Foreigners may now renew expired reentry permits at PH airports — BI

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 28) — The Bureau of Immigration announced on Sunday that foreign nationals with expired reentry permits or special return certificates, but whose visas are still valid, are now allowed to enter the country upon payment of required fees at the airport.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the new rules will apply to foreigners with immigrant and non-immigrant visas who are coming back to the Philippines after being stranded abroad due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"Many of these foreign nationals have already expired RPs and SRCs, and the new procedure will allow them to renew this at the airport upon arrival," Morente said.

A reentry permit is issued to an immigrant visa holder, who is a permanent resident in the Philippines, while the special return certificate is obtained by a non-immigrant such as holders of 9(g) working visa and 9(f) student visa.

Foreigners will be required to show official receipts of their reentry permit fees to the immigration officer upon arrival.

The BI chief added that the new rules were adopted on orders of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.