Former PEZA 47(a)(2) Visa Holders No Longer Required to Obtain Philippine Police Clearance Before Leaving the Country

In an exception to a recently announced policy, former holders of Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) 47(a)(2) visas who are subject to an Order to Leave (OTL) from the Bureau of Immigration need no longer obtain a police clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation before they leave the country. This change applies only where the foreigner was downgraded from a 47(a)(2) visa to a 9(a) visitor visa, and subsequently ordered to leave the country. Foreigners in OTL cases who overstayed their visas are still required to obtain NBI clearance. The Bureau is revising the recently introduced clearance requirement because it conflicted with the PEZA's goal of facilitating trade.