Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are exempted from getting visas to the Philippines?
- What are the requirements for a business visa?
- Are business visas issued only to US passport holders?
- What are the requirements for a tourist visa?
- Are these requirements the same for minors?
- What is the waiver of exclusion ground (WEG) and how do I get it?
- Who can apply for Student Visas?
- What are the steps taken in applying for a student visa?
- Can a former Philippine Citizen, the spouse and the unmarried minor children apply for an immigrant visa?
- What is a Certificate of Recognition and how do I obtain it?
- US passport holders visiting the Philippines as a tourist for 21 days at most.
- Former Filipinos
- Visa requirements: application form, valid passport, photographs, parents affidavit of support and supporting documents, photocopy of airline ticket or itinerary, visa fee of $30.00
- WEG requirements: letter of request and affidavit of consent and guarantee, copy of birth certificate, copy of data page of minor's passport, copy of passport of accompanying adult
- Five (5) copies of Duly Signed and accomplished Personal History Statements (PHS) with 2 X 2 photograph.
- Notarized affidavit of support including bank statements to cover all expenses of the student.
- Scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine embassy/consulate located in student's country of origin or legal residence.
- Photocopy of data page of student's passport showing date and place of birth.
- Birth certificate or its equivalent duly authenticated by the Philippine embassy/consulate located in student's country of origin.
- Valid Passport
- Application Form for Student Visa (accomplished in triplicate)
- Three photographs
- Medical Health Certificate (DFA Form 11) in triplicate with life-size chest x-ray and laboratory reports.
- Original Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and when appropriate, the CEA.
- Police Clearance Certificate authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate located in student's country of origin or legal residence.
- Visa Fee of $250.00
- Original Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and when appropriate, the CEA.
- Proof of adequate financial support.
- Scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate located in student's country of origin or legal residence.
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance (if student resided in the Philippines for more than 59 days)
- Quarantine Medical Examination by the National Quarantine Office.
- Copy of Duly signed and accomplished Personal History Statements (PHS) with 2 x 2 photograph.
- Photocopy of data page of student's passport showing date and place of birth.
- Letter of request to BI
- Authenticated birth certificate
- Original or certified true copy of birth certificate of Filipino parent (or any other proof of citizenship)
- Original or certified true copy of affidavit of citizenship executed by the Filipino parent
- Photocopy of data page in minor's passport
- Application fee
Who are exempted from getting visas to the Philippines
Nationals of countries which have diplomatic relations with the Philippines are generally allowed entry into the country without visas for a stay of twenty-one (21) days or less, provided the nature of the trip is for tourism only and are holders of a roundtrip or onward travel airline ticket.
Former Filipinos who are now naturalized citizens of the United States who wish to visit the Philippines for tourism purposes can avail of the "Balikbayan" status. As a "balikbayan": the former Filipino can enter the Philippines without a visa provided he shows any proof of former Philippine citizenship (e.g. old Philippine passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers) and stay for a year or less in the country.
Foreign spouses and children traveling with the former Filipino citizen may avail of this privilege by presenting legal documents establishing their relationship with the former Filipino citizen upon arrival in the Philippines.
What are the requirements for a business visa?
The applicant must fill up the application form and submit a passport-sized photo, a passport whose validity is at least six months beyond the length of proposed stay in the Philippines, proof of financial capacity (or a letter from the employer) and a photocopy of the applicant's airline ticket or travel itinerary. All applications not filed by the applicant must be notarized.
Are business visas issued only to US passport holders?
No, business visas can also be issued to other nationals provided that they can show proof of legal residency in the US.
What are the requirements for a tourist visa?
Basically, the applicant must fill up the application form and submit a passport sized photo, a passport whose validity is at least six months beyond the length of proposed stay in the Philippines, proof of financial capacity and a photocopy of the applicant's airline ticket or travel itinerary.
Are these requirements the same for minors?
All foreign nationals aged below fifteen years (15) and traveling with their parents to the Philippines for tourism purposes are required to submit the same requirements listed above. Only when they are not traveling with their parents are they expected to file for a waiver of exclusion ground (WEG).
What is the waiver of exclusion ground (WEG) and how do I get it?
The waiver of exclusion ground (WEG) is a document issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Manila which allows the child to travel to the Philippines unaccompanied by a parent. Under the current regulations, the minor's passport and documents for WEG will be submitted to the immigration officials upon arrival. Please prepare to pay for the following fees: application fee P2, 000.00; WEG fee P600.00 and service fee (P500.00). The Bureau of Immigration will process the application for a WEG and the minor's passport will be returned when the minor exits from the Philippines.
The Philippine Consulate General will issue a visa to the minor on the understanding that the minor will submit all requirements needed by the BI for a WEG. These documents are needed at the Consulate:
Bureau of Immigration is located at Magallanes Drive, Port Area, Manila and the telephone numbers are (632) 527-3279 and (632) 527-3314.
Who can apply for Student Visas?
Foreigners, at least 18 years old at the time of enrolment and have sufficient means for their education and support for study for the purpose of taking up a course higher than high school at an educational institution duly authorized to admit foreign students.
What are the steps taken in applying for a student visa?
Step 1. Application with the Preferred School
Communicate directly with the school of choice and comply with their requirements which includes:
Step 2. Acceptance by School - School upon satisfaction of compliance of requirements issues Notice of Acceptance (NOA) to student and submits the duplicate copy to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), together with the certified true copy of CHED-CEA when necessary. For quota courses such as medicine and dentistry, a certificate of eligibility for admission (CEA) is also issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Step 3. Department of Foreign Affairs indorses documents to the foreign service post (FSP) located in the student's country of origin/place of legal residence for the issuance of the student visa.
Step 4. The Philippine Embassy or Consulate notifies the student in writing to appear in person and bring all the required documents.
Step 5. Upon receiving the letter from the Philippine Embassy/Consulate, the student makes an appointment to appear for an interview at the consulate or embassy. Please bring the following documents:
| FOREIGNERS WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE PHILIPPINES
UNDER ANY VALID VISA ARRANGEMENT MAY APPLY FOR THE CONVERSION OF
THEIR VISA STATUS TO 9(F) STUDENT VISA PROVIDED THEY SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:
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| Application Fee Express Lane Fee Conversion Fee Visa Fee LRF |
P 2,000.00 P 500.00 P 1,000.00 P 1,000.00 P 40.00 |
Can a former Philippine citizen, the spouse and the unmarried minor children apply for an immigrant visa?
Yes, provided that the applicants comply with these requirements: passport valid for at least six months, three original and two copies of the application form and 2" x 2" pictures, original and two copies of any documentary evidence of Philippine citizenship, original and two copies of the medical examination report duly accomplished by physician, original and two copies of police clearance and original and two copies of evidence of sound financial status or notarized affidavit of support and supporting documents of a relative in the Philippines. The applicant may have to submit other documents as may be required by the visa officer. Before any visa is issued, the applicant must be interviewed. All schedules for interview must be coursed through the visa section. Fee is $150.00 per applicant.
What is a Certificate of Recognition and how do I obtain it?
It is a proof of Philippine citizenship issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and duly affirmed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). This is issued to children born abroad to a Filipino parent.
To obtain the Identification Certificate, the minor or his parent/guardian must submit the following documents to the Bureau of Immigration:
An Identification Certificate will be issued when the DOJ confirms the Order of Recognition from the BI.
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