—– SEE LETTER RECEIVED FROM THE EMBASSY BELOW —–
Yes! You’ve read it right. For the longest time since our last post (OFWs can travel even with less than 6-mos valid passport), we thought that passport validity extension is no longer allowed at the Philippine Embassy in Doha except only for legal or medical emergencies.
Maybe uncommon to some, but there are cases that you have simply overlooked your passport validity only realizing it while making your next flight booking. Aware of the 6-months passport validity requirements, we knew what could happen should we travel to other countries following the international aviation rule. This could really give a lot of stress to someone especially if travel plans are all in place and the effects are more costly than just simply ruining the entire vacation for the family.
Almost everyday, we are receiving inquiries and request for assistance regarding this subject. Most often, they have either booked their flights or have secured leave approval from their companies only to find out later that their flights will fall within the 6-months passport validity period.
My usual reply, of course, is based on what I’ve personally experienced (last year 2016) and assured them that so long as the return flight is from workplace to home country only, there should be no problem.
We are even blessed to have kind subscribers who notified us that they were allowed visa extension and renewal in the DFA Office in their area/province while applying for OEC. They were advised that their new passport will be sent to the DFA office of the country where they are working.
Until one of my friends here in Doha asked me the same question and visited the Philippine Embassy office last 27th March 2017 just to make sure about it. He was very excited to give me the news that he got his passport extension for another one year!
I immediately made a call to the Embassy hotline number and was told that they are doing this recently in response to the requests of many Filipino expats in Qatar to allow passport extension here in Doha. According to the staff, they are allowing extension provided that the passport holder also applies for PASSPORT RENEWAL simultaneously. The extension costs QR80 and the regular passport renewal costs QR240. And this is a GOOD NEWS especially for those who are in this stressful situation right now.
One should just only go personally to the office of the Philippine Embassy-Doha with their original passport (in good condition) and should simply fill-out a form (specify the purpose of the travel) and just be ready to present your old passport validity and return ticket for approval. The original passport with the extension stamp will be released on the same day of application. The renewed passport will be available for release after 4-6 weeks (list of passport for pickup is also available on their Facebook page or may be delivered to your office via Q-POST).
For more inquiries about PASSPORT EXTENSION / RENEWAL at the Philippine Embassy Doha, you may call their hotline numbers: 5527-5123; 4493-0426 or 4498-6477. This post will be updated as soon as we receive further information from the Philippine Embassy Doha.
Lets spread the news!
ANSWER THIS POLL QUESTION AND WIN 5 COSTA COFFEE VOUCHERS FROM BEST LIFE QATAR (due to the nature of the prize, this contest is valid for Qatar Residents only):
- ANSWER THIS QUESTION ON THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW. What suggestions can you make in order to avoid missing our passport validity? (Comments should be on this blog and similar answers are acceptable so long as we keep the discussion/comment board healthy and helpful.)
- SHARE THIS POST ON YOUR FACEBOOK + TAG 5 of your friends in Doha and our FB PAGE @bestlifeqatar (for easy verification) so they will be aware of this update too. This way, we are spreading the information to the community.
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Updates! Updates!
We received a reply from the PHILIPPINE EMBASSY – DOHA referring to out inquiry regarding the subject. Please take time to read and share to your friends.
We especially thank our new Ambassador, Mr Alan L. Tibayan and his communication staffs for replying to our humble inquiry. MARAMING SALAMAT PO!