MANILA – The Department of Justice in the Philippines has recently issued Immigration Memorandum Circular No. 2023-004, unveiling new guidelines aimed at extending support to Japanese individuals who remained in the Southeast Asian country after World War II.
Under these guidelines, fines and fees related to Japanese nationality for departures from and re-entries into the Philippines will be deferred for eligible individuals who lack Philippine passports.
To avail themselves of this deferment, qualified individuals must submit the following documents to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration located at Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, to obtain the certification (BI Order) from the Bureau of Immigration:
a. A notarized request letter for recognition as a “Philippine Nikkei-jin” as stipulated in the guidelines
The letter should include (i) the applicant’s personal information (name and date of birth), (ii) a brief explanation of their personal history as a “Philippine Nikkei-jin,” and (iii) it must be notarized by a Notary Public in the Philippines.
b. A certificate issued by the Embassy of Japan confirming the applicant’s status as a “Philippine Nikkei-jin”
This certificate can be obtained upon request at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
c. A photocopy of the Japanese passport or travel document
The entire processing period at the Bureau of Immigration is expected to take approximately three working days from the time of document submission, according to a statement from the Japan Embassy in Manila. - FJJ
