September 12, 2014

BI MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. SBM-2014-012

GRANTING VISA-FREE ENTRY TO THE PHILIPPINES TO CHINESE NATIONALS WITH VALID AND CURRENT AMERICAN, JAPANESE, AUSTRALIAN, CANADIAN OR SCHENGEN VISA

Pursuant to Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, otherwise known as the "Philippine Immigration Act of 1940", in relation to Section 9(a) of the same Act, and in support to the national government's program to promote and encourage tourism development, CHINESE nationals who wish to visit the Philippines for tourism purposes may be granted a VISA-FREE entry into the country for an initial authorized stay not exceeding seven (7) days, provided they possess the following:

1. Either a valid and current AMERICAN, JAPANESE, AUSTRALIAN, CANADIAN OR SCHENGEN Visa;

2. A national passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated stay;

3. Return or onward ticket to the next country of destination; and

4. No derogatory record with the Bureau of Immigration.

The seven (7)-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional fourteen (14) days for a maximum of twenty-one (21)-day stay.

This type of admission shall be non-convertible to other visa category and can be availed in all major international airports and secondary international hubs (SIHs), as well as in seaports by passengers on board cruise ships/vessels. IEaHSD

All circulars, orders and other issuances inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

Furnish a copy of this Circular to the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

 

(SGD.) SIEGFRED B. MISONCommissioner