In our last article, we emphasized the significance of passengers traveling internationally to undergo immigration inspection and present the necessary documents, in compliance with DoJ Memorandum Circular 036-2015 on Departure Formalities for International-Bound Passengers (Guidelines). The following list of passenger categories highlights the essential documents for flawless boarding.
Tourists
Tourists departing for self-funded travel should present passports with validity period of at least six months, valid visa when applicable, eTravel, boarding pass, and return or roundtrip ticket when necessary.
A travel sponsored by a relative up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity (e.g. pinsang buo) or affinity (e.g. bayaw, hipag, biyenan) requires showing additional documents, including the Affidavit of Support and Undertaking authenticated by Philippine Consulate showing relationship of the traveler and sponsor, as well as the financial capacity and contact information of the sponsor.
A trip financed by a non-relative or legal entity will also have to present an Affidavit of Support authenticated by the Philippine Consulate, financial capacity and contact information of the sponsor, and the registration paper of the juridical person.
Traveling with a local sponsor from the Philippines entails presenting a notarized Affidavit of Support and Undertaking, which demonstrates the sponsor’s financial capacity, the reason for the sponsorship, an undertaking that the travel is solely for tourism purposes and the passenger will return, as well as the contact details, address, and registration paper of the local sponsor.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
Departing OFWs must present passports with at least a six-month validity, valid visa in accordance with POEA advisory, airline tickets, and E-receipt or Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) issued by Pre-Employment Services Office (PESO) of the POEA.
If the job title or position on the visa and the OEC do not match, BI can still approve the departure if the traveler presents additional documents of the Notarized Visa Usage Undertaking (“VUU”) and the OFW’s notarized Declaration of Awareness and Consent on visa usage. However, VUU is inapplicable to household service workers (“HSW”) who work in household-based positions such as domestic helpers, maids, houseboys, nannies, babysitters, caregivers, caretakers, tutors, governesses, cooks, sewers, beauticians, masseurs, masseuses, and drivers.
Individuals who are relatives of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and are traveling on tourist visas shall be allowed without undergoing secondary inspection. This is contingent upon their ability to prove their relationship within the first civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, which includes spouses, children, and parents of the OFW. Additionally, they must present photocopies of essential documents belonging to the OFW, such as a valid passport, visa, E-Receipt, or OEC, along with a PSA birth or marriage certificate.
Balik Manggagawa
For balik manggagawa/returning workers or those on vacation leave under a valid employment contract and returning to the same employer, or an OFW who was rehired by the same employer, or those returning workers who were not processed by the POEA but subsequently verified and registered with POLO and returning to the same employer, must present valid passport with at least a six-month validity period, valid visa, airline tickets, and OEC issued by POLO or POEA.
A balikbayan manggagawa who, after returning to the Philippines for vacation, intends to travel to other countries for a holiday shall be considered a tourist. Consequently, he should undergo immigration procedures like a tourist when departing the Philippines.
Seafarers serving as conduction crew or trainees for foreign employers, PEZA employees for South Korea training programs, and Filipino workers undergoing final interviews or qualifying examinations abroad are required to present a special travel exit clearance.
Humanitarian visit
To request a compassionate or humanitarian visit to an irregular worker abroad, relatives must obtain and submit a certification from the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs.
Passengers with immigrant or permanent Resident Visa
Passenger who is a resident visa holder should present a valid passport, permanent resident I-Card, CFO Emigrant registration sticker, and airline ticket.
On-the-job trainees
Passengers who plan to travel to another country for the purpose of on-the-job training must provide the following documents: a school certification indicating the necessity of on-the-job training; acceptance by the host company authenticated by the Philippine Embassy; and a Certificate of Overseas Training from the Commission on Higher Education.
Passengers planning to undertake intra-company training abroad for less than three (3) months must provide an invitation from the host company detailing the duration, entitlements, travel, and other incidental expenses, whereas those exceeding three (3) months must submit the relevant Trainorship Agreement encompassing all aforementioned information.
