DAVAO CITY — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has recorded a 23.6% increase in its revenues from tourist visa extensions.
Immigration tourist visa section chief Raymond Remigio reported that the agency recorded a total revenue of PhP 1,426,076,164 for 2023, a major increase from the past year.
Remigio said that this could be attributed to the revived interest in international travel following the pandemic.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the data reflects the BI’s efforts to make compliance with regulations easier by opening new offices and setting up their online services for the convenience of the transacting public.
“We are one with the Department of Tourism in their campaign to reinvigorate international travel and tourism in the country,” said Tansingco. “Faster and easier immigration service is our contribution to the national government’s efforts,” he added.
In 2022, the BI recorded PhP 1,153,748,535.50 revenues for tourist visa extensions.
Visa-free nationals are given an initial stay of 30 days, which they could extend in any of the BI’s offices nationwide or via the BI’s online platform at e-services.immigration.gov.ph.
