I first got wind of this story when I heard my cousin saying she needs to send an authenticated invitation letter to her friend traveling from the Philippines. The friend plans to visit her in Singapore and apparently, it is now a requirement of Philippine Immigration authorities.
Curious, I set out to ‘investigate’ by reading tons of forums and related articles, chatted with friends who have similar stories and finally, checking with Philippine Embassy officials in Singapore. It’s true: Pinoys traveling abroad now need an authenticated invitation letter.
What is an authenticated invitation letter?
It is a piece of document that basically states the traveler’s name and his/her sponsor’s details (the one ‘inviting’ the traveller). This document is ‘authenticated’ by the Philippine Embassy in the country of destination (in our case, Singapore) and must be sent to the traveler in the Philippines in its original form (no scan, photocopy, fax, etc). This is what he will then show to the Philippine Immigration officers before he/she is allowed to leave the country.
- Pinoy Tourist wants to visit Singapore Resident. Buys a 2-way ticket.
- Singapore Resident goes to Philippine Embassy in Singapore to get Authenticated Invitation Letter.
- Singapore Resident sends the original authenticated invitation letter to Pinoy Tourist via LBC.
- Pinoy Tourist receives the document and tucks it safely.
- Pinoy Tourist leaves for Singapore. Immigration Officer asks for the document and Pinoy Tourist shows it to him.
- Immigration Officer allows him to leave the Philippines.
- Pinoy Tourist was welcomed by Singapore Resident at the Changi Airport. They hugged, kissed and cried. What an ordeal they’ve been through.
This stricter policy is no longer an isolated case as Airline companies such as Tiger Airways now include this as part of their requirements. In its website, it states:
Passengers Travelling As TouristsThe reason for the strict policy must have something to do with the stepped up efforts of Philippine Immigration authorities to fight human trafficking (see related video).
Must have their return flight confirmed (not more than one (1) month), and must have an invitation letter/affidavit of support from a sponsor that is dry sealed and duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate office in a foreign country (original copy)
And so the anxiety among many Pinoys living in the Philippines and abroad, especially here in Singapore, grows. This issue is steadily growing by the day and is now the hottest topic among many Pinoys living here. I suspect this issue is just gonna get even hotter as many people now realize the impact of this stricter policy.
We’ll try to delve on this issue deeper. In the meantime, share your thoughts and experiences by writing your comments below. What do you think of this new policy by the Philippine Immigration?
See Related Article: Authenticated Invitation Letter: The confusion continues...
Money-making strategy.
too bad for the "pure bakasyonistas" esp. the oldies...hhmmmppp.....
kalokohan! pano kung magbabakasyon lang and magstay sa friend para makatipid! wala na talaga maisip govt natin kundi pagkaperahan mga kapwa nila.
Kung wala ka nga'ng friend na magbibigay invitation letter because backpacker tourist ka lang, how?
stupid policy
what is this for? who implemented this?
huh? I don't understand... walang sense... what about those tourist who wanted to see the place and nothing more? not all tourist going out of the country, goes there to be tnt...
Really so how come the immigration in Clark allowed me to fly to Singapore withouth checking for the said docs?
common this is a hoax!!! dont believe this!!
katarantaduhan tong topic na to! haha...bkit ung frend ko nakalusot ng wlang hinininging invitation letter ang IO sa kanya???....You are not helping anyone here =(
Problem with this ruling, di consistent yun implementation nila. No doubt, dami nang naharang sa immigration dahil sa issue na 'to pero meron din naman nakakalusot. Better to be aware of these things, then you can make an informed decision. Mahirap yung andun ka na sa airport at paalis ka na tsaka ka pa lang magugulat na me ganito palang patakaran.
Ang magulo yung Immigration natin, basta na lang implement ng ruling, wala man lang guidelines. Our wish is for them to relax this ruling at pag-isipan muna nila mabuti bago nila i-implement.
This blog also discussed the confusion that this new ruling creates:
http://www.sugarpinoy.com/2010/10/authenticated-invitation-letter.html
ho..good morning. i'd like to ask if the immigration would require 1 invitation letter per person or is its ok to have 1 invitation letter for 2 persons as long as their names are indicated on the said invitation? thanks!
I would like to share my experience.
My first trip to MY was last November. At that time the IO did not asked for an invitation letter. Although he did asked where I worked and I was asked to provide a company ID for proof.
On my 2nd trip, just this month, I was asked for the said letter and I told the IO that I was not aware of the said requirement. Then she asked about the company I work for and to provide my company ID as proof. After checking, she told her superior that I am okay and verified, then I was allowed to go through.
It is weird to be asked for such a letter where in fact we are not required for a visa in ASEAN countries.
Basically only Passport and Round trip ticket plus visa if needed is needed for travelling in any country. What if you re in a package tour? sino magbibigay sayo ng invitaion letter?
It is stated in our passport that we have "right" to travel and authorities should facilitate and help the passport owner na makalabas ng bansa.
wala na talagang magawa ang gov't natin....it's true what about yung walang friend na gusto lang magtravel? IO asked lots of things like business, pati nga business permit kailangang ipakita...so advice ko sa mga magtTRavel if u have business bring the permit for the immig.
can my friend in SG apply for an AIL for me and 2 of my friends? or does it have to be 1 AIL per person? the 3 of us are going to SG this april 23rd. please shed light. thanks.
can my friend in SG apply for an AIL for me and 2 of my friends? or does it have to be 1 AIL per person? - inquired this with the phil embassy here a few weeks back and they said that as far as they are concerned, they're ok with 1 person applying for many. Problem is, it's sometimes the Philippine immigration officer who requires 1:1 AIL. Tama yun sinasabi ng marami, ang gulo nila, walang coordination.
ok lang po ba may ail ka,then wala na po work d2 sa pinas?will they allow you leave the country?
I have come across a forum that talks about letter of invitation needed in order to get out of the Philippines. I didn't know about this and didn't have any of the mentioned documents and yet, I was allowed to pass through the immigration for my flight to Singapore last December 2010.
I am just a college student, I don't have a work, and I didn't have a lot of money with me when I went to SG. We also didn't have a confirmed booking of any hostels in the country of destination. She just browsed through my new and old passports and asked me where were my visas from. Maybe it was because of my travel history. Also in Malaysia, I was just asked for an accommodation but told them I will just scout at the area when I get there, coupled by showing a printed addresses of hostels.
And sometimes, you just have to be polite with the I.O. They are just unpredictable.
Nasa itsura kasi yan. Kung mukhang fake na bakasyunista at ung tipong "tourist" daw na pagkahatid ng pamilya sa airport ay NAG-IIYAKAN pa, aba TURISTA BA YUN? Hanep men! hehehehe
based on my experience nman ngaun lang..dpat flight nmin ng 8am knina.. d2 CEBU imagine may hotel reservation n kami in 4 days 3 nights ng pinsan ko.. need lang mag unwind & bonding time nmin.. imagine 2months kmi nagtipid ng sahod pra mkakuha ng promo ticket w/ hotel accomodation.. may supporting documents p kmi.. imagine from manila p ako & d2 mag eexit pra mas cheaper & may maidag2 s aking panggastos.. bigla sa2bihin NO! OFFLOAD KAU!
are u sure?i traveled last march 2011 and no authenticated invitation letter or invitation letter and it was ok.pls check the immigration law and the constitution of the philippines. as what i know, authenticated letter is just DFA press release and should not stop you from traveling abroad.but take note, there should be a proof of financial capability,return ticket and accomodation then thats it.
This is also true in Malaysia. Infact the host must even present his or her bank account as one requirement to comply with. The authenticated invitation is pegged at RM98 or around S$40.
is it ok na 3 months vcation or mgkakaproblem n nmn sa immigration?
3 months straight vacation from PH to SG? Upon entry sa SG, you will only be given up to 30 days stay. After that, you can extend for another 30 days. Pro straight 3 months? I think you will have a problem in both PH and SG immigration.
kht po ba 2days lang ang kunin ko roundtrip ticket ma question pa kaya yun? pls advice tnx
thanks for the information! just one question: when the tourist passes the immigration, does the immigration officer keep this invitation letter? thanks.
Arbitrary application of internationally illegal rule by a fascist government under the pretext of democratic paternalism thereby providing state officials opportunity for corrupt behavior = cash bribe to immigration officer by the chosen ones or stay in paradise with a no refund no re-book ticket.
kaninang umaga nagpunta ako sa phil embassy sungapore to get the inviation letter for my fiancee to have her vacation here,and alam nyo ung invitation letter daw eh for relatives only ung fiancee ko no need to have the letter,she will go in a normal process in immivration,worried lang baka pagdating ng immigration s pinas iba nmn ang sabihin or baka biglang manghingi ng invitation.ang gulo ng govt natin paiba iba..
kaxe ang goverment natn nasisisraan n ng ulo..pinipigilan nila mg travel ang mga pinoy sa ibang bansa kxe daw naghahanap doon ng trabaho pero ang di nila naiicp, bkit nga kaya cla naghahanap ng work sa ibang bansa ay sa dahilan walang makuhang trabaho dito sa bnsa ntn kung meron man sa sarile lng ay hnde pa kasya.
prior to my trip to Singapore last May 2011. meron akong friend na nag travel together with her friends February 2011. yung isang friend nya, muntikan ng ma-off load dahil daw sa reason na government employee ito. would you believe kung anong ginawa nya??.. umiyak at nag makaawa sa IO!! ayun, pinayagan sya! nakakaloka naman talaga if ever na ma-off load ka. sayang ang gastos. thank God dahil nung scheduled trip na namin, 4D/3N.. wala naman kaming na-encounter na problem ng friend ko. nakita ng IO yung form ko na wala akong work. then, she just asked me.. "wala kang work?" sagot ko "yes ma'am, wala po. pero yung friend ko na kasama ko, meron." she asked me "san ka kumuha ng funding nito?" while she was asking me that, kinuha na nya yung pang-stamp. i replied "birthday gift po ng brother ko saken." sabay stamp nya sa passport ko. although may kaba ng konti, i was confident na magiging okay naman. kasi, nakapag travel naman na ako prior to SG. malaking factor din yung nagsasabi ka ng totoo. besides that, kinikilatis din talaga nila yung itsura mo kung mukha ka talagang turista at yung way ng pag sagot mo sa kanila. dapat maging magalang ka. with regards naman sa pocket money ko, Php7500 lang dala ko plus my credit card. arranged na kasi lahat ng travel agency. dito lang talaga sa atin nakaka praning ang IMMIGRATION. lahat naman tayo may K makapag travel.