Balikbayan Visa Stamp provides a one-year visa-free stay in the Philippines for former Filipino citizens, their spouses, and family members. The requirements and benefits are listed in this post.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) contribute so much to the economic growth and prosperity of the Philippines. The government launched a Balikbayan Program to honor OFWs and former Filipino citizens who miss their hometown and country.
What is a Balikbayan Visa Stamp?
The Balikbayan Stamp is a One-Year Visa-Free stay given to overseas Filipino (citizens or former citizens) returning to the Philippines, including their non-Filipino spouse and children, provided they enter the Philippines with the “balikbayan”.
Meaning, if you are a foreign spouse or a family member of a Filipino citizen, you can also avail the Balikbayan Visa as long as you are traveling with the Balikbayan.
Who are eligible under the Balikbayan Program?
- Filipino citizens who have been continuously out of the Philippines for at least one (1) year
- Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
- Former Filipino citizens who had been naturalized in one of the following countries and who come or return to the Philippines:
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Costa Rica
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Spain
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Immediate family members (spouse and children) of the Balikbayan, who are nationals of one of the countries above and who are traveling together with the Balikbayan
Balikbayan Visa Stamp Requirements:
The Former Filipinos traveling to the Philippines are required to bring their old Philippine passport or a copy of their Birth Certificate to prove their former citizenship. Family members who are traveling with the “balikbayan” who avail of the One-Year Visa-Free stay must bring the following documents:
- For the Foreign spouse: copy of Marriage Certificate
- For each child: copy of Birth Certificate
- For adopted children: copy of Adoption Papers
Balikbayan Program Benefits:
The Balikbayan Program has amazing benefits for former Filipinos returning home. They include the following:
- Visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of 1 year for foreign passport holders, with the exception of restricted nationals.
- 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
- Travel Tax Exemption, 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.
- Kabuhayan shopping privilege allowing tax-exempt purchase of livelihood tools and providing the opportunity to avail of the necessary training to enable the balikbayan to become economically self-reliant members of society upon their return to the country.
For the complete list and terms of the benefits, please see Philippine Law (R.A. 9174)
How long can a Balikbayan stay in the Philippines?
According to the Bureau of Immigration, those who are admitted as Balikbayans are entitled to an initial one-year stay in the Philippines. They can apply for an extension for another one (1), two (2), or six (6) months provided that they present their valid passport and fill out the visa extension form.
The application form for visa extension must be submitted to the Visa Extension Section in any Bureau of Immigration office nationwide. Balikbayans who have stayed in the country after thirty-six (36) months will need to submit an additional requirement.
