Commonwealth Act (C.A.) No. 613, Section 29 (a) (12), as amended, provides:
Section 29 (a). The following classes of aliens shall be excluded from entry into the Philippines:
x x x
(12) Children under fifteen (15) years of age, unaccompanied by or not coming to a parent, except that such children shall be admitted in the discretion of the Commissioner of Immigration, if otherwise admissible; (Italics provided)
x x x
This includes children who arrive individually or in groups. However;
I. TO AVOID EXCLUSION BEFORE ARRIVAL AT PHILIPPINE PORTS:
1. The minor’s guardian or legal representative shall, at least 72 hours before arrival, notify the Commissioner of Immigration in writing of an intent to travel to the Philippines.
2. The letter of intent shall include a request for the minor’s waiver of exclusion and the relinquishment of exclusion fees. Copy of the minor’s valid passport, visa (if required), return ticket and invitation from a parent or sponsoring entity shall also be attached.
3. Finding merit in the request, the Commissioner of Immigration shall issue an Order that waives the minor’s exclusion. The Order may also waive the exclusion fees; otherwise, a waiver fee of P3,120 shall be imposed. The minor’s guardian or legal representative shall be given copies of this Order.
4. The Commissioner of Immigration shall send a copy of the Order to the Immigration Duty Supervisors (IDS) at the port of entry. This Order shall waive the minor’s exclusion and, if allowed, also the fees’ waiver.
II. TO AVOID EXCLUSION OF MINORS WHO, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION, ARRIVE AT PHILIPPINE PORTS:
1. The minor’s guardian or legal representative presents copies of the minor’s passport and attaches these to filled-out Waiver of Exclusion (WE) forms obtained from the IDS.
2. After determining that the filled-out WE forms are in order, the IDS shall note “Approved for Payment” and direct the minor’s guardian or legal representative to pay a P3,120.00 waiver fee for each unaccompanied minor. Payment shall be made to an authorized cashier at the port of entry. The cashier shall retain a copy of the WE forms.
3. After payment, the minor’s guardian or legal representative shall present WE forms’ official receipt of payment to the IDS. (The IDS shall note the serial number of the official receipt and the total number of minors covered by the receipt).
4. The IDS shall then direct an Immigration Officer (IO) to admit the minor, after noting the official receipt’s serial number below the admission stamp and cancelling the receipts.
5. The IO detaches the copy of the WE forms and retains a copy of the minor’s passport, for the Bureau of Immigration’s database.
ADDITIONAL REMINDERS:
The address and contact details where to send the letter to notify the Commissioner of Immigration is :
Ricardo A. David
Commissioner
Bureau of Immigration
Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila 1002
Telefax number: (632) 336-7752
The Airport Operations Division shall be notified of the approvals by the Commissioner to requests for waiver of exclusion and exemption from payment fees for them to implement the same upon arrival of the requesting parties. In cases of denial, the Waiver of Exclusion Ground fees shall be paid.
A simple authorization letter from the parent/s of the minor child will suffice as proof of guardianship or appointment as legal representatives for the purpose of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. Per the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, this need not be authenticated.
For the purpose of applying for visa and in compliance to immigration and airline policy:
Please submit a notarized Affidavit of Request, Consent and Guaranty (original to Bureau of Immigration, Philippines) (copy to Philippine Consulate General, LA) which can be downloaded at our website www.philippineconsulatela.org. This form may be accomplished by a parent on behalf of the minor applicant.