How Long Can I Stay in Manila?

[charlwill]

what if i am british passport holder already does it mean me and hubby can only stay in the Phils for 21 days? Or they have special thing for expat like me and how about my husband married to expat? we're planning to stay in Phils for 4 weeks hopefully this year.

As an expat you are allowed to stay in the country for 1 year as a Balikbayan, same as your husband he can stay there for 1 year as a spouse of balikbayan.

[darren-b]

As an expat you are allowed to stay in the country for 1 year as a Balikbayan, same as your husband he can stay there for 1 year as a spouse of balikbayan.

Surely if you were a filipino living abroad there would be no restrictions on the amount of time you could spend back in the Philippines.

[IainBusby]

Surely if you were a filipino living abroad there would be no restrictions on the amount of time you could spend back in the Philippines.

I think that would depend on whether you entered the Philippines using your British or Philippines passport, unless of course, you have already applied to the Philippines embassy in London and acquired dual citizenship.

[charlwill]

I think that would depend on whether you entered the Philippines using your British or Philippines passport, unless of course, you have already applied to the Philippines embassy in London and acquired dual citizenship.

Yes, if you have a dual citizenship you can stay there as much as you want but if you entered using a foreign passport you are only allow to stay maximum of 1 year being a balikbayan.

[Alan]

It's 2 years now.

Al.

[darren-b]

I think that would depend on whether you entered the Philippines using your British or Philippines passport, unless of course, you have already applied to the Philippines embassy in London and acquired dual citizenship.

An expat may not have a British citizenship/passport anyway. I don't think it would really matter which passport you enter the Philippines on so long as you can still prove that you still have Philippines citizenship once you are in the country.

[scottishbride]

An expat may not have a British citizenship/passport anyway. I don't think it would really matter which passport you enter the Philippines on so long as you can still prove that you still have Philippines citizenship once you are in the country.

You are required by Philippine immigration to show both passports upon arrival, they will stamp both passports and you are automatically recognised as a dual citizen!

[darren-b]

You are required by Philippine immigration to show both passports upon arrival, they will stamp both passports and you are automatically recognised as a dual citizen!

If you are a dual citizen you are not actually required to show both passports upon arrival, especially as it's possible that you only intend to reclaim your Philippines citizenship once you arrive in Manila. You would though need to show proof of Philippines citizenship if you leave the Philippines again using a foreign passport - this doesn't have to be a passport, a certificate from the BI would do.

[charlwill]

The last time I went Phils. I was using my British passport. I never showed my Phils. passport to Immigrition people cause they never asked for it. I never showed any proof when it's time for me leave the country using my foreign passport.