BI issues guidelines on PH Nikkei-Jins

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday issued guidelines for the immigration requirements of Nikkei-Jins or Japanese emigrants and their descendants who have established their families abroad.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the guidelines were approved by the Department of Justice.

"The BI recognizes the needs of Filipinos who have the status of Nikkei-Jin under the Japanese law," said Tansingco in a statement.

"They are Filipinos who are likewise descendants of Japanese nationals. Hence, we see the importance of crafting specific guidelines in processing their immigration documents," he added.

The bureau said that Philippine Nikkei-Jins may exit the country without a Philippine passport.

But it warned that "those who travel without a Philippine passport loses the presumption of being a Filipino for purposes of traveling outside the Philippines."

The BI added that Japanese emigrants who arrive in the country without their Philippine passports should present a bureau order recognizing them as Nikkei-Jins.

"If however, the Philippine Nikkei-Jin has already renounced his Philippine citizenship, then he will be treated as a foreign national, subject to rules regulating aliens in the Philippines," Tansingco further explained.

On the other hand, Filipino Japanese emigrants may travel abroad with their Japanese passports or BI order that recognizes them as Nikkei-Jins.

The BI added that its order also allows Philippine Nikkei-Jins to depart the Philippines without paying immigration fees.

According to the bureau, among the largest communities of Japanese emigrants are in Brazil, USA, China, Canada, Peru, and the Philippines.