Balikbayan Program
The Balikbayan Program is a special Philippine government program introduced in 1989 to facilitate the return and residence of Filipinos living abroad and their families in the Philippines. This information is from 2025, but please note that this is subject to change at any time.
The word "Balikbayan" literally means "back to the country" (balik = back, bayan = homeland).
Source Pic: Public Domain, Gemeinfrei, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30719876
The program, enshrined in RA 6768 (1989) and amended by RA 9174 (2003), is aimed at:
1. Filipinos who have been abroad for at least one continuous year
2. Overseas Filipinos (OFWs)
3. Former Filipino citizens who were naturalized abroad
Source Pic: Own work, H. Rufer
Their foreign spouses and unmarried children can also benefit from the program – provided they travel with the Balikbayan.
Benefits and Privileges
- Visa-free entry for up to one yearA stamp in the passport by the entry immigration officer grants residence
- Travel tax exemption for a maximum of one year.
Duty-free shopping privilege: Balikbayans are entitled to certain duty-free shopping privileges.
- This includes duty-free purchases up to a certain maximum value (USD 1,500, sometimes up to USD 2,000) at government-operated duty-free shops in the Philippines. Purchases must be made within 48 hours of arrival.
- Another consideration is the so-called "Balikbayan boxes," which are used to send gifts and goods to family members in the Philippines. These are also duty-free up to a certain value.
- No proof of a return ticket.
What documents are required?
For Balikbayans (including former Filipinos):
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay
- Old Philippine passport, or birth certificate (PSA), or proof of naturalization as proof of previous Philippine citizenship
For accompanying family members (foreign partners/children):
- Valid passport
- Marriage certificate (for spouses), birth certificate (for children), or adoption papers
- All must enter the country together with the Balikbayan
Additional Information
- If the Balikbayan re-enters unaccompanied, only the standard visa regulations of typically 30 days apply
- Extension of stay is possible through the Bureau of Immigration – by 1, 2, or 6 months. Multiple Balikbayan stamp retrievals within a year are also permitted
References: https://philippine-embassy.de/balikbayan-privilege/, https://philippine-embassy.de/visas/
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