Philippine Visa Requirements

In this post, we summarize a list of the most important Philippine visa requirements for our readers. Since many of our readers have interest in going to the Philippines, we provide this summary.

Initially, most US citizens enter the Philippines only on their U.S. Passport. In fact, there are no major Philippine Visa requirements for a U.S. citizen to enter the Philippines this way. However, your entry permit using this method is for only 30 days.

See our previous blog article on “US Passport- First Time or Renew Existing Passport to See Loved One Overseas“.

In addition, the U.S. citizen’s passport must be valid for at least six months after their date of entry into the Philippines. Also, a return ticket to the United States or an onward ticket to another country may be requirement to show.

Some U.S. citizens wanting to stay longer than 30 days come with what is a throw away ticket. This is a cheap ticket to somewhere else to just throw away.

Herein, we discuss the different Philippine visa requirements to stay longer than 30 days.

Specifically, we discuss the following:

Tourist Visa Extensions

Balik Bayan Visa

Permanent Resident Visa (13A)

Retirement Visa

ACR-I Card

It is so much easier to go to the Philippines on your passport first. Then, do the process on extending beyond 30 days once there. However, see our blog article, “Foreign Visa for US Citizens Visiting Loved One Overseas“, if you truly want to get your visa before going to the Philippines.





Tourist Visa Extensions

Like we said above, most U.S. citizens enter the Philippines without any Visa. To start with, they get a stamp in their passports which is good for 30 days.

In fact, a tourist visa is probably the common visa status for most U.S. citizen in the Philippines.

Upon entry, you are good for 30 days like we said. Then, renew your visa for 30 more days.

Renewals are done at any local Philippine immigration office.

After the initial renewal, renew at either 1, 2, or 6 month intervals.

Do this for up to three years.

If you stay longer than 59 days, then you need an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR I-Card). See the bottom of this post for more information on the ACR I-Card.

After three years, you have to leave the country. However, return after 24 hours. Then, start the process fresh again.

If you stay for 6 mos or more, it is a requirement to get a clearance certificate prior to departing the Philippines.

See the Philippine Immigration website “Extension of Authorized Stay” for more information and costs.

Costs are variable dependent on your or your dependents ages, and how long you extend. See the website for that information.





Balik Bayan Stamp

The Balik Bayan stamp is one of the easiest of the Philippine visa requirements. In fact, it is also the cheapest.

This visa is a 1 year stamp in your U.S, Passport. Also, it can be extended at least once for another 6 months.

It is only available to those married to a Filipino. Also, it is only available upon entry to the Philippines if your spouse is with you.

Above all, it is totally free of charge.

The Philippine visa requirements for a Balik Bayan Stamp in your Passport on arrival, are the following:

be married to a Filipino

present an english translation of your marriage certificate

be with your Filipino wife or husband

Most importantly: It is suggested that you ask the Immigration officer for it. They may not give it to you automatically.

Typically, it is given without showing the marriage certificate. The officer sees you and your spouse passports with names

However, the immigration officer is not obliged to issue a Balik Bayan Visa. This is even if you meet all the requirements. Nevertheless, it is rarely denied.

I got a Balik Bayan Stamp the last time that I entered the Philippines with my wife. In order to do this, make sure that you and your spouse are in the same line together and approach the immigration officer together.

Also there is a way to use this visa to live in the Philippines with your spouse. After you marry, go somewhere overseas on a honeymoon. Specifically, go somewhere that a Filipino citizen can go to on a Filipino Visa. For example, go to Hong Kong or Thailand. Then upon return, get your Balik Bayan Stamp. After that, you can stay for 1 year with a 6 months extension.

Permanent Resident Visa (13A)

When legally married with a Filipino citizen, you may apply for the Permanent Resident Visa (13A).

Below are the Philippine Visa requirements for a 13A visa:

Complete and Notarize the General Application Form

Notarized letter of application by the Filipino spouse

Copy of the birth certificate of the Filipino spouse, authenticated by the NSO

Completed copy of the Marriage Contract by the NSO or Philippine Embassy abroad.

Immigration Clearance Certificate

Copy of the foreigners passport showing the date of arrival and Visa (Balik Bayan Stamp)

Certification of a savings bank account with the minimum $10,000 US. This is to specifically prove that you can financially support your family.

After the application is submitted, it may take several weeks or even months before you finally receive your Resident Visa. Initially, the Resident Visa is for only one year. Then, submit another application but in a more simple way. After that, the Visa then is good for 10 years. Then, keep extending for 10 years increments.

Apply for the Resident Visa (13A) at the Immigration Offices in Manila, Cebu and Davao City. Also, ask for advice and help at any other Immigration Office in smaller cities in the Philippines.

After all, applying for the Resident Visa in the Philippines is a very time-consuming process. This is why most American just extend their tourist visas.

If you are married to a Filipina anyway, you might also think about staying in the Philippines on the basis of a Balik Bayan Visa. Then, make a short Visa Run out of the Philippines once a year or year and a half.





Retirement Resident Visa

General Philippine Visa Requirements

Another way to get a permanent residence visa for the Philippines, is theor. This Visa does not depend on whether you are married to a Filipino citizen or not. On the contrary, it is based on a money deposit in a accredited Philippine bank.

Any foreign national or alien who is not specifically part of the Excluded Classes under Section 29 of the Immigration Act of 1940 are eligible.

The acreddited banks secifically include:

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)

Allied Bank

Philippine National Bank (PNB)

Banco de Oro (Pacific Star Branch Only)

Bank of China

Korea Exchange Bank

Tong Yang Bank

Unionbank

See the Philippine goverments website “Special Resident Retiree’s Visa program” for more details on Philippine Visa Requirements of the program.

Basically, there are four options for the SSRV visa incuding:

Smile

Classic

Courtesy

Human Touch

Smile

The Smile option is for active or healthy retirees 35 years of age or above.

A visa deposit of $20,000 USD is a requirement.

The visa deposit must be held with the PRA Designated/Accredited Bank. Also, it may only be withdrawn upon cancellation of the SRRV. However, it can be withdrawn to satisfy end of terms needs or catastrophic obligations.

Classic

The Classic option is for active or healthy retires 35 years of ae or above.

A visa deposit of $50,000 USD is a requirement for those 35 to 49 years old.

For those 50 years old and above the visa deposit is the following:

With Pension = $10,000.00 USD

Without Pension = 20,000.00 USD

The visa deposit may be used for investment(s) in RFO Real Estate Properties. However, the investment value must be at least $50,000.00 USD.

Courtesy

The Courtesy option is for either former Filipinos or foreign national diplomats retirees.

This visa option is available for former Filipinos ages 35 years old and above. The requirement for foreign national diplomats is age 50 and above.

A visa deposit of $1,500 USD is a requirement for both former Filipinos and foreign national diplomats.

The visa deposit may be used for investment(s) in RFO Real Estate Properties. However, the investment value must be at least $50,000.00 USD.

Human Touch

The Human Touch option is for ailing retirees ages 35 years old and above.

A visa deposit of $10,000 USD is a requirement.

The visa deposit must be held with the PRA Designated/Accredited Bank. Also, it may only be withdrawn upon cancellation of the SRRV. However, it can be withdrawn to satisfy end of terms needs or catastrophic obligations.

Dependents

A spouse and children dependents may accompany the pincipal applicant.

The spouse should be of legal age and the legitimate spouse of the Principal applicant.

The children should be legitimate or legally adopted child by the Principal. In addition, they must be unmarried and below 21 years old.

The visa deposits are for the principal retiree and 2 dependents. An additional visa deposit of US$15,000.00 is a requirement for each additional dependent, in excess of two. The additional visa deposit is forgiven for Former Filipino citizens.

However, for the human touch option, the Principal may have only one dependent. For example, this is either by the spouse or by the child.

Document Requirements

The Philippine visa requirements for documents for a SRRV visa are the following:

Original of the valid Passport with valid tourist visa in the Philippines. However, a tourist visa by travel agency/tour operator is NOT valid.

Completed PRA Application Form.

Original of the Medical Clearance.

Original of the Police Clearance from country of origin.

NBI Clearance if applicant has stayed in the Philippines for more than 30 days. To explain, this is from last date of entry prior to application of SRRV.

Photos (12 pieces of 2″x2″).

Proof of Relationship for joining dependents.

Translate all documents from outside of the Philippines into English. Also, approve the translations through the Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

Fees

Application Fee

Principal Applicants: $1,400 USD

Dependent(s): $300 USD (each)

Annual Fee

(PAF) US$ 360 (covers 3 family members)

For more than 3 retiree members in a family, pay an additional PAF of US$100.00 for each additional dependent.

Under the SRRV Courtesy, the PRA Annual Fee of $360.00 is not applicable. However, in case of more than two dependents, pay US $10.00 for each dependent on the PRA ID Card.

The Philippines advertise this kind of visa with some advantages. For example, the following advantages are provided:

Customs Duties & Taxes Exemption: Specifically, this is for the importation of personal effects of up to $7,000 USD.

Specifically, this is for the importation of personal effects of up to $7,000 USD. Travel Tax Exemption: Specifically, this is if your stay in the Philippines is no longer than 1 year.

Specifically, this is if your stay in the Philippines is no longer than 1 year. Immigration Exit Clearance and Re-Entry Permits Exemption: This includes exemption from the Immigration I Card/annual registration requirement. In addition, it includes exemption from securing special study permit or study visa for child/children.

Member Obligations

The following are member obligations of the SRRV Visa:

Update the Authority of any changes in contact information (e.g. status name, address, telephone/fax number and email address).

Secure an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor and Employment for purpose of employment in the Philippines.

Renew the PRA ID Card and pay the PRA Annual Fee of US$360.00. For PRA Members under the SRRV Courtesy pay the Annual Fee of US$10.00 for each retiree member in the family.





ACR I-Card

ACR stands for Alien Certificate of Registration. This is a proper identification card in credit card format. In addition, it has the biometric data of the holder. For example, a picture, address and fingerprints are on the card. In addition, other data, such as type of visa and the various entries and exit of the proprietor, are also on the card.

See the Philippine Immigration ACR I-Card website for more information on the ACR I-Card.

Who needs the ACR-I Card?

All foreign nationals under immigrant and non-immigrant visas including holders of Temporary Visitor’s Visa, who have stayed for more than fifty-nine (59) days in the Philippines.

Those with an SRRV visa do not require this card as a separate card is for that program.

Some banks in the Philippines ask for the card when you want to open a bank account in the country. However, you can also do that without the card.