Philippines, Passports and Deportations - FamilySearch Historical Records

 Philippines

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes passport applications and deportation records from the Philippines from 1501-1901.

Reading These Records
These records are in Spanish and some may also contain Latin. For help reading these records please see the following:
 * Spanish Genealogical Word List
 * Script tutorial for Spanish
 * Latin Genealogical Word List

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Passport records
 * Name of the traveler
 * Date and place issued
 * Destination
 * Family members also traveling
 * Age
 * Birth place
 * Physical description of traveler

Deportation records
 * Name
 * Reason for deportation
 * Age
 * Nationality
 * Race
 * Date of deportation

Coverage Table
Some of these records are available through the FamilySearch Catalog. Click the link in the catalog column to open a new window to see the catalog entry. Records where the locality is given as Record Management and Archives Office (Manila) have no additional data to indicate the localities they contain records for.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The person's given name and surname
 * Residence
 * Approximate age
 * Names of other family members

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age to calculate a birth year
 * The location of where a passport may be close to that person's original home province
 * Use the birth date/year and the nationality/departure location to search for civil or vital records
 * Check other immigration records for more information regarding movements of those you are looking for
 * If you find a deportation record use the date on the document to find the passenger lists for vessels that may have been traveled between the Philippines and the homeland (or the country to where he/she is being deported).

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Just because the person had a passport doesn’t necessarily mean they followed through with their travel plans.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have lived in the same area or a nearby area.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Philippines.
 * Record Finder