(Eagle News) – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to all foreign nationals in view of the current COVID-19 outbreak worldwide.
In an advisory posted on Thursday, March 19, the DFA announced that it is also suspending the visa-free privilege for foreign nationals, aside from the usual visa issuances.
“The DFA informs the public that it is temporarily suspending visa issuance in all its Foreign Service Posts effective immediately and will be valid and effective until further notice,” the DFA public advisory said.
The DFA said that the temporary suspension of visa issuance was in light of Proclamation No. 922 that declared a state of public health emergency throughout the country on March 8, and the Proclamation No. 929 on March 16 declaring a state of calamity in the country due to the COVID-19.
@teddyboylocsin pic.twitter.com/oSJDWtEHII
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) March 19, 2020
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. also announced on Thursday that the order also covered foreign nationals who had already been issued Philippine visas which will be deemed cancelled.
“Starting today, all our Embassies and Consulates will temporarily suspend visa issuance to all foreign nationals as well as the visa-free entry privileges of all foreign nationals,” he said in a statement.
“Moreover, all previously issued Philippine visas to foreign nationals are deemed cancelled. Visas already issued to foreign spouses and children of Filipino nationals remain valid,” he added.
The DFA said that “with the temporary suspension, all visa-free privileges including those based on visa waiver agreements, those under Executive Order 408, series of 1960, and for holders of Hong Kong and Macau SAR passports, Macau-Portuguese passports, and British National Overseas Passports, are likewise temporarily suspended” effective March 22.
Aside from the cancellation of previously issued visas, all foreigners issued with Philippine Foreign Service posts (primarily 9A temporary visitor/tourist visas) will not be allowed entry into the country starting Sunday, March 22.
-Foreign nationals already in the country can stay-
But the DFA said that visas previously issued to officials of accredited Foreign Governments and international organizations, including their dependents, “will remain valid and will be honored when entering the country” even after March 22.
The temporary suspension also “has no impact on foreign nationals that are already in the country or on holders of visas issued by other government agencies,” the DFA advisory said.
(Eagle News Service)
