CONSULAR BULLETIN NO. 4, SERIES 1998
 

GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS ON THE NO-DOLLAR IMPORTATION OF SECOND-HAND MOTOR VEHICLES TO THE PHILIPPINES

Who are qualified to import?

1. Returning Filipinos who have resided abroad for at least one (1) year.

2. Immigrants to the Philippines who are holders of valid Section 13-a visas (i.e. wife or husband of a Philippine citizen) or Section 13-g visas (i.e. natural born Filipinos who were naturalized in a foreign country).

What types of vehicle are allowed to be imported?

1. Left-hand passenger cars, or if right-hand drive, with conversion kits provided.  If gasoline-powered, engine displacement shall not exceed 2800 cc and kerbweight, 1500 kgs.

2. Left-hand light commercial vehicles, or if right-hand drive, with conversion kits provided.  Gross vehicle weight shall not exceed 3000 kgs.

3. Motorcycles and scooters.

What are the procedures for importing?

1. First, secure Authority to Import before shipping the used vehicle to the Philippines.

2. Second,  secure Authorization to Release upon arrival of the vehicle at the Port of Manila.

How does one go about securing authority to import?

Get an application form (i.e. BIS Form 01 ) from the Philippine Embassy or Trade Attaché’s Office abroad or any regional/provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines.  Accomplish and attach all documents required as stated at the back of the form.  Mail or have it personally delivered together with the application fee to the DTI’s Bureau of Import Services (BIS) at the 3rd Floor, Oppen Building, 349 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Authority to import will be mailed to the applicant or be available for pick-up by the applicant’s representative within five (5) working days from the time the application is received.

All information about the vehicle to be imported must be properly declared in the application.  Proper declaration will ensure hassle-free release of vehicle.  There is no need for brokers or facilitators.

How does one go about securing authorization to release?

1. Upon arrival of the vehicle, the importer should appear personally at the One-Stop Processing Center (OSPC), 1st Floor, Bureau of Customs, (BOC), South Harbor, Manila with the following original documents:

• passport

• car registration (imported vehicle registered at least six (6) months prior to the  submission of the application)

• bill of lading

• permit to deliver imported goods (issued by the shippling line)

• BIS authority to import

2. The importer accomplished the Import entry Declaration form, submits it to the OSPC, and pays the corresponding entry processing fee of P250 to the BOC.  The OSPC will thereafter handle all the customs procedures for the importer.

3. The importer is interviewed by the OSPC officers.  Simultaneously, a joint inspection of his vehicle is conducted by other OSPC officers.

4. As soon as the vehicle has been appraised and documents verified, the importer will pay the corresponding taxes and duties due on his vehicle at the BOC Cashier’s Division.

5. Upon payment, the importer will be issued the authorization to release by the OSPC and he may then effect the release of his vehicle at the Piers and Inspection Division.

If properly declared, release of the vehicle is guaranteed to be not later than five (5) days from the time the importer appears before the OSPC.
 

What are the pre-shipment requirements?

A. For Holders of Philippine Passports (Returning Filipinos)

1. Copy of car registration authenticated by the Embassy

2. Copy of Philippine passport authenticated by the Embassy (all pages)

3. Accomplished application form

4. Affidavit of undertaking notarized by the Embassy

5. One 2x2 picture signed on the front and at the back

6. Stencil of car chassis number authenticated by the Embassy

7. Stencil of car engine number authenticated by the Embassy

8. Income tax returns for the last three (3) years authenticated by the Embassy

9. A non-refundable processing fee in Philippine Peso (Manager’s or Cashier’s Cheque) equivalent in Money Order or Bank Draft payable to the Deparment of Trade and Industry:

• P500/US$25  -   car/commercial value

• P300/US$15  -  motorcycle/scooter

B. For Immigrants Holding Valid 13-a or 13-g Visas

1. Copy of car registration authenticated by the Embassy

2. Accomplished application form

3. Affidavit of undertaking duly notarized

4. Authenticated copy of marriage contract

5. Photocopy of Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Immigrant Certificate of Registration

6. Stencil of car engine number authenticated by the Embassy

7. Stencil of car chassis number authenticated by the Embassy

8. A non-refundable processing fee in Philippine Peso (Manager’s or Cashier’sCheque) equivalent in Money Order or Bank Draft payable to the Department of Trade and Industry:

• P500/US$25  -  car/commercial vehicle

• P300/US$15  -  motorcycle/scooter

      9.    One 2x2 picture signed on the front and at the back

What are the other provisions?

1. Foreign exchange from the foreign exchange reserves of the Philippines shall not be utilized in the importation of motor vehicles under this scheme.

2. Any individual qualified under these guidelines shall be granted authority to import a vehicle only once.

3. Only one (1) vehicle shall be allowed per family to be imported.

4. Any motor vehicle imported in violation of these guidelines, such as but not limited to those exceeding the limits set forth under B.P. 73, imported right-hand driven vehicles without conversion kits, shipped without prior authority, and/or lack of registration shall be subject to penalties provided under pertinent provisions of the Trariff and Customs Code, including seizure proceedings.

Source:  Department of Trade and Industry
CONSULAR SECTION, PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, LONDON, 25 September 1998