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The Balikbayan Program as instituted by Republic Act 6768 and amended by Republic Act 9174 was launched by the Philippine Government to attract and encourage overseas Filipinos to come and visit their motherland. As a balikbayan, you can enjoy additional entry and stay privileges for you and your family members.

You are considered a Balikbayan if you meet any one of these three criteria:

  1. A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year;
  2. A Filipino overseas worker; and
  3. A former Filipino citizen who had been naturalized in a foreign country who comes or returns to the Philippines.

ONE YEAR VISA-FREE BALIKBAYAN STAY

The Philippines’ Balikbayan Program allows a one-year visa-free stay for former Filipinos who have acquired citizenship in certain countries.

The visa-free stay privilege may be extended to the balikbayan’s non-Filipino spouse and children, provided that:

  1. The family members MUST enter the Philippines with the balikbayan; and
  2. They are citizens of one of the listed countries.

Former Filipino balikbayans traveling to the Philippines should declare before the Immigration Officer at the port of entry that they are availing of the privilege, and to bring either their old Philippine passport or copy of their Philippine Birth Certificate as proof of their former Philippine citizenship.

Accompanying family members of the balikbayan should also bring appropriate supporting documents to show evidence of their relationship:

  • For the spouse: Copy of marriage certificate
  • For each child: Copy of their birth certificate indicating the balikbayan as a parent
  • For adopted children: Copy of adoption papers

TAX EXEMPTION BENEFITS

Aside from visa-free entry to the Philippines, Philippine Law (R.A. 9174) provides benefits to balikbayans:

  1. Tax-exempt maximum purchases in the amount of USD 1,500, or the equivalent in Philippine and other currency, at Philippine Government–operated duty-free shops; and
  2. Exemption from Travel Tax provided that their stay in the Philippines is one year or less. If their stay in the Philippines exceeds one year, Travel tax will apply to them.

From 1 August 2021, foreign spouses, parent/s, and/or children of Filipino citizens can apply for a Tourist Visa (A) to the Philippines without the need of an Entry Exemption Document (EED)

             Requirements and Procedure

             1. Applicant applies for a visa with the Embassy of the Philippines through submission of scanned copies of the following documents (one pdf file for each applicant) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:

                 1.1. Duly-accomplished Application Form

                 1.2. PSA authenticated Marriage Contract to the Filipino national or PSA authenticated Birth Certificate of the child, as applicable

              If documents are found in order, an appointment will be set for the processing of the application.

             2. Personal Appearance

             3. Payment of fees

Requirements and Procedure

              1. The applicant’s Philippine-based company applies for Entry Exemption Document (EED) from the Philippine national agency that has purview over the sector to which the company’s business is affiliated. The said agency must endorse the Entry Exemption request to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA)

              2. Once the EED is issued by DFA-OCA, apply for a visa with the Embassy of the Philippines through submission of scanned copies of the following documents (one pdf file for each applicant) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:

                        2.1. Duly-accomplished Application Form

                   2.2. One passport-sized photograph

                   2.3. Valid Passport

                  2.4. Tentative Flight Itinerary

                  2.5. Proof of Financial Capacity

                  2.6. Original endorsement from company/institution in the Netherlands and confirmation letter from sponsoring Philippine company/institution

              If the documents are found to be in order, an appointment will be set for the processing of the application.

              3. Personal appearance on confirmed date of appointment

               4. Presentation of original copies of documents

              5. Payment of fees

VISA-FREE ENTRy (upto 30 days)

Citizens of 157 countries (click here to view) can enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism/business purposes.

If you are a Dutch passport-holder and wish to travel to the Philippines for tourism/business, you are eligible for the visa-free privilege provided that your stay in the Philippines does not exceed thirty (30) days.

If you are eligible for visa-free entry, you must still be able to present, at the Philippine borders, the following documents:  

  1. Your passport valid for at least six (6) months after the applicant’s date of departure from the Philippines; and
  2. An outbound flight ticket.

 

VISA (UPTO 59 days or more)

Applicants are advised to submit their visa application at least one (1) month before their expected date of travel to the Philippines. The Embassy is allowed to issue a temporary visitor’s visa with a validity of 90 days for a maximum allowable stay of 59 days.

  • Visa applicants must send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for pre-evaluation of requirements and procedure on how to apply for a visa.

A visa is a privilege granted by a country to a foreign national, and that the Embassy has the right to approve or disapprove visa applications and is not bound to provide an explanation for its decision.

Visa applicants are advised to finalize their flight bookings only after the application for visa is granted.

Visa-processing time is from five (5) to ten (10) working days, depending on the type of visa applied for and the applicant’s nationality. Some applicants may require a longer evaluation period.

A "Social Insurance Record Certificate" will also be required for Chinese nationals.

The Embassy has a NO REFUND policy on all visa application fee.

VISA VALIDITY 

SINGLE ENTRY – Traveler must enter the Philippines within three (3) months from the date of the visa’s issuance. Maximum allowable stay is fifty-nine (59) days.

MULTIPLE ENTRY – Traveler must enter the Philippines within six (6) or twelve (12) months from the date of the visa’s issuance. Maximum allowable stay is fifty-nine (59) days per trip. This type of entry will require prior authorization from our headquarters and will take longer evaluation period.

For those who wish to extend beyond fifty-nine (59) days, the foreign national must apply for a visa extension at the nearest Philippine Immigration office at least one week prior to the expiration of the valid stay.

 

MINORS UNDER FIFTEEN (15) YEARS OLD TRAVELING WITHOUT A PARENT/PARENTS

Minors under fifteen (15) years old traveling without his/her parent must secure a Waiver-of-Exclusion-Ground (download form).

For further information, you may visit the Philippine Bureau of Immigration’s website immigration.gov.ph or its Official Facebook Page.

 

NEW VISA REGULATIONS FOR INDIAN ATIONALS

 

 

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