Waived fines for Nikkei-jin, stateless descendants of Japanese migrants

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued guidelines for the immigration requirements of Nikkei-Jins, who are Japanese emigrants and their descendants living abroad. These guidelines have received approval from the Department of Justice, as announced by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

Tansingco emphasized that the BI acknowledges the unique status of Filipinos classified as Nikkei-Jin under Japanese law, as they are both Filipinos and descendants of Japanese nationals. Consequently, specific guidelines have been developed to streamline the immigration documentation process for this group.

The BI clarified that Philippine Nikkei-Jins can leave the country without needing a Philippine passport. However, it cautioned that traveling without a Philippine passport could lead to the loss of the presumption of being a Filipino when traveling outside the Philippines. In cases where Japanese emigrants arrive in the Philippines without their Philippine passports, they should present a bureau order confirming their Nikkei-Jin status.

Tansingco elaborated that if a Philippine Nikkei-Jin has renounced their Philippine citizenship, they will be treated as a foreign national and subject to the regulations governing aliens in the Philippines.

On the other hand, Filipino Japanese emigrants can travel abroad using either their Japanese passports or a BI order recognizing them as Nikkei-Jins.

Additionally, the BI’s order allows Philippine Nikkei-Jins to depart from the Philippines without paying immigration fees.

The Bureau noted that some of the largest communities of Japanese emigrants can be found in countries such as Brazil, the USA, China, Canada, Peru, and the Philippines.

Source: CNN Philippines

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