Phl embassy in Riyadh breaks passport applications record

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine embassy in Riyadh processed more than 72,000 passport applications in 2013, posting an increase of 33.6 percent and breaking its passport applications record.

The embassy processed 72,028 passports in 2013, higher than the 53,913 passports processed in 2012.

In 2013, the embassy processed 1,522 passports for newborn infants, 64,298 renewals and 6,208 replacements for lost passports. Around 6,000 replacement passports were issued during the correction period, particularly in May and June.

These figures do not include the passport applications processed by the Philippine consulate general in Jeddah.

The embassy also conducted 37 consular outreach missions in 2013 compared to 24 in 2012 and 19 in 2011.

The embassy team held outreach missions in Al-Khobar, Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Khafji, Arar, Buraidah, Hofuf, Jubail, Ras Tanura, Sakaka, Hail, Sana’a and at the second Industrial City in Riyadh.

The embassy has consular jurisdiction over the regions of Riyadh, Eastern Region, Qassim, Hail, Northern Borders, and Al-Jouf.

The rest of the regions in the Kingdom are under the consular jurisdiction of the Philippine consulate general in Jeddah.

Passport processing in Riyadh and during the consular outreach missions is by appointment, except for infants, pregnant women, senior citizens and the handicapped.

For 2014, the embassy has scheduled 36 consular outreach missions in various cities around the Kingdom. The appointment module can be accessed on the embassy website www.philembassy-riyadh.org and is posted two months before the scheduled outreach.

The embassy has advised Filipinos to verify the validity of their passports and to ensure that these are valid for at least six months beyond any travel. Filipinos should also plan to apply for their passports nine months before the passports’ expiry.