If you are a regular reader of the site, you certainly know the procedure to get a Balikbayan Visa (Balikbayan Privilege) when you arrive in the Philippines. You fly in to the Philippines with your Philippine spouse, she requests that you be given the Balikbayan Visa, and a 1 year Balikbayan Privilege stamp is placed in your passport. That’s it, you are good to stay in the Philippines for a full year! No visa requirements, no visits to the Bureau of Immigration, no visa extensions, no head tax. You’re good to go!
But wait. Can it be different than that?
Well, one thing about enforcement of the laws in the Philippines is that things are “consistently inconsistent”. Credit goes to Dave Starr for that phrase, he has been saying it, and rightly so, for years now. Fact is that what is interpreted as being OK under the rules varies. It varies from one time to the next. It varies depending on the location where you are entering the country. It varies depending on which line you go through. You just never know for sure. The procedure outlined at the beginning of this article is the way the law is written, but you just never know how it will be enacted. You should always expect it to be handled the way the law is written, if you get a little extra, more than what you were supposed to get, well you got lucky that time.
Recently, I was contacted by Shirley with questions about getting a Balikbayan Visa. The method of getting the visa, which Shirley asked about, would be unconventional, and I don’t think it will work for her, but really, who knows. She can certainly try to be issued a Balikbayan Visa, and the worst outcome that I can think of is that they will say “no”. Listen to the Podcast and see what Shirley has in mind. You might be surprised.
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Thanks again for listening, everybody!
This is interesting news, Bob…..
Hi Dave
I know a Philippine guy in Angeles City who can get you a Balikbayan for 10,000 peso. I succumbed to the temptation and bought one. What I didn’t know was that my passport came back with fake Hong Kong arrival and departure stamps. Basically it meant I could not travel to Hong Kong. Although I had no trouble with Philippine immigration when In I left, the first thing I did when I got back to NZ was get a new passport. Never again, I now do everything legal, visa renewal every 59 days is a hassle, but at least now I sleep at night.
Hi Murray – Yes, I feel it is always a mistake to get involved in shady dealings like that. It will come back and bite you in the end. I think you did the right thing by getting that new passport.
Thank you, Inday Salait Apinohon
Apologies, my post should read Hi Bob, thinking of the wrong website.
hi Bob, I had the Balikbayan visa which expired on the 28/12/2014. I then converted to a six month tourist visa which expires on the 28th June. My question is would i still be able to extend my tourist visa again after the 28th…
Yes, David Smith. You can extend your Tourist visa for up to a total of 36 months before you will have to leave the country.
thanks Bob
You are most welcome, David.
I tried on a flight that I was meeting my wife here. She flew in a few weeks before me. When I ask the offical was very nice but told me my wife had to be with me. I thanked him for the infor and finished customs to head to my next flight. The nice thing is with the ACR I think I can travel alone and still not have a problem. She might want to look into that option.
Hi Luke, if a person wants a balikbayan visa their wife must fly in with them, even if they have an ACR. It us required by law.
Now I am confused. So if I fly out of the Philippines for any reason with out my wife. I will only be allowed 21 day visitors visa even if my ACR is up to date.????
Also the visa that I received at the Philippines Embassy is still in my passport.
I have also tried to get the stamp without my wife with me and it was a no go. The law also says you have to have a copy of your marriage contract with you.
Exactly, Terry Allen. I have heard of a few lucky people who got the BB when their wife was not with them, but it is an exception.
Hi Luke Tynan – Yes, if you fly out of the Philippines, any visas that you have like a BB or something, are null and void. The only exception is that if you have a 13 series resident visa, you can fly in and reenter on the same visa.
OK so then I am OK since I have the 13 a visa.
Thank you
Yes, this conversation has nothing to do with a 13a, it is only about the Balikbayan Visa. 🙂
Hi Bob
Firstly, I keep seeing people quote 21 days for a visa on arrival. Please all note that this is now 30 days provided that your country is covered by E.O. 408 as on the this link – http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/consular%20services/NO-Visa%20for%2030%20Days%20under%20EO%20408.pdf
Secondly, I have availed of the Balikbayan visa many times and I think I have covered every scenario. I nearly always enter the country with my wife but we have never been asked for a marriage certificate. That is not to say you won’t be asked though. I think it helps that my wife took my surname and cuts down the suspicion factor. I have entered the country by myself and still been given the Balikbayan visa probably because of the amount of Balikbayan Privilege stamps in my passport. The only question I got on that occasion was “Are you visiting your wife sir?”
The port of entry that we find easiest is Manila. The worst place to enter, in my opinion, is Davao City as the officials there try to play things straight down the line and make you feel like a criminal just asking to enter the country. I only use that route when working in Singapore as it is convenient with the direct flight but it is always made uncomfortable by the officials there, both immigration and customs.
Another useful link is http://www.immigration.gov.ph/index.php/faqs/visa-inquiry/balikbayan-previlege
(even if they did spell privilege wrong!!)
Cheers
AJ UK
Hi AJ – Thanks for your comment. Yes, I have been saying for more than a year that the visa waiver is 30 days now. Some people just take time to catch up on the news, I suppose.
They do ask for marriage certificates about half the time, so one should be prepared. You were luck to have never been asked for one! It is also quite unusual to enter by yourself and get the BB stamp, so you have been doubly lucky! 🙂 Nobody should expect to get that, just consider yourself lucky if it happens! 🙂
Hey Bob I got my Balikbayan without my wife being with me. I had my marriage contract with me. The Immigration office asked me a few questions and gave me the stamp. I was very polite and respectful to him. I could see he was appreciative of that and I think it helped in my case, but YMMV. The next time I came through with my wife she asked for me to get one and they said no need for her to be with me since I had already had the stamp in there from previous entries. But as Dave said “consistently inconsistent” is the way of life when dealing with government there.
Lucky you, Soctt! 😉 YMMV is the key policy of the day, I think.
Bob,
We came through Manila a little over 3 weeks ago and immigration gave me the 1 year stamp without even asking for it. He intentionally pointed out to my wife that he stamped it that way….but we only stayed two and a half weeks anyway.
Hi Steve – Always nice to have… even if you don’t really need it! 🙂
Hi Bob,
They’ve been stamping my passport with the Balikbayan stamp for many years now without me ever asking for it. I never really gave it any thought until you posted this article.Maybe it’s due to the amount of times I’ve flown into Manila ? Granted, almost all of my stays are usually 12 days or less and it’s been 20 years since the last time I stayed more than 30 days.
Good info in your article !
Hi Bobby – Yes, usually there is no need to ask. But, if you don’t ask, and they stamp that tourist visa in your passport, then it is too late. You would have to leave the country and return again to get the BB stamp. So, the small effort of asking for the BB visa is not really a hassle, and could save you a lot of money.
Hi Bob,
Good point ! Saving money is always a good thing 🙂
FYI. In the past there was a separate Balikbayan stamp. However, now they use the same arrival stamp as for tourists. I just returned from Hong Kong with my wife on Jan. 30, 2015 and I have the arrival stamp and written in the “Stay Until” date is Jan 30, 2016. Last year I had the arrival stamp and written above the “Stay Until” line was “1 yr”.
Interesting. First time I have heard this.
I’ll be coming back in June so I’ll get the BB stamp. If I travel out by myself and come back to the Philippines, I’ll ask for BB, that would be good but I wouldn’t count on it. At least I’ll ask for it and see what happens.
Legally, you cannot get a Balikbayan Stamp under the conditions that you describe, Kevin. Give it a try, you never know….
Hi Bob,
My husband has 3 tourist visa extensions now good for 6 months each. His tourist visa will expire on February 25, 2017. I want to avail the BB privilege for him and planning to travel to Macau with him for 3days only this November. Would it be possible that they will give him the BB visa if they see that his tourist visa will expire Feb. 25, 2017? Then as a Balikbayan, I will just be only out of the country for 3days.
Regards,
Lheizyl
I think you are misunderstanding the tourist visa. Although his tourist visa may be set to expire on Feb 25, 2017, the day he leaves the country his tourist visa is no longer valid. It is not good for multiple entries. If he leaves, it is no longer valid.
So, yes, if you and he go to Macau or any other location, and return to the Philippines, as long as you are with him and you have your marriage contract with you when you re-enter, he can be issued a Balikbayan Visa.
Thanks Bob! This is truly helpful! Even though I am not continously out of the country for a year as the definition of Balikbayan. I was worried that they will not give the stamp. He has ACR card for TVV that is valid until July 2017. We had to go to Immigration every 6 months from the date he was here to extend his visa.
Because his ACR is on a tourist visa,his ACR will no longer be valid when he leaves the country. But an ACR is not required for those on Balikbayan Visa anyway.
Don’t worry that you have not been out of the country for the required rime. They do not seem to worry about that.
Hi Bob,
I have a question again, we are leaving for Macau this 24th of November for 2 nights only to avail the Balikbayan visa. However, when I checked the internet, I have read that foreigners who have stayed here for more than a year need to get ECC before departing the country. In my husband’s case, he has valid ACR card until July 2017. Does he still need to secure ECC? If so, can he get it in the airport?
Hi bob
I have a question..my husband and I want to live in the phils..for good by using balikbayan visa..do we need a return tickets?…second question..is if its true that me and my husband can comeback again after 1 year or after extension?..even just 1 week gap
Those who avail of the balikbayan Vida are not required to have ongoing tickets.
You may get a new balikbayan Vida as long as you leave the country for at least one day.
Hello there, I have a doubt. I am getting married soon with my Filipina girlfriend and we plan to go on a honey moon abroad straight after. Now, on our return back to The Philippines together, we will have our Marriage Contract only to show but not yet the NSO Marriage Certificate that takes longer. Do you think that I can still get a Balikbayan Stamp, by showing our Marriage Contract, only? Anyone has experience anything similar?
Thank you so much in advance.
Hi Bob, is my brit husband eligeable for Balikbayan Visa when I have been living in the Philippines and we just go on an out of the country trip for a few days then go back to the Philippines together?
Yes, he is eligible under the circumstances you describe.