Philippines Added as Visiting Force State

Summary#

The Proclamation Designating the Republic of the Philippines as a Designated State for the Purposes of the Visiting Forces Act: SOR/2026-67 adds the Republic of the Philippines to the list of countries covered by the Visiting Forces Act. The proclamation was published in the Canada Gazette on April 22, 2026 and sets out which Philippine civilian staff in Canada are treated as part of a visiting force.

What it does#

• Adds the Republic of the Philippines as a designated state under the Visiting Forces Act.
• Says the Visiting Forces Act, except for Part VI, will apply in relation to the Philippines while their forces are in Canada.
• Identifies which Philippine civilian workers in Canada count as the “civilian component” of a visiting force: civilian personnel employed by that force in Canada who are not stateless, not nationals of a non‑designated state, and not Canadian citizens or residents.
• Enables Canada to complete domestic steps needed to ratify the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) that was signed on November 2, 2025 between Canada and the Philippines.

Who's affected#

• Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) — will be able to host and work with Philippine forces in Canada under an agreed legal framework.
• Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their civilian staff when they are in Canada.
• Department of National Defence and Global Affairs Canada — for administrative, legal and operational work needed to apply the Act and the treaty.
• The federal government’s handling of jurisdiction, claims, customs and access rules when foreign forces operate in Canada.
• The Proclamation is expected to have minimal direct impact on Canadian small businesses and the general public, according to the government’s analysis.

Why it matters#

• It creates clear legal rules for Philippine military personnel and civilian staff while they are in Canada. That helps with exercises, training and other defence cooperation.
• It makes Canada’s and the Philippines’ treatment of each other’s forces reciprocal: the same kind of legal framework will cover Canadian forces in the Philippines under the SOVFA.
• The change is largely administrative but matters to service members, defence planners, and nearby communities because it clarifies who has jurisdiction, how claims and customs are handled, and which civilian workers get special status while accompanying a visiting force.