‘Old, unused’ entry exemption docus considered expired by June 1
PHOTO by ED LUSTAN / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Starting June 1, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will no longer allow the entry of foreign nationals who will present entry exemption documents (EEDs) issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before February 8.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Friday that the BI will implement this new travel guideline after receiving a communication from the DFA regarding the validity of EEDs.
“We were informed by the DFA that entry exemption documents now have a validity of 90 days from the date of issuance,” Morente said in a statement.
“As an effect, we were informed that all issued before February 8 are deemed expired by June 1,” he added.
Morente said foreigners who are still holding said EEDs that remain unused should enter the country on or before May 31.
Meanwhile, Atty. Carlos Capulong, chief of the BI Port Operations Division, said that entry exemptions issued by the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 during the travel ban from March 22 to April 30 may still be used until May 31.
He noted that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) ruled that entry exemptions issued by the NTF shall be recognized as valid until May 31.
In compliance with an IATF resolution, all 9(a) visa holders, as well Special Resident Retirees Visa holders, are required to secure entry exemptions from the DFA to be allowed entry into the Philippines, according to Capulong.
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