Visa 6

B-7 Authentication (Ninsho Tetsuzuki)
Authentication is required when a legal document originating in Japan is going to be used in the Philippines. The document to be authenticated, together with the English translation, should go through the following offices:

Step 1. Notary Public (Koshonin Yakuba)
1. Notary Public (Koshonin Yakuba)
2. Bureau of Justice (Homu-kyoku)

Location: various offices in Tokyo.
Step 2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certification Section (Shomei-han) Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Tel: [phone] Ext. 2308/28553.

Step 3. Visa/Authentication Unit ? Consular Section, Embassy of the Philippines, Roponggi, Minato-ku, Tokyo.

If a document is issued by the Ministry of Justice or its related offices, such as the Koseki Tohon, the authentication process would start from Step 2 with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Gaimusho) and need not be notarized by a Notary Public. It takes three (3) working days to process an application, excluding the day of application and holidays.

Fees :
Authentication US$25
Verification US$25
Note: Fees are payable in US Dollar or it's equivalent in Japanese Yen. Please consult the Embassy for the current conversion rate.

Translation of the original Japanese document has to be done by a private translation firm. The Embassy only verifies the translation.

B-8 Balikbayan Program
Filipino and former Filipino citizens, including their spouses and *unmarried children categorized as Balikbayans under Republic Act 6768 dated 20 October 1989, who are going to visit the Philippines, shall likewise continue to enjoy the privilege of a no-visa entry for a stay of one year.

Requirements:

1. Must travel together with the Filipino or former Filipino (spouse or parent)
2. Valid Passport (validity should not be less than six months beyond contemplated period of stay in the Philippines)
3. Return ticket to country of origin or ticket to next country of destination.
4. Proof of former Filipino citizenship (i.e. Birth Certificate, old Philippine passport etc.); for dependents of Filipinos/former Filipinos: proof of relationship (i.e. Marriage Contract, Birth Certificate, Koseki Tohon with English translation, etc.)

* Please inquire with the Visa Unit of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate, to verify which foreign nationals are included in the Balikbayan program.

Recognition as a Filipino Citizen
Under the Bureau of Immigration's Law Instruction No. RBR-99002, issued on 15 April 1999, any child born of a Filipino parent may be recognized as a Filipino citizen under existing laws. The following documents are to be submitted to the Commissioner of Immigration:

1. Petition, in the form of a letter-request, made under oath by the Filipino parent or legally appointed guardian. A person who is 18 years old must apply in his/her own capacity. In default of parents or a judicially appointed guardian, the following persons shall exercise substitute parental authority over the child in the order indicated:
1. the surviving grandparent as provided in Article 214 of the Family Code;
2. the oldest brother or sister over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified; and
3. the child's actual custodian, over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified;

In case the letter-request is made by a person on behalf of any of the parents, the legally appointed guardian, or persons exercising substitute parental authority, he or she must be duly authorized through a power of attorney to file such petition.
2. Authenticated birth certificate of the child
3. Birth certificate of the Filipino parent
4. Affidavit of Citizenship executed by the applicant's Filipino parent attesting to his/her citizenship at the time of the birth of the child
5. Photocopy of the child's passport, if he/she has one
6. Photocopy of the Filipino parent's passport, if he/she has one
7. Proof of Filipino citizenship of a parent at the time of birth of the child other than the parent's passport or the child's passport

All documents issued by foreign governments and those executed in a foreign country shall be duly authenticated by the authorized officer of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over them.

Communications, statements, or documents executed in a language other than English or Filipino should be officially translated under the seal of the authorized officer of the appropriate foreign embassy.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 292, the Bureau of Immigration, through its Records Section, will automatically furnish the Department of Justice an official copy of its Order of Recognition within 12 days from its date of approval. Identification Certificates shall be issued only after confirmation by the Secretary of Justice. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Immigration.

http://tokyo.philembassy.net/