How to secure a DSWD travel clearance for minors

A trip can be a fun adventure for kids. But children traveling abroad alone or with companions who are not their parents must secure a special clearance from the government.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, all Filipinos below 18 years old who are traveling to another country alone or with someone other than their parents will be required to present a travel clearance from the DSWD.

The DSWD's official guidelines state that minors must secure the travel clearance by filing documents at the regional DSWD Regional Office that has jurisdiction over their residence.

The minor must provide:

• a duly accomplished application form (obtained at any DSWD regional office or downloaded from www.dswd.gov.ph);
• a photocopy of their birth certificate;
• two color passport-sized photos taken in the last six months;
• a photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion (if the minor is not traveling alone); and
• a notarized affidavit of 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 person other than them.

The notarized affidavit of consent should indicate the country of destination; the length of stay; the purpose of travel; and tentative dates of departure and arrival. For minors traveling with a companion, the affidavit should identify the authorized traveling companion and indicate their relationship to the minor.

The document must be notarized at the place of residence.

For a minor with married parents: A marriage certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or certificate of legal guardianship.

For a minor with solo parents: A PSA-issued certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) or a solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office; or a photocopy of a certification from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent, or Tallaq or Faskh certification from the Shariah court or any Muslim barangay or religious leader.

For a minor with deceased parents: A photocopy of the death certificate.

For illegitimate minors: A CENOMAR issued by the Philippine Statistics Office (PSO; formerly National Statistics Office or NSO).

For an abandoned minor with alleged missing parent: Social case study report executed by a licensed social worker; blotter report from local police or barangay certification from the locality or the last known address of the alleged missing; and one returned registered mail to the last known address of the alleged missing parent(s) or known relative(s).

The DSWD also clarified that illegitimate minors traveling with their biological father are still required to secure a travel clearance certificate, "as parental authority is vested only to the mother of the child, per Article 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines."

Processing fee and validity

The DSWD will collect a fee for each travel clearance certificate issued to a minor: P300 for a clearance with one-year validity, and P600 for a clearance with a two-year validity.

The travel clearance will be valid for multiple travels within the validity period, provided the conditions under which the travel clearance was issued have not changed.

If a change in condition occurs, such as a change in traveling companion, a new travel clearance must be obtained.

The DSWD clarified that it may "require additional documentary requirements during the assessment of the travel clearance application to make sure that no child shall be trafficked and that the child’s best interest and welfare is ensured."

For the full guidelines, visit the DSWD website. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News