The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and VFS Global signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the establishment of a Passport Renewal Center (PaRC) last November 21 in Dubai in the government’s bid to ease the passport renewal process for Filipinos living in the Middle East.
“The PaRC aims to provide an alternative means for Filipinos to avail of passport renewal services in two of the Middle East countries with the highest concentration of Filipino workers—the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia,” the DFA said in a statement.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Head of Business Development for VFS Global Chris Dix witnessed the signing of the agreement establishing the PaRC.
This is the first time that the Philippine government has outsourced part of its renewal of passport application service to a private entity.
“The launch of PaRC in Dubai allows Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to choose between applying for the renewal of their passport at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai or at the Center. Those who avail of the services at PaRC will pay an additional convenience fee on top of the normal cost of passport renewal that they pay at the Consulate General or at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi,” the DFA added.
PaRC will only cater to simple passport renewal services that do not require any changes in the biographic details of the passport holder.
The outsourcing to VFS Global only applies to the frontline operation of passport renewal application such as the acceptance of application, capturing of biometrics and biographical details, payment of fees, and release of passport.
It should be noted that the actual production of passport is still with the DFA.
