Bureau of Immigration building in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reiterated on Wednesday that foreign parents, spouses, and children of Filipino citizens cannot enter the country if they are not traveling with them.
“The Balikbayan privilege, which allows the visa-free entry of foreign spouses and children of Filipinos, remains suspended,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.
Morente noted that existing guidelines on international travel set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) do not allow the entry of foreign parents, spouses and children of Filipinos if they are traveling alone.
He reminded foreigners that they should possess valid visas secured in the country’s foreign posts abroad to be able to enter the country.
The immigration bureau issued the reminder following reports of aliens being denied entry at the airports for attempting to enter the country without their Filipino spouse, children, or parent.
During the implementation of the travel restrictions, he said that airlines and ships are obligated to ensure that only foreigners eligible to enter the country are allowed to board their Philippine-bound flights.
On March 22, the Philippines reimposed a travel ban on entry of foreigners amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. The ban will last until April 21.