DFA inks deal to open first e-passport renewal center in Dubai

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a Dubai-based private company to establish the first E-Passport Renewal Center (PaRC) at a mall in Dubai.

In a statement, DFA Visa Facilitation Services Global will work with the DFA in opening the renewal center which will offer alternative means for Filipinos to avail of passport renewal services in the United Arab Emirates and in Saudi Arabia.

The DFA said Filipinos in Dubai may now choose between applying for passport renewal in the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai or at the PaRC.

“Those who avail of the services at PaRC will pay an additional convenience fee on top of the normal cost of passport renewal that they pay at the Consulate General or at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi,” read the DFA statement.

The PaRC will render simple passport renewal services which does not require any changes in biographic details of the passport holder, the DFA said.

DFA added that VFS Global manages the frontline operation of passport renewal including “acceptance of application, capturing of biometrics and biographical details, payment of fees, and release of passport.”

“It should be noted that the actual production of the passport is still with the DFA,” the department said.

Foreign Affairs Chief Teodoro “Teddy” Boy Locsin Jr. and VFS Global head of business development Chris Dix attended the signing of the MOU at the Dubai Health Care City.

Over 600,000 Filipino workers are living in the United Arab Emirates, the second largest concentration of Filipino workers in the Middle East, the DFA said.

Other PaRCs will soon be opened at Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia by 2020, the DFA said.

Edited by MUF