HOW to GET a DSWD TRAVEL CLEARANCE FOR MINORS: Requirements & Application Process
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This post contains tips and other information about applying for a DSWD TRAVEL CLEARANCE including the list of REQUIREMENTS and the step-by-step application process. This applies to Filipino travelers only. A minor is defined as being below 18 years of age.
It has always been fun to travel with kids. The look of excitement on their faces just seem priceless! However, if a child or a minor will travel alone or without their legal guardians/ parents, one requirement for minors to travel abroad is to secure a DSWD Travel Clearance.
Nowadays, it is a necessary document that they need to protect children from crimes including child trafficking. Failing to secure one will lead to being offloaded by the Immigration Officials at the airport.
What is a Minor?
As defined in R.A. No. 9344, a Minor is a person who is under the age of 18 years old, also defined as a “child.”
The Philippines has an obligation to legislate to protect children as it ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990.
Who Needs a DSWD Travel Clearance?
- Minors traveling alone using Philipine passport only for travel abroad/ outside the Philippines
- Those traveling with the prospective adoptive parent(s) for intercountry adoption
- A child traveling with a person that is not the parent, legal guardian, or in custody of the child
- An illegitimate child traveling with biological father
- A married minor stated above (P.S. a married minor is someone below 18 who is married at an early age due to their cultural or indigenous practices
If the minor is traveling with the legal guardian, no need for one (but you must have all documents to prove that you are indeed the legal guardian).
Note: When we say “legal guardian”, we mean LEGAL guardian with LEGAL documentation stating your guardianship by law. If you’re ACTING as a guardian but you don’t have the legal documents to show guardianship, you will still need a DSWD clearance to travel with the minor.
Who Can Apply for a DSWD Travel Clearance?
- Parent(s) or Legal Guardian
- Traveling Companion
- Duly Authorized Representative of parents within the 4th degree of affinity or consanguinity
- Legal guardian supported by an authorization letter
DSWD Travel Clearance Requirements
Below is a list of documents required to secure a DSWD Travel Clearance. This covers minors traveling with someone who isn’t their parent or legal guardian. If the minor will be traveling alone, there is a separate list for that with additional requirements such as Unaccompanied Minor Certificate from the Airlines.
There have been a lot of changes to the requirements. Now, there is a separate list of documents for those who are traveling for the first time and those who have traveled before with the non-parent companion.
1. A duly accomplished application form. You can download it here.
2. A photocopy of the minor’s birth certificate (SECPA)
3. Notarized Affidavit or written consent of parent(s), solo parent, or legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country and/or authorizing a specific person (with valid I.D. with signature) to accompany minor
4. Photocopy of the following, whichever is applicable:
- If minor has both parents: the parents’ marriage certificate (SECPA)
- If minor is under a legal guardian: the Certificate of Legal Guardianship
- If minor is under a solo parent: solo parent identification card or certification from the Municipal DSWD Office; or if Muslim, Tallaq or Fasakh certification from any Muslim Barangay, the Shariah court or a religious leader
- If minor is illegitimate: a Certificate of No Marriage from the local civil registrar
- If one of the parents is deceased: death certificate
- If minor is traveling for medical purposes, medical certificate
- If minor is studying abroad, acceptance letter from school abroad
- If minor is attending a conference, a certification from the organizers
5. 2 colored passport size photos of the minor- taken within the past 6 months. Scanned photos are NOT accepted.
- ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS for minor/s migrating to another country:
- Visa petition approval
1. A duly accomplished application form. You can download it here.
2. Original copy of the Travel Clearance previously issued by DSWD field office.
3. Notarized Affidavit or written consent of parent(s), solo parent, or legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country and/or authorizing a specific person (with valid I.D. with signature) to accompany minor
4.Two (2) original colored passport-sized photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months, no scanned picture will be accepted
5. Photocopy of passport of the travelling companion
- ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS for minor/s migrating to another country:
- Visa petition approval
1. A duly accomplished application form. You can download it here.
2. Photocopy of PSA Birth Certificate of the minor
3. Photocopy of the following, whichever is applicable:
- If minor has both parents: the parents’ marriage certificate (SECPA)
- If minor is under a legal guardian: the Certificate of Legal Guardianship
- If minor is under a solo parent: solo parent identification card or certification from the Municipal DSWD Office; or if Muslim, Tallaq or Fasakh certification from any Muslim Barangay, the Shariah court or a religious leader
- If minor is illegitimate: a Certificate of No Marriage from the local civil registrar
- If one of the parents is deceased: death certificate
- If minor is traveling for medical purposes, medical certificate
- If minor is studying abroad, acceptance letter from school abroad
- If minor is attending a conference, a certification from the organizers
- In the absence of both parents or an appointed legal guardian, the relatives’ consent in the order of preference
- If parents are working abroad, a copy of their work visa
- For non-marital child, consent of maternal grandparents is needed
4. Notarized affidavit (at the place of residence) or written consent of both parents, the solo parents and the legal guardian, whichever is applicable, with a copy of the valid ID with specimen signature
5. Two (2) original colored passport-sized photosof the minor taken within the last 6 months, no scanned picture will be accepted
6. Affidavit of Support and certified copy of any evidence to show financial capability of the sponsor. These documents can be any of the ff:
- Certificate of Employment
- Latest Income Tax Return
- Bank Statement
- 3-month payslip
7. Authorization Letter from Parents/Legal Guardian. Only if the person applying is not a parent or legal guardian of the minor.
8. Waiver signed by parents. This should explicitly state releasing DSWD from any liability/responsibility in case of untoward incident during the travel of the minor.
- ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS for minor/s migrating to another country:
- Visa petition approval
Possible Additional Requirements
DSWD may require additional documents aside from those listed above, so make sure you apply early and NOT too close to the travel dates so you have time to secure them.
Here are some other requirements that they might look for based on other’s experience and those of some of our readers.
1. Roundtrip ticket of the minor and companion. In my experience, sometimes they ask for it; sometimes, they don’t. If you’re already booked, best to bring a copy of the ticket. If your flights are not yet booked, it’s best to just call the office before your application to confirm.
2. Notarized Affidavit of Support with Undertaking of Sponsor (showing employment status and salary). Some sources say this is a requirement, and one of our readers was also asked to provide this. The official DSWD website’s FAQ page lists this as a requirement. But it’s hard to trust the website because it’s messy as eff.
3. Proof of Financial Capability of Sponsor. This can be Certificate of Employment, Latest ITR, Bank Statements, etc. of sponsor (parent, legal guardian or other person/agency shouldering the expenses). In my experience, I was never asked to submit this.I also always bring a copy of this, but they never asked to see it. Maybe it’s a new requirement, maybe they ask applicants depending on the situation. Call the office where you plan to submit to be 100% sure. Just bring it with you to be on the safe side.
4. Invitation Letter, only if the purpose of travel is to visit a friend or relative, or the minor won’t be staying in a hotel.
5. Copy of parents’ passports. Only if the parents are based abroad.
6. Studying Abroad – Certificate of Enrollment or Acceptance or Registration from School
7. Conference, Tours, Camps, Exchange Program, Pilgrims, Competition, etc.
- Endorsement Letter of School Head
- Certificate from Sponsoring Organization
- Affidavit of Undertaking of Companion (if sports competition)
- Invitation from Sponsoring Agency or Organization Abroad – with itinerary, list of participants, and duration
8. Medical Purposes- Medical Abstract of Minor, Recommendation from Attending Physician (e.g., the procedure is not available in the Philippines), Letter from sponsor covering the expenses
9. For Inter-Country Adoption
- Placement Authority issued by the Inter-Country Adoption Board
- Authority to Escort issued by the ICAB
That’s about it.
How To Get a DSWD Travel Clearance
Getting a DSWD clearance might take a few hours, but it is not as complicated as you probably have thought. Here’s a thorough guide on how to get one:
STEP 1: Complete the requirements. See the list of requirements above.
STEP 2: Find the nearest DSWD Office. Pay a visit to the DSWD Field Office that covers the permanent address of the minor. For example, a minor resides in Albay. Hence, DSWD Region V (Regional Office) has jurisdiction over the place of residence of the minor.
If the minor is based in Metro Manila, file for a clearance at the NCR Office in Sampaloc, Manila.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
Below is the complete list of DSWD Field Offices.
- DSWD National Capital Region (NCR)
389 San Rafael St. corner Legarda St.,
Sampaloc, Manila
Phone: +632 313-1435 local 210, +632 733-0010 to 14 - DSWD Field Office I
Quezon Avenue, San Fernando, La Union
Phone: +6372 888-2505, +6372 888-2184 - DSWD Field Office II
3 Dana Pagyaya, Regional Government Center
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
Phone: +63 78 846-7532, +63 78 846-7043 - DSWD Field Office III
Government Center, Maimpis, San Fernando, Pampanga
Phone: +63 45 861-2413 - DSWD Field Office IV-A (CALABARZON)
Alabang-Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City
Phone: +63 2 387-2632, +63 2 850-8380, +63 2 807-1518 - DSWD Field Office IV-B (MIMAROPA)
1680 F.T. Benitez St. corner Gen. Malvar St., Malate, Manila
Phone: +63 2 336-8106 local 401, +63 2 336-8106 local 103 - DSWD Field Office V
Magnolia St. PBN Buraguis, Legazpi City
Phone: +63 52 821-7920, +63 52 480-5346, +63 52 480-5754 - DSWD Field Office VI
M.H. del Pilar Street, Molo, Iloilo City
Phone: +63 33 300-0526, +63 33 337-6221 - DSWD Field Office VII
MJ Cuenco Avenue cor. Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City
Phone: +63 32 233-8779 - DSWD Field Office VIII
Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City
Phone: +63 53 321-3090, +63 53 321-117, +63 53 321-1007 - DSWD Field Office IX
General Vicente Alvarez St., Zamboanga City
Phone: +63 62 991-6030, +63 62 991-6056 - DSWD Field Office X
Masterson Ave., Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City
Phone: +63 88 858-8892, +63 88 858-8959 - DSWD Field Office XI
Suazo St., cor. Magsaysay Ave., Davao City
Phone: +63 82 226-2857, +63 82 227-8746 - DSWD Field Office XII
9506 Purok Bumanoag, Brgy. Zone 3, Koronadal City
Phone: +63 83 520-0572, +63 83 228-3180, +63 83 228-8637 - DSWD Field Office CARAGA
R. Palma St. Butuan City
Phone: +63 85 346-0113, +63 85 815-9173 - DSWD Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
40 North Drive, Baguio City
Phone: +63 74 444-3209, +63 74 444-3262, +63 74 442-7917
- DSWD National Capital Region (NCR)
You must apply at the DSWD Field Office that has jurisdiction over the minor. If the minor lives in Region IV, apply in Alabang. If the minor resides in Metro Manila, apply in Sampaloc, Manila.
They started implementing this policy in January 2018. Prior to this, applicants could apply at any field office, even if the minor doesn’t reside in their region. But that’s not the case anymore. You must apply at the designated DSWD Field Office now.
STEP 3: Submit the requirements at the DSWD Field Office and wait for your clearance.
Here’s the step-by-step process that you will go through once you are at the DSWD office. The process below details one of our visa clients’ experience applying at the Legazpi, Albay office, but according to the DSWD website, the process at all branches are almost the same.
- Tell the Security Guard that you’re there for Travel Clearance. Ask for a Sequence Number.
- Register in the logbook while waiting for your number to be called.
- When your number is called, submit all the requirements to the Social Worker for the initial screening. He/she will check if the requirements are complete and authentic.
- If all your documents are okay, the Social Worker will interview you and assess the application. He/she will ask a few questions about your relationship with the minor, the purpose of the trip, and why the parents can’t be with the minor, among others.
- If the Social Worker is satisfied, your application will now be processed and the clearance will be prepared.
- Pay processing fee:
– P300 for travel clearance with validity of 1 year
– P600 for travel clearance with validity of 2 years - Return at the time of release. Ask any of the processing staff what time you can expect the clearance to be issued.
IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to check the clearance card before you leave the DSWD Office. Make sure the validity of the clearance and the name spellings are correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it possible to apply for a DSWD Clearance online? Yes. DSWD has recently launched its e-services website, which allows application for a DSWD Travel Clearance online. However, as of this writing, it is only available at Field Offices NCR, VII and XI. Also, a personal interview will still be required so you will have to appear at their office at some point.
You can check for more info here.
2. When should I apply for a DSWD Travel Clearance? If you think you have complete requirements, best practice is at least a month before the travel dates. This way, you would still have enough time to resend documents that you forget or to fix anything that goes wrong.
3. How long does it take to get a DSWD Travel Clearance? In most cases, one day. If you have all the requirements and you come early, you will get it on the same day that you applied. It takes only a few hours.
HOWEVER, if you arrive in the late afternoon (past 3pm), you will have to return the next day. You can still have it processed but you will get the clearance the next working day.
4. Does the minor have to be with me when I apply? No. Just make sure you have all the requirements.
5. I found an error in the Travel Clearance. What should I do? Simply tell the social worker or anyone in charge. They can correct it or replace it with a new one immediately.
6. How much should I pay for the DSWD Clearance?
Processing Fee:
P300 for travel clearance with validity of 1 year
P600 for travel clearance with validity of 2 years
That’s it! I hope I was able to give you a thorough guide on how to apply for a DSWD Travel Clearance for minors who are travelling abroad. Good luck on your application!
