The Embassy regularly receives queries on privileges for former Filipinos under the Philippine government’s Balikbayan program. To clarify these inquiries, the salient points concerning the benefits and privileges of former Filipinos and their family members under this program are listed below.
The Balikbayan Program was enacted in 1989 under Republic Act No. 6768 and implemented through Tourism Administrative Order No. 89-05 to encourage overseas Filipinos and their families to visit the Philippines.
A balikbayan is defined as :
- a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one year from the date of last departure;
- an overseas Filipino worker;
- a former Filipino citizen who has been naturalized in a foreign country and holding a foreign passport, including the spouse and children who hold foreign passports and are traveling with the former Filipino citizen to the Philippines.
Benefits and Privileges
- Visa-free entry and a maximum stay of one year for foreign passport holders;
- Tax-free purchase of goods at Philippine duty-free shops;
- Travel tax exemption.
Requirements
To avail yourself of visa-free entry and other balikbayan privileges, you may either have your foreign passport impressed with the balikbayan stamp at the Philippine Embassy or any Philippine consular office for presentation to immigration officers at port of entry. You may also present to immigration authorities at port of entry evidence that you are a former Filipino.
For former Filipinos, proof of former Philippine citizenship (old passport, birth certificate, etc.) is required to avail themselves of balikbayan privileges. For the spouse and children of a balikbayan, who are not balikbayan in their own right but are traveling with the balikbayan, proof of relation to the balikbayan, such as a marriage certificate for the spouse and a birth certificate for children, are required. Their passports must be valid for at least six (6) months beyond their intended stay in the Philippines.
There is no fee for the balikbayan stamp; it is free of charge.
For more information on the Balikbayan Program, you may access the Department of Tourism’s website:
http://www.tourism.gov.ph
