Immigration
Philippines | Suspension of the BOQ medical clearance requirement for visa applications
Summary
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued a memorandum dated 1 February 2024, suspending the implementation of SBM Operations Nos. SBM-059 and 059-A or submission of the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) Medical clearance for visa applications of certain nationalities (Annex “A”).
The Details
In December 2014, the BI issued Operations Order Nos. SBM-059 and 059-A where it required certain nationalities to secure a BOQ Medical clearance and include this as part of the requirements when filing a visa application (i.e. Pre-arranged Employment [9(g)] Visa, Multiple Entry Special Visa (MESV), etc.).
Pursuant to the Philippine BI’s Citizen Charter and Republic Act No. 11032 also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2019, the BOQ Medical Clearance is no longer required for nationals or citizens of countries who were previously identified as BOQ required national.
What it means
Foreign nationals who were previously required to comply with the BOQ Medical Clearance will no longer be required to undergo medical tests before the filing of a visa application. The suspension of this requirement is a welcome development to streamline the process in filing of visa applications.
Annex “A”
| Afghanistan | Eritrea | Nigeria |
| Angola | Ethiopia | Papua New Guinea |
| Bangladesh | French Guiana | Paraguay |
| Benin | Gabon | Peru |
| Bolivia | Gambia | Pakistan |
| Brazil | Ghana | Rwanda |
| Burkina Faso | Guinea | Senegal |
| Burundi | Guinea-Bissau | Sierra Leone |
| Cambodia | Guyana | Somalia |
| Cameron | Iraq | Sudan |
| Central African Republic | Israel | Suriname |
| Chad | Indonesia | Syria |
| Colombia | Kenya | Togo |
| Congo | Liberia | Trinidad |
| Cote d’Ivoire | Mali | Uganda |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Mauritania | Venezuela |
| Ecuador | Myanmar | Vietnam |
| Equatorial Guinea | Niger |
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Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
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