The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) early this week warned of delays in the release of new Philippine passports, citing ongoing logistical and supply chain disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis.
In an advisory dated April 8, the DFA said applicants who filed beginning the last week of March may experience longer waiting times, with processing now expected to take 10 to 15 working days until further notice.
“Due to logistical and supply chain issues caused by the Middle East crisis, passport applications filed beginning the last week of March 2026 may experience delays in release,” the DFA said.
The agency assured the public that it is coordinating closely with its third-party service provider responsible for ePassport printing to address the issue and restore normal processing timelines.
The development highlights the widening impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have begun to strain global supply chains and affect government services beyond energy and trade.
The DFA advised applicants with urgent travel needs to reach out to its Office of Consular Affairs or relevant consular offices for assistance. It also provided dedicated hotlines and email channels for passport and consular concerns as it works to manage the backlog.
Applicants who need emergency or urgent consular services may contact DFA OCA Aseana:
Services Emails
- OCA Concerns oca.concerns@dfa.gov.ph
- Passport Concerns passportconcerns@dfa.gov.ph
- Consular Offices: https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/transparency/co-directory
Applicants may also contact the following telephone numbers during working days:
- For Passport Appointment Concerns: (02) 8234 – 3488
- For Passport, Authentication, and other Consular Inquiries: (02) 8651 – 9400
Further updates will be issued once operations normalize, the department said.