Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Temporarily Suspends Visa Issuance and Visa-Free Privileges in its Foreign Service Posts. All foreign nationals may also leave the country any time during the ECQ.

The DFA issued Foreign Service Circular No. 29-2020 dated March 19, 2020[2] which --
 
1. Directs all Foreign Service Posts to temporarily suspend visa issuance and visa-free privileges effective March 19, 2020, except for visas of foreign spouses and foreign children of Filipino nationals; and 

2. Provides for “deemed cancellation” of all previously issued entry visas to the Philippines by the Foreign Service Posts except for those issued to: 

a. Foreign spouses and foreign children of Filipino nationals; and

b. Foreign Government and International Organization officials.  
The DFA has clarified that the Circular has no impact on valid visas issued by the Bureau of Immigration and its other offices to foreign nationals who are already in the Philippines. (Please see https://www.dfa.gov.ph/covid-19-advisories/26387-public-advisory-on-the-temporary-suspension-of-visa-issuance-and-visa-free-privilege).
 
Pursuant to the implementation of the ECQ, all foreign nationals may now fly out of the country at any time, subject to availability of flights.  For this purpose, sweeper flights for foreign nationals to bring them to international airports will be allowed to continue operations. Only one person is allowed to bring a traveler to the airport and he/she must depart immediately after dropping off the traveler. The driver should also carry with him/her a copy of the airline ticket of the traveler as proof of conveyance. (Please all see https://www.dfa.gov.ph/covid-19-advisories/26375-travel-advisory-outbound-travel-restrictions-by-philippine-government-on-foreign-travelers.)

Read More News