Balitang America Travels: Philippine Entry/Visa Requirements

If you're planning to take a trip to the Philippines, you will want to make sure you've got the entry and visa requirements covered. You will need a visa depending on how long you stay in the country, and the rules differ for U.S. citizens and residents. I discussed this and other requirements in my March 16th "Travels" segment on Balitang America.

It's simple for U.S. citizens who need just their passports to enter the Philippines. That's if they will be staying for 21 days. Anything beyond that requires a visa. However, if you are a U.S. citizen traveling with parents who are former Philippine citizens, then you can be in the country visa-free for up to a year as part of the balikbayan program; this same rule applies for U.S. citizen spouses traveling with their husband or wife who is a former Philippine citizen.

For U.S. legal permanent residents who are Philippine citizens, the requirements include a green card for re-entry into the the States and a Philippine passport. By 2010, these passport holders will need to have the new machine-readable passports, also known as MRPs.

To Apply for an MRP:

* Appear in person at the closest Philippine consulate, the embassy in Washington, D.C. or at qualified processing centers like Mango Tours

* Provide 2 passport photos with royal blue as the background

* Fill out an application form

* Pay the $50 fee

Processing can take up to 6 weeks, so plan ahead. U.S. citizens who are non-balikbayans and will be staying beyond 21 days need to get a visa which allows them to stay in the country for up to 59 days.

To Apply for a Visa for U.S. Citizens (who are non-balikbayans):

* Appear at the closest Philippine consulate or the embassy in Washington, D.C.

* Provide 2 standard passport photos

* Fill out a visa application

* Show U.S. passport and a copy of trip itinerary

* Pay the $50 visa fee

For more information, visit the Philippine Embassy’s website at www.philippineembassy-usa.org or call your local Philippine Consulate.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.