The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is preparing to add a ₱480 round-trip fee to airline tickets for its Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project. The fee, set at $4 per international passenger, will be charged on top of the existing ₱1,620 travel tax.
The CAISS project aims to modernize border management in 11 airports, one seaport, and six mobile stations. It will be implemented through a public-private partnership with Securiport LLC, which will finance and operate the system for 20 years before turning it over to the government. The project cost is estimated at ₱10.7 billion.
The system will add self-service e-gates, advanced biometrics, and real-time risk assessment. It will also use integrated intelligence tools to detect threats such as human trafficking and terrorism.
Security checks will include passenger information, identity management, background screening, and secondary inspections when needed.
The Department of Justice approved the proposal in December 2025, and BI expects to issue the notice of award by November 2026 after a competitive challenge process.
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With the new fee, international trips will become more expensive. The bigger question is whether the added revenue will actually improve processing and security in PH airports.
