Balikbayan Program RA 6768

The ''Balikbayan Program'' of the Philippines under Republic Act (RA) 6768

The ''Balikbayan Program'' of the Philippines was enacted in November 1989 to attract and
encourage overseas Filipinos to visit the Philippines.

The following categories of persons can avail of the Balikbayan privilege:
(a) a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at
least one (1) year from the date of last departure;
(b) a Filipino overseas worker (OFW);
(c) a former Filipino citizen who had been naturalized in a foreign country and holds a
foreign passport.

A 'Balikbayan' is entitled to the following benefits:
(a)Travel Tax exemption;
(b)Visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of one (1) year, for aforeign passport holder;
(c)Duty-Free shopping privilege of up to US$2,000.00 (US$1000.00 as arriving Balikbayan
and US$1000.00 as arriving passenger) provided that:
(i) Shopping must be done within two days upon arrival;
(ii) Duty free shopping privilege can be availed of only once a year; and
(iii) Purchases must be made personally by the Balikbayan.

The Balikbayan privilege is extendible to legitimate members of the
family (i.e. spouse and children) of individuals in the above-mentioned
categories, who are holders of Filipino passports ONLY IF they are
travelling to the Philippines together with the above-mentioned
qualified individual.

It can also be availed of by legitimate members of the family (i.e.
spouse and children) of individuals in the above-mentioned categories,
who are aliens or holders of foreign passports, ONLY IF they are
travelling to the Philippines together with the above-mentioned
qualified individual.

In order to avail of the privilege, qualified Filipino citizens need to
present only their Philippine passports showing the date of last exit
from the Philippines, which should not be less than 1 year. Aside from
their foreign passports showing date of last exit from the Philippines,
former Filipino citizens need to present their old Philippine passport
or Philippine birth certificate. In the absence of these documents, they
can present foreign naturalization papers to show former Philippine
citizenship or certification from adopted country.

Family members of the former Filipino citizen who are travelling with
the Balikbayan should present passports and any of the following: a)
birth certificate, in case of children; b) marriage certificate, in case
of spouse; c) adoption papers, in case of legally adopted children.

The Commissioner of Immigration Andrea D. Domingo informed the
Department of Foreign Affairs on 04 June 2001 that, All Immigration
Officers at authorised ports of entry shall grant the benefits and
privileges to all Balikbayans and Former Filipinos included every time
they enter the country to visit, regardless of their frequent travel.
This means that the above categories of persons could now avail of the
Balikbayan benefits and privileges regardless of the number of times
they enter the country within a year.