MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that arriving balikbayan and their spouse and children who are traveling with them are exempted from presenting an outbound ticket.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that the exemption is in compliance with a recent resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), exempting former Filipinos, as well as the spouse and children of Filipinos
or former Filipinos who are traveling with them, from the requirement.

“This adjusted policy allows those arriving under a balikbayan status to better enjoy their one-year visa-free privilege,” said Morente.

Balikbayan, as defined by the BI, are former Filipinos who have been naturalized to any of the 157 countries under Executive Order No. 408, s. of 1960 as amended. Balikbayan are entitled to a one-year visa free entry, which they can extend to their spouse and children,
if traveling to the Philippines together with them.

Family members of Filipinos not included in the list of visa-free countries, on the other hand, are required to secure an entry visa prior to their arrival. (BI)