The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced that Filipinas now have an option to use their maiden names after marriage.
According to a Philstar Life post, “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,” as stated on Section 5 (f) of the New Philippine Passport Act.
This development was officially announced by the DFA-Office of Consular Affairs on Friday, March 21.
This means Filipino women have the “legal right to use their maiden name on their passports. However this is a one-time change. Once made, it must be reflected across all their official identification documents.
If the Filipino woman who wishes to use their maiden name on their passports was caused by annulment, declaration of nullity, legal separation, foreign divorce, or widowhood, additional documents would be required for processing.