Married women in the Philippines can now revert to their maiden name when renewing their passports, but only once, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced.

In an advisory released on Friday, March 21, 2025, the DFA said the policy aligns with the implementation of Republic Act 11983, also known as the New Philippine Passport Act. 

Specifically, this policy can be cited from Section 5 of the law, which states that:

“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…”

Requirements for maiden name’s reversion

The DFA stated that the following requirements must be provided to revert to a maiden name:

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.

Similarly, married women may revert to their maiden name in their passport if their marriage has been annulled, declared null, legally separated, recognized as divorce by a foreign court, or if they are widowed. 

Applicants must provide the following documents for verification:

If widowed:

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).

If annulled, legally separated, or divorced:

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).