core sector communique

ASEAN to Speed Up Visa Exemption to All Its Nationals

 

Manila, 19 November 2009

Determined to speed up the provision of visa exemption, ASEAN has expressed optimism that by 2015, all its ten Member States will be able to provide visa exemption to nationals of fellow Member States. This would facilitate people-to-people contacts and support the building of the ASEAN Community by 2015, said the region’s immigration officials at the 13^th Meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) held in Manila from 17 to 19 November 2009 in Manila.

To date, the Philippines has extended visa exemption to all nationals of the other nine Member States holding ordinary passports.

In her keynote address at the meeting, Honorable Agnes VST Devanadera, Secretary of Justice of the Philippines, commended the progress in ASEAN cooperation on visa exemption for its nationals and urged the DGICM and all other parties concerned to speed up the implementation of the 2006 ASEAN Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption, because this cooperation is a direct benefit to ASEAN peoples.

“Our challenge, therefore, lies not only on how we could open our doors to allow freer movement across our borders, of ASEAN citizens and visitors alike, but also on developing mechanisms by which we could most effectively manage its adverse effects,” Secretary Devanadera stressed. In this regard, she called for a balance between a “hospitable yet vigilant approach towards greater intra-ASEAN travel.”

She also highlighted the need to strengthen institutional linkages in combating transnational crimes through inter-linkages and sharing information between relevant agencies. Further, she emphasised openness of the exchange of ideas and best practices while recognising the need to adjust the strategic approach to fit the local contexts, such as culture, traditions, and beliefs of the people.

The DGICM also exchanged views about the pros and cons of a common ASEAN visa for non-ASEAN nationals. Under this idea, a visitor from outside of the ASEAN region can travel to all ten Member States with one visa issued by any of the Member States. The DGICM agreed that this was a good idea but ASEAN would have to wait until all Member States were ready before the idea can be further considered.

The DGICM reiterated that for the time being, the priority is on putting in place the visa exemption to facilitate intra-ASEAN travel and promote intra-ASEAN trade and economic activities of ASEAN nationals.  

At the same time, the DGICM is also stepping up cooperation in intelligence data sharing on lost, stolen and forged passports. The terms of reference for the Intelligence Data Sharing Protocol (IDSP), which was agreed upon at the 5^th ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Forum (AIIF) held in Manila on 16 November 2009, was adopted by the DGICM.

The DGICM also convened consultations with Australia, the Interpol, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to review cooperation activities and explore new cooperation opportunities in immigration matters.