ePhilD accepted for passport applications –DFA

The printed digital version of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID or ePhilID can now be used and accepted in applying for passports, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced.

In an advisory, the DFA-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) said that it will be accepting the ePhilID as an accredited government-issued valid ID for passport applications starting, Friday, October 21, 2022.

“To facilitate its use as a valid ID accepted for passport application, the public is advised that the details in the printed ePhilID must be clear, readable, and contain the same details as the presented documentary requirements during the passport application,” the DFA-OCA said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday said the printed ePhilID was introduced as a “proactive strategy that will allow more Filipinos to immediately enjoy the benefits of being PhilSys registered” while waiting for the delivery of their actual PhilSys ID or national ID.

The issuance of the ePhilID is also according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to issue 50 million IDs by the end of the year, of which 30 million are physical cards and 20 million are digital printed versions.

PSA chief Dennis Mapa said the ePhilID contains features such as the actual national ID, such as the front face photo, demographic information, PhilSys number, and a unique QR code that can be scanned for authentication.

“The printed ePhilID shall be honored and accepted as the official government-issued identification document of a person for his or her transaction in all national government agencies, local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, financial institutions, and private sector,” Mapa said.

“The BSP also issued a memorandum to all its supervised financial institutions for the use and acceptance of the printed ePhilID and other formats of the digital ID,” he added. — DVM, GMA News