Eligibility Quiz
Are you a national of a country listed under Executive Order No. 408?
Requirements
To qualify for the Balikbayan privilege, you must fall into one of the following categories:
- Filipino Citizens: Individuals who have been continuously out of the Philippines for at least one (1) year.
- Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs): Filipino citizens currently working abroad.
- Former Filipino Citizens: Individuals who were born in the Philippines but have since been naturalized as citizens of a foreign country.
- Immediate Family Members: The foreign spouse and children of a Balikbayan (whether the principal is a current or former Filipino citizen).
Critical Limitations
- The "Travel Together" Rule: This is the most important requirement for family members. A foreign spouse or child cannot claim the one-year stay if they arrive in the Philippines separately from the Filipino/former Filipino principal. You must pass through immigration together.
- Nationality Restrictions: The automatic one-year stay is generally reserved for nationals of countries listed under Executive Order No. 408. If the foreign spouse or child is a national of a "restricted" country (one that requires a visa to enter the Philippines regardless of stay length), they may not be eligible for the automatic one-year Balikbayan stamp at the airport.
- Purpose of Stay: This is a non-immigrant status intended for tourism and family visits. It is not a residency or work visa.
Conditions & Warnings
1
Foreign spouses and children must travel together with the Balikbayan principal to the Philippines to receive the one-year stay.
2
The privilege is generally restricted to nationals of countries listed under Executive Order No. 408.
3
Always verify the 'BB' stamp and one-year duration before leaving the immigration counter; correcting a 30-day tourist stamp later is difficult.
Qualifications
Generation limit
Parents only
Initial duration
1 year
Renewable for
6 months
Language
Not required
No language requirement for the Balikbayan program.
Fees
Application fees
PHP 0
The initial one-year stay granted at the port of entry is free of charge.
Program Details
Program type
Temporary Residence
Status
Active since November 3, 1989
Processing time
0 months
Apply via
In-country