Vessel and Aircraft Entry Regulations

Ports Open to Vessels and Aircrafts Engaged in Foreign Trade

• Vessels and aircrafts in foreign trade must visit designated ports of entry, unless otherwise allowed by law.
• Existing and valid government contracts for handling import/export cargo should not be diminished or impaired.
• Vessels/aircrafts arriving from a foreign port within a Philippine Customs District must dock at the designated port of entry.
• The District Collector of the port has authority over every vessel or aircraft while within its jurisdiction.

Control Over Boarding or Leaving Vessels

• Upon arrival of a vessel in foreign trade, only the pilot, consul, quarantine officers, customs officers, and other authorized persons can board or leave without permission from customs.
• Tugboats, rowboats, or other crafts cannot go alongside the vessel without authorization.
• Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from boarding or loitering near the vessel.
• Unauthorized vessels must stay at least 50 meters away from vessels in foreign trade.

Documents Required Upon Vessel Entry

• Upon entering a vessel engaged in foreign trade, the master must present these certified documents to customs boarding officers:
  • Vessel's general declaration
  • Original cargo manifest for the port (returned with boarding officer's endorsement)
  • Three copies of the original manifest (one certified copy returned to the master)
  • Copy of the cargo stowage plan
  • Two copies of the store list
  • One copy of the passenger list
  • One copy of the crew list
  • Original copy of all through cargo manifests (deposited with customs officer)
  • Passenger manifest with names of all foreigners (as required by immigration laws)
  • One copy of the original duplicate of the fully accomplished bill of lading
  • The shipping goods and register of the vessel of Philippine registry
  • Other related documents

Manifest Requirements

• Every vessel from a foreign port must have a complete cargo manifest.
• Cargoes for different Philippine ports must have separate manifests for each port of call.
• Each cargo manifest should state the port of departure, port of delivery, marks, numbers, quantity, description of packages, and consignee names.
• Vessels must have complete manifests of passengers and baggage, with destination and details as required by immigration laws.
• Vessels must present a complete list of all sea stores on board upon arrival.
• If a vessel carries no cargo or passengers, the manifest must state this.
• A true copy of the cargo manifest must be electronically sent in advance by the shipping company within a cut-off period determined by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
• Upon arrival, the shipping company must provide two hard copies of the cargo manifest to the Bureau if the port of entry is either the Port of Manila (PoM) or the Manila International Container Port (MICP), and one copy in all other cases.
• Cargo manifests cannot be altered after vessel entry, except via a sworn amendment by the master, consignee, or agent.
• Amendments are not allowed after the invoice/goods declaration is received, unless a non-fraudulent clerical error or discrepancy is discovered after import examination.

Translation of Manifest

• Cargo manifests written in a foreign language must be accompanied by an English translation.

Manifests for the Commission on Audit and District Collector

• Upon a vessel's arrival, BOC provides electronic copies of the manifest to the COA Chairperson.
• The master must present the original cargo manifest (endorsed by the boarding officer) and the ship's register/documents, plus clearance papers from the port of departure, to the District Collector.

Production of Philippine Crew

• The master of a Philippine vessel returning from abroad must present the entire crew listed in the shipping crew manifest.
• If a crew member is missing, the master must provide proof of death, desertion, impressment, or discharge.
• For discharge in a foreign country, a certificate from the Philippine consul is required.

Record of Arrival and Entry

• A public record of arrival and entry dates for all vessels and aircraft must be kept in every Customs District.

Arrest of Vessels or Aircraft Departing Before Entry

• If a vessel or aircraft arrives from a foreign port within a Customs District and departs/attempts to depart before entry (without necessity), the District Collector may arrest and return it.

Discharge of Ballast

• Ballast of no commercial value may be discharged with a permit from the District Collector.

Time of Unloading Cargo

• Unloading cargo from a vessel or aircraft during non-working hours is allowed upon payment of service fees.

Entrance of Vessel Through Necessity

• If a vessel from a foreign port is forced to enter a port other than its destination due to weather or necessity, the master must make a protest under oath within 24 hours.
• The master must report any cargo unloaded or lost due to necessity within the same time frame.
• Sufficient proof must be provided to the District Collector for approval.

Unloading of Vessel in Port from Necessity

• If unloading is required during a vessel's stay in port, the District Collector may grant a permit with sufficient proof of necessity.
• Goods must be unloaded and stored under customs supervision.
• The District Collector may allow the vessel to enter the port, pay duties/taxes, and dispose of perishable cargo or cargo needed to cover vessel expenses.
• Upon departure, the cargo may be reloaded, subject to storage and safekeeping charges, plus entrance/clearance fees.
• No port charges are collected on vessels entering due to weather or other urgent necessities.

Entry and Clearance of Vessels of a Foreign Government

• Entry and clearance of transport/supply ships of foreign governments are in accordance with agreements between the Philippines and the foreign government.

Clearance of Vessel for Foreign Port

• Before a vessel bound for a foreign port is cleared, the master must present these authenticated documents to the District Collector:
  • Bill of health from the quarantine officer
  • Three copies of the export cargo manifest (one certified copy returned to the master)
  • Two copies of the passenger list (foreigners and other passengers)
  • Register and shipping goods (if Philippine registry)
  • Clearance from the last port of entry
  • Certificate from the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) confirming timely notice of sailing.
• The District Collector cannot allow a vessel to sail if the master refuses to transport mail from the PPC for reasonable compensation.
• If the Postmaster General and the master cannot agree on compensation, a Board of Referees will be appointed to decide the matter.

Detention of Warlike Vessel Containing Arms and Munitions

• District Collectors must report or detain vessels of commercial registry built for warlike purposes, departing with arms and munitions.
• Detention occurs when circumstances suggest the vessel will be used to commit hostilities against a foreign entity at peace with the Philippines.
• The vessel is detained until the President decides or the owner provides security (double the value of the vessel and cargo) against such use.

Oath of Master of Departing Vessel

• The master of a departing vessel must swear that:
  • All cargo destined for the Philippines has been discharged or accounted for.
  • A true copy of the outgoing cargo manifest has been furnished.
  • No unstamped letters or packets will be conveyed (except those relating to the vessel).
  • All mails placed on board have been delivered to the proper foreign port.
  • If clearing without passengers, the vessel will not carry any undeclared passenger or person.

Extension of Time for Clearance

• The master of a departing vessel must indicate the intended departure time at clearance.
• If the vessel remains in port 48 hours after the indicated time, the master must report to the District Collector for an extension.
• Without an extension, the original clearance is nullified.

Advance Notice of Aircraft Arrival

Non-Scheduled Arrivals

• A timely notice of the intended flight must be given to the District Collector, quarantine, and immigration officers.
• If dependable facilities for giving notice are unavailable, radio equipment can be used.
• If government officers have not arrived upon landing, the pilot must hold the aircraft, baggage, and goods, and segregate passengers and crew.

Scheduled Arrivals

• Advance notice is not required for airlines arriving on a regular schedule filed with the District Collector, quarantine, and immigration officers.

Landing at International Airport of Entry

• Aircraft arriving from a foreign port must make the first landing at an international airport of entry, unless permission is obtained from the Commissioner to land elsewhere.
• In the latter case, the owner/operator must pay inspection expenses, and the aircraft is subject to the District Collector's authority.
• In case of emergency, the pilot must communicate with customs officers.

Report of Arrival and Entry of Aircraft

• The pilot of an aircraft arriving from a foreign port must immediately report to the District Collector.
• The aircraft is boarded by quarantine and customs officers; no one can board or leave without permission.
• The pilot must make the necessary entry, and the aircraft cannot depart or discharge goods without permission from the District Collector.

Documents Required in Making Entry for Aircraft

• To make entry, these documents must be presented to the boarding customs officer:
  • Four copies of a general declaration containing:
    • Owner/operator name, registration marks, nationality, and flight number
    • Points of clearance and entry, and arrival date
    • Health and customs clearance at the last airport of departure
    • Aircraft itinerary, including origin, destination, and departure dates
    • Names and nationality of crew members
    • Passenger manifest showing embarkation and destination points
    • Cargo manifest showing airway bill number, package count, nature of goods, destination, gross weight, plus a copy of each airway bill
    • Store list
    • Other documents required by the Bureau of Customs (BOC)
• The general declaration must be in English and signed by the pilot or authorized agent, with health and customs clearances signed by the pilot.
• If the aircraft carries no cargo or passengers, the manifest should state this.
• Cargo manifests cannot be altered after entry, except by a sworn amendment attached to the original.
• No amendments post-invoice/goods declaration allowed unless there is a clerical error or discrepancy made without fraudulent intent.

Manifests for the Commission on Audit (COA) and District Collector

• Upon an aircraft's arrival, the BOC provides electronic copies of the manifest to the COA Chairperson.
• The master must present the original cargo manifest (endorsed by the boarding officer) and the aircraft's register/documents, to the District Collector.

Clearance of Aircraft for Foreign Port

• Any aircraft bound to a foreign port must be granted clearance by the Commissioner at an airport of entry.
• Before clearance, four copies of a general declaration, signed by the pilot or authorized agent, containing this information must be presented to the District Collector:
  • Owner/operator name, registration marks, nationality, and flight number
  • Port of clearance, date, and destination
  • Health and customs clearance
  • Aircraft itinerary, including destination and departure date
  • Names and nationality of crew members
  • Passenger manifest showing destinations
  • Export cargo manifest, showing airway bill number, package count, nature of goods, destination, gross weight, plus a copy of each airway bill
  • Store list showing stores loaded.

Oath of Person-in-Charge of Departing Aircraft

• The pilot or authorized agent of a departing aircraft must swear that:
  • All cargo destined for the Philippines has been discharged and accounted for.
  • The aircraft will not convey unstamped letters (except those related to the cargo).
  • All mails placed on board have been delivered to the proper foreign port.
• Aircraft cleared to depart without passengers cannot carry any passengers.
• A public record of arrival and entry dates for all aircraft must be kept in every customs office.

Unloading of Cargo by Distressed Vessel (CMO 22-2010)

• A distressed vessel wanting to unload cargo during its stay can get a permit from the Collector of Customs upon written request of the Master or Agent.
• If the discharged cargoes will be cleared in the port where they are discharged, same regulations apply for cargoes destined for the port.
• Cargoes must be discharged onto the pier, unless a Shipside Discharge Permit authorizes discharge into lighters.
• Lighters must be closed, secured, locked, sealed with Customs seal, and under guard until final disposition.

Permits for Discharge and Lading of Cargo

• The Customs Senior Boarding Officer issues a "General Permit" upon placing the vessel under Customs control, unless the vessel is "in distress".
• The General Permit does not authorize loading export cargo or delivering import cargo at ship's side without required entries/permits.
• The Customs Inspector endorses the General Permit, showing if all import cargoes have been discharged.

Endorsement of Permits

• All endorsements must be signed over the printed name, executed clearly.
• Minor corrections require the endorsing officer's initials.
• All other permits shall be endorsed on the reverse side thereof.

Shipside Permits

• A Shipside Permit, approved by the Collector of Customs, authorizes discharge of specified cargoes at shipside onto lighters, under guard.
• Shipside Permit Defined: An authority issued by the Collector for the Customs Inspector assigned on a vessel to allow the discharge of cargoes specified on the permit at shipside unto lighters, underguard.

Three Kinds of Shipside Permits

Regular Shipside Permit

• Issued by the Deputy Collector for Operations (or equivalent) for all cargoes categorized as "regular shipside cargoes" under regulations.

Special Shipside Permit

• The ship's agent must get authority from the Collector of Customs before the Deputy Collector for Operations processes cargoes not belonging to regular shipside cargoes" such as ballast, garbage, provisions, watering, bunkering, vessel parts for repair.

Temporary Shipside Permit

• A written authority to discharge cargoes at shipside unto lighter as per order of the Collector of Customs with conditions.
• Issued as an emergency measure.
• Issued on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays

Conditions of Temporary Shipside Permit

• Cargo is underguarded continuously until released by Customs.
• Lighter is kept within the Customs designated barge pool area until the Regular Shipside Permit is issued.
• The Deputy Collector for Operations/Chief, Piers and Inspection Division (PID) or its equivalent office be duly notified of the discharge under the Temporary Permit.

Submission of e-Manifest: AIR FREIGHT

e-IFM

• Port of Origin is Asia: 2 hours before arrival, but for flights with less than 2 hours flying time, it should not be less than 1 hour (CMO 23-2011)
• Outside of Asia - 4 hours before arrival (CMO 23-2011) or upon arrival (CMO 10-2015)

e-CCM

• Port of Origin is Asia - At least 1 hour before arrival (CMO 23-2011)
• Other ports - At least 2 hours before arrival (CMO 23-2011) or 1 hour after arrival if e-IFM submitted on time (CMO 10-2015)

e-IFM Late Submission and e-CCM Acceptance

• If e-IFM submitted late, the e-CCM shall be accepted provided that the time of submission in e2m shall not exceed 24 hours after e2m is registered by the Office of the Deputy Collector for Operations.
• The same privilege shall apply in case e-IFM is not validated on time (e.g. due to system errors or due to late encoding to date of last discharge). -CMO 10-2015

Penalty for Late Submission and Supplemental IFM/CCM

• Penalty same as sea freight (CMO 23-2011).
• Php 1,000.00 for late submission and for supplemental manifest no penalty if submitted up to 24 hours after the cut-off time of e-IFM (CMO 10-2015).