If you’re planning to apply for a new passport soon, you might want to factor in a bit of extra waiting time.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced that passport processing may now take up to 15 working days, following disruptions in the electronic passport printing supply chain linked to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Photo: Vecteezy
According to the DFA, applications filed from the last week of March 2026 onward are expected to be affected by the delay. The extended processing time will remain in place “until further notice.”
While the agency did not specify exactly which part of the supply chain was impacted, it shared that it is currently working with its third-party provider responsible for ePassport printing to address the issue and restore normal operations as soon as possible.
For those with urgent travel needs, the DFA advised applicants to contact their official channels directly. You can contact them via email at passportconcerns@dfa.gov.ph or oca.concerns@dfa.gov.ph for assistance with emergency or urgent consular services.
If you have upcoming travel plans, it may be worth checking your passport’s validity early and allowing extra time for processing, just in case.
ALSO READ: How to Apply and Renew for a Philippine Passport (2025 Edition)
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
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