DSWD Travel Clearance for Minors going Abroad without Parents or Legal Guardians

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reiterates to parents and guardians to secure travel clearances for their children, 17 years old and below, who will be traveling abroad without them.

Secretary of Social Welfare Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the travel clearance aims to prevent child trafficking and other forms of abuse that a minor might encounter while traveling abroad.

The issuance of a travel clearance is specified under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

The travel clearance shall be issued by the DSWD to a Filipino minor traveling to a foreign country unaccompanied by his/her parents and to an illegitimate child traveling with his/her father. Personal appearance of the minor is not necessary.

The requirements needed to obtain a travel clearance for minors traveling abroad are:

• Duly accomplished application form;
• Photocopy of National Statistics Office (NSO)-issued birth certificate of minor;
• Written consent of both parents/solo parent/legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country alone or with a specific companion; and,
• Two pieces colored passport size photo of the minor taken within the last six months.
• For minors under the care of their parents, they should present a photocopy of NSO-issued marriage certificate of their parents.
• For minors under the care of legal guardians, they should present a photocopy of the certificate of legal guardianship of the minor.
• For minors under the care of a solo parent, they should present either a photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, or a photocopy of solo parent certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office.
• For minors with a deceased parent, they should present a photocopy of the parent’s death certificate.
• For illegitimate minors, they should present a certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from NSO. If they are traveling abroad accompanied by their biological father, they are still required to secure a travel clearance certificate as parental authority is vested only to the mother of the child, per Article 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines.
• If the minor is traveling with a person other than the parents or legal guardian, a photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion should be presented.

The application for travel clearance together with the required supporting documents shall be submitted by the parent/s or legal guardian or a duly authorized representative to the nearest DSWD regional office. The application forms may also be downloaded from the DSWD website (www.dswd.gov.ph).

Minor traveling alone to a foreign country for the first time:

1. A duly accomplished application form;
2. A photocopy of the birth certificate of minor;
3. Written consent from both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel alone to a foreign country;
4. Two colored passport-size photos of the minor taken within the last six months;
5. Any of the following that applies:
6. A photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents;
7. A photocopy of the certificate of legal guardianship of the minor;
8. A photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office;
9. A photocopy of the certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent, or Tallaq or Faskh certification from the Shariah court or any Muslim Barangay or religious leader;
10. A certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from the National Statistics Office (NSO) for illegitimate children;
11. A photocopy of the parent’s death certificate.

Minors traveling for the first time with a person other than the parents or legal guardians:

1. A duly accomplished application form;
2. A photocopy of the birth certificate of the minor;
3. Written consent of both parents, the solo parent, or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country with a specific person;
4. Two colored passport-size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months.
5. A photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion
6. Any of the following, which applies:
7. A photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents
8. A certificate of legal guardianship of the minor for solo parents
9. A solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
10. A certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent
11. A court decree of separation, annulment or divorce, Tallaq or Fasakh certification from the Shariah court or any muslim barangay or religious leader for separated parents;
12. A certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from the National Statistics Office for illegitimate minors;
13. A photocopy of the death certificate a deceased parent

The travel clearance is approved and issued within 24 hours as long as supporting documents are complied with and the social worker’s assessment is completed.

Coverage:

• Minors traveling alone to a foreign country;
• Minors traveling to a foreign country accompanied by a person other than his or her parents.

Not covered:

• Minors traveling to a foreign country with both parents, one of his/her parents, or a legal guardian;
• Minor traveling abroad whose parents are in the Foreign Service;
• Minor traveling abroad whose parents are living abroad;
• Minor traveling abroad whose parents are immigrants,
• The minor, however, should be holding a valid pass, such as a dependents visa/pass/identification card or a permanent resident visa/pass/identification card, which serves as proof that the minor is living with parents abroad and their travel does not constitute child trafficking.
• Any other minor who are not indicated in the aforementioned coverage

MINORS EXEMPTED FROM SECURING A TRAVEL CLEARANCE

The only exemptions to the DSWD travel clearance are minor children who are:

• travelling with either parent
• travelling with the legal guardian
• immigrants to another country and are holding a valid permanent residency card, dependents visa, or other pass issued by another country which proves residency with parents abroad. A minor who holds a permanent residency card of another country, or a valid pass such as dependents visa/pass/identification or permanent resident visa/pass/identification card is no longer required to secure travel clearance from DSWD.
• not a Filipino citizen and are holding a foreign passport

A minor who is a Filipino citizen and living abroad but does not hold either a permanent resident visa or equivalent pass issued by another country is required to secure a travel clearance.

VALIDITY OF A DSWD TRAVEL CLEARANCE

A DSWD travel clearance is valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance and shall be valid for multiple travels within the validity period, provided the conditions under which the travel clearance was issued have not changed. If a change in condition occurs like a change in travelling companion, a new travel clearance must be obtained.

CHILDREN OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• Orphaned minors who have no appointed legal guardian

The grandparents (paternal or maternal) who exercise parental authority over an orphaned minor may issue the consent even without guardianship order from the Court. But in cases where both the grandparents are deceased, the relatives or acting guardians of the minor should work for their legal guardianship over the minor.

• Minors whose parents have marital conflict and on hold order

A minor who is the subject of ongoing custody battle between parents will not be issued a travel clearance unless a Court Order is issued to allow the child to travel abroad with either parent or authorized guardian.

A child whose name is included in the Bureau of Immigration’s watchlist of minors travelling abroad will be prevented from leaving the country.

• Illegitimate children

The Family Code of the Philippines vests the mother with the parental authority over an illegitimate child (Article 176).

1. If travelling with the mother, a DSWD travel clearance is not required.
2. If travelling with a person other than the mother, a DSWD travel clearance is required.
3. If travelling with the biological father, a DSWD travel clearance is required. However, if a Court Order has granted parental authority to the father, a DSWD travel clearance is not required.
4. If travelling with an adult other than the mother, a DSWD travel clearance is required.

 ELECTRONIC OR FAX TRANSMISSION OF PARENTAL CONSENT

A faxed copy is acceptable. Likewise, a computer generated photo of minors and emailed documents are acceptable.

Contact Details

1. Trunkline: (632)931-81-01 to 07
2. Twitter: @dswdserves
3. Address: DSWD, Constitution Hills, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
4. Website: dswd.gov.ph

As of December 2014, DSWD has issued 40,282 travel clearances to minors traveling abroad. DSWD-Field Office in NCR issued the most number of clearances, amounting to 10,405.