US citizens may travel on expired passports

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente. Image from the Bureau of Immigration website

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will allow the departure of US citizens with expired passports.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued a memorandum directing all BI personnel assigned in the different ports to allow the departure of passengers whose US passport have expired since Jan. 1, 2020, or are expiring on Dec. 31 of this year.

In a statement, Morente said he issued the memorandum in response to a letter from the US Embassy in Manila complaining about US citizens who have been stranded in the Philippines and are unable to leave because their passports have expired.

But he clarified that the use of the expired passports will only be allowed until Dec. 31. —TINA G. SANTOS