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April 30, 1968

ABOLITION OF NON-IMMIGRANT VISA REQUIREMENTS

Agreement effected by exchange of notes, Signed at Manila 30 April 1968; Entered into force 1 May
1968.

I

EMBASSY OF THE

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

MANILA

April 30, 1968

V 3 - 85

Excellency,

The Federal Republic of Germany has, since 1956, exempted from visa requirements citizens of the Philippines entering the Federal Republic of Germany for a period of less than three months and not engaging in gainful employment. Discussions between representatives of our two governments concerning an agreement on the abolition of non- immigrant visa requirements for nationals of our two countries have resulted in the following understandings which I have the honor to confirm as follows:

1. Citizens of the Philippines holding valid Philippine passports shall be free to enter the Federal Republic of Germany as tourist or for business, educational or scientific purposes and stay there up to a maximum period of three (3) months without the necessity of obtaining a visa, provided they do not engage in gainful employment.

2. Citizens of the Philippines holding valid passports and intending to stay longer than three (3) months in the Federal Republic of Germany or to engage in gainful employment there shall require, before entry, a resident permit in form of a visa which shall be issued by the appropriate diplomatic or consular representative of the Federal Republic of Germany.

3. German nationals holding valid passports or Child's Travel Documents in lieu of passports of the Federal Republic of Germany shall be free to enter the Republic of the Philippines as tourist or for business, educational or scientific purposes and stay there up to a maximum period of fifty-nine (59) days in the Philippines without the necessity of obtaining a visa, provided they do not engage in gainful employment,

4. German nationals holding valid passports or Child's Travel Documents in lieu of passports of the Federal Republic of Germany and intending to stay longer than fifty-nine (59) days in the Republic of the Philippines or to engage in gainful employment there, shall require, before entry, a visa issued by the appropriate diplomatic or consular representative of the Republic of the Philippines.

5. The foregoing waiver of visa requirements does not exempt citizens of the Philippines and German nationals coming to Germany or to the Philippines, respectively, from the necessity of complying with the laws and regulations in force in the respective countries concerning the entry, temporary or permanent sojourn, the taking of employment or exercise of profession, paid or unpaid, of aliens.

6. Either country reserves the right to refuse entry or stay in each territory to nationals of the other who may be deemed undesirable or who may be rejected for other reasons under provisions of aliens legislation.

7. Either country shall allow its nationals whose expulsion from the other country is intended to enter its respective territory at any time without any special permission and shall issue to such nationals the documents necessary therefore.

8. Either government may temporarily suspend the foregoing arrangement, in whole or in part, for reasons of public order or public safety. Such suspension shall immediately be notified to the other government through diplomatic channels.

9. This agreement shall also apply to Land Berlin, provided the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has not made a declaration to the contrary, within three (3) months of the entry into force of this agreement, to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

10. This agreement shall enter into force on the first of May, 1968. It may be denounced by either government by notification to the other government through diplomatic channels, the denounciation to take effect three (3) months after the receipt of such notification.

If these understandings are acceptable to your government, I have the honor to propose that this note and Your Excellency's reply concurring thereto constitute an agreement between our two governments.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

(Sgd.) HEINRICH ROEHREKF
German Ambassador

His Excellency NARCISO RAMOS
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs
Manila

II

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

30 April 1968

Excellency,

I have the honor to refer to your note dated 30 April 1968, which contains the following understandings with respect to the proposed reciprocal abolition of non-immigrant visa requirements for citizens of our two countries;

[SEE NOTE NO. 1]

I wish to inform. Your Excellency that the Philippine Government accepts the above-mentioned understanding and agrees that your Note and this reply shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

(Sgd.) NARCISO RAMOS
Secretary of Foreign Affairs

His Excellency
HEINRICH ROEHREKE
Ambassador of Germany
Manila