The Philippine Embassy in Seoul wishes to inform the public of the following guidelines set forth by the Bureau of Immigration regarding the visa-free entry of Filipino nationals, including former Filipinos, and members of their family:

o Starting 07 December 2020, the following may be allowed entry privileges to the Philippines under Republic Act No. 6768 or the "Act Instituting the Balikbayan Program"

• Filipino citizens and their foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are traveling with them
• Former Filipino citizens and their foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are traveling with them

Note: The Filipino or former Filipino should be traveling together with the spouse or children, otherwise, the latter will be denied entry. Grandchildren, grandparents and in-laws are not eligible under the Balikbayan privilege.

o Airline staff may require either of the following documentary requirements from Balikbayan passengers prior to boarding:

☻ Foreign Spouses:
• Copy of Marriage Certificate
• Previous immigration arrival stamp with Balikbayan status (BB/RA6768)

☻ Dependents/Children:
• Copy of Birth Certificate, indicating that either or both parents are Filipino nationals
• Copy of previously issued or expired PH passport
• Previous immigration arrival stamps with Balikbayan status (BB/RA6768)
• Original or certified true copy of Decree of Adoption (for legally adoptive children)

☻ Former Filipinos:
• Copy of previously issued or expired PH passport
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Previous immigration arrival stamps with Balikbayan status (BB/RA6768)

☻ They shall be admitted under RA 6768 with one year validity of stay from the date of arrival.

☻ The entry of these persons shall be subject to the following conditions:

o Those nationals from visa-free countries under Executive Order No. 408, series of 1960 as enumerated in Section H of Department of Foreign Affairs Foreign Service Circular No. 157-2016 dated 02 September 2016 (copy attached).

Family members of Balikbayans who are nationals of countries as well as former Filipinos who acquired citizenship and passports of countries not included in Section H are NOT entitled to the Balikbayan privilege. They must secure entry visas prior to their travel to the PH.

o They must have pre-booked quarantine facility, pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport, and subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

For further inquiries, the Bureau of Immigration may be reached through telephone numbers +632-8465 2400 and +632-8524 3769 and email addresses immigPH@gmail.com, binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph and immigration.helpline.ph@gmail.com. END

04 December 2020