BI to collect P480 passenger fee for immigration upgrade
The immigration counter at NAIA Terminal 3 (Photo courtesy of BI)
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is preparing the amended Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of an Executive Order covering the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS).
The APIS, established under Executive Order (EO) 122, series of 2020, is designed to modernize immigration procedures and enhance services for airport users through a high-technology system developed in partnership with the United States government.
However, the upgrade will come with significant costs, according to the BI.
Under the proposal, international passengers arriving in or departing from the Philippines will be charged a ₱480 fee, convertible to U.S. dollars, to fund the system’s maintenance and operations.
The fee will be collected by commercial carriers in line with existing laws and regulations.
The initiative was first introduced during the tenure of former Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente. Due to intense scrutiny of the procedures, the implementation process took several years before finally being approved by the Department of Justice (DOJ).