Return/Onward Ticket Requirements

[Gray Wolf]

You must have a return ticket to your port of origin or an onward ticket to another destination outside of the Philippines. If you don't have a return or onward ticket the airline can refuse to let you on board since it is a requirement of Philippine Immigration that anyone wishing to enter the country on a Temporary Visitor (tourist) Visa must have a return or onward flight.  Even if the airline doesn't ask or check, failure to be compliant means you may be refused entry by Philippine Immigration and it is the responsibility of the airline that brought you there to take you back (which is why they won't let you board without the return/onward ticket).

You must comply with all entry requirements which includes valid passport for at least 6 months from duration of stay plus sufficient funds (includes any costs due to refusal of entry, i.e. flight back)

So even though you may never get asked to show proof of entry requirements, you had better comply with them all.

[jonnyivy]

I just booked our tickets for our flights there in November Jack,..and it was about £30 CHEAPER to buy return tickets !!
I wonder if thats their way of persuading you not to buy one-way ??/  lol

[Lee2]

Just for the record a link to the onward ticket requirement on a Philippine site

http://www.philippineslosangeles.org/news/2636/597/EXCLUSION-OF-TEMPORARY-VISITORS-WITH-NO-RETURN-OUTBOUND-TICKETS/d,phildet/]

  The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles wishes to inform the public of a directive from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration that pursuant to Section 29(a)(17) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, foreign nationals arriving to the Philippines who are admissible under Section 9(a) (temporary visitor’s visa) or under Executive Order 408 with the exception of Balikbayans, but do not have valid return or onward tickets, shall be automatically excluded or will not be allowed entry into the country.
 

[virgil4616]

I plan a space A trip to Clark AFB. Will I be able to go to Clark International to purchase my exit ticket?At what point do I have to show a return ticket? Do I just purchase a low cost ticket to Hong Kong to show my Exit? I may even spend a couple of days in Hong kong, What's the best way to go about it? I plan to come 1-30 September.

Virgil

[Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am]

I plan a space A trip to Clark AFB. Will I be able to go to Clark International to purchase my exit ticket?At what point do I have to show a return ticket? Do I just purchase a low cost ticket to Hong Kong to show my Exit? I may even spend a couple of days in Hong kong, What's the best way to go about it? I plan to come 1-30 September.

Virgil

Bottom line, if your destination is the Philippines for vacation purposes, you will need an onward (aka cheap throwaway ticket if you don't plan to actually use it) and or a return ticket back to the U.S. whether you actually use it or not prior to leaving the U.S.. 
Once you arrive in the Philippines and receive your free 30 day entry permit stamped in your passport, it's up to you to obtain additional visa extensions if you plan to stay longer in the Philippines.

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/extensionofstay
   

[FRaymie]

My plan was for us to utilize the Balikbayan Priviledge and purchase just a one way for both of us. After we get settled I can then pursue the 13A or alternatives. Would I still need to have returns in hand and then cancel after entry?

[balutsky]

My plan was for us to utilize the Balikbayan Priviledge and purchase just a one way for both of us. After we get settled I can then pursue the 13A or alternatives. Would I still need to have returns in hand and then cancel after entry?

Unless you have a permanent residence visa, as the original post stated, the airline will refuse to board you if you do not have a return flight.  I have experienced it myself when I retired back in 2013.  Luckily I am a dual citizen and I have my re-acquisition of my citizenship paperwork with me.  I understand that your wife is Filipina.  I suggest that she applied for dual citizenship (if she is not a dual citizen yet) there in the states as the process is real simple.  If she try to do it here in the PI, it is too much hassle. Here is a link from the LA consulate.
http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/consular-services-2/dual-citizenship-ra-9225

[iamjames]

A return flight would be an incredible waste of money if you are not going to use it.  Just go online and book a ticket with Cebuair from Manila to Kota Kinabalu. Showing that 2000 peso ticket solves all problems. Actually - as already stated - it is the boarding that is the real problem. No airline will board you without evidence of A. Residency or B. Exit intentions.  Otherwise the airline will be held responsible for returning you to your departure point at their own expense.

[David690]

My plan was for us to utilize the Balikbayan Priviledge and purchase just a one way for both of us. After we get settled I can then pursue the 13A or alternatives. Would I still need to have returns in hand and then cancel after entry?

Good question FRaymie, that is exactly my situation also.
David

[sussexrob]

Cannot quite understand the problem of buying a return flight??   in my experience over many trips from various countries, it is always cheaper than a one way ticket.

[David690]

Cannot quite understand the problem of buying a return flight??   in my experience over many trips from various countries, it is always cheaper than a one way ticket.

Agree Rob.  In my case, I will be leaving Dubai for good (I know.......never say never) and re-locating full time to Fils.  I will look at ticket pricing and maybe elect to base myself in UK ticket-wise and make my travel arrangements that way, as most of my future flights will be to and from UK.  I understand that it's cheaper Lon-Philippines return than the other way around.

[bigrod]

My plan was for us to utilize the Balikbayan Priviledge and purchase just a one way for both of us. After we get settled I can then pursue the 13A or alternatives. Would I still need to have returns in hand and then cancel after entry?

Since you are planning on using the Balikbayan Stamp I am going to assume your wife is a Philippine citizen.  So you can get the 13a in the US prior to your departure through the Philippine Embassy/Consulates.  If you get it here it is a two part process, first year temporary and then resubmit after a year for permanent. If you get it in the US it is permanent and cheaper.

Chuck

[Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am]

This return/onward ticket requirement has been discussed numerous times over the years.
Bottom line, these return/onward tickets apply only to tourists period! A permanent resident and or a Balikbayan is not considered a tourist, so therefore a return/onward ticket is not required. (refer to BI Commissioner's Memorandum)
Most of the airlines should know this rule by now for those returning to the Philippines.
Attached below as a thumb nail pic and is the most current Memorandum from the BI Commissioner stating so. 
For those who are still paranoid about missing their fight and due to the airline's enpt understanding of the Philippine's BI rules and regulations, go ahead and purchase a return/onward ticket for your peace of mind. 

[Lee2]

Every year we fly to the Philippines with a copy of the bb law with me and every year they will not take our baggage outside and require me to go inside and have an onward or return ticket, I thought it was the airline since we always flew with Delta but this year Jet Blue would not board me without me first showing them the BB law and then they needed to see that I had a return ticket dated within the one year, I even showed them the letter Art posted and a copy of an email from the BI that I have saying that I am allowed to stay one year, their response was "laws change all the time and both of those were not dated this year" thus they would not accept either one of them and told me it was lucky that I had a return ticket dated within one year or they would not have let me go.

So while Art is 100% correct, the airlines in the U.S. do not see it that way, maybe if flying with Philippines Airlines then they would accept that letter as they know Philippine laws.

I suggest people print the law and have it with you and go to the airport early as with Delta it takes me an extra 20 minutes each year except for some reason last year the lady knew the law once I showed it to her, and with Jet Blue it took me over an half hour of her going to different people and finally finding one guy who told me that he would do me a favor and let me board and take responsibility but that once I got to the Philippines that they would turn me around or force me buy a return ticket dated within 30 days, I told him to let me worry about that and thanked him for getting the woman to give me a boarding pass.
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/balikbayan-previlege

These trips every year are getting to be so much of a hassle that I may finally stop taking them and especially so if one year in the future I cannot reason with the airlines and get rejected for a boarding pass, my opinion, have an onward or return ticket dated within 30 days and then get a refund once in the Philippines for that ticket and if the airline does not ask you for proof then all the better.

[FRaymie]

Thanks to all of you again for your info, insight and first hand experiences. I've got a lot to work with and this will help me make an educated decision. Thanks again. Once the move is made, I'll certainly share my experience. Thanks again to one and all.