PH
Philippines
Mixed results; a meaningful share of registrants have been refused.
Based on 19 reports. Score −0.28 on a scale from −1 (always refused) to +1 (always admitted), with recent reports counting most. How scoring works
What to expect
Six reports since April 2025 describe denials of entry at the airport, mostly at Manila's NAIA, including arrivals from Seoul, San Francisco and one traveler who had been removed from the registry.14811–13 In those cases officers appeared to know in advance, citing database checks or US notifications, and travelers were put on the next outbound flight; one was blacklisted.4811–13 Five reports since mid-2025 describe uneventful entry, mostly by travelers off the registry or with unmarked passports, plus one cruise arrival; a 2026 tourist was arrested and detained weeks after entry.235–710
Written by an AI model from the reports below on October 19, 2026. The numbers link to the reports each sentence is based on. Read those before you decide.
Law restricts entry for people with criminal records
Philippine law excludes foreigners convicted of a 'crime involving moral turpitude'. The Bureau of Immigration applies this routinely to registered sex offenders and publicly reports turning away US registrants at the airport.
Commonwealth Act No. 613 (Philippine Immigration Act of 1940), Sec. 29(a)(3) · mandatory
- Commonwealth Act No. 613, The Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 · Bureau of Immigration, Philippines
- BI barred 7 US sex offenders from entering PH in January · Bureau of Immigration, Philippines
Common questions
Can registered sex offenders enter Philippines?
It's rated Difficult: Mixed results; a meaningful share of registrants have been refused. Of 9 trips reported in the last two years by people on a US registry, 2 ended in entry and 7 in refusal. Philippine law excludes foreigners convicted of a 'crime involving moral turpitude'. The Bureau of Immigration applies this routinely to registered sex offenders and publicly reports turning away US registrants at the airport.
Do Philippines's border officers know about US registrants in advance?
In 7 reports, officers appeared to know before the traveler arrived, which usually points to a US advance notification (often called Angel Watch).
How do travelers usually arrive in Philippines?
Reports on file describe 6 by air, 1 by sea or cruise. Outcomes can differ by how travelers arrive; each report below says which.
- 1Sep 2026
Refused entry · By air, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, Manila
A US traveler with a prior conviction involving a minor arrived on a flight from San Francisco and was refused entry after immigration officers checked their criminal record in the United States. The refusal was described as part of an immigration campaign targeting foreign nationals with child-related convictions.
The Manila Times · archived copy · News report · Secondhand
- 2Jul 2026
Removed after entry
The traveler entered the country as a tourist in July and later obtained an extension of their authorized stay, but was arrested in late September by the immigration bureau's fugitive unit after US authorities, through their embassy, alerted local officials to the traveler's presence. The traveler was detained pending a deportation order and is to be blacklisted from returning.
BusinessWorld Online · News report · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance
- 3May 2026 (reported)
Admitted, no issues · By air
During an eight-month multi-country trip, the traveler entered with no stops or secondary inspection.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant
- 4May 2026
Refused entry · By air, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, Manila
A US national listed as a registered sex offender arrived at Manila's main airport on a flight from Seoul and was intercepted by immigration officers after a check of international law enforcement databases showed a prior conviction. They were excluded as an undesirable foreign national and placed on the next available flight out.
People's Tonight Online · archived copy · News report · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance
- 5Jan 2026 (reported)
Admitted, no issues
The traveler entered the Philippines two or three times after moving out of the US and coming off the registry, without problems.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant
- 6Jan 2026
Admitted, no issues · By air
A former registrant with an unmarked passport traveled to the Philippines on the same trip and reported no problems at entry.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant
- 7Dec 2025 (reported)
Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, cruise ship port
Arriving by cruise ship, the traveler entered the Philippines without trouble; officials boarded the ship and scanned the collected passports, with no apparent access to US criminal databases.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand
- 8Nov 2025 (reported)
Refused entry · By air
The traveler attempted to enter the Philippines after being removed from the registry, carrying supporting paperwork, but was detained and sent back immediately. They have since spent nearly two years unsuccessfully petitioning to have the resulting blacklist order lifted.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant
- 9Jul 2025 (reported)
Removed after entry
Commenters recalled a case, from before the advance-notice law existed, of a US citizen who had relocated to the Philippines and was later extradited back to the US over an alleged registration violation; the charges ultimately did not hold up.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Secondhand
- 10Jun 2025 (reported)
Admitted, no issues · By air
The traveler entered the Philippines by air; immigration forgot to stamp the passport, and a later visit to an immigration office resulted in the stamp being applied without question.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand
- 11May 2025
Refused entry · By air, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, Manila
A US traveler flying in from Seoul was intercepted on arrival at Manila's main airport after immigration officers checked international law enforcement databases and found a record of a sexual offense involving a minor. They were excluded as an undesirable foreign national and placed on the next available outbound flight.
Bureau of Immigration, Philippines · archived copy · Official source · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance
- 12May 2025
Refused entry · By air, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, Manila
A US traveler with a decades-old conviction involving a minor arrived on a flight from Seoul and was intercepted by immigration officers who had checked international law enforcement databases showing the record. They were refused entry and placed on the next available flight out.
Filipino Reporters · archived copy · News report · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance
- 13Apr 2025
Refused entry
Two US registrants with decades-old convictions were refused entry to the Philippines in early April 2025. The report attributes the refusals to US passport marking and advance notification sent to the destination country.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Advocacy group · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance
- 14Feb 2024
Admitted, no issues
No visa was required; the traveler's passport was scanned by immigration with no issues.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant
- 15Feb 2024
Admitted, no issues · By air, Clark International Airport
A former registrant with dual citizenship flew from the US via a Taiwan layover and entered without issue, presenting both passports at immigration; officers scanned the local passport, took a photo, checked the US passport and stamped both. The traveler stayed 13 nights and departed without problems.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant
- 16Oct 2023
Refused entry · By air, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, Manila
A US registrant arrived on a flight from Los Angeles and was refused entry by immigration authorities, then placed on the first available return flight to their point of origin. Officials said US authorities had alerted them in advance of their arrival.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Advocacy group · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance
- 17Sep 2023
Refused entry
Immigration authorities reported that four US travelers were refused entry within a single week after being identified as registered sex offenders, under a provision barring foreigners convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude. Officials said they receive advance information from other governments about registrants who may attempt to enter.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Advocacy group · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance
- 18Jul 2023 (reported)
Admitted, no issues
The traveler reported being able to enter the Philippines as a registrant after filing the 21-day advance notice, a consulate visit, a forensic doctor's report and an interview. The traveler noted having family in the country and being publicly listed on a state registry at the time.
ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand
- 19By 2022
Refused entry
Row from the RTAG Travel Matrix, an undated summary last maintained around 2021.
- Registrants turned away
- Yes
- Law bars sex offenders
- No
- Law bars people with felonies
- No
- Has its own offender registry
- No
Registrant Travel Action Group (RTAG) · Legacy matrix · Summary