The Travel Clearance is a document issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to a minor traveling abroad unaccompanied by any of the parents or those persons having parental authority and legal custody over the child in a digitized format and applied using the online application system within the Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS) platform.

1. Filipino minor traveling alone outside the Philippines using the Philippine Passport.
2. Filipino minor traveling with prospective adoptive parent/s for inter-country adoption.
3. Filipino minor traveling with a person other than his/her parent/s, legal guardian, or person exercising parental authority/legal custody over him/her.
4. Filipino minor who is illegitimate and is traveling with his/her biological father.
5. A minor below thirteen (13) years old but will be accompanied by a sibling or a relative within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity who is over fifteen (15) years old and whose purpose for travel is to permanently join the parent/s abroad.

1. If the parents are not married, and the child’s traveling companion is the biological father who has sole parental custody or legal custody over the minor as evidenced by a Court Order.
2. When the traveling companion is the legal guardian as evidenced by a Court Order.
3. Orphans of married parents traveling with substitute parent/s (grandparents or nearest kin per Family Code).
4. Orphans of non-married parents traveling with substitute parent/s (maternal side).

a. A minor accompanied by the following:

1. Either or both of the minor’s parents, if the minor is legitimate.
2. The minor’s biological mother, if the minor is illegitimate.
3. The minor’s father who has been granted sole parental custody or custody by the proper court, if the minor is illegitimate.
4. The minor’s legal guardian.
5. The person, including one of the minor’s parents, who was granted sole parental authority or legal custody by the proper court, in which case the court decision should specifically include a statement to this effect, i.e. naming the person to whom sole parental authority or legal custody over the minor has been granted.
6. The minor’s adoptive parents if the minor is granted an Adoption Decree and Certificate of Finality.

b. A minor who is an immigrant or a permanent resident abroad, with foreign service holding a diplomatic/official passport such as Ambassador/General Consul/Attaches, provided he/she is holding a valid passport, such as dependent visa/identification card which serves as a proof that the travel does not constitute child trafficking.

1. All applications for Travel Clearance shall be lodged online using the Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) Online system within the HELPS portal and shall be processed at the Central Office.
2. Person/s allowed to file an application for Travel Clearance using the MTA Online portal is/are the following:
   1. Minor’s parent/s, Solo Parents, or legal guardian;
   2. Substitute parents;
   3. Parent of an illegitimate child with a Court Order granting him/her sole custody over the minor;
   4. Authorized traveling companion with a Written Consent from the minor’s parent/legal guardian.
3. A fee of Three Hundred Pesos (Php 300.00) per Digital MTA Blue Card or Certificate of Exemption will be collected from the applicant.
4. The validity of the Digital MTA Blue Card issued to a minor traveling abroad shall only be valid per travel of the child.
5. A minor under the care of a Child Caring Agency (CCA) or a Social Welfare and Development Agency (SWADA) is exempted from the travel clearance fees provided such agency has a valid Registration and License from the Department.
6. A minor cleared for inter-country adoption by the NACC for inter-country placement shall be issued a NACC-RACCO Consent to Travel Certificate.
7. A minor who is the subject of an ongoing/pending custody battle before the court between his/her parents and is traveling abroad with either of his/her parents will not be issued a travel clearance unless a court order is issued allowing him/her to travel with said parent. The family of the minor shall be responsible for filing a manifestation in the court for the issuance of a hold departure order, the inclusion of the minor’s name in the Bureau of Immigration’s watch list, as well as in the delisting of the name of the minor, once the issue of custody has been resolved by the Court.
8. A validation/assessment report of the Local Social Welfare and Development Officer (LSWDO) of the City or Municipality where the minor resides should be required for minor/s who will participate in any cultural presentation, compete in a foreign country, for purposes of fundraising, and ensure that the competition is not harmful to the health and development of the minor.
9. A digitally secured number and code shall appear on the front and back of the Travel Clearance Certificate.
10. No minor below thirteen (13) years of age shall be allowed to travel alone.
11. Cases not covered by these guidelines shall be submitted for resolution by the Secretary.
12. In case of loss of the issued travel clearance, a new set of requirements should be submitted using the MTA online portal.
13. Once a digital blue card is issued and there are changes of two (2) to three (3) entries either in the country of destination, purpose of travel, and traveling companion, the applicant is required to re-apply with the corresponding documentary requirements and will be charged the travel clearance application fee. However, if the change is only on the date of travel or country of destination, the applicant shall apply for the change of entry, free of charge. Provided that the request for change of entry on the date of travel or country of destination is applied from the date of issuance up to ten (10) days before the date of travel. Single entry changes may only be applied once.

1. The applicant should check the FAQs posted on the MTA portal to determine whether or not a Travel Clearance or a Certificate of Exemption is needed.
2. If required, the applicant should create an account in the MTA portal.
3. He/She has to select if the application is for Travel Clearance or Certificate of Exemption.
4. Once selected, the applicant fills up the respective application form, uploads the requirements, and receives a system notification acknowledging the uploaded documents or a notification setting a deadline for the completion of lacking documents.
5. The applicant receives an Order of Payment and provides payment options.
6. The social worker/assessor reviews the document to assess its completeness and verifies its authenticity online with issuing agencies/offices such as BI, PSA, DFA, RACCO, Interpol, and LSWDO.
7. Once the documents are assessed to be complete and verified online with the issuing offices, the applicant will be notified to select a schedule for an interview and assessment through video conferencing.
8. The applicant then selects an appointment schedule or queues on the same day for the online interview and assessment.
9. Once interviewed and assessed and the result is favorable, the application is recommended for approval by the authorized signatory.
10. The applicant receives the link to the approved Digital Blue Card and submits the accomplished Client Satisfaction Survey Form.
11. The MTA Office then sends the link/QR Coded Digital Blue Card of the minor to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for reference and monitoring.

The Travel Clearance or Certificate of Exemption may be obtained / downloaded within a maximum of three working (3) days upon completion of the online application process; and a fee of Three Hundred Pesos (Php 300.00) per child shall be paid by the applicant.

Online applications will be accepted and processed daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from Monday to Friday, excluding regular holidays and during natural or man-made calamities. Applications submitted on holidays or weekends will be processed on the next working day.

For urgent applications of clearance, applicants may apply at the nearest DSWD Field Office that are not affected by the calamities.

The Digital Blue Card and Certificate of Exemption generated through the system shall be valid per travel of the child.

Scanned copies of the following:

1. QR-coded Birth Certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
2. QR-coded Marriage Certificate of the minor’s parents or the Court Decision on Legal Guardianship, Solo Parent ID, if applicable.
3. Affidavit of support and Certified copy of Evidence of financial capability of the sponsor such as any of the following:
   1. A certificate of Employment;
   2. Latest ITR;
   3. Bank Statement.
4. QR-coded Death Certificate (in case of death of either parent or both) issued by the Local Civil Registrar.
5. Scanned copy of colored passport-size photos of the minor (in white background) taken within six (6) months.
6. Valid ID/Passport of Parents (with signature).
7. Passport of Minor (if available).

Scanned copies of the following:

1. Scanned copy of colored passport-size photos of the minor (in white background) taken within six (6) months.
2. Valid ID/Passport of parents (with signature), Solo Parent ID, if applicable.
3. Affidavit of support and Certified copy of Evidence of financial capability of the sponsor such as any of the following:
   1. A certificate of Employment;
   2. Latest ITR;
   3. Bank Statement.

Scanned copies of the following:

1. QR-coded Birth Certificate of a minor from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
2. QR-coded Marriage Certificate of the minor’s parents or a Court Order on Legal Guardianship, Solo Parent ID, if applicable.
3. Valid ID/Passport of parents (with signature).
4. Scanned copy of colored passport-size photos of the minor (on a white background).
5. Passport of the traveling companion.
6. If family friend/foreign companion, passport bio-page and visa/Alien Certificate of Registration ID (ACR i-card).
7. Notarized oath of undertaking (if non-relative).
8. Valid ID/Passport of parents (with signature).
9. Proof of financial capability of the sponsor:
   1. Bank statements;
   2. Certificate of Employment;
   3. Income Tax Return. If the sponsor is living abroad, proof of financial capability should be subscribed and sworn to before an authorized officer to administer the oath.

Scanned copies of the following:

1. Colored copy of the previous Travel Clearance issued by the DSWD, if previously applied manually.
2. Electronically generated Travel Clearance need not be uploaded for renewing applicants.
3. QR-coded Marriage Certificate of the minor’s parents issued by the PSA or Court Order on Legal Guardianship, Solo Parent ID, if applicable.
4. Valid ID/Passport of parents (with signature).
5. Two (2) colored passport-size photos of the minor (on a white background).
6. Passport of the traveling companion.
7. If family friend/foreign companion, passport bio-page and visa/Alien Certificate of Registration ID (ACR i-card).
8. Notarized oath of undertaking (if non-relative).
9. Proof of financial capability of the sponsor, any of the following:
   1. Bank statement;
   2. Certificate of Employment;
   3. Income Tax Return. If the sponsor is living abroad, proof of financial capability should be subscribed and sworn to before an authorized officer to administer the oath.

• For Filipino minors migrating to another country (for purposes of determining if exempted):
  1. Scanned copy of the Visa petition approval.
• For a minor who is over 18 years old but is unable to fully take care of himself/herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of physical or mental disability or condition:
  1. Scanned Certification from a Physician citing the minor’s condition and his/her inability to fully take care of him/herself.
• For a minor who will study abroad:
  2. Scanned copy of the student visa or Acceptance or Certificate of Enrollment or Registration from the school where the minor is to be enrolled.
• For a minor who will attend conferences, study tours, competition student exchange programs, Summer Camp, Pilgrimage, World Youth Day, and other related activities:
  3. Scanned copy of the Certification from the sponsoring organization;
  4. Scanned copy of the Affidavit of Undertaking of the companion indicating the safety measures undertaken by the sports agency (for sports competitions);
  5. Scanned copy of the Signed invitation from the sponsoring agency/organization abroad with an itinerary of travel, list of participants, and duration of the activity/travel.
• For minors going abroad for medical purposes (only applicable to children in Child Caring Agencies and SWDAs with sponsors abroad for their medical treatment):
  6. Scanned copy of the Medical Abstract of the minor;
  7. Scanned copy of the Recommendation from the attending physician that such medical procedure is not available in the country;
  8. Scanned Letter from the Sponsor.
• For a minor going abroad for inter-country adoption:
  9. NACC issued Consent to Travel.
• For a minor under Foster Care:
  10. RACCO issued Consent to Travel.
• For minors under adoption (must have an undergoing filed petition):
  11. RACCO issued Consent to Travel.
• For minors under Legal Guardianship:
  12. Scanned Certified True Copy of Court Order on Legal Guardianship.
• For abandoned minors with alleged missing parents, the following shall be the requirements:
  13. Scanned copy of the Social Case Study Report executed by a Licensed Social Worker of the Local Government Unit of the parent/guardian;
  14. Scanned copy of the Blotter report from either the local police or barangay certification from the locality or the last known address of the alleged missing parent;
  15. Solo Parent ID, if applicable.

1. If the parents are not married, and the child’s traveling companion is the biological father who has sole parental custody or legal custody over the minor as evidenced by a Court Order:
   1. QR-coded PSA issued birth certificate of the minor;
   2. Scanned Court Order granting Sole Parental Custody to the biological father.
2. When the traveling companion is the legal guardian:
   1. QR-coded PSA issued birth certificate of the minor;
   2. Scanned Court Order granting Legal Guardianship over the minor.
3. Orphans of married parents traveling with substitute parent/s (grandparents or nearest kin per Family Code):
   1. QR-coded PSA issued birth certificate of the minor;
   2. QR-coded PSA issued Marriage Certificate of the minor’s parents;
   3. QR-coded PSA issued Death Certificate of the minor’s parents;
   4. QR-coded PSA issued Birth Certificate of the traveling companion (grandparents or nearest kin) to establish the relationship with the minor.
4. Orphans of non-married parents traveling with the substitute parent/s (maternal side):
   1. QR-coded PSA issued birth certificate of the minor;
   2. QR-coded PSA issued Death Certificate of the minor’s biological mother;
   3. QR-coded PSA issued Birth Certificate of the traveling companion (maternal grandparents) to establish the relationship with the minor.