Philippine authorities in Hong Kong Wednesday started issuing electronically enhanced passports, or e-passports, to all applications for new passports or renewal of expired passports. The Philippine Consulate General said requirements for new and renewal applications remain the same, except that applicants no longer need to submit photographs. “Applicants are now required to personally appear at the Consulate General to have their biometrics (photo, thumbmarks and signature) taken,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in its website. It added the passport fee is now HK$510 (P2,947), in view of the microchip technology used in the new ePassport. The new Philippine ePassport features an integrated circuit chip on the back cover that contains essential data in verifying the identity of the passport holder. Aside from the information found on the data page, it includes the biometrics of the passport holder, as well as a unique identification number. Other security features ensure that the data within the chip is authentic, and renders the passport virtually tamper-proof. The DFA said the ePassport conforms to the highest security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It is designed to allow for seamless immigration checks and faster airline travel arrangements, and prevents identify theft and tampering of personal data. “With this development, the Consulate General will stop issuing the Machine Readable Passport (MRP). However, all MRPs and the non-machine readable passports (with green cover) already issued by the Consulate General, the Department of Foreign Affairs and all Philippine Embassies and Consulates General will remain valid until the date of their expiry,” the DFA said. The DFA started accepting e-passport applications in August last year. The new passport scheme is slowly being adopted by its regional offices as well as by the 92 Philippine embassies and consulates general across the world. Meanwhile, the DFA reiterated its reminder to Philippine passport holders to renew their passports at least six months before expiry.
