WHEREAS, pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. AFF-06-016, the Bureau of Immigration will issue visa upon arrival to businessmen endorsed by DTI, PCCI, current Top 1000 Corporations and FCCI;
WHEREAS, Section 9 (a) of Commonwealth Act (C.A.) No. 613, as amended, provides that “aliens departing from any place outside the Philippines who are otherwise admissible and who qualify within one of the following categories, may be admitted as non-immigrants: (a) A temporary visitor coming for business or for pleasure or for reasons of health;
WHEREAS, Section 3 of C.A. no. 613 authorizes the Immigration Commissioner to issue rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of all immigration laws;
WHEREFORE, the following rules are hereby adopted to implement Memorandum Circular No. AFF-06-016.
SECTION 1. Requirements for the issuance of the visa -- Duly accomplished application form containing the following information:
• name as appearing on the passport/travel document
• Date/Place of Birth
• Nationality, passport number, place and date of issue and validity
• Permanent foreign and local addresses of applicant
• Flight details
• Travel itinerary
• Sponsoring business organization/DTI, address, name of authorized officer and his signature
- Letter request from the authorized representative of DTI;
Only DTI may request the Bureau to issue Visa Upon Arrival. The three agencies/ entities namely, Top 1000 Corporations, PCCI, and FCCI should forward their requests to DTI and DTI will endorse said requests to the Bureau.
- Derogatory Clearance; and
- Payment of $25 visa fee and P10 legal fee.
SECTION 2. Filing of letter request -The letter request shall be filed by the authorized representative of DTI forty-eight 48 hours before the scheduled date of arrival of the applicant.
The letter shall be addressed to the Commissioner thru the Chief of the Immigration Regulation Division, who shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the request.
SECTION 3. Duties of the Chief of IRD or his duly designated official - The Chief of IRD or his duly designated official shall advise the Head Supervisors at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Airline concerned of the approved request of the applicant. He shall ensure that a programmed database of applications for Visa Upon Arrival is maintained. The database must show the Bureau’s action on the applications and the number of actual admissions. He shall also endeavor to establish special lanes at the airports for arriving passengers who will be admitted under this visa category.
SECTION 4. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with sponsoring business organization/DTI - A memorandum of agreement shall be entered into by the Bureau, represented by the undersigned, and the DTI, represented by the department head, acting in behalf of DTI PCCI, FCCI and the current Top 1000 Corporations. The MOA shall state the respective rights and responsibilities of the parties.
SECTION 5. Validity of the visa and extensions thereof - The visa issued upon arrival shall be valid for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of arrival by the passenger. The same may be extended for a period of another thirty (30) days, upon request filed prior to the expiry of the initial period of thirty (30) days and upon approval by the Commissioner.
SECTION 6. Conversion to other visa categories - Conversion to other visa categories may be allowed subject to existing rules and regulations governing visa conversion from one category to another and provided further that the applicant has not violated any conditions of his stay as a temporary visitor.
SECTION 7. Applicability - Admissions under the Visa Upon Arrival category shall be allowed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan Cebu International Airport, and Davao International Airport.
SECTION 8. Effectivity - This memorandum circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
(SGD.) ALIPIO F. FERNANDEZ, JR.
Commissioner
