A travel clearance is a document issued exclusively by the DSWD to a Filipino child (below 18 years of age) who is traveling abroad alone or with someone other than his/her biological parents.
According to OIC – Regional Director Jacel J. Paguio, “DSWD Field Office NCR is reiterating the submission of complete requirements for a travel clearance at least two (2) weeks prior to actual date of travel”.
She also stressed the importance of travel clearance in the prevention of child trafficking and other forms of abuse that may be encountered by the minor during overseas travel.
Categorically, a minor travelling alone to a foreign country needs to secure a travel clearance. Also, a minor travelling to a foreign country accompanied by a person other than his/her parents and an illegitimate child, who is going abroad with a person other than the mother must secure a travel clearance to ensure that the child will not fall prey to child trafficking.
Children ages 13 years old below are not allowed to travel alone without an adult companion. However, for applicants who are 13 years old above and travelling alone for the first time, they must submit two (2) colored passport-sized photos taken within the last six (6) months, a duly accomplished application form, photocopies of birth certificate from NSO, a written consent from both parents if legitimate or written consent from the mother if illegitimate or the legal guardian allowing the minor to travel and a photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents or the certificate of legal guardianship issued by the court. In case of an illegitimate minor, a certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from the Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) while in the case of a deceased parent, a photocopy of the death certificate necessitates the facilitation of the travel clearance.
For minors travelling for the first time with someone other than their parents or legal guardian, the same document applies to them. In the written consent, however, the parent or legal guardian must specify the person who will accompany the minor in the travel abroad, the country of destination and purpose of travel. Please note that the assigned social worker may require additional documentary requirements during the assessment of the Travel Clearance application “to safeguard the child’s best interest and welfare and to ensure that no child shall be trafficked”.
Every travel clearance has a validity of one (1) or two (2) years from the date of issuance and shall be valid for multiple travels within the validity period as long as the conditions stipulated under the present clearance have not changed. Should there be any changes, however, a new travel clearance must be obtained. The processing fee for a clearance good for a year is Php 300.00 while a clearance valid for two years would entail Php 600.00. To save time, forms are downloadable from the DSWD website. For more details, you can visit the nearest DSWD regional office. ###