For non-Filipino minors under 15 years of age travelling unaccompanied by or not coming to a parent to the 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.
| Important Note
Prior to arrival in the Philippines, an Affidavit for the Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) 1. Duly-accomplished Affidavit for WEG (forms available at the Embassy) 2. Two photocopies each of the passport data page of the following: 3. Copy of flight itinerary of minor and accompanying adult The WE application, with the submission of the Affidavit of WEG, may be filed with the IDS Basic Fee: Euro 25 (notarisation/legalisation) |
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.
