The 30-minute passport application process implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has attracted 55 percent of the 4,000 people who apply for passport every day.

In the passport data-capturing section alone, service windows have been increased from 12 to 60.

The warm reception of the system, which went full blast less than a week ago, is attributed to the quick and efficient service being implemented.

It also lessens the risk of being fooled by fixers and the chance of applicants going back and forth to the DFA because of problems regarding their application for like lack of requirements.

“If they have complete supporting documents, applicants can complete the whole application process in 30 minutes,” said an official at the DFA Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA).

The DFA has been able to accomplish all these because it has streamlined the application process and significantly added service windows. Passport applicants also do not have to queue standing while waiting to be attended.

Passport applicants with appointments for that day are immediately ushered to the processing area to have their documents examined. They then proceed to the second floor to pay the passport fees.

After paying, applicants will go to the data-capturing section where their photo, thumb mark and signature are taken in one of the 60 data-capturing windows. It takes only around six minutes to have their biometrics taken.

Also just recently, the DFA opened to the public the new Consular building located in Bradco and Macapagal Avenues in Aseana Business Park, near the Mall of Asia.