Saturday, October 16, 2021

Requirements for Courtesy Lane Eligibility

 The following may avail of the Courtesy Lane Facility:

  1. Senior citizens
    • A senior citizen applicant may be accompanied by one (1) adult. The adult companion may also avail of Courtesy Lane privileges, provided they are the senior citizen applicant’s immediate family member or traveling companion.
    • An immediate family member (i.e., spouse, adult children, or adult sibling only) must present proof of relationship to the senior citizen applicant (e.g., birth certificate).
    • A traveling companion must present proof of travel with the senior citizen (e.g., confirmed flight or hotel booking) and must also state the reason or justification for travelling (e.g., the travelling companion is a medical escort or nurse).
  2. Persons with disability (PWDs)
    • A PWD applicant must present a valid PWD Identification Card.
    • A PWD applicant may be accompanied by one (1) adult. The adult companion may also avail of Courtesy Lane privileges, provided they are the PWD applicant’s immediate family member or traveling companion.
    • An immediate family member (i.e., parent, spouse, adult children, or adult sibling only) must present proof of relationship to the PWD applicant (e.g., birth certificate).
    • A traveling companion must present proof of travel with the PWD applicant (e.g., confirmed flight or hotel booking) and must also state the reason or justification for travelling (e.g., the travelling companion is a medical escort or nurse).
  3. Pregnant women
    • A pregnant applicant must present medical certificate/records as proof of pregnancy.
  4. Minors aged seven (7) years and below
    • A minor applicant must be accompanied by his or her parents, legal guardian, or their authorized representative. The adult companion may also be an applicant.
  5. Solo Parents
    • A solo parent applicant must present a valid Solo Parent Identification Card.
  6. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
    • An OFW applicant must present proof of their OFW status, such as:
      • Valid OWWA E-card;
      • Valid employment contract;
      • Valid work visa;
      • Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) stamped at an international border not more than three hundred sixty-four (364) days from the date of application;
      • Expired or cancelled working visa or employment contract, and a Philippine passport with an immigration arrival stamp of not more than three hundred sixty-four (364) days from the date of application.
  7. Exceptional and emergency cases
    • In exceptional and emergency cases, Courtesy Lane privileges may be extended to applicants upon due approval of his or her written request by any of the following Department officials:
      • The Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
      • The Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns; or
      • The Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.

NOTE

  • Senior citizens and PWD applicants may choose either regular or expedited processing of their passport application during regular hours from Monday to Friday
  • All other applicants including companions must pay for expedited processing.
  • All applications outside regular hours must pay for expedited processing.
  • Consular Offices are authorized to set their own daily maximum number of applicants based on operating capacity of the CO and the safety and convenience of the public.
  • Access to the Courtesy Lane may be restricted in emergency or extraordinary circumstances such as in the present Covid-19 public health emergency.
Source: https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/services/passport/passport-cl