Travel clearance needed for minors going abroad without parents

Expecting many Filipinos to travel abroad for summer vacation, Philippine authorities reminded parents and guardians to secure travel clearances for minors traveling abroad without them.   The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the travel clearance aims to prevent human traffickers from preying on vulnerable minors traveling alone or unaccompanied by their parents.   “A minor traveling abroad with either parent or with his/her solo parent or legal guardians, and those whose parents are in foreign service, living abroad, or immigrants, provided he/she is holding a valid pass such as a dependent’s visa/pass/identification card or permanent resident visa/pass/identification card does not need a travel clearance,” the DSWD said in a news release.  Document requirements A travel clearance can be secured from DSWD regional offices nationwide.   A travel clearance is issued to a Filipino minor traveling to a foreign country unaccompanied by his/her parents and to an illegitimate child traveling with his/her father.   The personal appearance of the minor is not necessary. The other requirements needed for a travel clearance for minors traveling abroad include:  

• duly accomplished application form
• photocopy of NSO-issued birth certificate of minor
• written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country alone or with a specific companion
• photocopy of NSO-issued marriage certificate of parents
• two colored passport size photo of the minor taken within the last six months, and
• photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion.

  “The application for travel clearance together with the required supporting documents shall be submitted by the parent/s or legal guardian or a duly authorized representative at the nearest DSWD regional office.  The application forms may also be downloaded from the DSWD website,” the DSWD said.   A P300 fee will be charged for the issued travel clearance covering one year, and  valid for multiple travels within the validity period, provided that the conditions under which the travel clearance was issued have not changed. Peak months The DSWD said March to May, school vacation season, are the peak months for travel clearance applications. DSWD records showed 28,729 travel clearances were issued to minors traveling abroad in 2011.   The DSWD said the travel clearance is required under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.   “To protect children from becoming victims of human trafficking, the (DSWD) reminds parents or guardians to obtain a travel clearance for their children, 17 years old and below, who will be traveling alone or with companions other than them,” the DSWD said. - VVP/HS, GMA News