DFA on Balikbayan Privileges

Upon representation of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Tourism adopted a liberal interpretation of the Balikbayan Law to benefit all the balikbayan.


No visa shall be required, as a privilege, for maximum stay of one (1) year for the following, every time they enter the country to visit, regardless of the frequency of their travel:

  1. Former Filipino citizens (specifically Filipinos who have been naturalized British or Irish citizens) and their families
  2. Filipino citizens (Filipino passports holders) and their families
  3. Filipino overseas workers

The traveller has to declare before the Philippine Immigration Officer at the port of entry that he/she is availing of the said privilege and has to present his/her current British or Irish passport plus any of the following documents:

  1. cancelled Philippine passport or birth certificate
  2. naturalization paper to show former Philippine citizenship or
  3. certification from adopted country

This privilege is extended to families of former Filipino citizens and families of Filipino citizens (i.e. foreign spouse and minor unmarried children) provided

  1. that the latter are not required entry visas under existing regulations and
  2. that they are travelling together with the balikbayan spouse to the Philippines.

The family member should present at the Philippine port of entry the following:

  1. valid passport
  2. marriage certificate in case of the spouse
  3. birth certificates in the case of minor children or
  4. adoption papers in the case of adopted children.

(Article from DFA) http://londonpe.dfa.gov.ph/consular-matters/balikbayan-privilege

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