Philippine Passport Photo in the US: What to Wear and What to Bring

Philippine passports use a photo captured by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) system at your appointment. DFA consular offices and Philippine embassies and consulates take the photo and your biometrics digitally, so a printed photo from home is not used.

The Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, DC says on its adult renewal page that your fingerprints and photograph will be taken digitally, and that getting a passport requires an appointment and personal appearance. DFA guidance also says applicants should not bring their own photo.

That is why PhotoForPass does not sell a Philippine passport photo. Your time is better spent getting the documents and the outfit right, which is what the rest of this guide covers.

The photo is taken on the spot, so dress for it before you leave home. DFA sets a few clear rules for photo capture, and staff can ask you to change or remove items that break them.

• Decent clothing. No sleeveless or spaghetti-strap tops, no plunging necklines and no see-through tops. A plain shirt or blouse with sleeves is the safe choice.
• No earrings or necklaces. Remove them for the photo, or leave them at home.
• No colored contact lenses. Colored or patterned lenses are not allowed during capture. If you rely on contacts, ask your post about clear lenses or bring your glasses.
• Glasses. DFA guidance we found does not state a glasses rule, so be ready to take them off if the officer asks.

Simple habits that help

Choose a top that is not white so you stand out from the background. Keep hair away from your eyes and face, skip hats and headbands, and keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed. These are practical tips, not extra rules, but they help the photo come out clean on the first try.

The list below follows the adult renewal page of the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, DC. Consulates in other US cities publish similar lists, so check the page for the post where you booked.

• Printed application form. You receive it with your appointment confirmation.
• Your latest Philippine passport, plus 1 photocopy of the data page.
• Proof of current Philippine citizenship, original and 1 photocopy. The embassy gives examples such as a permanent resident card, visa, work permit or dual citizenship ID.
• Foreign passport, original and 1 photocopy of the data page, if you hold one.
• PSA-issued documents, original and 1 photocopy, if your name has changed. The name in your passport must match your PSA records.
• A self-addressed USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope with postage and tracking, for mailing the new passport back to you. Check the embassy page for the current postage.
• Payment of the processing fee.

The embassy notes that it has no photocopier or printer on site, so make every copy before you go. The consular officer may also ask for more documents.

The appointment itself is short when your papers are in order. Here is the sequence the Washington, DC embassy describes for an adult renewal.

1. Arrive on time with your printed application form, original documents and photocopies.
2. Submit your forms and pay the processing fee at the embassy on the day of your appointment.
3. Photo and fingerprints. Staff take your photograph and fingerprints digitally. This is the photo that appears in your passport, so check your outfit and remove earrings and necklaces before your turn.
4. Confirm your details. You are asked to confirm that the information on screen is correct. Read your name, birth date and other details carefully, because a mistake here ends up in the passport.
5. Leave your return envelope. The new passport is mailed to you in the prepaid USPS envelope you bring.

If something is missing, the consular officer may ask for more documents, which can mean a second visit. Checking the list the night before is the easiest way to avoid that.

A Philippine passport application in the US starts with an online appointment. The Washington, DC embassy says an appointment is required for each applicant, and walk-ins are not accepted, so book one slot per person, including children.

Fees

At the Embassy in Washington, DC, the passport processing fee is $60. You can pay in cash, by money order payable to Embassy of the Philippines, or by credit or debit card. Card payments carry a 4% convenience fee. Other posts may differ, so confirm the fee and payment methods with the consulate where you booked.

Processing time

The embassy says your passport will be mailed to you within 6 to 8 weeks after your appointment. It also says it is not responsible for delays or losses while the passport is in the mail or with the courier, which is one more reason to use a tracked envelope.

Other Philippine applications

Some other applications, such as dual citizenship, may ask for printed photos with their own specs. Those are not covered here, so check the instructions from your consulate.

Many Filipinos in the US also file US forms, and those do need a photo you supply: 2 x 2 inches on a white background. PhotoForPass makes these from a phone photo in about a minute, checked against the official US rules.

See the green card photo page for Form I-485 and green card renewals, the USCIS photo hub for naturalization and work permit forms, and the U.S. visa photo page for a DS-160. If you are a dual citizen applying for a US passport, start at the U.S. passport photo page, or use the 2x2 photo tool for any other 2 x 2 need.