This was contained in the Foreign Service Circular No. 2026-005 issued by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro on Jan. 15, in apparent bid to bring back the Chinese tourists.
The circular took effect on Jan. 16 and would remain valid for a year.
In the guidelines issued by Immigration Commission Joel Anthony Viado, the visa-free entry should be for tourism or business purposes only and good for 14 days.
Guidelines
This type of admission would not be extended by the Bureau of Immigration and not be convertible to any other Philippine visa categories.
The Chinese nationals who will avail themselves of the visa-free privilege will be permitted entry into the Philippines only through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu.
According to the guidelines, Chinese nationals transiting through the Philippines en route to a third country must obtain a Philippine transit visa prior to entry.
The same guidelines showed that the Chinese nationals availing themselves of this privilege must have no derogatory records with the Bureau of Immigration.
Requirements
Their entry may be visa-free but the Chinese visitors must present the following documents at the port of entry:
The guidelines also directed Immigration personnel at ports of entry and exit to ensure that only qualified Chinese nationals are allowed to benefit from Foreign Service Circular No. 2026-005.
They must also ensure that all entry requirements are complete and in order and the details on the eTraval are accurate, especially the passport details and address.
“Failure of the qualified Chinese national to declare accurate information in the eTravel registration shall be a ground for exclusion,” the guidelines stressed. —Connie Fernandez Brojan
