Philippines travel tax

[j&ana 363]

My wife will be returning this Friday from the Philippines. I have read that  a Filipino that is a permanent resident is exempt from the  travel tax but that they need a tax exemption letter from the Philippines Tourism Authority. Is that correct? and how long will  does it take to get the certificate

US Permanent Residents need to secure a Travel Tax Exemption Certificate from the Philippine Tourism Authority at the Department of Tourism Building at TM Kalaw Street, Ermita Manila.

[Jon&Daiz 19]

We visited the Philippines last March and yes, US permanent residents are exempted from tax and   She can get it from the airport. During my check in, the lady told me to go to... I forgot the exact name of the area (but it’s just within in the airport and just few steps away) go get my travel exemption certificate. It took me like 5-7 minutes..

Edited May 27, 2018 by Jon&Daiz

[Hank_ 9,174]

12 minutes ago, j&ana said:

My wife will be returning this Friday from the Philippines. I have read that  a Filipino that is a permanent resident is exempt from the  travel tax but that they need a tax exemption letter from the Philippines Tourism Authority. Is that correct? and how long will  does it take to get the certificate

US Permanent Residents need to secure a Travel Tax Exemption Certificate from the Philippine Tourism Authority at the Department of Tourism Building at TM Kalaw Street, Ermita Manila.

Yes they do require the exemption.  As noted already you can do this at the airport.  At NAIA the booth is at the front of the terminal.   Do this before checking in with the airlines to save time.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

So the latest update is you get a waiver somewhere in the airport?

 

Just a few months ago I was reading on here that you still had to pay like 200 peso to get the waiver

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, Chris Duffy said:

So the latest update is you get a waiver somewhere in the airport?

 

Just a few months ago I was reading on here that you still had to pay like 200 peso to get the waiver

 

Yes they still want you to get the exemption certificate, but no fee anymore, so I heard.  

 

Seems very silly to need a certificate for a green card holder standing they are exemption, the entry stamp in the passport clarifies that

Edited May 28, 2018 by Hank_

[j&ana 363]

thanks everyone for your replies. they are vey helpful

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

On ‎5‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 7:25 AM, Hank_ said:

 

Yes they still want you to get the exemption certificate, but no fee anymore, so I heard.  

 

Seems very silly to need a certificate for a green card holder standing they are exemption, the entry stamp in the passport clarifies that

Last time I left with a greencard person back around 2011, There was nothing to do, Just board the plane and leave.

 

Why they want to change the rules every few years is silly.

 

Now having to get an exemption is idiotic

[Hank_ 9,174]

54 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

Last time I left with a greencard person back around 2011, There was nothing to do, Just board the plane and leave.

 

Why they want to change the rules every few years is silly.

 

Now having to get an exemption is idiotic

Travel tax is related to time in country, shorter stays may not require the exemption.  Not sure of the exact rules, I know if under 6 months there is no fee and the full fee isn't charged unless you have stayed in the Phils for a year or more.

 

I know in 2015 we were there almost 4 months, they wanted the exemption and they charged P200 to boot.   Now I read there is no fee.     

 

And for a USC there using the BB stamp there is no travel tax or exemption needed for stays under a year.

[JE57 239]

My wife and I go in and out of the Philippines from Hong Kong every few months.  As a resident of Hong Kong she is required to obtain an exemption to travel tax each time she exits.  It used to be about 2 years back she'd pay 200 Pesos for the exemption but now she pays nothing.  I expect that a Greencard being a residence card would be the same thing as her Hong Kong residence.  It isn't clear to us rather she doesn't pay because of the frequency of the trips in and out or if they did away with the fee.  We think they did away with the fee. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

4 hours ago, JE57 said:

My wife and I go in and out of the Philippines from Hong Kong every few months.  As a resident of Hong Kong she is required to obtain an exemption to travel tax each time she exits.  It used to be about 2 years back she'd pay 200 Pesos for the exemption but now she pays nothing.  I expect that a Greencard being a residence card would be the same thing as her Hong Kong residence.  It isn't clear to us rather she doesn't pay because of the frequency of the trips in and out or if they did away with the fee.  We think they did away with the fee. 

It would seem to hold true that the exemption is required each time exiting with the Green Card as well.    Thanks       The did away with the fee for the exemption.

 

This all ends with the "blue passport"    

[KHnTX 4]

Having my Asawa going thru this process a few times the past two years, yes it is required each time for green card holders, it's very easy, and there are no fees to pay currently for GC holders.  The counter inside of terminal 1 at NAIA is right inside and easy to see as others have stated.  

 

Yes the blue passport is the end goal to avoid all of that.  😉

[j&ana 363]

My wife made it back and she did not have to pay the travel tax So thanks everyone. She did have to rush to get thru immigration and customs in Guam and Hawaii. I would not recommend going that route. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

 

Yes the Guam/Honolulu route is a two part - immigration in Guam then customs in Honolulu.

 

Glad there were safe travels.