Minors traveling abroad need DSWD clearance, airlines say

Minors or those below the legal age of 18 are required to secure a travel clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to travel outside the country, either alone or accompanied by an adult other than the child's parent, according to the country's top airlines.

"For minors traveling with non-parents, document must be shown by guardian, including parental consent and a DSWD clearance certification," Philippine Airlines external communications head and spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told GMA News Online on Thursday.

"For a child traveling alone, he or she must be endorsed to the air carrier which will assign a staff to accompany minor through check in, Immigration, and boarding gate," Villaluna noted.

"The staff of a receiving station will meet and assist upon all stages of arrival from disembarkation to turn over the minor to a family member. Same documents will be presented," she added.

Likewise, Cebu Pacific director for Corporate Communications Charo Logarta-Lagamon said the airline requires a travel clearance from the DSWD for a minor traveling abroad.

In a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB, DSWD social welfare officer Cheryl Maynar clarified that a ravel clearance is required if the minor is traveling abroad alone or is not with either parents.

"'Yung travel clearance ay ina-apply sa regional offices kung saan sila malapit ...  so anywhere na malapit na regional office," Maynar said.

Requirements

A minor traveling alone outside the country needs to submit to any DSWD regional office the following requirements:

Duly accomplished travel clearance application form (downloadable online or can be filled up on-site)
Photocopy of the minor's birth certificate or passport
Two colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last six months
Photocopy of the marriage certificate of minor's parents

"Kung hindi po siya kasal—ang magulang or halimbawa solo parent—puwede po na solo parent ID ang ipe-present or CENOMAR (certificate of no marriage) galing sa PSA," Maynar said.

For a minor traveling with an adult other than his or her parents or legal guardian, the DSWD will require a written consent of both parents, solo parent, or legal guardian.

"Dapat nakalagay sa written consent kung sino 'yung ino-authorize nila na kasama ng bata pag-alis ng bansa, hanggang kailan doon or duration ng stay, ano 'yung purpose ng bata bakit siya pupunta doon sa bansang pupuntahan niya at kaano-ano niya 'yung kasama niya na ino-authorize na kasama ng bata," Maynar said.

The DSWD may require additional documentary requirements depending on the purpose of the minor's travel abroad.

"Halimbawa, ang purpose ng travel ng minor ay for competition sa ibang bansa, or for scholarship, so hihingan po sila ng additional documents like invitation from the concerned organization sa ibang bansa or 'yung acceptance niya sa college kung saan siya mag-aaral," Maynar noted.

In cases of an illegitimate child traveling abroad with his or her biological father, a travel clearance is still required as parental custody over a child is only with the mother.

"Kung illegitimate ang bata or 'di kasal ang magulang, ang kasama niya na allowed na walang travel clearance is kung kasama niya ay nanay niya," Maynar said.

If a minor is the subject of an ongoing custodial conflict between parents a travel clearance will not be issued unless there is a court order.

Maynar said that it is the family's responsibility to notify the Bureau of Immigration if the minor should be on the watch list.

A travel clearance with a one year validity costs P300, while a clearance valid for two years costs P600.

Since the validity of a travel clearance is at a maximum of two years, Maynar said applicants are encouraged to indicate in their applications up to five countries where they may be traveling.

Processing a travel clearance undergoes two stages, the first is screening of documents and the next is the interview of the minor with a social worker.

"Ngayon, 'pag okay na sa assessment you will be notified kung maantay niyo within that day or kailangan niyo balikan the following day," Maynar said.

Minors planning to travel abroad must secure a travel clearance since the Department of Foreign Affairs requires the clearance before issuing a passport.

"Mas maigi po, bago kumuha ng ticket, pumunta na muna sa DSWD," she said.

Maynar noted that a travel clearance is not required for domestics travels.

"Ang hinhingi lang po ng airline is photocopy ng birth certificate ng bata or school ID, kung schooling age na 'yung bata ... Even tayong adults hinihingan rin tayo ng ID ng airports. So ganun din po 'yun 'pag local po ang travel," she said.

Lagamon said Cebu Pacific requires a minor's valid ID for domestic flights.

Likewise, PAL requires the presentation of a valid ID or if possible a photocopy of the minor's birth certificate. — VDS, GMA News