Philippine passport validity extended to 10 years

Dubai: Good news to Filipinos who endure serpentine queues when applying for or renewing their passport.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday signed into law the Republic Act 10928 that extends the validity of Philippine passports from five years to 10 years.

The law allows Filipinos over the age of 18 years to have passports valid for 10 years. Filipinos under 18 will be given passports with five-year validity, according to the law.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is now expected to issue the implementing guidelines to ensure that the process will be seamless, according to Philipine media reports.

The new law amends the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 or Republic Act 8239.