General Information

Processing Time for Passport, Visa and Notarial Services

Please refer to this website’s separate sections about passport, visa and notarial services for information about the complete requirements of these services.

The processing time for most visa applications and notarial services is one (1) business day and their release is the following business day. Customers who cannot return to the Consulate to claim their documents can have these documents mailed to them, and must provide a self-addressed pre-paid postage mail envelope, either Express Post or Registered Post, that will be used for this purpose.

The processing of visa, notarial and authentication services may be expedited for release on the same day with the additional payment of AUD$18.00. The release of documents will be at 4:00 p.m.

Visa and notarial service requests that are lodged through mail are processed within two (2) business days of receipt, and are mailed to the sender on the third business day after receipt. Mailed requests must include:

• a self-addressed pre-paid postage mail envelope, either Express Post or Registered Post, to allow tracking of the progress of delivery,
  
  
• the payment of the appropriate fee(s) in the form of postal money order addressed to “The Philippine Consulate General”.

Processing Time for the Renewal of the Philippine Passport

Please refer to this website’s separate section about the passport for information about the complete requirements for the renewal or first-time application of the Philippine passport.

On 1 August 2008, the Consulate ceased to issue the green passport and started to issue the Machine Readable Passport (MRP). Applications for passport renewal are processed by the Consulate, but the passports are produced in a central facility in the Philippines and sent to the Consulate for releasing. The new passport is available for picking up by the passport holder by the sixth (6th) week after the lodging of the application.  The passport holder must present the old Philippine passport and the official receipt when claiming the new passport.

The process for passport application now requires the personal appearance of the passport holder. Please note that applications lodged in person will only be processed once the documentary requirements have been duly complied with.

Applicants may authorize another person to claim the new passport on their behalf. The representative must present a written authorization signed the passport holder, the passport holder’s old Philippine passport, and the official receipt. Alternatively, applicants may arrange for the return of the processed document by (1) postal service by including a self –addressed registered mail envelope or (2) special courier service (e.g. DHL, TNT, FedEx, TravCour).

The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines started to issue the electronic passport (ePassport) in September 2009. The Consulate will implement the issuance of the ePassport at a future date to be announced by this Consulate.

Submission of Supporting Documents for Consular and Notarial Services

The original of documents must be presented at all times. It is important to understand that the Consular Officer may require:

• Personal appearance of the applicant; and/or
  
  
• Additional documents to be submitted based on the circumstances.

Payments

Fees must be paid in cash, postal money order, or by commercial bank cheque only. EFTPOS cards, credit cards, credit union and building society cheques are NOT accepted.

Postal money orders and commercial cheques must be made out to "The Philippine Consulate General ".