OTHER CONSULAR SERVICES
The Embassy also provides other consular services, such as the issuance of Travel Document, Certificate of Employment and Certificate of Residency for use in availing travel tax exemption.
Issuance of Travel Documents
The Embassy issues travel documents to Philippine nationals in Thailand to allow their direct, one-way travel to the Philippines. The issuance of a Travel Document can only be resorted to when the consular officer determines that its use is warranted by emergency/critical circumstances (such as in the case of a Philippine national who lost his/her passport and needs to immediately return to the Philippines due to death of a family member). A Travel Document cannot be used as a short cut in complying with the requirements for the renewal of a passport or the replacement of a lost passport.
The requirements for securing a Travel Document are as follows:
- Affidavit of Loss duly notarized;
- Original copy and photocopy of Thai police report with English translation;
- Photocopy of lost passport, or in lieu thereof, any documentary proof of Philippine citizenship;
- Passport application form duly accomplished;
- Two (2) copies of the Travel Document application form duly accomplished;
- Three (3) color ID pictures (examples in Figure 1); and,
- Payment of processing fee. (Schedule of Fees)
Travel Tax Exemption
Pursuant to Section 2 of Presidential Decree No.1183, Filipino Overseas Contract Workers are exempted from the payment of travel tax. Executive Order No. 283, which amended PD 1183 as amended, also extended the same privilege to Filipino residents abroad.
To avail of the exemption, an applicant who is a Filipino Contract Worker is required to submit the following:
- Valid passport;
- Overseas Employment Certificate from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); and,
- Certificate of Employment issued by the Philippine Embassy in the place of hire. For those directly hired, an employment contract authenticated by the Philippine Embassy.
Requirements for the issuance of Certificate of Employment
- Valid passport;
- Valid Work Permit or original copy of employment contract duly acknowledged; and,
- Application form duly accomplished.
To avail of the exemption, an applicant who is a resident abroad is required by the Philippine Tourism Authority to submit the following:
- Documentary proof of the grant of permanent residency status by the host country, or Certificate of Residency issued by the Philippine Embassy for those who have resided therein for a period of five (5) years without having been absent for more than six (6) months in any one year, or appropriate entries in the passport establishing the five year residency;
- Copy of the passport identification pages and the page showing the latest arrival in the Philippines; and,
- Income Tax Return for the year preceding the filing of application.
Requirements for the issuance of Certificate of Residency:
- Proof of residency in Thailand for at least five (5) years
- Valid passport;
- Photocopy of the passport’s personal data and visa pages;
- Application form duly accomplished.
Assistance to Nationals (ATN)
The ATN Unit coordinates consular efforts in responding to urgent requests for assistance made by Filipino individuals or groups. Requests of such nature are handled on a case-to-case basis. Actions taken by the ATN staff include, but are not limited to: (a) Coordination with next-of- kin or relatives; (b) Facilitating Repatriation; (c) Mediation and Conciliation; (d) Proper Representations with Thai authorities; (e) Legal Advice and Counseling; (f) Prison Visitation: and (g) Monitoring of Cases in Court
Registration and Issuance of Identity Card
All Filipino citizens who have acquired residency or who have obtained valid work permits in Thailand are enjoined to register with the Consular Section of Philippine Embassy, Bangkok. An Identity Card valid for two (2) years is issued by the Philippine Embassy to every Filipino registrant upon presentation of the following requirements: (a) Registration form (download here) duly accomplished; (b) Proof of residency or copy of valid work permit; (3) Copy of the BIR Tax Information Return for the preceding year; and, (4) Valid passport and photocopy of its personal data and visa pages.
For other concerns, please contact or e-mail the Philippine Embassy for assistance. |
