The program allows visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of one (1) year for foreign passport holders, with the exception of visa-required nationals.
The term "balikbayan" shall mean
- A former Filipino citizen with foreign passport and members of his/her family. The term “family” shall mean the spouse and minor children of the balikbayan (who are not balikbayan in their own right) who are travelling to the Philippines together with the balikbayan
- A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year from the date of last departure and their families
- A Filipino overseas worker
Balikbayans traveling to the Philippines are advised to declare before the Philippine Immigration Officer at the port of entry that he/she is availing of the privilege and has to present either their old Philippine passport or copy of Philippine birth certificate as proof of their former Philippine citizenship.
Accompanying family members of the balikbayan should bring appropriate supporting documents:
- For the spouse: copy of marriage certificate
- For each child: copy of birth certificate
- For adopted children: copy of adoption papers
- Aside from visa-free entry to the Philippines, Philippine Law (R.A. 9174) provides benefits to balikbayans:
Tax-exempt maximum purchases in the amount of USD 1,500, or the equivalent in Philippine and other currency, at Philippine Government–operated duty free shops
Exemption from Travel Tax, provided that their stay in the Philippines is one year or less. If their stay in the Philippines exceeds one year, Travel tax will apply to them.
For more information:
http://www.gov.ph/official-gazette/2002/11/07/republic-act-no-9174
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/balikbayan-previlege
COUNTRIES COVERED BY THE BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM
Former Filipinos who have acquired citizenship from a country listed below can avail of the one-year visa-free balikbayan stay. If the country of citizenship is not listed, the balikbayan must apply for a Philippine visa.
The non-Filipino spouse and dependent children of a former Filipino can avail of the one-year visa-free balikbayan stay if their passport is issued by a country listed below. If the country of passport is not listed, the spouse or dependent children must apply for a Philippine visa.
| Andorra | Greece | Panama |
| Angola | Grenada | Papua New Guinea |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Guatemala | Paraguay |
| Argentina | Guinea | Peru |
| Australia | Guinea Bissau | Poland |
| Austria | Guyana | Portugal |
| Bahamas | Haiti | Qatar |
| Bahrain | Honduras | Republic of Korea |
| Barbados | Hungary | Romania |
| Belgium | Iceland | Russia |
| Belize | Indonesia | Rwanda |
| Benin | Ireland | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Bhutan | Israel | Saint Lucia |
| Bolivia | Italy | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Botswana | Jamaica | Samoa |
| Brazil | Japan | San Marino |
| Brunei Darussalam | Kazakhstan | Sao Tome and Principe |
| Bulgaria | Kenya | Saudi Arabia |
| Burkina Faso | Kiribati | Senegal |
| Burundi | Kuwait | Seychelles |
| Cambodia | Kyrgyzstan | Singapore |
| Cameroon | Lao People’s Democratic Republic | Slovak Republic |
| Canada | Latvia | Slovenia |
| Cape Verde | Lesotho | Solomon Islands |
| Central African Republic | Liberia | South Africa |
| Chad | Liechtenstein | Spain |
| Chile | Lithuania | Suriname |
| Colombia | Luxembourg | Swaziland |
| Comoros | Madagascar | Sweden |
| Congo | Malawi | Switzerland |
| Costa Rica | Malaysia | Tajikistan |
| Cote d’Ivoire | Maldives | Thailand |
| Croatia | Mali | Togo |
| Cyprus | Malta | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Czech Republic | Marshall Islands | Tunisia |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Mauritania | Turkey |
| Denmark | Mauritius | Turkmenistan |
| Djibouti | Mexico | Tuvalu |
| Dominica | Micronesia | Uganda |
| Dominican Republic | Monaco | United Arab Emirates |
| Ecuador | Mongolia | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| El Salvador | Morocco | United Republic of Tanzania |
| Equatorial Guinea | Mozambique | United States of America |
| Eritrea | Myanmar | Uruguay |
| Estonia | Namibia | Uzbekistan |
| Ethiopia | Nepal | Vanuatu |
| Fiji | Netherlands | Vatican |
| Finland | New Zealand | Venezuela |
| France | Nicaragua | Vietnam |
| Gabon | Niger | Zambia |
| Gambia | Norway | Zimbabwe |
| Germany | Oman | |
| Ghana | Palau |
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