ADVISORY 52-2020

The public is reminded that foreign nationals who belong to the following categories may avail of the visa-free privilege beginning 7 December 2020 provided they are 1) nationals allowed to enter the country visa-free under EO No. 408, 2) have pre-booked Covid-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport, 3) have pre-booked quarantine facility and 4) subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry:

1. Filipino citizens’ foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are travelling with them; and
2. Former Filipino citizens, together with their foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are travelling with them.

Foreign nationals who belong to the following categories and intend to join their Filipino spouse, parent or children in the Philippines, are required to apply for a visa at the Consulate:

1. Foreign spouses of Filipino nationals or foreigners married to Filipino nationals;
2. Foreign minor children, and foreign children with special needs regardless of age, of Filipino nationals; and
3. Foreign parents of minor Filipino children, and of Filipino children with special needs regardless of age.

In all cases, foreign nationals must bring documentary proof of their relationship with Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens such as marriage and birth certificate, during their travel. Former Filipino citizens must bring either a copy of their old Philippine passport, a copy of birth certificate or previous immigration arrival stamps with Balikbayan Status.

For detailed information on the documentary requirements and conditions, please see the Revised Guidelines as per IATF-MEID Resolution No. 85 Series of 2020 dated 03 December 2020 of the Bureau of Immigration.

For concerns or clarification, please send an email message to frankfurtpcg.consular@dfa.gov.ph.

ADVISORY 51-2020
As of 27 Nov 2020

The following is an updated summary of Philippine travel restrictions and exemptions which incorporates the issuance of IATF Resolution 85 dated 26 November 2020.

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt reminds the public that due to the ongoing pandemic, all foreign nationals except those with exemptions, are still restricted from travelling to the Philippines as of this date. The travel restrictions imposed by the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases are intended to prevent the entry and spread of coronavirus cases that could overwhelm the country’s health system.

The following is a list of exemptions to the travel restrictions:

A. Exemption due to the Balikbayan Program (Republic Act 6768)

1. Filipino citizens’ foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are travelling with them; and
2. Former Filipino citizens, together with their foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are travelling with them.

Foreigners who belong to the above-mentioned categories may avail of the visa-free privilege beginning 7 December 2020 provided they are nationals allowed to enter the country visa-free under EO No. 408 and must comply with the conditions listed in Section E below.

Other foreign spouses and children who do not belong to the above categories, are still subject to existing travel restrictions. They may apply for visas, as appropriate, provided they are exempted from the temporary suspension of visa issuance. See Advisory no. 49.

B. Exemption due to official capacity or employment

1. Foreign Government and International Organization officials accredited to the Philippines, and their dependents;
2. Foreign airline crew; and
3. Foreign seafarers

Foreigners who belong to the above-mentioned categories are exempted but are required to apply for a visa.

C. Exemption as holder of a valid long-term/immigrant/resident visa

Foreign nationals who are already holders of the following visas, valid at the time of entry, will be allowed entry into the Philippines:

1. Section 13 series of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, which includes:

• 13 Quota, 13(a), 13(b), 13(c), 13 (d), 13 (e), 13(g) visas
• Temporary Resident Visa (based on CA 613, Section 13a (marriage to Filipino)
• Temporary Resident Visa (based on MO ADD-01-038/ADD-02-015 (Indian nationals)
• MCL-07-021 Permanent Resident Visa (based on CA 613, Section 13a (Chinese nationals)
• Native Born Visa (based on CA 613, Section 13c (for foreigners born in the Philippines with at least 1 Permanent Resident parent);

2.   RA 7919 visa
3.   3. EO 324 visa
4. SIRV under EO 226 (not applicable to SIRV under EO 63)

D. Exemption as holder of a valid special non-immigrant/investor visa

• Special visas under Executive Order 226 (Omnibus Investment Code) as amended and Republic Act 8756;
• 47(a-2) visas;
• Visas issued by Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO),
  Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC); and
• Section 9(d) of EO 613, as amended

E. Additional requirements/conditions

All foreign nationals who qualify for the exemptions shall be subjected to the following conditions:

• With pre-booked accredited quarantine facility;
• With pre-booked COVID-19 testing provider; and
• Subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers as set by the National Task Force for COVID-19.

The travel restrictions are reviewed regularly by the Philippine government and may be eased should the situation in the country continue to improve.

For concerns or clarification, please send an email message to frankfurtpcg.consular@dfa.gov.ph.

Advisory 50-2020
25 November 2020

The following is an updated summary of Philippine travel restrictions and exemptions which incorporates the issuance of IATF Resolution 84 dated 19 November 2020.

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt reminds the public that due to the ongoing pandemic, all foreign nationals except those with exemptions, are still restricted from travelling to the Philippines as of this date. The travel restrictions imposed by the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases are intended to prevent the entry and spread of coronavirus cases that could overwhelm the country’s health system.

The visa-free balikbayan privilege for former Filipinos is suspended until further notice. Former Filipinos who have acquired a foreign citizenship and have not applied to reacquire their Philippine citizenship, and who do not fall under any of the exemptions indicated below, cannot travel to the Philippines and cannot apply for visas at this time.

The following is a list of exemptions to the travel restrictions:

A. Exemption due to relationship to Filipino nationals

1. Foreign spouses of Filipino nationals or foreigners married to Filipino nationals;
2. Foreign minor children, and foreign children with special needs regardless of age, of Filipino nationals; and
3. Foreign parents of minor Filipino children, and of Filipino children with special needs regardless of age.

Foreigners who belong to the above-mentioned categories are exempted but are required to apply for a visa. The requirement for a visa includes those nationals who previously enjoyed visa-free privileges including former Filipino nationals, naturalized as citizens of other countries and are included in the above-mentioned categories.

Those who fall under categories 1, 2, and 3 are required to present documentary proof in addition to the standard requirements for visa application. They are also required to present proof that the Filipino spouse, parents, or child/children are in the Philippines or traveling with them. Once the appropriate visas are issued, they are also advised to bring the same documents/proof for presentation to the Bureau of Immigration officials upon arrival in the country.

B. Exemption due to official capacity or employment

1. Foreign Government and International Organization officials accredited to the Philippines, and their dependents;
2. Foreign airline crew; and
3. Foreign seafarers

Foreigners who belong to the above-mentioned categories are exempted but are required to apply for a visa.

C. Exemption as holder of a valid long-term/immigrant/resident visa

Foreign nationals who are already holders of the following visas, valid at the time of entry, will be allowed entry into the Philippines:

1. Section 13 series of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, which includes:

• 13 Quota, 13(a), 13(b), 13(c), 13 (d), 13 (e), 13(g) visas
• Temporary Resident Visa (based on CA 613, Section 13a (marriage to Filipino)
• Temporary Resident Visa (based on MO ADD-01-038/ADD-02-015 (Indian nationals)
• MCL-07-021 Permanent Resident Visa (based on CA 613, Section 13a (Chinese nationals)
• Native Born Visa (based on CA 613, Section 13c (for foreigners born in the Philippines with at least 1 Permanent Resident parent);

2. RA 7919 visa
3. EO 324 visa
4. SIRV under EO 226 (not applicable to SIRV under EO 63)

D. Exemption as holder of a valid special non-immigrant/investor visa

• Special visas under Executive Order 226 (Omnibus Investment Code) as amended and Republic Act 8756;
• 47(a-2) visas;
• Visas issued by Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO),
  Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC); and
  Section 9(d) of EO 613, as amended

E. Additional requirements

All foreign nationals who qualify for the exemptions shall be subjected to the following conditions:

• With pre-booked accredited quarantine facility;
• With pre-booked COVID-19 testing provider; and,
• Subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers as set by the National Task Force for COVID-19.

The travel restrictions are reviewed regularly by the Philippine government and may be eased should the situation in the country continue to improve.

For concerns or clarification, please send an email message to frankfurtpcg.consular@dfa.gov.ph.