Bureau of Immigration announced Visa-free entry for “balikbayans” starting December 7, 2020.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) had officially announced that “balikbayans” would be allowed visa-free entry starting December 7, 2020.
This, as balikbayans were former Filipinos and spouse and children of Filipinos or former Filipinos who were allowed visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408 series of 1960.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday said that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) would allow the entry of Filipino citizens’ foreign spouses and children — regardless of age — who were traveling with them to the Philippines starting December 7, 2020.
Also, the task force would allow the entry of former Filipino citizens — including their spouses and children — who were traveling with them.
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Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said that the one-year privilege was also extended to their foreign spouse and children.
According to Morente, they had devised guidelines in order to guarantee the smooth implementation of the said policy following the latest resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Manila Bulletin reported that the said procedure may require inbound balikbayans to come from visa-free countries, have a pre-booked quarantine facility.
Previously, the Philippine government only allowed entry for foreigners with work or investor visas and foreigners with only tourist visas were still banned from the Philippines.
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