Supreme Court E-Library
Information At Your Fingertips

  View printer friendly version

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Burkina Faso, hereinafter referred to as "the Parties";

DESIROUS of entering into an agreement for the enhancement of their bilateral relations;

AND SEEKING to facilitate the travel of the Parties' nationals who are on official mission for their respective Governments;

IN ACCORDANCE with their respective laws and regulations;

RESPECTING the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and the Vienna Convention of Consular Relations of 1963;

HAVE AGREED as follows:

ARTICLE I
Coverage

This Agreement covers the following types of passports validly issued by the Parties:
(a) For the Republic of the Philippines: Diplomatic and Official passports.
(b) For the Government of Burkina Faso: Diplomatic and Service passports.

 ARTICLE II
Short-Term Visits

Nationals of either Party who are holders of valid diplomatic, official or service passports are exempted from the obligation to obtain visas for entry and stay in the territory of the other Party, if such stay does not exceed thirty (30) days from the first date of entry, or when transiting through that territory on their way to a third state.

The passport used must be valid for not less than six (6) months from the time of entry into the territory of the other Party.

 ARTICLE III
Extension of Stay for Short-Term Visits

Nationals of both Parties who are holders of passport types mentioned in Article I of this Agreement may extend the duration of their stay in the territory of the other Party prior to the expiration of the initial period of stay mentioned in Article II, upon written approval of the competent authorities of the other Party in accordance with its laws.

The passport presented must have a validity period of at least three (3) months beyond the period of allowed extension of stay in the territory of the other Party.

Article IV
Officials on Assignment

Nationals of the Parties assigned to work at the diplomatic, commercial and consular missions in the territory of the other Party, as well as their legal spouse and dependent children, travelling to live with the principal while the principal continues to be posted on diplomatic and/or consular assignment, holding a valid diplomatic, official, or service passports, may enter and stay for thirty (30) days without obtaining an entry visa, during which time they should secure the necessary documentation and authorization from the competent authorities of the Receiving State, provided that the sending Party shall notify the other Party of such assignment through diplomatic channels at least (30) days prior to their arrival to assume their post.

For the purposes of this Agreement, 'dependent children' shall refer to biological or legally adopted children of the principal, duly recognized as such by the Sending State who are either:

(a) twenty-one (21) years of age or below, unmarried, not gainfully employed and lives with and is totally dependent on the parents for support;

 Article V
Entry and Exit Points

Nationals from either Party who are holders of passport types mentioned in Article I of this Agreement shall enter and exit the territory of the other Party only through designated border control points for international traffic.

Article VI
Compliance with Immigration Regulations and Domestic Laws

Notwithstanding the exemption from obtaining entry visas for holders of the passport types mentioned in Article I of this Agreement, it is the duty of persons benefiting therefrom to comply with immigration regulations and domestic laws in effect in the territory of the other Party.

 Article VII
Unauthorized Activities

In all cases holders of diplomatic, official or service passports, including their qualified dependents and/or family members and private staff shall not engage in any work or remunerated undertaking inconsistent with their status without securing the appropriate written permission from the competent authorities of the Receiving Party.

 Article VIII
Denial of Admission

Both Parties reserve the right to refuse admission of persons designated as undesirable or considered likely to endanger the public peace, public order, public health or national security.

Article IX
Termination or Suspension of Agreement

Either Party may terminate or suspend in whole or part of this Agreement

The suspension shall be duly communicated to the other Party in writing and through diplomatic channels, specifying the date on which it will take effect.

The intent to terminate this Agreement shall be duly communicated to the other Party in writing and through diplomatic channels. In such a case, the Agreement shall be terminated thirty (30) days after the date of the notification.

 Article X
Amendments and Revisions

Any amendment or revision to this Agreement shall be done in writing and by mutual consent of the Parties. These amendments or revision shall enter into force in accordance with Article XIV.

Article XI
Dispute Settlement

Any disputes arising between the Parties concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled by consultations and negotiations through diplomatic channels.

Article XII
Passport Specimens

Both Parties shall exchange, through diplomatic channels their respective valid passports specimens within thirty (30) days after the signing of this Agreement. The Parties shall inform each other about the introduction of new types and classifications of passports as well as any change or modification to those currently in use and shall furnish relevant specimens within thirty (30) days from their adoption for use.

Article XIII
Passport Loss, Theft, or Damage

In case of loss, theft, damage, or invalidity of any of the passports referred to in Article (1), within the territory of the receiving State, the holder shall immediately notify the competent authorities of the receiving State. The holder shall secure a suitable replacement passport or travel document from his/her government diplomatic or consular mission accredited to the receiving State to enable the holder to depart from the territory of the receiving State.

Article XIV
Entry into Force

This Agreement shall take effect on the date of receipt of the latter written notification by either Party, through diplomatic channels, indicating compliance with its domestic requirements for its entry into force.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

DONE at MANILA on 07 April 2017, in two originals in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.

Entry into Force: July 7, 2018