GOVPH

Filipino permanent residents abroad are exempted from paying travel tax when they enter and leave the Philippines in less than a year. However, the exemption will only be granted if the Filipino permanent resident presents a Travel Tax Exemption Certificate to the concerned authorities.

The Philippine Embassy does not issue travel tax exemption certificates. Travel tax exemption certificates may be secured in the Philippines at the following offices:

• Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) Main Office located at DOT Building, Agrifina Circle, Rizal Park, Manila (with tel. no. 521-7141; 523-5697; 523-2903)
• PTA Travel Tax Counter at the Departure Lobby of NAIA 1, 2, and 3 (apply before checking in)
• PTA Travel Tax Provincial Offices (please check the office nearest you on PTA’s website www.philtourism.gov.ph/ttax.html)

Requirements for travel tax exemption:

1.  Current passport
2.  Proof of Permanent Residence, e.g. residency permit (verblijfsvergunning regulier onbepaaldetijd) issued by the Dutch government
3. Roundtrip airline ticket

Fee:       PhP 500.00

Note:   Filipinos who are not yet permanent residents of Netherlands (e.g. verblijfsvergunning regulier bepaalde tijd, etc.) may avail of the travel tax exemption privilege under the Balikbayanprogram provided they have been living continuously in the Netherlands for at least one year.
Filipinos working in the Netherlands may also avail of the travel tax exemption privilege provided they present the additional documentary requirements:

• If hired through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, a valid Overseas Employment Certificate issued by POEA
• If directly hired abroad, a Certificate of Employment issued by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate in the place of hire or an employment contract legalised or authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate.

For Filipino missionaries assigned to the Netherlands

In addition, as per Section 2d of Presidential Decree No. 1183 as amended, Filipino missionaries assigned abroad may avail of the travel tax exemption when returning to their assignment from a visit to the Philippines. To avail of the exemption, they should submit a Certificate of Employment issued by the Embassy stating that they are working as missionaries in the Netherlands. The exemption is valid only for travel to their place of assignment in the Netherlands.

For further information on travel tax rates or travel tax exemptions please contact:

Revenue Department
Philippine Tourism Authority
R. 117, DOT Bldg. T.M. Kalaw, Rizal Park, Manila
Telephone: (+632) 525-3029; 524-7734; 524-7141 local 100 / 103 / 109
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.philtourism.com

INFORMATION FROM THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION (PRC)

On 9 February 2006, the PRC passed Resolution No. 2006-313, which amends Resolution No. 2004-235, to allow Filipino professionals residing outside the Philippines to apply for initial registration with the PRC.

Prior to the 2006 resolution, all registering professionals had to personally appear at the Commission to fill out all entries in the registry book and affix their signature and 1” x 1” picture. Under the new regulations, professionals who left the Philippines immediately after their examinations or before the release of their examination results can file for initial registration through their duly authorised representative subject to the following requirements and conditions:

1.  Personal appearance by registrant at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the country of residence

2.  Requirements:

• Certificate from the PRC indicating that the registrant had passed the Board/Professional Examination (present original and submit photocopy).
• Duly-accomplished Panunumpa ng Propesyonal form required by the PRC (downloadable from PRC website). The registrant should take the oath in t   he presence of an officer of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate and affix a passport photograph (coloured with white background) to the oath form. (present original and submit photocopy).

3.  The registrant shall designate his/her representative in the Philippines and execute a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) preferably before the same officer of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate who administered his/her oath. The SPA should expressly declare that his/her representative is fully authorised to accomplish, sign and execute documents, and perform all acts necessary for his/her registration.

4.  The registrant is required to go to the PRC to personally sign the Registry Book of Professionals as soon as he/she arrives from overseas.
Basic Fees:   Euro 25 (Notarial fee for oath)
Euro 25 (Notarial fee for SPA)
Full text of Resolution No. 2006-313. Queries can be directed to PRC through their email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More information can be found at the PRC website:www.prc.gov.ph.

Renewal of Professional Identification Card (PIC)

Filipinos professionals overseas can renew their PRC identification card (or PIC) by directly sending to the Commission a copy of their latest PIC or the following data: profession, license number, and expiry date of their last ID card. This will enable the PRC to verify its records if the concerned professional is qualified to renew his/her ID and to assess the amount to be paid for his/her annual registration fees.

PRC Main Office
P. Paredes Street corner Morayta Street
Sampaloc, Manila 1008
Philippines

PROCEDURES FOR WAIVER OF EXCLUSION FOR CERTAIN MINORS
as per Bureau of Immigration (BI) Memorandum Order No RPL10-013 of 11 November 2010
and Foreign Service Circular No 120-10 of 1 December 2010
Commonwealth Act No 613, as amended, provides:

Section 29 (a) The following classes of aliens shall be excluded from entry into the Philippines:
x x x

(12) Children under fifteen years of age, unaccompanied by or not coming to a parent, except that
such children shall be admitted in the discretion of the Commissioner of Immigration, if otherwise
admissible; (italics provided)
x x x
As a rule, minors who are under 15 years of age and unaccompanied by or not coming to a parent to the Philippines, are generally excluded from entering the Philippines ports of entry. This includes children who arrive individually or in groups. However:

Procedures BEFORE ARRIVAL in the Philippines

I.   To avoid exclusion before arrival at Philippine ports:

1.  The minor’s guardian or legal representative shall, at least 72 hours before arrival, notify the Commissioner
of Immigration in writing of the intent to travel to the Philippines.

2.  The letter of intent shall include a request for the minor’s waiver of exclusion and the relinquishment of exclusion fees. Copies of the minor’s valid passport, visa (if required), return ticket, and invitation from a parent or sponsoring entity shall also be attached.

3.  Finding merit in the request, the Commissioner of Immigration shall issue an Order that waives the minor’s
exclusion. The Order may also waive the exclusion fees; otherwise, a waiver fee of PhP3,120 shall be imposed. The minor’s guardian or legal representative shall be given copies of this Order.

4.  The Commissioner of Immigration shall send a copy of the Order to the Immigration Duty Supervisors (IDS)
at the port of entry. This Order shall waive the minor’s exclusion and, if allowed, also the fees’ waiver.

Procedures AFTER ARRIVAL in the Philippines without prior notice

II.  To avoid the exclusion of minors who, without prior notice to the Commissioner of Immigration, arrive at
Philippine ports:

1.  The minor’s guardian or legal representative presents copies of the minor’s passport and attaches these to
the duly accomplished Waiver of Exclusion (WE) forms obtained from the IDS.

2.  After determining that the WE forms are in order, the IDS shall note “Approved for Payment” and direct the
minor’s guardian or legal representative to pay the PhP3,120 waiver fee for each unaccompanied minor.
Payment shall be made to an authorised cashier at the port of entry. The cashier shall retain a copy of the
WE forms.

3.  After payment, the minor’s guardian or legal representative shall present the official receipt of payment of the
WE forms to the IDS. The IDS shall note the serial number of the official receipt and the total number of
minors covered by the receipt.

4.  The IDS shall then direct an Immigration Officer (IO) to admit the minor, after noting the serial number of the
official receipt below the admission stamp and cancelling the receipts.

5. The IO detaches the copy of the WE forms and retains a copy of the minor’s passport for the BI’s database.