Filipinos in Qatar can apply for a Philippine passport at the Philippine Embassy located in Jelaiah Area in Doha. May we remind everyone to make sure to process the renewal 6 months (or more) before the date of expiry. This is to allot more time for the printing of the passports (in the Philippines) and the delivery to the embassy. After all, we don’t want avoid cancellation or change of travel plans. Please follow the guidelines below on how you can renew your passport.
Qatar is one of the homes of OFWs in the Middle East. There is in fact an approximately 300,000 more or less Filipinos living in this country. For OFWs who have been staying in this country for quite a while, below is a guide to applying or renewing your Philippine passport in Qatar.
UPDATE: The Department of Foreign Affairs has partnered with BLS International agency in order to provide another option for Pinoys to renew their passports. If you want to renew your passport through this process, please read this guide here – How to Book Appointment & Renew Philippine Passport at BLS International Doha
Check the details in applying for a new passport document below. We have included important details, such as requirements, fees, and processes, as well as some frequently asked questions about passport-related services for Filipinos living in Qatar.
Did you know? Diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Qatar were established in May 1981. For more than 10 years, however, passport-related services had been covered by the Philippine Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Fortunately, in May 1992, the Philippine government officially opened an Embassy in Doha. Here, we can have our passports renewed or replaced, as well as avail of important services such as marriage services, applying for a child’s birth certificate, and more.
In this article, we will be focusing on the renewal of Philippine passports. Specifically, we will talk about the requirements, fees, procedures, and other details related to passport renewal for Filipinos in Qatar.
Before anything else, be sure to prepare the following requirements:
If you are renewing the passport of a Minor applicant (below 18 years old), don’t forget to include these additional requirements:
The processing fee for renewing your Philippine passport is QAR 240. Please take note that the Embassy accepts cash payments only.
As cited earlier, you need to book an online appointment before going to the Embassy. Simply head to the Book Appointment Link, enter the necessary information, and choose your preferred date and time for passport renewal.
Here is a step-by-step guide to renewing your passport at the Philippine Embassy:
Here is a helpful video shared by Amirah A., an OFW who has been based in Qatar for 14 years. In this video, she provides a step-by-step guide to passport renewal in Qatar, as well as some tips and advice for scheduling an appointment with the Philippine Embassy:
Meanwhile, below are some common questions and answers related to passport renewal in Qatar:
Before heading to the Embassy for renewing or claiming your passport, see to it that you are dressed in proper, formal attire. Avoid wearing any of the following:
Speaking of proper attire, you might want to read our article about the dress code in Qatar as well.
As mentioned earlier, the average processing time for renewing your Philippine passport is around 30 to 45 days. This should give you an idea on when to renew your passport. As a rule of thumb, it is best to renew your passport at least 6 months before the expiration date, so that you would not encounter any problems with your travel plans.
To claim your new passport, you need to bring the following:
If, for some reason, you are not able to personally claim your new passport at the Philippine Embassy, you can ask another person to claim it on your behalf. Just remember to provide the person with an Authorization Letter, for a hassle-free transaction.
As a matter of fact, yes, you can have your new passport delivered to your address instead of going back to the Embassy. Simply fill out the Delivery Request Form, then send it via email to doha.pe@dfa.gov.ph.
Unfortunately, no. You need to schedule an appointment before going to the Embassy. This is because Philippine Embassies and Consulates limit the number of visitors that come daily, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting most of the world.
The process for renewing or replacing a lost passport is quite the same; online appointment and personal appearance are also necessary. The main difference is that you will need to submit additional requirements, as follows:
Moreover, please take note that for the replacement of lost passports, there is a 15-day clearing period before the processing of applications.
A “damaged” or “mutilated” passport is one wherein a page (or pages) have been torn or detached. It could also be a passport that has been affected by water damage.
To replace a damaged passport, you will need to submit an Affidavit of Damaged Passport, along with the other usual requirements, such as a duly accomplished Passport Application Form, your original passport, and a photocopy of your passport’s data page. Again, you will need to set an online appointment before making a personal appearance at the Embassy.
For married women who would like to change the surname on their passports, they need to submit the following additional requirements:
The Philippine Embassy in Doha is open from Sundays to Thursdays, between 7am and 4pm (no lunch breaks!). However, it is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and during Philippine and Qatar-declared holidays.
That being said, there is a telephone number that you can call in case of emergencies, even during weekends and public holidays. Filipinos who are in distress and need urgent assistance can call telephone number (+974) 5527 5123, and the officer on duty will address their concerns. Likewise, the Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Section also has a mobile hotline — (+974) 6644 6303 — which is available 24/7 for emergency calls.
Below is the address and contact information of the Philippine Embassy in Doha, Qatar. If you have any questions or concerns, you can call them or send an email through the following details:
Address: Villa No. 7, Al Eithar (Lehsain) Street, St. No. 860, Zone 68, Jelaiah Area, Doha, State of Qatar, P.O. Box 24900 (near Qatar University)
Telephone: (+974) 4483 1585 / (+974) 4493-0426
Email: doha.pe@dfa.gov.ph
Website: https://dohape.dfa.gov.ph/
Below is the location of the Philippine Embassy in Qatar on Google Maps, for your reference. As an additional tip, if you are coming from the Old Airport area, the taxi fare would be around QAR 30 to 35 via Karwa Taxi.
There you have it! We hope that the above guide would be useful for those who need to renew their Philippine passports in Qatar. In the meantime, you may also want to check out this article about the different services offered by the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Qatar.
DISCLAIMER: The above guide is presented for general, information-sharing purposes only. For more details about the requirements, fees, and procedures for renewing your passport in Qatar, please visit the official website of the Philippine Embassy in Doha, Qatar.