Starting December 7, former Filipinos and spouse and children of Filipinos or former Filipinos will be allowed for a visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente said that the one-year balikbayan (returning Filipino) privilege will also be extended to foreign spouses and children of Filipinos traveling with them.

Since the intent of the latest Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolution is to “enable foreigners to reunite with their families in the Philippines”, Morente advised that foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens will only be allowed entry if the Filipino or former Filipino citizen they are related to is traveling with them or is in the Philippines.

Moreover, inbound balikbayan tourists are required to:

• Have a pre-booked quarantine facility
• Have a pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport
• Must be subjected to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry

Former Filipinos who wish to avail of balikbayan privilege must present old Philippine passport or a copy of their birth certificate at the immigration officer upon arrival. Marriage certificates and birth certificates will be required for spouses and children, respectively.

Not all countries are covered by Balikbayan Program under Republic Act No. 6768. Former Filipinos and/or their immediate family who are nationals of countries not found on below list will need to secure a visa before going to the Philippines.