1.        What is a Machine-Readable Passport (MRP)?

A Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) is a passport where the personal details of the bearer is printed in such a way that it can be read by the naked eye and at the same time, it contains a “machine readable zone” containing the personal data of the passport holder that can be read by a machine or computer.

2.        Why did the Philippines shift to the MRP?

We shifted to MRP to comply with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which requires all countries to issue only Machine-Readable Passports not later than 01 April 2010.

3.        What are the benefits of the MRP?

The MRP complies with international standards.  It provides basic safety and security of the Philippine passport by minimizing, if not eradicating, instances of tampering of the personal details of the passport holder (photo/data-substitution). As such, the MRP also acts as a deterrent to international crime and terrorism.

4.        What are the features of the Philippine MRP and how does it differ from the current Philippine passport?

The Philippine MRP has the following features:

·         it has a maroon cover (the current Philippine passport has a green cover);

·         it has 44 pages (the green passport has either 32 pages or 64 pages);

·         the text in the data page is electronically printed (the data in the green passport is manually scripted); and

·         the photo is printed on the data page (in the green passport, the photo is pasted on the data page).

The new Philippine MRP also has other security features that render it tamper-proof and immune from any means of photo or data substitution. Each individual visa page has a holographic image that can be viewed through ultraviolet light.

5.        How long is the validity of the MRP?

Like the green passport, the new MRP has a validity period of (5) five years.

6.        What is the fee for the MRP?

The Philippine MRP will still cost HK$ 425.00 only.

7.        What are the requirements to apply for the MRP?

The requirements to apply for the MRP – whether it is a new application, a renewal or a replacement for a lost passport – remain the same except for the following:

o        Photos – submit three (3) passport-size (4.5x3.5cm) photos with royal blue (instead of the customary white background) matte background.  Please see attached sheet for the specific requirements for the photos; and

o        Personal appearance of the applicant.

8.        What are the steps to apply for the MRP?

There are four (4) steps to apply for the MRP:

Step 1: Processing. Go to the Processing Window at Window 10.  Submit the following:

·         duly accomplished application form;

·         old passport;

·         photocopy of the data page of the passport and the page where the visa is stamped;

·         photos with royal blue background (please see attached specifications);

·         original and photocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong ID;

·         other supporting documents.

If the Processor finds everything in order, he will issue you a receipt for payment.

Step 2: Payment. Go the Cashier and pay HK$425.00.  The Cashier will give you your copy of the receipt.

Step 3: Encoding.  Go the Encoding waiting area and wait for your name to be called.  When your name is called, enter the Encoding Area where an Encoder will input your personal data into a computer.  The Encoder will ask you to make sure that all entries are true and correct.  When you have checked that all entries are correct, the Encoder will print out the form containing your personal data.  The Encoder will ask you again to check that all entries are correct, after which you will be asked to sign the application form. 

Important reminder: Make sure that all entries in the form are correct before you sign.  If there are mistakes in the entries because you did not check them carefully, you may have to pay again so that a new passport can be issued with the corrected entries.

After signing, the Encoder will assist you in affixing your photos and fingerprints on the application form.  He will return to you your old passport, with instructions to present the old passport upon release of the MRP.  Your old passport will not be cancelled until your new MRP is released to you.  However, your new MRP will not be released to you unless you present your old passport for proper cancellation.

Step 4: Releasing and cancelling of old passport.  On the release date, go to the Releasing Window (Window #) and present your old passport and receipt.  The Releasing Officer will cancel your old passport then release to you your new Philippine Machine-Readable Passport.

Important reminder: you will not be given your new Philippine Machine-Readable Passport unless you present your old Philippine passport for proper cancellation. 

9.        What is the processing time for the MRP?

Your new Philippine MRP will be released to you 20 working days after receipt of your application.

The 20-day working days processing time is due to the fact that all Philippine MRPs are printed and produced at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.  All MRP applications received by the Philippine Consulate General will have to be sent to Manila, where the MRPs will be produced, after which the Department of Foreign Affairs will send the finished products back to the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong. 

The Philippine Consulate General can therefore no longer accommodate requests for early release of passports.  For this reason, applicants who wish to renew their passports or obtain a new passport after 19 November are advised to submit their applications at least one month before their scheduled travel or before the expiration of their Hong Kong work visas to avoid inconvenience.

10.     What if I have an immediate need for a Philippine passport and cannot wait for the 20-working day processing period?

Under the MRP processing system, the Consulate General can no longer accommodate requests to expedite the processing of passports.  The Consulate advises all Filipinos to check the validity of their passports and to renew them as early as possible to prevent any future problems.  For emergency situations where an applicant cannot wait for the 20-working-day processing period, the Consulate General will issue a green passport or a travel document on a case-by-case basis upon careful evaluation. 

11.     Will my current green passport still be valid if I choose not to apply for an MRP just yet?

All green passports issued by the Consulate, the DFA, the DFA Regional Consular Offices or other Philippine Foreign Service Posts will remain valid until their stated expiry date.  There is no need to renew apply for an MRP if your green passport is still valid.  Your green passport will still be honored by the immigration authorities of the various governments.

1.        Ano ang Machine-Readable Passport (MRP)?

Ang Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) ay uri ng pasaporte na naglalaman ng “machine-readable zone” kung saan nakalagay ang personal data na tanging machine o computer lamang ang makaka basa nito.

2.        Bakit pinapalitan ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ang kasalukuyang passport ng MRP?

Pinapalitan ng ating pamahalaan ang kasalukuyang passport ng MRP upang tumugon sa international standards na itinalaga ng International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) na igiit na lahat ng bansa ay mag-issue ng Machine-Readable Passport lamang pagdating ng ika-1 ng Abril 2010.

3.        Ano ang mga benepisyo ng MRP?

Ang MRP ay tumutugon sa international standards.  Ito ay nagbibigay ng karagdagang seguridad sa ating pasaporte upang maiwasan ang pagpalit ng mga personal data ng may hawak nito (photo/data-substitution).  Nakakatulong din ang MRP sa pagsugpo ng international crime and terrorism.

4.        Anu-ano ang mga katangian ng Philippine MRP at ano ang kaibahan nito sa dating Philippine passport?

Ang Philippine MRP ay may mga sumusunod na katangian:

·         Ang cover nito ay kulay maroon (ang cover ng dating Philippine passport ay kulay berde);

·         Ito ay may 44 na pahina (ang berdeng passaporte ay may 32 o 64 na pahina);

·         Ang teksto o mga letra ng mga pahina ay electronically printed (sa berdeng passaporte, ito ay sulat kamay); at

·         Ang larawan ng may hawak ng pasaporte ay naka print mismo sa pahina (sa berdeng passaporte, ang larawan ay naka dikit).

Ang bagong Philippine MRP ay may mga security features para magiging tamper-proof ito kung saan hindi na mapalitan ang larawan o baguhin ang mga nakasaad na data dito.  Bawat pahina nito ay may hologram image na makikita lamang sa pamamagitan ng ultraviolet light.

5.        Gaano katagal ang bisa ng MRP?

Katulad ng berdeng pasaporte, ang MRP ay may bisa ng limang (5) taon.

6.        Magkano ang halaga ng MRP?

Ang  bayad sa pag apply ng MRP ay HK$ 425.00

7.        Ano ang mga kinakailangan upang makakuha ng MRP?

Ang mga dokumentong kailangan upang makakuha ng MRP – ito man ay new application, renewal, o kapalit ng lost passport – ay pareho din sa dati maliban sa mga sumusunod:

·         Larawan – mag dala ng tatlong (3) passport size (4.5 X 3.5cm) na may royal blue background (sa halip ng puting background).  Basahin ang naka dikit ng papel para sa specific requirements.

·         Personal appearance ng aplikante.

8.        Paano ang paraan upang maka kuha ng MRP?

Merong apat (4) na hakbang para mag-apply ng MRP:

Step 1: Processing.  Magtungo sa Processing Window sa Window 10 at isumite ang mga sumusunod:

·         Application form na naka fill-up;

·         Lumang pasaporte;

·         Photocopy ng unang pahina ng pasaporte at pahina kung saan nakatatak ang visa;

·         Tatlong (3) passport-size na larawan na may royal blue background;

·         Original at photocopy ng Hong Kong ID ng aplikante; at

·         Iba pang dokumentong maaaring hanapin ng Processor.

Kung kompleto na lahat ang dokumento, mag bibigay ng resibo ang Processor.

Step 2: Pagbabayad.  Mag tungo sa Cashier at mag bayad ng HK$425.00. Kunin ang resibo.

Step 3: Encoding.  Magtungo sa Encoding Waiting Area at mag hintay na tawagin ang pangalan.   Pag tinawag ang pangalan, magtungo sa Encoding Area kung saan i-input ng Encoder ang mga personal data ng aplikante sa computer.  I-print ng Encoder ang inyong data na naipasok na sa computer.  Basahin mabuti ang printed data.  Tatanungin kayo ng Encoder kung tama ang inyong mga data.  Kung tama ang mga data, pumirma sa printed application form.  

IMPORTANTE: Siguraduhingang lahat ng inyong data ay tama bago kayo pumirma.  Kung may mali sa inyong data at kayo ay pumirma, kayo ay maaaring pagbayaring muli ng halaga ng bagong pasaporte upang kayo ay mabigyan ng bagong pasaporte na naitama ang data.  

Matapos pirmahan, tutulungan kayo ng Encoder sa pagdikit ang inyong larawan at paglagay ng inyong fingerprints sa application form.  Hindi muna kakanselahin ang berdeng pasaporte na hawak ng aplikante; ito ay ibabalik sa inyo.  Gayonman, kailangang dalhin ang berdeng pasaporte pag claim sa MRP upang kanselahin ito. 

Step 4: Releasing at pagkansela ng lumang pasaporte: Sa itinakdang panahon ng pagkuha ng MRP, mag tungo sa Passport Releasing Window at isumite ang lumang berdeng pasaporte at resibo.  Kakanselahin ng Releasing Officer ang lumang pasaporte at ibibigay sa inyo ang inyong new Philippine Machine-Readable Passport.   Babala: Hindi ibibigay sa inyo ang new Philippine Machine-Readable Passport hanggat hindi ninyo ibinibigay o ibabalik ang lumang pasaporte.

9.        Gaano katagal ang pag-process ng MRP?

Ang bagong MRP ay may processing time ng dalawangpu (20) working days simula sa araw ng pag tanggap ng inyong application. Aabutin ng labing lima (15) working days ang pag proseso ng MRP sa dahilang ito ay gagawin sa Department of Foreign Affairs sa Maynila.  Lahat ng MRP application forms na tinanggap ng Konsulado ay ipapadala sa Maynila kung saan ang MRP ay ginagawa.  Ipapadala muli ng Department of Foreign Affairs ang mga natapos na MRP sa Philippine Consulate General sa Hong Kong.

10.     Paano kung may hindi inaasahang pagkakataon at hindi na mahihintay ang 20 working days na processing period?

Sa ilalim ng sistema sa pag process ng MRP, mahihirapan nang mapabigyan ng Konsulado ang mga kahilingang mapabilis ang proseso ng pag issue ng pasaporte.  Dahil ditto, pinaaalahanan ng Konsulado ang lahat na tingnang mabuti ang validity ng kanilang pasaporte at mag renew nito sa mas maagang panahon upang makaiwas sa problema.  Sa kasong emergency, ang Konsulado ay mag bibigay ng green passport o travel document sa mga nangangailangan ngunit case-to-case basis lamang.

11.     May bisa pa rin ba ang aking berdeng pasaporte sakaling hindi ako kumuha ng new MRP?

Lahat ng green passport na na-issue ng Konsulado sa Hong Kong, Department of Foreign Affairs, DFA Regional Consular Office o ng ibang Philippine Embassy o Consulate ay mananatiling may bisa hanggat ito ay hindi dumadating sa expiry date ng pasaporte.  Hindi kinakailangang mag renew o magpalit ng MRP kung ang berdeng pasaporte ay may bisa pa. 

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon ukol sa Philippine Machine-Readable Passport, makipag-ugnayan lamang sa aming tanggapan sa Konsulado sa tel. 2823-8501.