Balikbayan Visa Guide, Cebu the Philippines

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The Cebu Tourist is not affiliated to Bureau of Immigration, nor can we answer official queries related to any other Philippine Government agencies​.
If you approched by a fixer (unauthorised agent) or government official, offering to expedite (fast track) your visa for cash away from the office or near, even if in an initial government office, kindly decline, you will likely be charged considerably more up to 50%.  If it appears out of the ordinary, it probably is

To report or complain about a fixer (unauthorised agent) or government official, forward your concern/complaint to the Presidential Complaint Center at [email protected] or 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center at https://8888.gov.ph/file-a-complaint/

If you need a visa prior to arrival and are eligible or cannot or prefer not to visit your nearest Philippine Embassy, you can process the required visa online at: https://www.visa.gov.ph/

For immediate assistance with Philippine Immigration – Exit Departures, Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Department of Health and Philippine International Embassies – Diplomatic Services direct your queries to:

Philippine Bureau of Immigration 

https://m.facebook.com/officialbureauofimmigration/

Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT)

https://m.facebook.com/DepartmentOfTourism/

Philippine Bureau of Customs

https://customs.gov.ph/

Philippine Coast Guard

https://m.facebook.com/coastguardph/

Philippine Bureau of Quarantine




http://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/services/

Philippine Department of Health

https://doh.gov.ph/

Philippine International Embassies and Diplomatic Services

https://dfa.gov.ph/office-of-protocol/foreign-embassies

1. Who are eligible under Balikbayan Program?

a. A Balikbayan, who may be either one of the following:

i.   A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year;

ii.  A Filipino overseas worker;

iii. A former Filipino citizen and his family who had been naturalized in a foreign country and comes or returns to the Philippines

b. Immediate family members (spouse and children) of the Balikbayan, who are nationals of countries falling under EO 408, travelling together with the Balikbayan

2. Who are not entitled to the Balikbayan privilege?

Former Filipinos and their immediate family members (spouse and children) who are visa-required nationals (nationals of countries NOT listed under EO 408). They must secure entry visas prior to their travel to the Philippines

3. What are the privileges of a Balikbayan?

Those who are admitted as Balikbayans are given an initial stay of one (1) year, you may extend  for another one (1), two (2) or six (6) months provided that you present a valid passport and filled out the visa extension form and submit it to the Visa Extension Section in the BI Main Office or any BI Offices nationwide, an additional requirement will be ask for Balikbayans who have stayed in the Philippines after thirty six (36) months

4. Can a foreigner spouse or child of a Balikbayan avail this privilege when traveling to the Philippines alone?




A foreign national spouse and/or child of a Balikbayan may only be given the said privilege if he/she is traveling with his/her Balikbayan spouse or parent

To extend you’re Balikbayan Visa while in Cebu City or Lapu-Lapu City, also processes Non-immigrant, immigrant visas, tourist visas and near to ACR I-Card and Student visas processing office visit

J Center Mall Bureau of Immigration

Bureau of Immigration
J Center Mall, Level 2
A.S. Fortuna Street
Bakilid, Mandaue City,
Cebu, 6014

8:00 am -5:00 pm (Mon-Fri)

Individual Cut-off Time 3:00 pm

Group Cut-off Time 1:00 pm

Direct Line(s): (032) 345-6441
Facsimile Numbers: (032) 345- 6441

E-mail Addresses: [email protected]

GAISANO Bureau of Immigration Satellite Office 

10 minutes by taxi from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB)
via Lapu-Lapu Airport Rd and M.L. Quezon National Highway

Bureau of Immigration

Gaisano Mactan Island Mall, Annex Bldg.
Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015

8:00 am – 6:30 pm

Individual Cut-off Time 5:00 pm

Group Cut-off Time 3:00 pm

Direct Line(s): (032) 495-2852
Facsimile Numbers: (032) 495-2852

E-mail Addresses: [email protected]

If you need to extend the Balikbayan Visa, we recommend you process the extension minimum 1 week prior the expiration date at either the J Center Mall Bureau of Immigration Mandaue City or GAISANO Bureau of Immigration Satellite Office Lapu-Lapu City, if you are travelling away from Cebu City or based considerable distance from Cebu City, you should consider The Bureau of Immigration Satellite Offices in Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, will be the nearest place to extend the visa waiver further while in the Visayas Region or neighbouring islands, and you should take this into consideration if you are far or remote, and need to travel back to Cebu City, even if you are closer to an alternative Bureau of Immigration Satellite Office for example Davao City, check the office is operational, and since not all holiday periods are the same in the Philippines and may be specific just to that City




Bring your Passport and any previous visa receipt or proof of purchase, Balikbayan visa waiver application forms will be provided ​

Estimated processing time-wait for Balikbayan visa extension at J Center Bureau of Immigration or GAISANO Bureau of Immigration 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hour 30 minutes

Cash Only in Philippines PESOS
(credit, debit, charge or currency card not currently accepted)

Observe national 1 day local government or national holidays and especially during Christmas period, arrive at least one week prior to the expiration of your valid stay​

Hotels close to J Center Mall by walk-taxi-car

Toyoko-Inn – Attached to J Center Mall (walk 1 minute)

Maayo Hotel (taxi-car 10 to 15 minutes)

Bai Hotel (taxi-car 5 to 10 minutes)

The Orchard Cebu Hotel & Suites (walk 5 minutes)

Allure Hotel & Suites (walk 10 minutes)

Merto Park Hotel Mandaue (walk 10 minutes)

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