Unaccompanied Travel of Foreign Children (non-Filipino) to the Philippines
A Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) is required for foreign minors below fifteen (15) years of age, travelling unaccompanied by or not joining his/her parent(s) in the Philippines, regardless if the minor needs an entry visa or not.
Either parent or the child’s legal guardian may execute the affidavit before a consular officer at the Philippine Embassy, therein stating that the child will be travelling to the Philippines, either alone or accompanied by a duly appointed travel companion, and indicating the child’s place of residence while in the Philippines.
IMPORTANT!
As a rule, foreign minors under fifteen (15) years of age and unaccompanied by a parent, OR not coming to join a parent to the Philippines, are generally excluded from entering the Philippines, except in the following cases:
- Those with Philippine ancestry and accompanied by a Philippine relative/guardian (with substantive proof–i.e. birth certificate issued by PSA, baptismal certificate, and other public documents acknowledging relationship); and/or
- Those in possession of a valid Philippine visa except 9A or 9B (tourist/transit)
If not included in the above exemptions, the Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) shall be applied for to avoid exclusion. WEG allows the entry to the country of the aforementioned minor children, who are otherwise excludable under Sec. 29(a)12 of CA No. 613.
Foreign children who are coming to join their parents in the Philippines and are travelling with a valid Philippine visa NOT 9(a) or 9(b) are exempted from applying for WEG.
The Bureau of Immigration will process the application for WEG and currently charge Php 3,120.00 (three thousand and one hundred twenty Philippine Pesos per child) for the processing and approval of the WEG.
Application may be made online at https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph at least 72 hours before the intended arrival of the child/ren.
REQUIREMENTS
- Duly accomplished WEG application form, or online application through https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph
- Notarized Affidavit of Support and Guarantee with travel consent for Waiver of Exclusion Ground (W.E.G.), executed by either parent of the child.
- The parent(s) of the foreign minors is/are required to personally file and sign the Affidavit before a Consular Officer at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate; if unable to personally appear, the Affidavit must go through the notar and certified by the Landgericht. Please follow the process on Authentication and Notarization specified here.
- Scanned image of the child(ren)’s passport information page together with signature page;
- Valid entry Visa (if required);
- Scanned image of the passport information page of the parent who executed the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee with travel consent for Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG)
- Scanned image of the traveling companion’s passport information page (if any)
- Scanned image of return ticket
- Scanned image of the invitation (from inviting or sponsoring organization) for the child(ren) to come to the Philippines of both or either of the parents naming the person who will accompany the child and with whom the child will reside in the Philippines.
Notarial Fee for Affidavit of Request, Consent, and Guaranty: €25,00
The abovementioned documents should be presented to the immigration official at the airport upon entry in the Philippines, or submitted through the online application portal (https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph), along with the payment of Php 3.125,00 for the processing of WEG.
REMINDERS
- Issuance of the WEG Order is subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Immigration, and all those who will be granted the WEG shall pay the corresponding fee upon arrival at the port of entry in the Philippines.
- The payment collected from the public at the Philippine Embassy is for the notarization of the affidavit executed by the parent(s)/legal guardian. It is not the WEG fee. Read more on the process for the notarisation of the form here for the process on Authentication of Documents.
- The original copy of Notarized Affidavit of Support and Guarantee with travel consent for Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) executed by either parent of the child(ren) must be presented upon arrival by the passenger or his/her companion.
- Advance/online payment of WEG does not guarantee entry into the Philippines. Assessment of the concerned minor’s purpose of travel and documentary requirements shall be conducted during the actual immigration inspection at the international port of entry.
- Please bring a physical copy of all documents uploaded at the BI’s portal during online application.