No More Arrival Stickers for E-Gates When Entering PH

(SPOT.ph) Do you collect arrival stickers on your passport as a way to remember your trips abroad? Well, starting today, April 1st, you might have to find another way to keep a log of your travels.

The Bureau of Immigration just announced they are no longer issuing arrival stickers to Filipinos entering the country from abroad. And here's how this new policy is going to affect you. 

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Here's what we know about the Bureau of Immigration's newest policy:

Starting today, April 1, Filipinos coming from outside the country will no longer be given arrival stickers when they pass through electronic gates installed in the international ports of entry.

This announcement was made over the long weekend through a statement addressed to the press via the Bureau of Immigration's social media platforms. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco says the move is designed to "streamline electronic gate processing to maximize efficiency and transition to label-free border clearance. "

According to Tansingco, the removal of the e-gates' sticker printing feature is part of their mandate to deliver a more effective and efficient immigration service to the public. But don't think this move means the BI won't be able to track your whereabouts in and out of the Philippines. Tansingco clarifies that in lieu of the stickers, inbound Filipino travelers will receive an email confirmation of their arrival via the address they provided in the eTravel system.

The Philippines isn't the first country to employ contactless arrival. Several countries like Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore also have a similar policy wherein tourists and residents simply receive confirmation of their arrival via email, arguably shortening the time spent going through airport immigration. 

What are arrival stickers?

Arrival stickers are those small pieces of paper with adhesive backing dispensed by the e-gates containing a confirmation of your arrival to the Philippines. These stickers replaced the arrival stamps previously issued by immigration officers prior to the installation of e-gates five years ago.

Many travelers collect these immigration stamps and arrival stickers as a form of remembrance for their trips. If you're one of these travelers and would like a visual and tangible recognition of your arrival, the Bureau of Immigration says you can still opt to have your passports stamped by immigration officials at the manual airport  gates. 

For more information, visit the Bureau of Immigration's website

Also read: Avoid the Airport Lines: How to Use Cebu Pacific's Self-Bag Drop Counter

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