Filipinos who are based in Australia can also go to the Philippine Consulate located in Sydney. If you find it hassle to travel to Canberra to reach the Philippine embassy, you can head to the consulate instead to avail of the services you need. The Philippine consulate likewise offers passport application and renewal, NBI clearance application, and other related services for OFWs. In case of legal matters and emergencies, you can also ask the help of the consulate.
Also Read: Cost of Living of a Typical OFW in Australia
It’s essential that you know the details of the Philippine Consulate in Australia so that in case you are too far away from the embassy, you can still get help from the government. Ensure that you have the information about the consulate, it’s important by the time you need someone to assist you during emergencies.
In this blog, we gathered all the information about the Philippines Consulate in Australia that can help you throughout your residence in the country. We hope this can guide you, especially the list of services, tips, opening hours, contact details, and the guide map.
History -PCG Sydney
A part of the history of the Philippine Consulate in Sydney, Australia is the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Sydney. The ties were built on May 22, 1946, while the foreign mission started in 1947. The current consular jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate is limited to New South Wales, however, there are reported clients coming from every part of the country. Accordingly, the Philippine Consulate General provides consular services to the Filipino people in the country, Australians, and other nationals who are in Sydney. The consulate remains the focal point of the government of the Philippines in New South Wales. Today, the consulate enjoys the good partnership of the Filipino-Australian community, which is estimated to be about 127,000 as of 2018.
The Philippine Consulate, like Embassy, offers services to Filipino people. If you need passport services, the consulate is open by appointment from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM only. The release of passports is also done through express mail only. Also, the consulate attends to lodgements of documents and requests for NBI clearance and notary between the same timeline and by appointment only. Other services are done by mail. The release of processed documents is usually on the business day following lodgement by mail. NBI Clearances, on the other hand, are released 15 minutes after you paid.
Staff & Activities
The current Philippine Consul General in Sydney, Austria is Mr. Ezzedin Tago. He assumed the position on August 22, 2019. Mr. Tago has ha history of working as a career officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs. He started to work for the department in 1995 until he was given the opportunity to work in the consulate. Mr. Tago is also proficient in Arabic because he served as the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen from 2011 to 2016. Prior to that, he was a Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. His career also took him to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Jakarta, Indonesia. In the home office, Mr. Tago also serves different offices. He received several awards from the Office of the President and as well from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The following are the former consul general who took care of the Philippine Consulate in Sydney:
- Renato Urquiola (1962 – 1965)
- Manuel Cumagun (1965 – 1969)
- Ireneo Cornista (1969 – 1975)
- Etta Cabrera Enriquez (1977 – 1980)
- Nicasio Valderrama (July 1980 – June 1986)
- Oscar Valenzuela (1986 – March 1988)
- Fernando Santos (Acting Head, April 1988 – 1990)
- Juan Ona (July 1990 – June 1993)
- Fernando Santos (Acting Head, 1993 – 1994)
- Antonio Manguiat (1994 – 1995)
- Ariel Abadilla (1995 – 1999)
- Libran N. Cabactulan (March 2000 – July 2002)
- Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson (July 2002 – March 2004)
- Laureano C. Santiago (May 2004 – January 2005)
- Maria Theresa P. Lazaro (February 2005 – December 2008)
- Eva G. Betita (April 2009 – April 2010)
- Anne Jalando-on Louis (April 2011 – August 2017)
- Maria Teresa L. Taguiang (June 2018 – August 2019)
Services Offered
- Passports
- Report of Birth
- Report of Marriage
- Report of Death
- Civil Registry Correction
- Marriage Solemnization
- Notarial / Acknowledgement
- NBI Clearance Fingerprinting
- Repatriation of Human Remains / Urn
- Assistance to Nationals (ATN)
- DSWD Travel Clearance for Minors
- Visas
Tips Before Visiting the Philippine Consulate
1. Secure the documents needed.
The first thing you have to be reminded of when visiting the Philippine Consulate in Sydney, Australia is to secure all the documents you need for the services you plan to get. Before you visit the location, make sure you have in your bag or else, you will go back home and experience the hassle of going back and forth. Be more comfortable and experience less inconvenience by completing all the documents before you go to the consulate.
2. Don’t forget to book an appointment.
Almost all services in the consulate need an appointment before they entertain you. Make a phone call and ask the procedure on how you can make an appointment. You can’t just walk-in when you go to the consulate because most probably, the day is filled with applicants who booked appointments previously. You need to comply with the appointment procedure if you don’t want your effort to get wasted. To call the consulate, you can contact them through their telephone number or through the email mentioned below.
3. Make sure you use your current address for the mail.
Most of the documents are also mailed. In this case, you need to use your current address so as to make sure that you are receiving your documents. Since those documents are personal and confidential, you will need to be present when it is delivered. Another alternative is to leave an authorization letter to a person at home so he/she can receive the document.
4. Dress smartly.
When visiting the consulate, you are also required to dress smartly. Wearing your sando and shorts will not help you convince the consulate that you are there to avail of its services. You need to look smart or at least casual whenever you have an appointment with them. For instance, your passport will require your picture. You can’t just take a photo wearing a sando or it will reflect in your passport.
5. Be on time.
When you have an appointment, don’t forget to be on time. Punctuality is a must. It’s possible that your appointment will get canceled if you are not present when your name is called during the process of the service. Being on time can also make you go home early. The earlier you go to the consulate, the less hassle it is for you. Make sure to comply with the appointment you set to avoid rescheduling.
Opening Hours
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Contact Information
Consulate General of the Philippines in Sydney, Australia
Contact Person: Hon. (Ms.) Anne Jalando-on Louis – Consul General
Address: Philippine Centre, Level 1, 27-33 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney NSW 2000
Telephone Number: (+61-2) 9262-7377
Fax Number: (+61-2) 9262-7355
Emergency Number: (+61) 415-426400
Email: sydney.pcg@dfa.gov.ph / communications@philippineconsulate.com.au
Website: www.sydneypcg.dfa.gov.ph
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PHLinSydney/
Google Map Location
In case you are wondering where the Philippine Consulate in Sydney is located, below is a map guide for you: