Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) — Foreign spouses of Filipinos are no longer exempted from the entry visa rule, the Bureau of Immigration said on Saturday.
The agency cited the July 30 resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, which states that foreign nationals who are spouses, children, and parents of Filipinos need appropriate entry visas.
“Foreign spouses of Filipinos must now secure entry visas from our Consulates abroad before traveling to the Philippines. Otherwise, they will be denied entry by our immigration officers and sent back to their ports of origin," Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.
Port Operations Acting Chief Grifton Medina reminded foreign travelers to bring their authenticated marriage certificates and other supporting documents that prove they are married to a Filipino.
"There have been many instances already wherein foreign passengers claiming to be spouses of Filipinos were turned back by our officers at the airport due to their failure to show proof of marriage," Medina said.
The issuance of visas to foreigners has been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, but those married to Filipinos were previously allowed entry.
