to enroll their foreign employees in the social insurance program.
• Being insured gives foreign employees the right to receive benefits related to sickness, maternity, and a workplace accident, among others.
Question:
Can Filipinos working in Poland bring their family (spouse and dependent children) with them?
Answer:
• Under the Foreigners’ Act, foreigners are eligible to bring their spouses and children to Poland if he/she holds:
o Permanent residence or long-term EU resident status
o A temporary residence permit for at least two years, provided that the last permit was issued at least one year prior to lodging an application a permit for family reunification
o An EU blue card (residence permit for work in a highly skilled occupation)
• In addition, the foreigner has to demonstrate that he/she has a stable, regular and sufficient income source to meet his/her own needs and those of his/her family, health insurance, and guaranteed accommodation in Polish territory.
Going on holiday in the Philippines
Question:
What does a Filipino working in Poland need to go on holiday in the Philippines as per PH government requirements?
Answer:
• If you are registered with the POEA and are returning to Poland and to the same company, you only need to register online with the Balik Manggagawa program at bmonline.ph
• If you are registered with the POEA to work in Poland but you transferred to a different company, or if you moved to Poland for work from another country, you are required to secure a new Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). The documents you will need are: employment contract and work permit. These two documents need to be authenticated (red ribbon procedure) by the Philippine Embassy.
• The fee is PLN 100 per document (original plus translation is considered as one document).
• Authentication requirements: document must be in English or if in Polish, must have a sworn English translation. They must be legalized by the Polish Foreign Ministry (contact details as follows):
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Legalization Section
Al. Szucha 21, 00-580 Warszawa
Tel.: (+48 22) 523 9845
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Office hours: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Question:
For Filipinos who are not OFWs but are residents in Poland and wish to go back to the Philippines for holidays, what documents are required when returning to Poland?
Answer:
• Filipinos who are temporary residents in Poland will be required to pay the travel tax and present their valid Polish residence card to immigration authorities when they leave the Philippines to return the Poland.
• Filipinos who are permanent residents can get an exemption from paying the travel tax by securing a certification from the Embassy. Please visit the Embassy and present your passport and valid permanent residence card. The certificate is issued free of charge. The travel tax certificate issued should be given to the airline counter upon check-in.
Question:
I am a citizen of Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania and I wish to visit the Philippines. Do I need to get a visa?
Answer:
• For citizens of Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania they may visit the Philippines without a visa for a stay of 30 days or less provided their passports are still valid at the completion of their travel and they have a return ticket or ticket to an onward destination.
• For those who wish to stay longer than 30 days, they may apply for extension of stay with the nearest Bureau of Immigration office in the Philippines on or before the last day of permitted stay indicated on their immigration stamp.
• They may also apply for a visa at the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw (or any Philippine Embassy or Consulate). Following are the requirements for Polish/Estonian/Latvian/Lithuanian citizens applying for a temporary visitor’s visa for the purpose of tourism:
o Duly-accomplished visa application form with most recent photo, taken not more than six months ago, attached;
o Passport plus a copy of the passport data page;
o Copy of national ID (if applicable) plus photocopy of the front and back of the card;
o Copy of return ticket or incoming and outgoing confirmed flight details; and
o Payment of PLN 120 for single entry visas
• For those travelling to the Philippines on business wishing to apply for a visa, the following additional requirements apply:
o Letter from employer confirming the applicant’s employment and providing information on the applicant’s business travel on behalf of the company
o Notarized letter of support from Philippine company that the applicant will be having meetings with (copy of SEC registration should be included)
• For seafarers, the following additional documents apply:
o Applicant’s seaman’s book plus photocopy of data page
o Letter of confirmation from ship owner or its agent
o Notarized letter of information and guarantee from Philippine manning agency
Question:
How much cash am I allowed to bring into the Philippines?
Answer:
• For foreign currency, a person may carry up to the amount of USD 10,000 (or equivalent in any other foreign currency), in cash or other monetary instruments, into and out of the Philippines. Other monetary instruments include travelers’ checks, other checks, drafts, notes, money orders, bonds, deposit certificates, securities, commercial papers, trust certificates, custodial receipts, deposit substitute instruments, trading orders, transaction tickets and confirmation of sale/investment.
• If a person wishes to bring more that the equivalent of USD 10,000, a written declaration must be made in the form of the BSP’s “Foreign Currency and Other FX-Denominated Bearer Monetary Instruments Declaration Form” which may be downloaded from http://www.bsp.gov.ph/regulations/regulations.asp?type=1&id=631.
• For Philippine peso, a person may bring into (import) or take out (export) of the Philippines, either physically or by electronic transfer, legal tender Philippine currency of an amount not exceeding PHP 50,000 (fifty thousand pesos, Philippine currency) without prior authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The monetary forms include legal tender Philippine notes and coins, checks, money order and other bills of exchange drawn in Philippine Pesos against banks operating in the Philippines.
Question:
I am required to take medication daily for an ailment. What is the quantity of medicine am I allowed to bring with me if I have plans to travel to the Philippines?
Answer:
• Visitors taking prescription drugs (tablets and ampoules) should bring a letter from their physician stating the condition for which they are receiving treatment and the dosage with English translation.
• The amount of drugs brought into the country should also be sufficient for the duration of the visit. For those who are travelling onward to another country, they are advised that separate quantity of drugs should be sealed and declared again before exiting the country.
Question:
Can I travel with my pet to the Philippines?
Answer:
• Persons who want to bring pets (specifically dogs or cats) to the Philippines must make a request to import a pet or pets addressed to the Bureau of Animal Industry – National Veterinary Quarantine Service (BAI-NVQS) (website http://www.bai.da.gov.ph/)
• The request must provide the following information:
o Species and breed of each animal
o Sex of each animal
o Age of each animal
o Country of origin
o Expected date of arrival in the Philippines
o Address, phone number, email address and other contact details of owner (importer)
• The request can be emailed to the BAI-NVQS through email addresses This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• The BAI-NVQS will respond with the transmittal of a Veterinary Quarantine Clearance (VQS) and advice on the requirements for the permit to bring the pets into the Philippines, quarantine procedures and fees.
Travelling in the Schengen area
Question:
Can Filipinos working in Poland travel freely to other European Union Member States that are part of the Schengen Agreement?
Answer:
• Yes, Filipinos who hold valid long-term work visas (national D visa) or residence cards may travel freely to EU Member States that are part of the Schengen zone for up to three months for every half-year period.
• Some Schengen zone countries may implement border control rules so make sure you have both your passport and residence card ready.
Question:
Can Filipinos with residence permits/cards issued in Poland be able to work in other EU Member States? If I have a work permit, can I use this work permit to work in another country?
Answer:
• The work visa or residence card and work permit issued by one EU member state, such as Poland, allowing a Filipino citizen to work cannot be used for the same purpose in other EU Member States.
Civil registration and other consular concerns
Question:
What does a Filipino need to get married in Poland?
Answer:
• In general, foreigners are required by Polish civil registry authorities to provide written proof that they are allowed by the law in their respective countries to enter into a contract of marriage. For Filipinos, this is in the form of a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage (LCCM) issued by the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw.
• In order to obtain this certificate, the Filipino applicant must personally appear at the Embassy and provide the following documents:
o Passport of applicant plus one photocopy;
o DFA-authenticated birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
o DFA-authenticated certificate of no marriage issued by the PSA (issued for marriage purposes; validity is six months from date of issue by PSA and should still be valid when presented to the Embassy)
o Additional documents for applicants from 18 to 20 years of age:
- DFA-authenticated affidavit of parental consent
o Additional requirement for applicants from 21 to 25 years of age:
- DFA-authenticated affidavit of parental advice
Note: If one parent has passed away, an authenticated copy of the death certificate must be provided.
o Polish birth certificate of intended spouse with sworn English translation
o Polish certificate of no legal impediment/civil status with English translation stating that the intended spouse is single or divorced
o If intended spouse is divorced, the original divorce decree with sworn English translation must be provided.
o Copy of intended spouse's passport or Polish ID
o Two (2) pieces each passport size photos of the applicant and of the intended spouse
o Payment of consular fees: PLN 200 (to be paid in cash at the Embassy)
• The LCCM certificate is issued 15 days after submission of the application.
Question:
I got married in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania. What should I do next?
Answer:
• Civil registry events involving Filipinos overseas, such as marriages, births and deaths, should be reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the country where the civil registry event took place.
• For Filipinos who were married in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania to another Filipino or to a foreigner, their marriage should be reported to the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw.
• The requirements for reporting a marriage are as follows:
o Four copies of the duly-accomplished Report of Marriage form
Note: The wife should use her maiden name on the forms
o Original marriage certificate legalized by the Foreign Ministry plus four photocopies
o Sworn English translation of marriage certificate (if original certificate is in another language) legalized by the Foreign Ministry plus four photocopies
o Four copies each of the passports of the applicant and of his/her spouse
o Four pieces each of the latest passport-size photos of the applicant and of his/her spouse
o Payment of PLN 100
• If the report was done more than a year after the marriage took place, the applicant and his/her spouse must execute an affidavit of explanation on the delayed registration of marriage. An additional fee of PLN 100 applies for the affidavit of explanation.
• The report may be done in person or by sending complete documents by mail. However, those sending reports by mail should have all copies of the report attested by a notary public.
Question:
I am a married Filipino woman and I would like to apply for a new passport using my married surname. What documents should I provide?
Answer:
• If you got married in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania, you will need to report your marriage to the Embassy first. Please see the answer to the previous question.
• Once you have the report, fill out a passport application form and present it together with your current passport and a copy of your passport data page, your residence card plus a copy of the front and back of the card, and pay the passport fee of PLN 240. If you do not have a residence card yet, you can present any valid Philippine-government issued ID.
• If you were married in the Philippines, you will need to present your DFA-authenticated marriage certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority instead plus the other requirements mentioned above.
Question:
I am a married Filipino woman and I would like to continue using my maiden surname in my passport. However, I would like to declare my change of status from ‘single’ to ‘married’ in my passport record. Am I required to submit my DFA-authenticated marriage certificate or accomplish a Report of Marriage?
Answer:
• Yes, even if a married Filipino woman does not wish to take her husband’s surname but wants to declare her change of civil status in her passport record, she will be required to submit her DFA-authenticated marriage certificate if she and her spouse were married in the Philippines, or accomplish a Report of Marriage if married overseas.
Question:
I am a Filipino who gave birth to/whose child was born in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania. What should I do to report the birth of my child and to secure a Philippine passport for him/her?
Answer:
• Civil registry events involving Filipinos overseas, such as marriages, births and deaths, should be reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the country where the civil registry event took place.
• For Filipinos born in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania, the birth should be reported to the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw. Thereafter, the parent/s can apply for their Philippine passports
• The requirements for reporting the birth of a Philippine citizen are as follows:
o Four copies of the duly-accomplished Report of Birth form
o Original birth certificate legalized by the Foreign Ministry plus four photocopies
o Sworn English translation of birth certificate (if original certificate is in another language) legalized by the Foreign Ministry plus four photocopies
o DFA-authenticated marriage certificate of parents plus four photocopies or Report of Marriage of parents plus four photocopies
o Four copies each of the passports of the child’s parents
o Payment of PLN 100
• If the report was done more than a year after the birth took place, the parents must execute an affidavit of explanation on the delayed registration of birth. An additional fee of PLN 100 applies for the affidavit of explanation.
• Once the report of birth is done, an application for a new passport for the child can be done right after. The child must be present in order to have his/her photo taken. The passport requirements for minors applying for their first passport are as follows:
o Duly-accomplished passport application form for minors
o Copy of child’s Report of Birth
o Copies of parents’ passports
o Payment of PLN 100
• The Filipino parent should accomplish and sign the form.
• The new passport should become available in four weeks’ time and the parents may collect the passport in person or arrange for courier pick-up.
Question:
A Filipino passed away in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania and we are the company authorized by the next of kin to make arrangements for the repatriation of the remains. What documents are required from the Embassy to facilitate the repatriation and what documents are needed?
Answer:
• In the case of Filipinos who pass away in Poland/Estonia/Latvia or Lithuania, a consular mortuary certificate will be required in order for the shipment of the remains to be accepted in the Philippines. The Embassy will also issue a Report of Death for the deceased which shall be forwarded to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
• Following are the documentary requirements:
o Original death certificate with certified English translation (if applicable), both legalized by the relevant Foreign Ministry plus four photocopies
o Non-communicable disease certificate with certified English translation (if applicable, legalized by the relevant Foreign Ministry
o Certificate to transport with certified English translation (if applicable, legalized by the relevant Foreign Ministry
o Embalming certificate
o Letter of guarantee from the funeral parlor certifying that the casket contains only the bodily remains of the deceased
o Medical certificate
o A copy of the deceased Philippine citizen's passport
o Shipment details
o Information on the next of kin and of the consignee/funeral parlor in the Philippines
o Payment of PLN 200
• For shipment of cremated remains, a certificate of cremation, together with its English translation (if applicable), is required. The certificate, issued by the crematorium, should state that (a) the body was properly cremated in accordance with internationally accepted practices, (b) the ashes are in a sanitary condition for overseas shipment consistent with existing standards, and (c) that the urn has been hermitically sealed and contains only the remains of the deceased. This certificate, and the translation (if applicable), should be legalized by the Foreign Ministry. Other requirements are as follows:
o Original death certificate with certified English translation (if applicable), both legalized by the relevant Foreign Ministry plus four photocopies;
o Medical report of death, with the attending physician certifying to the cause of death;
o A copy of the deceased Philippine citizen's passport;
o Shipment details;
o Information on the next of kin and of the consignee/funeral parlor in the Philippines; and
o Payment of PLN 200
• For deceased Philippines seafarers, the seaman’s book should be turned over to the Embassy.
• Three photocopies of each document should be provided together with the original documents. The original documents together with the consular mortuary certificate and one copy of the report of death will be given to the representative of the funeral parlor to facilitate the shipment.
Question:
I am a Filipino who was married to a Polish/Estonian/Latvian/Lithuanian citizen and our marriage has been dissolved through a decree of divorce issued by the relevant court in my spouse’s country. What do I do to change my status in the Philippines?
Answer:
• Please note that there is no divorce in the Philippines. However, when a divorce is validly obtained abroad by an alien spouse from his or her Filipino spouse, the Filipino spouse shall have the capacity to remarry under Philippine law. However, the divorce obtained abroad must be recognized by a Philippine court to prove its validity before the Filipino spouse can remarry under Philippine law.
• The decision of the Philippine Court shall become the basis for the annotation of civil registry documents.
• The following guidelines shall be followed in the annotation of the foreign-issued divorce decree with the Office of the Civil Registrar General in the Philippines:
o The foreign divorce decree must be judicially enforced or confirmed in the Philippines by filing the proper civil action at the Regional Trial Court in the Philippines (RTC-Phil).
o The court decision shall be registered in the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) where the concerned RTC-Phil functions.
o The registered document shall be submitted to the Local Civil Registrar where the marriage is registered. If the marriage was registered overseas, the registered document shall be submitted to the City Civil Registry Office at the Manila City Hall (CCRO Manila).
o The following documents shall be submitted to CCRO Manila in annotating a civil registry document:
- Original or Certified True Copy of the foreign judgment or order duly registered at the City Civil Registry Office at the Manila City Hall (CCRO Manila).
- Original or Certified True Copy of the Certificate of Finality of the decision of Regional Trial Court (RTC-Phil).
- Certificate of Registration of the decision of Regional Trial Court (RTC-Phil) at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) where the concerned RTC-Phil functions.
• After the annotation at the Local Civil Registrar’s Office (LCRO), the annotated documents and its requirements must be submitted to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General (OCRG) in Manila.
• NOTE: All documents sourced or obtained in Poland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania and intended for use and submission to Philippine authorities must undergo consular authentication at the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw or the Philippine Consulate/Consulate General in Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, respectively through verification of the seal and signature of a duly appointed official of the concerned Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• More information about the legal procedures or hiring the services of a lawyer in the Philippines may be obtained from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) or the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) in Manila.
INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES (IBP)
IBP Building
No. 15 Julia Vargas Avenue
Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Metro Manila, Philippines.
Tel: (+63-2) 631-3014 or 631-3018
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.ibp.ph
PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (PAO)
4th and 5th Floors
DOJ Agencies Building
NIA Road corner East Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines.
Tel: (+63-2) 929-9436
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.pao.gov.ph
Question:
I am a Filipino woman who has obtained the Philippine court’s approval of my divorce from my foreign spouse and have had my marriage record annotated by Philippine civil registry authorities. What do I need to do in order to revert back to my maiden surname in my Philippine passport?
Answer:
• In order to revert to your maiden surname in your Philippine passport, you will need to submit a DFA-authenticated copy of your annotated marriage certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority aside from the regular requirements for renewal of a Philippine passport.
Question:
I lost my Philippine passport. What do I need to do to get a replacement?
Answer:
• Applications for the replacement of lost passports are treated just like a new passport application. You will need to visit the Embassy and provide a police report in English and execute an affidavit explaining the circumstances of the loss of your Philippine passport (a fee of PLN 100 applies). You will also be required to submit a DFA-authenticated birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
• A 15-day waiting period is observed for lost passports but this may be waived by the consular officer on a case-by-case basis.
Question:
My Philippine passport got damaged. What should I do?
Answer:
• If the damage to your passport renders it unusable, please apply for a new passport. Your application will be treated as a new application and you will be required to submit a DFA-authenticated birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
• You will also be required to execute an affidavit of explanation on how the passport got damaged. An additional fee of PLN 100 applies for the affidavit. The defective/damaged passport will also be kept by the Embassy.
Question:
I want to get a passport for my minor child so he/she can visit me. What documents are needed so that my child can get a passport?
Answer:
• If this is the child’s first passport, a DFA-authenticated birth certificate is required, together with copies of the parents’ passports and the child’s school ID (if applicable).
• If you are the mother or father and you are overseas and your spouse is handling the passport application of your children, you will need to execute an Affidavit of Support and Consent. Please visit the Embassy, present your passport, accomplished affidavit and payment of PLN 100. Once this is done, the document should be sent to your spouse in support of your child’s passport application.
• If both parents are overseas, and someone else is applying for the child’s passport on the parents’ behalf, the parents should execute a joint Affidavit of Support and Consent as well as a Special Power of Attorney for the person.
• Please visit the Embassy and present your passports, accomplished joint affidavit and special power of attorney, and the fee of PLN 200. Once done, send the documents to your representative so that he/she may be allowed to assist/apply for the passport of your child.
Question:
I need a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance certificate. How do I secure one while overseas?
Answer:
• For Filipinos (and foreigners previously residing in the Philippines) who are overseas and need to secure a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance certificate for employment or immigration purposes and have never applied for an NBI clearance before, or have been issued NBI clearance certificates but do not have the actual certificates, they should secure an NBI Form No. 5 from the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate. The form is free of charge.
• Applicants are required to accomplish the form, have their fingerprints impressed on the form, and attach a recent 2 x 2 colored photo with white background (taken not more three months ago).
• If the applicant secures the NBI fingerprint form in person at the Embassy, the Embassy’s staff will assist the applicant in imprinting the applicant’s fingerprints on the form. The form will be attested by the consular officer. A fee of PLN 100 applies.
• If the form is requested by mail or through the Philippine Consulates in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania, the applicant will be provided with a letter addressed to local police authorities requesting them to imprint the applicant’s fingerprints on the form and to affix the signature of the police officer who imprinted the prints.
• Applicants must also register online at www.nbi-clearance.com. Write down the reference number which will facilitate retrieval of your data and include the information in your application documents.
• The overseas NBI applicant should have a representative in the Philippines to handle the submission of the NBI clearance certificate application. Together with the accomplished NBI application form, the applicant should send a copy of his/her passport and one other valid Philippine government-issued ID as well as a Special Power of Attorney in favor of the applicant’s representative which the representative will also use in order to transact with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for authentication of the NBI certificate.
• To secure a Special Power of Attorney: visit the Embassy, fill out the appropriate form, present your passport plus one photocopy and pay the processing fee of PLN 100. The SPA will be available on the same day or by the next working day.
• For those who were previously issued NBI certificates (2011 and earlier) and have the copy of their NBI certificates, they do not need to fill out a NBI Fingerprint Form 5 but are still required to register online at www.nbi-clearance.com. Together with the NBI clearance certificate, the reference number for their application, a 2x2 photo with white background (taken not more than three months prior to the submission of application), photocopy of passport and a SPA should be sent to his/her representative who will transact with the NBI on his/her behalf and submit the new NBI certificate to the DFA for authentication.
• For those who were previously issued NBI certificates (2014 and later) and have the copy of their NBI certificates, they do not need to fill out a NBI Fingerprint Form 5 and do not need to register online if there is no correction in the name, place and date of birth. Together with the NBI clearance certificate, a 2x2 photo with white background (taken not more than three months prior to the submission of application), photocopy of passport and a SPA should be sent to his/her representative who will transact with the NBI on his/her behalf and submit the new NBI certificate to the DFA for authentication.
Citizenship
Question:
I was born a Filipino but has since acquired foreign citizenship. What must I do to reacquire/retain my Philippine citizenship?
Answer:
• In order to reacquire/retain Philippine citizenship, you will need to prove that you were a natural-born citizen of the Philippines. Following are the required documents:
o Two duly-accomplished application forms;
o DFA-authenticated birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority plus two photocopies;
o DFA-authenticated marriage certificate plus two photocopies (for female applicants who are married and have used their spouse’s surname);
o Original naturalization certificate with sworn English translation legalized by the Foreign Ministry (please provide two photocopies)
o Last Philippine passport issued to the applicant plus two photocopies
o Foreign passport and national ID (if applicable) plus two photocopies
o Six pieces passport-size photo taken not more than three months ago
o Payment of PLN 200
• If applicant’s name on the foreign passport/naturalization documents is different from his/her name at birth then the applicant should provide documentary proof that he/she is the same person (if the reason for the change is not due to marriage).
• Applicants are also required to first check if the country which you have become a naturalized citizen of allows dual citizenship.
• Once the documents have been submitted and found in order, the oath taking will be scheduled. After the oath-taking the applicant may already apply for his/her new Philippine passport.
Question:
I have reacquired PH citizenship. What documents should I provide in order to get a new Philippine passport?
Answer:
• Filipinos who have acquired dual citizenship under Republic Act 9225 may apply for a new passport right after they complete the retention process for their Philippine citizenship.
• Requirements are as follows:
o Previous Philippine passport issued plus photocopy of data page
o Copy of Identification Certificate issued confirming retention of PH citizenship
o Copy of residence card
o Payment of PLN 240
• After the processor encodes your information and captures your biometric data, the application is transmitted to the passport printing center in the Philippines. Current turnaround time for passports is approximately four weeks.
Recruitment of Filipinos for overseas work
Question:
What should I do if I want to recruit workers from the Philippines?
Answer:
• In order to recruit Filipinos for work overseas, a foreign principal/employer must first apply for accreditation and submit its job order for approval by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Philippine government authority that accredits foreign employers/principals, approves job orders and monitors the deployment of Filipinos for work overseas.
• The foreign principal is required to prove that the company is authorized/certified by the government of the country where the employer/company is located to operate its business and has the necessary documents to prove this, and that it has the permission of the government to employ non-EU nationals. The company must also work with a registered Philippine recruitment agency which will act as their liaison with the Philippine government and assist them in recruiting and choosing suitable candidates based on its requirements.
• The foreign principal has to execute documents required by the Philippine government and which will be provided by the recruitment agency and this will confirm the foreign principal's willingness to be bound by the regulations of the Philippine government concerning the overseas employment of Filipinos.
• The Embassy's role is to endorse the accreditation and job order request through verification and authentication of the documents of the foreign principal, particularly the authorizations/permits from concerned government agencies in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania plus the contract to be used for the employment. Please take note that the Embassy only endorses recruitment of Filipinos on the basis of a contract of employment based on the standard employment contract of the POEA and on the relevant Labor Code of the countries under its jurisdiction.
• For further information, interested companies should visit the website of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (www.poea.gov.ph) and of the Philippine Associati
• If you wish to do so, you must secure the appropriate work permit and residence permit as per the regulation in that EU Member State.
