Foreigners with investor visas allowed to enter PH starting Nov.1

Malacañang said Friday that foreigners with investor visas are now allowed to enter the Philippines starting November 1 as the government continues to boost the economy’s reopening.

“Ang pupuwede lang po ay mga foreign nationals na merong visa na in-issue ng Bureau of Immigration pursuant to Executive Order No. 226 or the Omnibus Investment Code as amended by RA 8756 ‘yung mga investor’s visa na tinatawag po no,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

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(Foreign nationals allowed are those who have visas issued by the Bureau of Immigration under Executive Order No. 226 or the Omnibus Investment Code as amended by RA 875–the so-called investor visas.)

“At kasama rin po dito ang mga foreign nationals na mayroong 4782 visa na in-issue ng Department of Justice, ang mga visa na inissue ng Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, at ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(This includes foreign nationals with 4882 visas issued by the Department of Justice, the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.)

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Foreigners with investor visas are required to pre-book accredited quarantine facility, Roque said.

Foreigners with investor visas allowed to enter PH starting Nov.1

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), “Currently, only Filipinos, their spouse, and minor children are allowed to enter the country holding tourist visas. Restrictions allow foreign children with special needs of Filipinos, foreign parent of minor Filipinos, and foreign parent of Filipino children with special needs to enter the country.”

Accredited foreign government and international organization officials, foreign airline crew members and seafarers, and foreigners with long-term visas are also allowed to enter the Philippines.

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Meanwhile, the OCTA Research team said yesterday that the government should defer  to the Philippines and let the COVID-19 situation improve further in the meantime.

“Kung puwedeng ipagpaliban hanggang bumababa pa ng kaunti [ang mga kaso], hanggang mag-improve pa’ yung health indicators,” OCTA Research team’s Professor Ranjit Rye told GMA News Online.

“Ang posisyon namin, pag-aralan nang mabuti ‘yan. Maraming bansa sa buong mundo na hindi pa nagtatanaggap masyado ng inbound [travelers],” he added.