BI: Only foreigners with existing long-term visas may enter PH starting Aug

MANILA, Philippines — Only foreigners with permanent or existing immigrant visas can enter the country starting August, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified Tuesday.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente made the clarification as immigration offices and the bureau’s field offices receive calls from persons who mistakenly thought that all foreigners will be allowed to enter the country starting next month.

“For the information of the public, the entry of foreign tourists, non-immigrant visa holders, and other categories of aliens are still prohibited. They will be turned back if they land in any of our ports of entry,” Morente said in a statement.

“The resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is clear – only foreigners with existing long-term visas will be allowed entry beginning August 1. So if you are not a permanent resident here, do not attempt to travel to the Philippines because you will be excluded and denied entry by our immigration officers,” Morente added.

BI Port Operations Division Acting Chief Grifton Medina explained that only those who fall under the following categories will be allowed entry starting next month:

• Those who were issued non-immigrant visas under Section 13 of the Immigration act;
• Those who acquired resident status under Republic Act 7919 or Alien Social Integration Act;
• Those who availed of Executive Order 324 or Alien Legalization Program; and,
• Native-born foreign nationals

Medina likewise said that foreign diplomats as well as foreigners who are married to Filipinos, including their dependents, are also allowed to enter the country.

“We are therefore advising the different airlines to take note of these latest travel guidelines so that they can accordingly inform their foreign customers who may wish to book their flights to the Philippines,” Medina said.

Malacañang earlier announced that foreign nationals with long-term visas will be allowed to enter the country beginning August 1, 2020 with conditions set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

EDV