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Visa-free entry to RP for balikbayans
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Posted on Apr 13 2000
Filipino balikbayans can now visit their country hassle-free after RP’s Bureau of Immigration relaxed its entry regulations, the Philippine Consulate disclosed yesterday.
Called the Balikbayan Program, the loosened Philippine immigration law governing former Filipinos abroad was instituted by Republic Act 6768 which was passed and implemented since November 1989.
The program also covers overseas Filipino workers and citizens who were continuously out of the country for at least one year, and their alien spouses and children joining them in their travel to the Philippines.
Visa-free entry for one year is usually accorded to former Filipinos and their foreign dependents.
The relaxed regulations now include the dependents of Filipino citizens among those who can avail of the one-year visa-free program.
This means that Filipino parents are no longer required to secure visa for their foreign-born children if they intend to stay in the Philippines for less than 12 months.
There is also no need for the foreign spouses of Filipino nationals to get a visa in order to enter the country when traveling.
The entry rules were eased after the Department of Foreign Affairs adopted a new policy in response to the appeal of many former Filipinos abroad who complain that the strict interpretation of RA 6768 was discouraging them from visiting the Philippines.
