If a minor child is travelling outside the country unaccompanied by both parents, a Travel Clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is required. Without this, the child will not be allowed to leave the country. The Travel Clearance will be checked at the boarding reception and immigration and if the child (or his adult companions) fails to show one, he or she will not be allowed to board the flight.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to secure a travel clearance from the DSWD, as well as the different documents and IDs that parents and legal guardians need to prepare when applying for one. To quickly view the details you need, just click on the topics below:
Table of Contents
- Who needs a Travel Clearance?
- Requirements when getting a Travel Clearance: New Application
- Requirements when getting a Travel Clearance: Renewal
- Special Circumstances
- Important Reminders when securing a Travel Clearance
- Travel Clearance Exemptions
- DSWD e-Services for MTA
Who needs a Travel Clearance?
Children below 18 years old and are travelling alone or with companions other than their parents or legal guardians are required to present a travel clearance. If the traveler is 18 years old and above but is unable to take care of himself or herself due to physical or mental disabilities, a travel clearance will also be required if he or she is taking the trip without his parents or legal guardians.
More specifically, the DSWD travel clearance is required for the following:
- Minor travelling alone
- Minor travelling with adoptive parents for purpose of inter-country adoption
- Minor travelling with a person other than the child’s parents, legal guardian, or person with legal custody over the child
- Illegitimate minor travelling with his or her biological father only
- Married minors are still required to secure a travel clearance
Requirements when getting a Travel Clearance
A travel clearance is needed every time a minor takes a trip outside the country unaccompanied by his or her parents. Until he or she reaches the age emancipation, his parents will have to secure a clearance for him. Below are the requirements when applying for a travel clearance for the first time, as well as when renewing an old one.
New Application:
- Duly accomplished DSWD Travel Clearance Application Form
- PSA birth certificate of the minor (original and photocopy) – if the child’s birth registration is delayed, include his or her baptismal certificate or immunization record, or school records.
- PSA marriage certificate of parents if the child is legitimate (original and photocopy)
- PSA Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) of the mother if the child is illegitimate (original and photocopy)
- PSA death certificate if one or both parents is deceased.
- The parents or person who has parental authority or legal custody over the child must also present a Notarized Affidavit of Consent. In the affidavit, the parent must state that he or she is permitting the minor child to travel outside the Philippines and must specify the country, purpose of travel, and inclusive dates of travel. The names of the persons travelling with the child must also be indicated in the affidavit.
- Include copies of parents’ or legal guardians’ valid IDs with specimen signatures. If parents are abroad, present copies of their passports and visas, or seafarer’s book if one or both parents are seafarers.
- Two colored passport size pictures of minor child with white background.
- Original and copy of the minor’s travelling companion’s valid passport. If the companion is not a relative of the child, include a Notarized Affidavit of Undertaking.
- Notarized Affidavit of Support and certified true copy of any evidence to show financial capability of sponsor.
Renewal:
- Duly accomplished DSWD Travel Clearance Application Form
- Original copy of old travel clearance from the DSWD-NCR
- A notarized Affidavit of Consent by the parents, legal guardian, or the person who exercises parental authority over the child. The affidavit must contain the parents’ express permission to allow their child to travel outside the Philippines, specifying the country of destination, purpose of the trip, inclusive dates of travel, and the names of the persons the child will be travelling with and his or her relationship to them.
- Include copies of parents’ or legal guardians’ valid IDs with specimen signatures. If parents are abroad, present copies of their passports and visas, or seafarer’s book if one or both parents are seafarers.
- Two colored passport size pictures of minor with white background.
- Original and copy of the minor’s travelling companion’s valid passport. If the companion is not a relative of the child, include a Notarized Affidavit of Undertaking.
- Notarized Affidavit of Support to show the financial capability of the child’s travel sponsor.
Other requirements if the child is travelling under special circumstances:
- If the child is travelling alone, the following must be presented in addition to the requirements for travel clearance:
- Unaccompanied minor certificate from the airlines.
- Parents must execute a waiver to free the DSWD-NCR from any liabilities in case the child gets into an untoward incident during the trip.
- Relatives abroad who will be providing board and lodging for the minor must send a letter of invitation, including a copy of their passport and visa (if applicable).
- If the child is travelling to attend a conference, a field trip or any school-related trip or competition, student exchange program, or church-related activities, the following must be presented:
- Certificate of participation, printed on organization’s letterhead and signed by a principal, parish officer, etc.
- Invitation from organization abroad that will be sponsoring the event/activity. Include itinerary of travel.
- If the event is a sports competition, present an Affidavit of Undertaking to indicate the safety measures undertaken by the sports agency.
- If the child will study abroad:
- Certificate of Acceptance or proof of enrollment/registration from the school where the child will be studying.
- If the child is travelling for medical reasons:
- Medical abstract
- Attending physician’s signed recommendation for the child to undergo the medical procedure abroad.
Important reminders when securing a travel clearance from the DSWD:
- A minor below 13 years old will not be allowed to travel alone.
- A visa petition approval is required if the purpose of the minor’s travel is migration to another country.
- Special requirements will be asked of the parents/legal guardians if the purpose of the minor’s travel is for inter-country adoption.
- Special requirements will be asked of the parents/legal guardians if the minor is under foster care or under legal guardianship.
- If the child is the subject of an ongoing adoption case, he or she will not be issued a travel clearance. A decree of adoption and certificate of finality from the court must be presented in order for a travel clearance to be issued for the child.
The following are exempted from securing a travel clearance:
- If the minor is a legitimate child and is travelling with one or both parents.
- If the minor is an illegitimate child and is travelling with the biological mother.
- If the minor is an illegitimate child and is travelling with his or her biological father who has sole parental authority or custody as evidenced by a court order.
- If the minor is travelling with his or her legal guardian.
- If the minor is travelling with his or her adoptive parents and can present the adoption decree and certificate of finality.
DSWD e-Services for Travel Clearance
You may apply for a travel clearance online through the DSWD’s e-Services. Here’s how:
- Visit the DSWD website and click on e-Services.
- Click the icon for Travel Clearances for Minors Travelling Abroad.
- If you have not created an account yet, click the blue bar that says, kindly REGISTER here.
- If you already have an account, click the green bar that says, please LOGIN here.
- Go to the Minor Travelling Abroad application form and fill-out all the mandatory fields.
- Upload the scanned copies of the required documents.
- If your application was successfully submitted, you will receive an email notification.
- After your application has been assessed, you will receive an email notification and interview schedule.
- On the date of your interview, proceed to the DSWD field office and bring copies of all the documents you submitted online, including valid IDs.
- You will be interviewed by the DSWD representative and will be given a payment stub (if the application is approved).
- Pay for the Minors Travelling Alone (MTA) application fee at the cashier. Ask for your official receipt and hold on to it.
- Present the official receipt to the MTA Regional User.
- You will be issued an MTA Certificate and Certificate of Travel Clearance.
To know more about the DSWD’s travel clearance for MTAs, you may visit their website at www.dswd.gov.ph.
