A proposed ₱480 “advanced border security fee” for international passengers is making rounds online after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) floated the idea of imposing an additional charge on travelers entering and leaving the country.

Under the proposal, international passengers would be charged around ₱240 per trip, or approximately ₱480 for a round-trip journey.

If approved, the fee would come on top of existing travel-related charges, including the ₱1,620 Philippine travel tax paid by many outbound Filipino travelers, raising concerns among frequent flyers, especially OFWs, students, and families already dealing with rising travel costs.

According to the BI, the proposed fee is intended to help upgrade border security systems and speed up passenger processing. But online, not everyone is convinced.

Actress Sharlene San Pedro also weighed in, saying: “Ano ’to? Bakit nag-cha-charge ng immigration ng ₱480 per passenger, e 'di ba nagbabayad naman na ng travel tax 'pag aalis?”

The proposal has since sparked wider discussions online: Are travelers really getting better service, or simply paying more every time they fly?

For now, the ₱480 charge remains a proposal, but it is already drawing reactions across social media and travel circles.