Last month, I wrote the blog post Philippine Consulate General in Calgary: Services Offered to announce the good news to all the Filipinos in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
But there’s not much information about Philippine passport application back then.
I decided to write a post focusing on how to renew Philippine passport in Calgary; I’ll keep this post updated as soon as any changes are made.
On July 4, 2016 the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary started providing the following passport-related service:
- Philippine passport application (new)
- Philippine passport renewal
Don’t plan yet your visit to the PCG Calgary; make sure to read the rest of the post.
How to Renew Philippine Passport in Calgary
I was fortunate to receive a copy of the press release of the Consulate from Centre for Newcomers of Calgary that offers various immigrant services.
I used to spend my weekends at the centre. (FYI: caregivers in Calgary should take advantage of the programs offered by the centre. It’s also a great place to meet new friends. )
So I digress a little. But let’s focus now on getting the passport.
The applicants from Alberta and Saskatchewan has two ways on how they can renew the Philippine passport:
Option #1: Make an appointment to get or renew a Philippine passport.
- Send an email to calgarypcg@gmail.com with your name and contact details. Wait for the reply of the Consulate for an available slot.
- Or call the Consulate. The phone numbers are found below.
Option #2: Arrive at the Consulate as a walk-in passport applicant.
Reminder for walk-in applicant: Visit the Consulate after 1:oo pm. Avoid visiting on Monday and Friday.
The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary is asking for consideration because one machine is available to handle the passport application. Here’s a good news: four machines will soon be added.
- DO NOT arrive at the office building before 8:30 AM so you don’t have to wait at the lobby till 9:00 AM, the opening hour of the Consulate.
- Pay in CASH.
- Bring self-addressed stamped envelopes if you want to receive the passport through mail.
- Complete all requirements including photocopies of documents before the appointment. You can use the xerox machine at the Consulate for $1.00/page.
The Consulate will also conduct consular outreach program in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Check the Consular Outreach Schedule.
The setup is not what we have expected but change is good, thought bit by bit.
Maybe in the future we can expect an online registration similar to the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver.
For now, the best reactions we can show are gratefulness and consideration. (Remember it’s been a long . . . long . . . wait.)
What to Do in Times of Urgency
If you have to travel and your passport will expire for the next six months, you don’t need to have a new passport right away.
You can go to the Consulate office and get a signed travel documents that will allow you to leave and re-enter Canada without worrying.
Where to Get a Philippine Passport in Calgary
Philippine Consulate General in Calgary
Address: Suite 920, 517 1oth Ave. SW Calgary, Alberta T2R 0A8
(Centre 10 Building, corner of 4th and 5th Street)
Tel. No. (403) 455-9343, (403) 455-9457, (403) 455-9483, (403) 455-9346
After Work Phone: (587) 577-1524
Email: calgarypcg@yahoo.ca
Passports: calgarypcg@gmail.com
Office Hours: 9am to 4pm
Website and Facebook Page (unofficial) of the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary, Alberta
My Trip to PCG Calgary
Because I am that curious, I decided to figure out how to go to Centre 10. I took the C-Train to go to the PCG Calgary and get off at 4th Street SW.
I crossed the street towards the Holt Renfrew (corner of 7th Avenue SW and 4th Street SW) and walked ahead all the way to 10 Avenue SW.
It probably took me 10 minutes of walking to get to Centre 10. I would have been faster if I’m not taking photographs along the way. The downtown is constantly changing with all the constructions going on.
Final Thoughts
I commend the staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary for all the efforts. The application process may not be the ideal method but we are getting there, making small steps.
As Lao Tzu said “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Let’s make do of what we have.
How’s your trip and application? We love to know your Philippine passport renewal experience in Calgary.
I actually did apply for PR card and they are asking for a copy of my valid passport which I don’t have because first it’s damage and second it’s expired 10 yrs ago. And I can’t even renew it without a PR card. I can apply for “No Status Letter” but the waiting period is about 10 months. Do you know how long it takes to process Verification of Status?
I’m not aware of the processing of VOS. What I’ve read is that you’ll receive it online and not on the mail so somehow it would facilitate the delivery but not necessarily the processing as a whole.
Do you know what I need if my old passport is damaged. It is also expired 10 yrs. ago but never had a chance to renew it. Also, I don’t have a PR card. I have the old Record of Landing as proof of residency. I am planning to go on vacation next year but I don’t know how I’m going to renew my passport with this kind of situation.
How about consider applying for a PR card since you’ll need it when you are entering Canada. You can also replace the Record of Landing with Verification of Status.
I did the same. Emailed them twice and got an auto reply that they will get back to me in 10-14 days but I didn’t hear from them after that so I decided to just walk-in yesterday. I got there at 11:30 and there was no line up, I was done in 15 minutes! I want to thank you Carolyn for this post, it really helped me. Just a tip, prepare all requirements before going there!
I will be renewing my passport on friday..Are they gonna issue back the old one together with the new one? I have my US Visa on my passport and planning to go to states on july…Is my old passport will be returned to me so i can use my US visa? Thank you!
You will receive the two passports (old and new) as I’ve mentioned in the post How to Renew Philippine Passport in Canada. It’s just a bit of a hassle. I cannot use the kiosk to check in using the Philippine passports so I have to line up to show my two passports at the airport. Bon voyage Christina!
I have renewed my passport and got it already.
My thought: what is the point of having that phone number listed in their website if they will not answer the phone anyway. What if you have questions for them and you need an answer right away. Renewing passport is just one of the few services that they offer so people will appreciate it really if they answer phonecalls.
You are welcome. It only took one month and we had our passport in the mail.
Sorry Rick late reply…yes we have to surrender the old passport. When the new one is ready…they will issue it and give back the old one. 🙂
I am planning to go there tomorrow, because that is my preferred date that I requested last February 12, 2017; and I did mentioned to update me as earliest time so I could arrange my schedule here in Edmonton. They don’t reply since my last email. So I was expecting that my preferred date is confirmed, not until today March 14, 2017 at 4:30pm, when I open my emails they said my booking is on March 24, 2017 at 10:45am. Well I will try to wake up tomorrow morning and drive from Edmonton to Calgary, as a walk-in since they said they do not accept all walk-in on Mondays and Fridays. Tomorrow is Wednesday and I’ll be there by or before lunch and hopefully I could do my renewal.
Hi my family and i were trying to book an appointment for almost a month now. We send email and tried to call so many times but we didnt get any response.
Hi Wilfredo. That is the usual complain. Nonetheless, others are pleased to renew their passport as a walk-in applicant. And here’s a reminder from PCG website:
Let me know how it goes.
Hi Rick. To give you an idea but in another setting, I renewed my passport in PCG Vancouver. I had to surrender the old passport; a few months later, I received both the old (has punched holes) and new passport through mail.
Hello Donna, my girlfriend and I are planning to go for passport renewal next Tuesday. If she chooses to pick up her new passport in Calgary when it is ready, do you know if she can keep her old passport until that time, or does she have to surrender it on Tuesday?
This is the wonderful experience that I had from Calgary Philippine Consulate…Went this morning for my passport renewal as a walk in applicant. The office open at 9am, the staff let us in by 8:50am. He greeted so kindly Good morning! Explained to register our name if we are on walk in for passport renewal. They attended first of course for those who have appointments. About 9:15 am my name was called for documents checking and payment. Waited to be called for photo and finger printing…9:45am I was done of everything! 😊🤗 Thumbs Up to the new system and to all helpful, kind and very accommodating staff 🤗😊😊
Hi Robert thanks for the info.
Hi Robert I read your posted about renewing Philippine passport in Calgary..
I send an email to calgarypcg@gmail.com to make an appointment, but there is no response..
We drove to Calgary yesterday from Edmonton to process our ROM and renew my passport. We didn’t book an appointment. We arrived at 1245pm and there was about 25 to 30 people there. We signed in and waited for our turn as a walk in. We were completely done in 2 hours. Good staff there, friendly and helpful. If you have any questions please post your questions and I will be happy to answer them if I can.
Thanks for sharing your experience Robert. I agree with everything that you’ve said. Your experience confirmed that they do accept WALK-IN applicants and the process wouldn’t take much time. I hope others would consider it if they cannot book an appointment via email. It’s amazing how our kababayan are kind and helpful, and thank you for being a role model. Have a great day. 🙂
Thanks for the info Tsiah. I hope the Consulate will inform the public outright on the website. This is the information I found about mode of payment:
“Cash is preferred, we only accept money order if documents will be submitted through mail.” – so thats their reply.
They dont answer phone calls by the way. You can email them if you have questions @calgarypcg@yahoo.ca
How much does it cost anyway? My friend told me it should money order. And i read it here “cash”. I just wanna make things clear. Do they accept cash? And how much? Thank you.😊
I would like to double check what is correct email address that we need to follow to make an appoinment for renewing philippine passport, because on your website is says calgarypcg@yahoo.ca or calgarypcg@ gmail.com?
i send email to calgarypcg@yahoo.ca an hour ago, and they reply me back to send to calagarypcg@gmail.com in this email address i didnt recieve any response.
and trying to call them to all the listed phone number on website the mailbox is full.
calling the after work home number no answer ..
For the passport, the email is calgarypcg@gmail.com I’ve been getting comments that the staff at PCG in Calgary don’t answer the phone call. I checked the website and there’s no passport-related news that can explain why the callers are having difficulty in reaching out to the Consulate. I hope you can leave a comment if there’s any development to inform other applicants.
On the after hours voicemail they said they are not processing passport renewals right now. Is this true?
Hi Robert. I checked the website and I cannot find any news confirming the halt in passport processing. I am not an employee PCG in Calgary so I cannot give further information other than what is available on the websites if there’s any.
Hi. How many days will it take to get the newly renewed passort?
From PCG in Calgary’s webiste:
I sent them an email. I got no reply from them.
The same case, even inboxes are full- does anyone know if they are accepting walk -ins for passport renewal? Thank you very much
Let’s refer to the homepage for the answer to your question Stacy,
Staff in Philippine Consulate Calgary does not answer the telephone when you phone them. I hope they will give time to answer the phone too.
I hope so too Munoz. How about sending a message on Facebook or email instead (refer to the updated blog post). You can also ask our kababayan on the Facebook Page. Who knows maybe someone has the answer to your question. Let me know how it goes Munoz.