Passport Renewal at Robinsons Galleria: Good or Bad?

As a seafarer or OFW who wants to renew his/her passport, I suggest you renew it at Robinsons Galleria located at EDSA cor. Ortigas Ave., Quezon City. The service there is fast and convenient based on my experience when I renewed my passport last December 2013. All you need to do is go to the DFA Consular Office located at Lingkod Pinoy Center, Level 1 West Lane of the said mall. Just ask the security guard on-duty and he will direct you to the appropriate line for seafarers and OFWs.

Here are the list of requirements needed if you are a seafarer. You need to bring the original and photocopies of these documents.

1. Passport (front, back cover, and valid VISA)
2. Seaman’s Book (front, and the latest departure and arrival stamp from Philippine Immigration)
3. Seaman’s Registration Certificate (SRC)
4. Proper Local ID (SSS, Driver’s License, GSIS, PRC, IBP, OWWA, BIR, etc.)

The Lingkod Pinoy Center in Robinsons Galleria specially caters to us OFWs because we don’t need to set an appointment in renewing unlike our non-OFW Kababayans. All we need to do is go there and bring all our necessary documents, fall in line, and wait for our turn.

The whole process will undergo document verification, processing, payment, and encoding. Just follow the line and be attentive when your queue number is called. They also have a very accommodating staff that will direct the flow of people. In my case I started lining up around 10:30AM and finished everything around 1:30PM. They also have a no lunch break policy so expect a continuous service. For me 3 hours is fast enough considering I went there late and the line was already long.

The fee for regular processing is PhP 950 and it will take 15 working days before you can have your e-passport. If you are in a hurry you can have express processing for PhP 1,200 that will take 7 working days. You can pick-up your passport on the date of release or you can send it to your home through a courier which in my case through LBC for PhP 120.