Married women can revert to their maiden names. Here’s how—DFA

Puwede nang gamitin ng married women ang kanilang maiden name sa pagpapa-renew ng passport.

Alinsunod ito sa implementasyon ng New Philippine Passport Act (Republic Act. No. 11983).

Gayunpaman, isang beses lamang nila ito puwedeng gawin.

Ito ang inilabas ng Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) sa DFA website nitong March 21, 2025.

Ayon sa Section 5 ng New Philippine Passport Act: “For a woman who wishes to revert to the use of her maiden name, a duly authenticated birth certificate by the PSA: Provided that she can only revert to her maiden name once and all her other existing identification cards and pertinent documents shall likewise reflect her maiden name…”

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REQUIREMENTS FOR MARRIED WOMEN

Kalakip ng inilabas na statement ng DFA ay ang listahan ng requirements upang mapayagan ang married women na gamitin ang kanilang maiden name o apelyido bago maikasal.

Narito ang mga kinakailangan, ayon sa DFA website:

1. An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or PSA Report of Birth;
2. An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Marriage or PSA Report of Marriage;
3. Notarized Affidavit of Explanation that includes a request for the reversion of maiden name in the Philippine passport or travel document and stating that the applicant has not hitherto availed of the reversion; and
4. Latest-issued Philippine passport or travel document; and
5. Any valid and existing Government-issued ID accepted for passport application, reflecting the maiden name of the passport applicant.

Puwede ring bumalik ang married women sa paggamit ng kanilang dating apelyido sa pag-a-apply ng passport kung ang dahilan niya ay isa sa mga sumusunod:

• annulment;
• declaration of nullity of marriage;
• legal separation;
• judicially-recognized foreign divorce; or
• death of a husband

Kung ang dahilan ay pagpanaw ng kabiyak, narito ang requirements na kailangan nilang isumite:

1. Submission of an original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Death (COD) or Report of Death (ROD) of spouse, or apostilled, or authenticated Foreign Death Certificate with English Translation, if applicable;
2. An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or PSA Report of Birth;
3. Latest-issued Philippine passport (if available).

Ito naman ang requirements kung ang pagpapalit ng pangalan ay dahil sa sumusunod: annulment, declaration of nullity of marriage, judicially-recognized foreign divorce, judicially-recognized divorce under PD No. 1083, and legal separation

1. Submission of an original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Marriage (COM) or PSA Report of Marriage (ROM) with annotation reflecting the nullity or dissolution of marriage, judicial recognition of foreign divorce, court decree of legal separation;
2. An original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or PSA Report of Birth;
3. Latest-issued Philippine passport (if available).

other reminders

Hinihimok naman ng Office of the Consular Affairs na gamitin ang prescribed affidavit template na makikita sa OCA website.

Dagdag pa ng DFA, sa mga married women na mag-a-avail ng “voluntary reversion to maiden name,” tatanggapin din ng ahensiya ang duly notarized affidavit, "provided it clearly states the applicant’s reason for reverting to her maiden name and confirms compliance with all documentary requirements.”

Paalala rin ng ahensiya, isang beses lamang pwedeng mag-apply na ibalik sa maiden name ang pangalan na nakasaad sa passport o travel document ng isang married woman na gamit ang apelyido ng kanyang mister, kasunod ng pagwawakas ng kanilang kasal.

Ang hakbang na ito ay bahagi ng adhikain ng DFA na maging aligned ang passport services sa personal identity changes, tulad ng marital status at legal name alterations.

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