New guidelines on Philippine Nikkei-Jin or Japanese nationals and their descendants who migrated to the country had been released by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the guidelines, which was approved by the Department of Justice (DOJ), addresses immigration needs of Filipinos who have the status of Nikkei-Jin under Japanese law.
Under the new guidelines, the BI acknowledges that the Japanese government issues documents recognizing Philippine Nikkei-Jin as Japanese nationals.
Therefore, a Philippine Nikkei-Jin may depart from the Philippines with or without a Philippine passport, but those who travel without a Philippine passport loses the presumption of being a Filipino for purposes of traveling outside the Philippines.
In such cases, a Philippine Nikkei-Jin may travel abroad to and from Japan with a Japanese passport or travel document and a BI Order recognizing him as a Nikkei-Jin.
Philippine Nikkei-Jin who likewise arrive without a Philippine passport should present the same order, otherwise applicable rules for foreign nationals will apply.
“If however, the Philippine Nikkei-Jin has already renounced his Philippine citizenship, then he will be treated as a foreign national, subject to rules regulating aliens in the Philippines,” Tansingco clarified.
The order would allow the Philippine Nikkei-Jin to depart from the Philippines with deferment of payment of immigration fees. (OpinYon News Team)
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