Taiwan has long been a place where Filipinos travel to and unfurl the offers that this island holds. For a lot of Pinoys, Taiwan has also opened countless career opportunities as well as education advancements that have helped our kababayans improve their lives.
Also Read: How Much Does a Caretaker Earn in Taiwan?
Of course, while staying in Taiwan as your temporary domicile, it is important to keep your travel documents and identification intact to avoid any complications. Your passport is one of the most powerful documentation to keep with you. It constitutes that you have legally left the borders of the Philippines and entered Taiwan. This important identification also gives you a number of rights, depending on the type of visa that you have applied for.
As provided in the official website of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, which now facilitates the issuance and renewal of Philippines Passports, it is advised that for all Filipinos to renew their passports at least as early as one year and not later than six months before the expiration of the said document to avoid any problems.
With the website of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), processing a passport renewal has never been easier. And to help our fellow Filipinos in processing a renewal, here is a comprehensive guide that will surely make it painless and less punishing.
Requirements in renewing your Philippine passport in Taiwan
Unlike when applying for a new passport, the application for renewal does not ask for many requirements as the applicants already have a record in the DFA system. This means that most of what’s being asked is more of a verification of the applicant’s identity. When applying for an appointment and filling out forms, it is essential that everything is written and answered neatly and correctly. The following are the requirements being asked when applying for a renewal of your Philippine passport, as provided on the MECO’s website:
An Appointment
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) will be processing issuances or renewals of Philippines passports by appointment, effective 02 January 2019. This expedites and optimizes their system which eases the whole undertaking. It is advised that Filipinos must renew their passport as early as one year but not later than six months before its expiration date.
Although, there are those who are exempted in setting an appointment for the renewal of their passports. They are the following.
- Senior citizens (60 years old & above);
- Persons with a disability;
- Pregnant women;
- Minors seven (7) years old and below with his/her parents and minor siblings; and
- Caregivers accompanied by their elderly ward.
And when securing an appointment, here are the following steps as mentioned on MECO’s website:
- Go to www.meco.org.tw
- Click “Passport Appointment” at the upper right part of the webpage.
- Click “Register” at the bottom right portion of the log-in box.
- Fill out all the required information for registration.
- Check the box on the “Privacy Policy & Terms of Service”.
- Click “Register” again.
- Read the “Schedule of Appointment” and click the box to consent/give your agreement to the Terms and -Conditions of the online appointment facility of MECO
- -Click “Start Individual Appointment”.
- Fill up the application form provided.
- Choose your preferred date, time, and the MECO office you reach to go for your passport application.
- Complete the application form.
- Click “Print Form”
- Bring with you the application form and the other requirements on the appointment date and venue.
Filled-out Forms and Personal Documents
Located in the same appointment system, there are forms that can be downloaded, free of charge. These forms should be clearly filled in with black ink. The following are the mentioned documents asked as per the MECO website:
- Duly-accomplished Passport Application Form;
- Original Philippine passport and photocopy of passport pages 2-5 and the page with the latest Taiwanese visa and entry stamp;
- Original and photocopy of the Taiwan Alien Resident Certificate (“ARC”) issued by the National Immigration Agency (NIA) of Taiwan.
Renewal Fee
A processing fee of two thousand New Taiwan Dollars (NTD2,000.00) will be paid and brought together with the filled-out forms on the appointment date.
Appearance on the Appointment Date
Appearance is necessary as verification of identity and of documents will be done. Personal documents will be captured, as well as payment for the processing of renewal will be done during an appointment as well. The following are the steps that will be done during an appointment as per MECO’s website:
Step 1 – Applicants must submit the required documents to the nearest MECO office.
Step 2 – Once the completeness and the authenticity of the required documents are confirmed by the passport processor, the processor and the applicant shall proceed with data capturing and passport enrollment. The applicant is advised to read and review all relevant details entered into the DFA Passport Module.
Step 3 – After the applicant’s data is saved into the DFA system, the applicant shall proceed to the Cashier for payment.
Step 4 – The applicant will be issued a claim stub which s/he should bring when claiming his/her passport.
Step 5 – The applicant’s form and all relevant documents shall be sent to the DFA for processing.
Step 6 – The applicant is advised to check the MECO website regularly to confirm whether his/her passport is ready for pick-up.
Step 7 –When picking up his/her passport, the applicant is required to present the claim stub and his/her old passport.
Step 8 – The applicant’s old passport shall be canceled upon the applicant’s confirmation of the accuracy of his/her personal details in his new passport.
Additional requirements for special circumstance
These are the additional requirements being asked to people with special circumstances for verification and as well as for those who have special requests for the renewal of their passports. The following are also provided on MECO’s official website:
Recently married women who wish to use their married surname
- PSA-issued Marriage Certificate
Widowed women who wish to revert to their maiden name
- Original and photocopy of the PSA-issued Birth Certificate of the applicant; and
- Original and photocopy of the PSA-issued Death Certificate of the applicant’s husband.
Women who had their marriages annulled and wish to revert to their maiden name
- Original and photocopy of the court order declaring the nullity of the applicant’s marriage; and
- Original and photocopy of the PSA-issued Marriage Certificate reflecting the annotations regarding the annulment of marriage.
Divorcees who wish to revert to their maiden name
- A certified true copy of the divorce decree duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate where the divorce was obtained or by the concerned foreign diplomatic or consular mission in the Philippines;
- Original and photocopy of the court order declaring the dissolution of the applicant’s marriage; and
- Original and photocopy of the PSA-issued Marriage Certificate reflecting the annotations of the court’s order.
Philippine citizens with Taiwan or other foreign passports/Applicants with Dual Citizenship or Election of Philippine Citizenship under RA 9225
- Foreign passport and a photocopy of its data page
- Original and photocopy of the PSA-issued Birth Certificate of the applicant;
- Original and photocopy of the PSA-issued Marriage Certificate of the applicant;
- Original and photocopy of Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship Documents (i.e. Oath of Allegiance, Order of Approval, and Order).
- For Taiwan passport holders, original and photocopy of Taiwan Household Registration reflecting how they acquired Taiwan citizenship;
- Identification Cards (I-Card) issued by the Philippine government, if applicable;
- Original and photocopy of Taiwan and another foreign passport; and
- Original and photocopy of documents related to the election of Philippine citizenship.
Applicants whose passports have expired more than a year prior to renewal
- Affidavit of Late Renewal of Passport notarized by MECO.
Also, remember these:
These are provided on MECO’s website in addition to the information, forms, and documents being asked for special cases as well due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- MECO may extend the validity of Philippine passports, but only under exceptional circumstances authorized by the DFA.
- For Philippine citizens who need to extend the validity of their passport, they may contact the nearest MECO office for further assistance.
- All NSO documents should be in security paper (SECPA).
- Renewal of passport may be made as early as one (1) year but not later than six (6) months before its expiration date.
- The Passport Officer reserves the right to require additional proof or documents, pursuant to R.A. 8239 (The Philippine Passport Act of 1996) for the purpose of verifying the identity, citizenship, and personal circumstances of the applicant and/ or that of the Filipino parent/s.
Schedules to watch out for
When making an appointment with MECO, it is advised to take note of their schedule, holidays, and any updates in case of any event that they might be close to avoid any misunderstanding with your selected date and prevent any instances of not being accommodated.
Passport Application Schedule
Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Passport Releasing Schedule
Releasing of new passports: 3 weeks – 3 months from the time of renewal
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN
Friday: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
How to Contact MECO
As easy as it gets, there will be some queries that cannot be avoided. So if you have any further questions or need further assistance, here are the ways to contact MECO:
MECO TAIPEI OFFICE
2F, Chang Hong New Era Building
55 & 57 Zhouzi Street
Neihu District
Taipei, Taiwan
114台北市內湖區洲子街55/57號2樓
Telephone Number: (886) 2-2658-8825
Fax Number: (886) 2-2658-8867
MECO KAOHSIUNG
EXTENSION OFFICE
9F-2, Grand 50 Tower
No. 80, Min Tzu 1st Road
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
807高雄市三民區民族一路80號9F 長谷世貿聯合國大樓
Telephone Number: (886) 7-3985935 to 36
Fax Number: (886) 7-3985929
MECO MANILA OFFICE
7/F Trafalgar Plaza,
105 H.V. de la Costa Street
Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone Number: (632) 848-3796 to 97
Fax Number: (632) 848-3799
MECO’s Official Website: https://www.meco.org.tw/
Tips for Passport Renewal
To help you even further, here are some pointers to follow for faster and more efficient processing of your passport renewal:
- Renewal is possible through an appointment in the nearest MECO in your area. Going back to the Philippines is not necessary.
- It is recommended by MECO that you renew your passport as early as one year and later than six months before the expiration of your passport.
- Double-check the information that you are providing when filling out forms to prevent problems in your application.
- Always check updates and schedules that might affect your appointment, issuance, and release for your passport.
- Only use black ink in filling out forms.
- Only provide an active and updated contact number, as well as an email address in your application.
- Always remember that all the forms needed for passport renewal and application are available online free of charge on MECO’s official website. Do not transact with fixers or purchase with anyone selling forms. Report them to MECO if you encounter one.
Final Thoughts
As there is a lot happening right now in our environment, getting your passport renewed is made easy by doing some transactions online. The requirements, qualifications, schedule, contact information, and tips are pretty much what you need when applying for passport renewal. Make sure to consider all the information mentioned here for your own convenience.