Philippine Immigration Regulations On Travel Of Foreign Minors

The Philippine Embassy explained recently about new Philippine immigration regulations on travel to the Philippines by foreign children who are under 15 years old, unaccompanied by their parents, or not coming to visit a parent. These children traveling individually or in groups to the Philippines have to notify the Commission of Immigration in writing their intent to travel to the Philippines at least 72 hours before arrival, the Philippine Embassy said.

An inquiry emailed to the Philippine Immigration Department on the new immigration regulations has not received a reply at press time. On the special Philippine medical visas for foreigners as reported in the foreign press, Charge D’ Affaires Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat said yesterday the Philippine Embassy has not received any guidelines from the Philippine Bureau of Immigrations.

Consul General Raymond Balatbat said the new regulations from the Philippine Department of Immigration amends an old law barring the entry of minor children who are not accompanied by their parents, or not visiting their parents in the Philippines.

The new regulations allow the travel of children under 15 years old to the Philippines subject to certain conditions. If those children have to be admitted to travel to the Philippines, there is a need for an intent to travel letter to be sent directly to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration in Manila, and not to the Philippine Embassy in Brunei.

We can still help by doing parallel (services),” Consul General Balatbat said. They can apply in Manila and furnish us with the same documents. We have Bruneian youths travelling to Manila to join cultural or sports activities, who are accompanied by the organizers, head of delegations, or chaperoned by persons who are not their parents.

“If the foreign child/children arrive in the Philippines without notifying the Commissioner of Immigration, they can still enter the Philippines provided the minor’s guardian or legal representative presents copies of the minor’s passport and attaches the accomplished Waiver of Exclusion (WE) forms obtained from the Immigration Duty Supervisor (IDS) in the Philippine port of entry.

“The minor’s guardian or legal representative has to pay a 3,120 Philippine pesos (around B$100) fee for each unaccompanied minor to the authorised cashier, present the payment receipt to the IDS, who shall direct an Immigration officer to admit the minor/s,” Balatbat said. The letter of intent to the Commissioner of Immigration should include a request for the minor’s waiver of exclusion and the relinquishment of exclusion fees, copies of the minor’s valid passport, visa (if required), return ticket, and letter of invitation from a parent or sponsor from the Philippines.

Finding merit in the request, the Commissioner of Immigration issues an order waiving the minor’s exclusion, and may also waive the exclusion fees. Otherwise a waiver fee of 3,120 Philippine pesos shall be imposed.