DFA updates passport renewal policy for married women

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has updated their policy for passport renewal for married women.

As per implementation of the New Philippine Passport Act, married women renewing passports may now voluntarily revert to their maiden names. However, this can only be done once.

This follows Section 5 (f) of the Act, which states:

“For a woman who wishes to revert to the use of her maiden name, a duly authenticated birth certificate by the PSA: Provided, That she can only revert to her maiden name once and all her other existing identification cards and pertinent documents shall likewise reflect her maiden name…”

Those who wish to avail of this may do so under the following conditions:

For those who wish to revert to their maiden names for reasons apart from those stated above:

• An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or PSA Report of Birth;
• An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Marriage or PSA Report of Marriage;
• Notarized Affidavit of Explanation that includes a request for the reversion of maiden name in the Philippine passport or travel document and stating that the applicant has not hitherto availed of the reversion; and
• Latest-issued Philippine passport or travel document; and
• Any valid and existing Government-issued ID accepted for passport application, reflecting the maiden name of the passport applicant.

A married woman may also revert to her maiden name by virtue of the following:

• Annulment
• Declaration of nullity of marriage
• Legal separation
• Judicially-recognized foreign divorce
• Death of a husbandIn light of this, they must submit the following documentary requirements below:By Virtue of Death of Spouse:
• Submission of an original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Death (COD) or Report of Death (ROD) of a spouse, or apostilled, or authenticated Foreign Death Certificate with English Translation, if applicable;
• An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or PSA Report of Birth;
• Latest-issued Philippine passport (if available).By Virtue of Annulment, Declaration of Nullity of Marriage, Judicially-recognized Foreign Divorce, Judicially-recognized Divorce under PD No. 1083, and Legal Separation:
• Submission of an original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Marriage (COM) or PSA Report of Marriage (ROM) with annotation reflecting the nullity or dissolution of marriage, judicial recognition of foreign divorce, court decree of legal separation;
• An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or PSA Report of Birth;
• Latest-issued Philippine passport (if available).

  For married women who will avail of the voluntary reversion, a duly notarized affidavit will also be accepted. It should clearly state the applicant’s reason for reverting to her maiden name and confirms compliance with all documentary requirements.

  Furthermore, a married woman who has used her husband’s surname in her passport or travel document may revert to her maiden name only once, following the dissolution of a subsisting marriage.