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This post applies to Filipino travelers only. A minor is defined as being below 18 years of age.

It’s always fun traveling with kids. Seeing the look on their faces when they experience something for the first time is always priceless. I had traveled with kids in the family twice: First, to Hong Kong for their much awaited Disneyland visit, and second, to Tokyo, to visit a close relative.

The problem is, I am not their father, just an uncle, so I had to secure a travel clearance for them.

Traveling with minors who aren’t your children adds a step in the whole trip preparation. You will need a get a DSWD Travel Clearance before your trip. Failing to secure one will lead to being offloaded by the Immigration Officials at the airport. It is a necessary document that they need to protect children from crimes including child trafficking.

WHO NEEDS A DSWD TRAVEL CLEARANCE?

Not all minors traveling to a foreign country need a DSWD Clearance. It is only required for the following:

1. A minor traveling alone
   b. A minor accompanied by a person other than his/her parents

If the minor is traveling with either parent, no need for one. 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).

If you’re not the mother or father or legal guardian, you need a DSWD clearance for each minor you’re traveling with. If that’s not clear enough: Even if you are a brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, or cousin of the minor, you need a clearance.

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY FOR A DSWD 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.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A DSWD 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. At least, that’s how it is at the DSWD Field Office IV-A in Alabang. I applied here because the kids’ address are in Batangas.

HOW TO GET A DSWD CLEARANCE

Getting a DSWD clearance is easy. It might take a few hours, but it is not as complicated as you probably have been picturing in your head. Here’s how I got mine.

1. COMPLETE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

Here are the documents needed for minors traveling alone and traveling with a non-parent companion.

• A duly accomplished application form. You can download it here.
• A photocopy of the minor’s birth certificate
• A photocopy of the minor’s passport (first and last page: bio page and emergency page)
• A photocopy of the minor’s travel companion. (Not applicable to minors traveling alone.)
• 2 colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the past 6 months.
• A photocopy of one of the following, whichever is appropriate:
  – If minor has both parents: the parents’ marriage certificate
  – 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
• A written consent of both parents. Indicate the travel details in the letter:
  – Travel dates
  – Destination and origin
  – Minor’s passport number
  – Contact details of parents/legal guardian
  – Signature of the parents
  In addition, if the minor is traveling with someone who isn’t his/her parent, it would be wise to include the details of the companion:
  – Name of the companion
  – Relationship of the companion to the minor
  – Companion’s passport number

Below is a sample Written Consent. This is what I used in applying for my niece and nephew, and it was accepted by DSWD. I didn’t have any problem. You may copy-paste it if you want. Just replace the highlighted data:

Don’t forget to have it signed by the parent. Again, both parents need to have it.

2. FIND THE NEAREST DSWD FIELD OFFICE.

Pay a visit to the DSWD Field Office that covers the permanent address of the minor. For example, my niece and nephew reside in Batangas. The Region IV-A (Calabarzon) Office is in Alabang. 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. (As of April 2014):

• DSWD-National Capital Region
  389 San Rafael Street, corner Legarda St.,
  Sampaloc, Manila
  Tel/Fax: (02) 313-1435 loc 210,733-0010 to 14/488-3104

• DSWD Field Office I
  Quezon Avenue, San Fernando, La Union
  Tel/Fax: (072) 888-2505/888-2184

• DSWD Field Office II
  3 Dana Pagyaya, Regional Government Center
  Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
  Tel/Fax: (078) 846-7532/846-7043

• DSWD Field Office III
  Government Center, Maimpis,
  San Fernando, Pampanga
  Tel/Fax: (045) 861-2413(telefax)

• DSWD Field Office IV-A (CALABARZON)
  Alabang-Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City
  Tel/Fax: (02) 387-2632 or 850-8380/807-1518

• DSWD Field Office IV-B (MIMAROPA)
  1680 F.T. Benitez corner Gen. Malvar St., Malate, Manila
  Tel/Fax: (02) 336-8106 local 401/336-8106 local 103

• DSWD Field Office V
  Magnolia St. PBN Buraguis, Legaspi City
  Tel/Fax: (052) 821-7920 or 480-5346/480-5754

• DSWD Field Office VI
  M.H. del Pilar Street, Molo, Iloilo City
  Tel: (033) 300-0526/337-6221

• DSWD Field Office VII
  MJ Cuenco Avenue corner Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City
  Tel/Fax: (032) 233-8779 or through trunkline no, 412-9908

• DSWD Field Office VIII
  Magsaysay Blvd., Tacloban City
  Tel/Fax: (053) 321-3090 or 321-1176/321-1007

• DSWD Field Office IX
  General Vicente Alvarez St.,Zamboanga City
  Tel/Fax: (062) 991-6030, 991-6056 (trunkline)/993-0652

• DSWD Field Office X
  Masterson Ave., Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City
  Tel/Fax: (088) 858-88-92/858-89-59

• DSWD Field Office XI
  Suazzo St.,cor.Magsaysay Ave.,Davao City
  Tel/Fax: (082) 226-28-57/227-8746

• DSWD Field Office XII
  9506-Purok Bumanoag, Brgy.Zone 3, Koronadal City
  Tel/Fax: (083) 520-0572 or 228-3180/228-8637

• DSWD Field Office CARAGA
  R.Palma St.Butuan City
  Tel/Fax: (085) 346-0113/815-9173

• DSWD Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
  40 North Drive, Baguio City
  Tel/Fax: (074) 444-32099 or 444-3262/442-7917

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 my experience applying at the Alabang 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. At the Alabang office, it works this way:

Schedule of assessment and issuance of DSWD Travel Clearance

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.

DOES THE MINOR HAVE TO BE WITH ME WHEN I APPLY?

No. Just make sure you have all the requirements.

SHOULD THE PARENT BE THE ONE TO APPLY?

No. Although it would be best that the person who would apply knows the minor and the details of the trip really well and can spot any clerical error in the clearance. (Happened to me twice.)

I FOUND AN ERROR IN THE TRAVEL CLEARANCE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Happened to me twice!

Simply tell the social worker or anyone in charge. They can correct it or replace it with a new one immediately.

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

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFO ABOUT DSWD TRAVEL CLEARANCE?

You may visit the official DSWD website, call the numbers indicated on the list of offices above, or tweet @DSWDserves.