The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will unveil on Tuesday (February 18) an online system that will streamline the process of application and issuance of travel clearance for minors traveling abroad (MTA) during the agency’s 74th anniversary celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
 
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency’s spokesperson, said that with the new system, applicants no longer need to submit the required documents physically to any DSWD office nationwide.
 
The DSWD official emphasized that applicants can start applying at the comfort of their homes as soon as the website has been officially launched.
 
“Yung dati ay manual processing, meaning you have to go to DSWD offices to apply for a travel clearance. Wala na silang pupuntahan na opisina ngayon. Sa bahay na lang nila as long as mayroon silang internet connection,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
 
A travel clearance is a document issued by the DSWD to minors or individuals below 18 years old travelling outside the Philippines who are unaccompanied by any of the parents or persons having parental responsibility or legal custody over the child.
 
The processing time for applications with complete, verified, and authentic documents will be 1-3 days in the new MTA system, according to the spokesperson.
 
The system will also house a real-time status tracking to keep applicants posted on the progress of their requests or applications.
 
This MTA online system forms part of the DSWD’s digital transformation initiatives anchored on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision to modernize government services, as cited in his seven point agenda. 
 
A Filipino minor using Philippine Passport who is traveling alone outside the Philippines; traveling with prospective adoptive parent/s for intercountry adoption; and traveling with a person other than his/her parent/s, legal guardian, or person exercising parental authority/legal custody over him/her needs to get a clearance from the DSWD.
  
A Filipino minor who is illegitimate and is traveling with his/her biological father; and a minor below 13 years old but will be accompanied by a sibling or a relative within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity who is over 15 years old and whose purpose for travel is to permanently join the parent/s abroad also needs to secure a travel clearance.
 
The asst. secretary also cited cases in which a minor will be exempted from securing a travel clearance.
 
“A minor accompanied by either or both of the minor’s parents, if the minor is legitimate; biological mother, if the minor is illegitimate; father who has been granted sole parental authority or custody by the proper court, if the minor is illegitimate; and legal guardian is exempted,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
 
Amid the introduction of the simpler process for application, the online system was meticulously tested, and that submitted papers and requirements will still undergo human assessment, particularly by concerned Central Office personnel.
 
The DSWD will only accept QR-coded or notarized documentary requirements to ensure authenticity and validity of documents. 
 
Complete information on the application process and documentary requirements can be found in the DSWD Memorandum Circular 22, series of 2024 (https://www.dswd.gov.ph/issuances/MCs/MC_2024-022.pdf). #