DSWD Travel Clearance: ₱800.00 and Who Skips It
Department of Social Welfare and Development · travel
Quick answer
A DSWD Travel Clearance Certificate costs ₱800.00 and a Certificate of Exemption ₱300.00. Processing takes 1 to 3 working days. A minor travelling with either parent needs neither. The clearance lasts 1 year, but only for the same companion, purpose and destination.
Last verified
Where these figures come from
About these figures: the numbers below come from DSWD's official published sources: DSWD | Minors Traveling Abroad, Frequently Asked Questions (https://mta.dswd.gov.ph/Home/FAQEn, retrieved 2026-09-01); DSWD | Minors Traveling Abroad online application (https://mta.dswd.gov.ph/, retrieved 2026-09-01). Agencies change fees and rates without notice, so confirm with DSWD before you rely on them. Last verified: 2026-09-01.
The first question is whether you need one
Most people searching for a DSWD travel clearance do not need one, and the fee is the reason it is worth checking first.
DSWD publishes a list of minors who are automatically exempt, needing neither a Travel Clearance Certificate nor a Certificate of Exemption:
- A minor accompanied by either or both parents, if the minor is legitimate.
- A minor accompanied by the biological mother, if the minor is illegitimate.
- A minor accompanied by adoptive parents, where an Adoption Decree and Certificate of Finality exist.
- A minor holding a valid foreign passport, a valid immigrant visa issued by a foreign government, a Permanent Resident Card or visa from a foreign government, or a dependent visa of a parent. For these, DSWD states the exception applies without regard to the accompanying adult.
If your child is travelling with you and is your legitimate child, that is the end of it. No certificate, no fee.
The two documents and what they cost
| Document | What it is for | Fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Clearance Certificate (TCC) | A minor travelling abroad unaccompanied by a parent or anyone with parental authority and legal custody | ₱800.00 | 1 year from issuance |
| Certificate of Exemption (CE) | A minor who does not need a clearance but needs proof of that for immigration | ₱300.00 | No validity period, usable multiple times |
The gap matters. ₱800.00 against ₱300.00 is a real difference, and the cheaper document is the one that never expires.
DSWD accepts payment electronically through MAYA, GCash or LandBank.
Who needs the Certificate of Exemption
The CE is for situations where the travel is legitimate but does not fit the automatic exemption. DSWD lists:
- The parents are not married and the minor travels with the biological father who has sole parental authority or legal custody.
- The travelling companion is the legal guardian.
- Orphans of married parents travelling with substitute parents, a grandparent or the nearest kin.
- Orphans of non-married parents travelling with substitute parents or the nearest kin on the maternal side.
Who may apply
DSWD restricts who can file. It is not open to whoever is taking the child:
- The minor’s mother, if the child is non-marital.
- Either parent, if the parents are married.
- A solo parent or a legal adoptive parent.
- Persons exercising Substitute Parental Authority under the Family Code, or legal guardians duly appointed by the court.
- A parent of an illegitimate child holding a court order granting sole custody.
- A travel companion authorised by written consent from the parent or legal guardian.
The timings
| Item | What DSWD publishes |
|---|---|
| Processing | 1 to 3 working days |
| TCC validity | 1 year from the date of issuance |
| CE validity | None, usable multiple times |
| Photo age limit | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The 1 to 3 working days carries a condition DSWD states explicitly: provided that all requirements are complete and the information submitted is consistent. Inconsistency between documents is what turns 1 day into several.
The validity trap
A Travel Clearance Certificate lasts a year, but not in the way people assume.
DSWD ties the validity to three things staying the same: the travel companion, the purpose of travel, and the countries of destination. Change any of them and DSWD states the applicant must file a new application.
So a clearance issued for a child travelling with an aunt to Singapore in March does not cover the same child travelling with an uncle to Japan in August. The certificate has not expired; it simply does not apply.
What you need
For a minor travelling alone, DSWD asks for scanned copies of:
- PSA QR-coded birth certificate of the minor.
- PSA QR-coded marriage certificate of the parents, or a court decision on legal guardianship, or a Solo Parent ID where applicable.
- Affidavit of support and proof of the sponsor’s financial capacity: a certificate of employment, the latest Income Tax Return, or a bank statement.
- PSA QR-coded death certificate, if one or both parents are deceased.
- A recent coloured passport-size photo on a white background, taken within 6 months.
- Valid ID or passport of the parents, with signature.
The PSA documents must be QR-coded, and DSWD has a separate route if yours is not. Requesting those is covered in our guide to the PSA birth certificate, and the marriage certificate in PSA marriage certificate. If the minor does not yet hold a passport, start with the new passport guide.
How to apply
- Go to the DSWD MTA site at mta.dswd.gov.ph and read the FAQ requirements for your specific travel situation.
- Create an account. The applicant must be a parent, solo parent, legal guardian, substitute parent, a parent with sole custody by court order, or an authorised companion with written consent.
- Verify your email, then complete the application and upload the scanned documents.
- Attend the interview if one is required for your case.
- Pay through MAYA, GCash or LandBank.
- Once approved, log in, open the Approved Application tab, answer the client satisfaction survey, then download and print the certificate.
The whole thing runs inside the Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System, which is the platform DSWD names as the home of the online application.
Where this goes wrong
Paying ₱800.00 when you needed nothing. A legitimate child travelling with either parent is automatically exempt. Check the exemption list before you apply.
Assuming the year of validity covers any trip. It covers the same companion, the same purpose and the same destination. Anything else is a new application.
A birth certificate without a QR code. DSWD’s standard requirement is the QR-coded PSA copy, and an older printout is a separate case with extra steps.
Inconsistent details. The 1 to 3 working days is conditional on the information being consistent across documents. A name spelled two ways is the usual delay.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is a DSWD travel clearance?
- The Travel Clearance Certificate costs ₱800.00. The Certificate of Exemption, which is a different document for minors who do not need a clearance but must prove it, costs ₱300.00. DSWD accepts payment electronically through MAYA, GCash or LandBank.
- Does my child need one at all?
- Often not. DSWD lists minors who are automatically exempt with no need for either certificate: a minor accompanied by either or both parents if the child is legitimate, by the biological mother if the child is illegitimate, or by the adoptive parents where an Adoption Decree and Certificate of Finality exist. A minor holding a valid foreign passport, foreign immigrant visa, permanent resident card or dependent visa is also exempt regardless of who accompanies them.
- How long does it take?
- DSWD publishes one (1) to three (3) working days, and attaches a condition: provided that all requirements are complete and the information submitted is consistent. Inconsistent details between documents are the usual reason an application stalls.
- How long is it valid?
- One year from the date of issuance, but with a significant restriction. The validity holds only if the travel companion is the same person and the purpose of travel and the countries of destination are the same. DSWD states that any change in the travel companion or purpose of travel requires a new application. A Certificate of Exemption, by contrast, has no validity period and can be used multiple times.
- What is the difference between the TCC and the CE?
- The Travel Clearance Certificate is for a minor travelling abroad unaccompanied by a parent or by anyone with parental authority and legal custody. The Certificate of Exemption is for a minor whose circumstances mean no clearance is required, but who still needs documentary proof of that for immigration officers. Different documents, different fees, different validity.
- Who applies for it?
- DSWD limits this to the minor's mother if the child is non-marital, either parent if the parents are married, a solo parent, or a legal adoptive parent. Also persons exercising Substitute Parental Authority under the Family Code, legal guardians duly appointed by the court, a parent of an illegitimate child holding a court order granting sole custody, and a travel companion authorised by written consent from the parent or legal guardian.
- What photo is required?
- A recent coloured passport-size photo of the minor on a white background, taken within the last six (6) months.
- When is the office open?
- The MTA Office operates Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except on holidays and official government work suspensions.