1. Do I need a visa to travel to the Philippines?

Returning Balikbayans or former Filipinos may enter the Philippines without a visa and stay for a period of one (1) year, provided that they have a passport valid for 6 months beyond the intended stay in the Philippines, a roundtrip ticket, and proof of former Philippine citizenship (e.g. old Philippine passport or NSO-authenticated birth certificate). Foreign spouses and children traveling with the Balikbayan will enjoy this privilege.

Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan passport holders need a visa to travel to the Philippines.

3. The Balikbayan Program (Visa-free Entry)

Returning  “balikbayans” or former Filipinos may enter the Philippines without a visa and stay for a period of one (1) year provided they have a passport valid for 6 months beyond intended stay in the Philippines, a roundtrip ticket and can present proof of former Philippine citizenship (e.g. old passport, birth certificate). Foreign spouses and children who are traveling with the Balikbayan are included in the privilege. Nationals of countries which have diplomatic relations with the Philippines are generally allowed entry into the country without a visa for a stay of 21 days or less, provided the nature of the trip is for tourism, they are holders of round trip or outbound airline ticket and their passports are valid for six (6) months beyond the intended stay in the Philippines.

4. Requirements for Temporary Visitor’s Visa (For Business)

B.  Requirements for Temporary Visitor’s Visa (For Business) (Aliens attending international conferences or conventions in the Philippines, business meetings or bona fide businessman).

1. Requirements 1 to 6 under item A

i. MINORS accompanied by one parent only should submit notarized letter of consent from the other parent or a court order stating that only one parent has legal custody of the minor.

5. Minors 15 to 18 Years Old Not Accompanied by a Parent

Minors 15 to 18 years old not accompanied by a parent should submit a notarized letter of consent from both parents in addition to all the requirements for applying for a temporary visitor's visa.

6. Minors Below 15 Years Old Traveling Unaccompanied or Not Joining a Parent in the Philippines

A guardian or either parent of the minor children below fifteen (15) years old who are holding foreign passports and who are travelling unaccompanied by or not joining a parent in the Philippines must apply for Waiver of Exclusion Ground (W.E.G) at the Bureau of Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, with the following required documents:

1. Affidavit of request and consent by either parent or legally appointed guardian of the child, naming therein the person who will be accompanying the child to the Philippines and with whom the child will reside in the country.  The said Affidavit must be duly notarized by a local notary public or the Consular Officer at the Embassy;

2. Clear photocopy of the data page of the child’s passport;

3. Clear photocopy of the data page of the passport of the accompanying adult or guardian; and

4. Payment of immigration fees (P3,120 per child, as of July 2004) at the port of entry in the Philippines.

NOTE:
Minor applicants who are going to stay beyond 21 days must apply for an appropriate visa at the Embassy.

7. Non-Immigrant Visas

8. Student Visas

(Note: In no case will consular officers accept applications for enrollment in Philippine schools for transmittal to Manila.)

The procedure to be followed in applying for a student visa is as follows:

I. Propsective foreign students shall communicate directly with the school in the Philippines and comply with the school’s institutional requirements, which shall include the submission of the following documents:

a) Five (5) copies of the Student’s Personal History Statement (PHS) duly signed by him, both in English and in national alphabet accompanied by his personal seal, if any, and containing, among others his left and right thumbprints and a 2X2 inch photograph on plain white background taken not more than six months prior to submission.

b) A notarized affidavit of support including bank statements or notarized notice of grant for institutional scholars to cover expenses for the students accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and other incidental expenses.

c) Transcript of Records/Scholastic Records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the student applicant’s country of origin or legal residence.

d) Photocopy of data page of the student’s passport showing date and place of birth, and birth certificate or its equivalent by the Philippine Foreign Service Post (embassy/consulate).

II. The school, satisfied with the student’s compliance with its requirements, shall issue a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) to the student and submit a duplicate copy thereof to the Department of Foreign Affairs, together with a certified true copy of the Commission on Higher Education's Certificate of Eligibility of Admission, when necessary, and the above-cited document-requirements.  These documents shall be handcarried to the DFA by the School’s designated liaison officer under a cover letter on the school’s official stationery signed by the school registrar and stamped with the school’s dry seal requesting that a student visa be issued to the person named therein.

III. The DFA shall indorse the documents to the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the prospective student’s country of origin or place of legal residence, regardless of where the prospective student is at the time of application.

IV. The concerned Philippine Foreign Service Post shall notify in writing the student of the receipt of the documents and require him to appear in person before a Consular Officer for interview and compliance with consular requirements.  In addition to the documents transmitted to the post by the DFA, the following requirements shall be submitted by the student to the Consular Officer:

a) Original of the school’s Notice of Admission (NOA) containing a clear impression of the school’s dry seal;

b) Original of the CEA (Certificate of Admission of Eligibility) issued by the CHED if enrolled in courses or programs where restrictions may exist due to shortage of facilities, as in Medicine or Dentistry;

c) Police clearance issued by the national police authorities in the student’s country of origin or legal residence, authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post having consular jurisdiction over the place;

d) Medical health certificate issued by an authorized physician including but not limited to standard-size chest x-ray, Hepatitis B clearance; and

e) the Student Visa processing fee. 

The consular office shall not assume the task of determining the student’s scholastic fitness for the program applied for and shall issue the student visa as soon as all the requirements are accomplished. 

IV. A notice of visa issuance shall be furnished by the DFA to the school, the CHED, BI and NBI and the NICA as soon as it receives report to this effect from the issuing post.

Please visit these helpful links:

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) http://www.ched.gov.ph

Bureau of Immigration (BI) http://www.immigration.gov.ph

9. Immigrant Visas

All applications for immigrant visas must be made in person.  In the case of a minor under fourteen (14) years of age, the application may be made for him by any person who, in the opinion of the consular officer, is responsible for his welfare.  The minor (not an infant in arms) shall be required to appear at the consular office for interview, accompanied by the person applying on behalf of the minor.

The consular officer shall require applicants, whether under the quota or non-quota categories, to accomplish FA Form No. 3 in duplicate at the Embassy.  Applicants shall submit the following documents:

1. Their duly-accomplished application form (FA Form No. 3)

2. Valid passport

3. Four passport pictures (2”x2”) signed across the bottom front

4. FA Form No. 11, or the Medical Examination report including HIV test. The medical results shall be valid within six (6) months from the date of examination.

5. Chest X-ray plate (taken within the last six months), to be presented to the Philippine Immigration  authorities  at  port of entry .  The plate must be sealed by the Embassy. The Philippine Bureau of Quarantine now accepts digital versions (contained in compact discs) of X-ray results as an alternative to the commonly used X-ray films.

6. Police Clearance from RCMP

7. Birth Certificate issued by the Vital Statistics Office

8. Marriage Certificate (if applicable)

9. Travel document (Passport) of spouse (if applicable)

10. Evidence of Financial Support, i.e., letter from company sponsoring the trip, financial,  assets,  certificate from the bank,  etc.

11. Fee per applicant  (non-refundable, cash)

12. Philippine passport / original copy of birth certificate of wife or husband

13. Personal interview with the Consular Officer

14. Affidavit stating that applicant(s) intends to reside permanently in the Philippines with the supporting documents such as land  titles and other  evidence  of  ownership  being disposed  of  in  the  country  of  where  he/she is a citizen/resident of

15. If the applicant is bringing a motor vehicle, please secure a  license to  import  from the Philippine Department of Trade  Office.  Other requirements will apply in this case.

16. Other documents deemed necessary by the Consular Officer

10. Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)

The Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) is being implemented under Executive Order 226 (otherwise known as the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987) and Executive Order 63.

An alien may qualify for a Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) if he is willing and able to invest the amount of at least US$ 75,000.00 in the Philippines.  For purposes of compliance with this particular condition, the applicant should prove that he has remitted such amount in acceptable foreign currency to the Philippines, which is to be certified by the President of the concerned banking institution and confirmed by the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The applicant's spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one (21) years of age may also be issued the same visa, if accompanying or joining him after his admission into the Philippines as a special investor resident.

The procedures for applying for an SIRV is as follows:

a) This visa may be applied for and issued at the Foreign Service Post (Philippine Embassy or Consulate) in the applicant’s country of origin or place of residence or at the Board of Investments (BOI) in Manila.  If there is no Foreign Service Post in his country or place of residence, the embassy or consulate nearest thereto shall process and issue the visa;

b) The Foreign Service Post shall endorse the application together with all the documentary requirements filed with the Post to the Board of Investments, Manila, for evaluation and approval; and

c) After evaluation, the BOI upon approval shall endorse to the Post concerned through the DFA the issuance of a probationary multiple entry visa valid for six (6) months.

The requirements in applying for an SIRV are:

a) Duly accomplished visa application Form (FA Form No. 2);

b) Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond authorized period of stay in the Philippines and subject;

c) At least two (2) passport-size photographs taken during the last six (6) months, quarter profile showing earlobes;

d) Prior approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs;

e) Personal appearance; and

f) The visa processing fee.

(Note: Applicants for the SIRV must not be categorized as excludable alien nor included in the DFA Blacklist. Separate application forms and fees are required for each applicant even if they are covered by one passport (as in the case of dependent children).

11. Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)

The Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) is being implemented by virtue of Executive Order 1037 (otherwise known as Philippine Retirement Park System)

Any foreign national or former Filipino citizen who is not otherwise excludable, not classified as a restricted national, physically healthy, without any derogatory record and at least thirty five (35) years old, may participate in the retirement program of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).

All foreign nationals below fifty (50) and at least thirty-five (35) years of age are required to deposit the amount of US$75,000.00 with any of the PRA’s shortlisted banks. 

Those aged fifty 50 and above are required to deposit the amount of US$50,000.00. 

Former Filipinos who are now holders of foreign passports are required to deposit US$1,500.00. 

The deposit amount of US$50,000.00 shall be required from an applicant who is at least thirty-five (35) years of age and belongs to any of the following:

a) Retired military personnel of governments recognized by the Philippine Government;

b) Former members of foreign diplomatic services who have served at least three (3) years in their respective posts; and

c) Retired officers or employees of an international organization such as the United Nations and its specialized agencies, World Health Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, International Labor Organization, and similar organizations.

The requirements in applying for an SRRV are:

a) Duly accomplished visa application Form (FA Form No. 2);

b) Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond authorized period of stay in the Philippines;

c) At least two (2) passport-size photographs taken during the last six (6) months, quarter profile showing earlobes;

d) Prior approval from the DFA;

e) Personal appearance; and

f) The visa processing fee.

(Note: Applicants for the SRRV must not be categorized as excludable alien nor included in the DFA Blacklist.
Separate application forms and fees are required for each applicant even if they are covered by one passport (as in the case of dependent children).