Dear PAO,

I was born and raised in the Philippines and lived there for 23 years before I settled in Canada in the year 2013. Just early this year, I became a Canadian citizen. I haven’t seen and been with my family and friends for a decade. So, I decided to go home to the Philippines. Will I need to apply for a visa to enter and stay in the Philippines for about three months?

Mae

Dear Mae,

Please be informed that Republic Act 9174, known as “An Act Amending Republic Act Numbered 6768, Entitled, ‘An Act Instituting a ‘Balikbayan Program,’ By Providing Additional Benefits and Privileges to Balikbayan and For Other Purposes”, provides the following:

“SEC. 2. Section 2 of the same Republic Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act:

“(a) The term “balikbayan” shall mean a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year, a Filipino overseas worker, or a former Filipino citizen and his or her family, as this term is defined hereunder, who had been naturalized in a foreign country and comes or returns to the Philippines;

“SEC. 3. Section 3 of the same Republic Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 3. Benefits and Privileges of the Balikbayan. – The balikbayan and his or her family shall be entitled to the following benefits and privileges:x x x

“(c) Visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of one (1) year for foreign passport holders, with the exception of restricted nationals;” (Emphasis supplied).

The Balikbayan Program was initiated under the administration of the Department of Tourism to attract and encourage overseas Filipinos to come and visit their motherland. This is in recognition of their contribution to the country’s economy through the foreign exchange inflow and revenues they generate.

A balikbayan is entitled to several benefits and privileges, including entering the Philippines without the need for a visa and staying here for one (1) year. Therefore, as a former Filipino citizen balikbayan, you may enter and stay in the Philippines without a visa for three months, subject to the rules and regulations related to said law.

As a balikbayan, you may also enjoy other benefits provided in the law, such as tax-exempt purchases at duty-free shops, travel tax exemption, and especially designated reception areas at the port of entry for the expeditious processing of documents.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated on.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to [email protected]