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Press Release: |
SFPCG- 1014-04
20 September 2005
Bureau of Customs Disseminates Brochure on Basic Customs Regulations to all Travellers at NAIA
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is pleased to announce that the Bureau of Customs has released a brochure that will be distributed to foreign travelers and balikbayans at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminals 1 & 2) upon their arrival in the Philippines. The leaflet will provide them with the following basic information on customs rules and regulations:
Customs Declaration
All arriving passengers are required to accomplish a Customs Declaration given on board the aircraft to declare all articles purchased or acquired abroad. If traveling as one family, one declaration may be sufficient.
Currency Regulations
It is illegal for any incoming or outgoing passenger to bring in or out Philippine Pesos in excess of P10,000.000 without prior authority from the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas. Violation of this rule may lead to the seizure of the amount and may subject the passenger to civil and criminal prosecution.
Exemptions/Duty Free Concessions
Balikbayans and Overseas Filipino Workers are entitled to a Ten Thousand (10,000.000) Pesos duty exemption on their USED personal and household effects. Appliances are limited to one of every kind in a given calendar year.
Duty Free Shopping And Limitations
- Incoming passengers at the NAIA may avail of the duty free one-time privilege within the following prescribed number of days from date of arrival, upon presentation of a valid passport, flight ticket and a boarding pass:
Balikbayans-Within 15 days from date of arrival and 30 days during the Christmas season (15 Nov. To 15 Jan)
Senior Citizens and Handicapped Balikbayan- Within 1 year
Other Passengers- Within 48 hours from date of arrival
- The amount of duty free shopping privileges can be availed of the following:
Frequent Travelers - US$10,000
Balikbayans- US$4,500 (18 yrs. Old & above) US1,500 (Below 18 yrs)
- Purchases must be made in US dollars or its equivalent in Philippines pesos and other acceptable foreign currencies. Appliances and electronics are subject to duties and taxes
Classification Of A Balikbayan
- Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of a least one year from date of last departure;
- A Filipino Overseas Worker or
- Former Filipinos and their accompanying foreign spouse and minor children.
Agricultural And Wildlife Products
As a general rule, agriculture quarantine restricts the entry of animal fish and plant products or their by products (meat, eggs, birds, fruit, etc.), but importation to and from the Philippines may be possible by filing an import/export permit at the Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture.
The above information contained in the brochure, according to the Bureau of Customs are merely guides and does not contain all customs rules and regulations. For more information, the public is advised to contact the Commissioner of Customs at (632) 527-4573 or at their email address at arrivalcustoms@hotmail.com
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