Visa Philippines

Visa Extension

It seems that you now can extend your stay in the Philippines for up to 36 months without having to leave the country. But in the last months friends reported to us, that you are questioned when you have lots of extension stamps in your passport and that extensons above 16 months need additional information. We strongly recommend to read the visa pages of the Bureau of Immigration.

Most foreigners enter the Philippines without any Visa and they get a stamp, called a Visa Waiver, in their passports which is good for a 30 days stay. If someone wants to extend this stay, one would have to go the nearest Immigration Office and get the extension good for another 29 days. The cost for this first extension is 3,030 Pesos.

When you are already 59 days in the Philippines and want to stay a bit longer, then your regular extension series starts. You have to show up at an office of the Bureau of Immigration a couple of days before your Visa Waiver expires. You may also do it at an accrdited Travel Agency. The list is here.

If you have to go to the Immigration Office, make sure to wear long pants, a nice shirt and shoes. Otherwise you might not be serviced, some Immigration offices (Cebu) might not even let you in.

The Extensions Sequence

Enter the Philippines without a Visa:
30 days for free

Or, come now - pay later!

*Fees are updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice. (Official text from BI). We have ammended with current information sent by readers.

IMPORTANT: When you extend your visa keep the receipt from the BI office. You'll need it for your next extension and for your ECC. Without receipt no ECC! See also here.

1^st extension:

Visa Waiver for another 29 Days:

Visa Waiver	PHP 500.00
Visa Application Fee	PHP 1,000.00
Certification Fee	PHP 500.00
Express fee Processing	PHP 1,000.00
Legal Research Fee	PHP 30.00
Visa Sticker Fee	PHP 100.00
Total	PHP 3,130.00

The old extension stamp

The last extension stickers

And a new fee ... 100 pesos only!

Newest change: There ar no more extension stamps or stickers.
You have to keep the receipt of your last extension. Do not loose it!

6 month extension: the costs

 

IMPORTANT: You can only get two 6 months extensions within the allowed maximum of 36 months. (We have been informed that some field offices of the BI allow more than 2 six months extensions. This is hear-say information.) All other extensions are 2 months only. The first 6 months extension can only be obtained after the initial free 30 days and the following 29 days.

2^nd extension:

After this 59 days you'll get a Tourist Visa and an ACR-I card. Read more information about the ACR Card.

Standard validity of the visa extension is 2 months, but you now can get 1 month or 6 months also.

The 2 months extension costs:

Visa extension fee	PHP 1,000.00
Visa Application Fee	PHP 300.00
Alien Certificate of Registration	PHP 1,000.00
Head Tax	PHP 250.00
Certification Fee	PHP 500.00
Express Fee	PHP 1,000.00
Emigration Clearance Certificate Fee	PHP 700.00
Legal Research Fee	PHP 50.00
Visa Sticker Fee	PHP 100.00
Total	PHP 4,900.00
Additional costs for ACR-I card:
ACR I-Card for Tourist USD 50.00	˜ PHP 2,500.00
Express Fee	PHP 500.00
Total	PHP 3,000.00
Grand Total	PHP 7,900.00

1 month extension costs PHP 7,400.00
6 months extension costs PHP 12,670.50

6 month extension: the costs

3^rd extension:

Next extension for 2 months

Visa Extension Fee	PHP 1,000.00
Visa Application Fee	PHP 600.00
Certification Fee	PHP 500.00
Express fee Processing	PHP 1,500.00
Legal Research Fee	PHP 30.00
Visa Sticker Fee	PHP 100.00
Total	PHP 3,730.00

By now you are already 6 months in the Philippines and you have spent PHP 14,760.00 for visa fees, and it goes on:

4^th extension:

Extension after 6 months for another two months

Visa Extension Fee	PHP 1,000.00
Certificate of Residence (temporary visitor)	PHP 1,400.00
Visa Application Fee	PHP 300.00
Certification Fee	PHP 500.00
Express fee Processing	PHP 1,000.00
Legal Research Fee	PHP 40.00
Visa Sticker Fee	PHP 100.00
Total	PHP 4,340.00

5^th extension:

Next extension for another two months:

Visa Extension Fee	PHP 1,000.00
Visa Application Fee	PHP 300.00
Certification Fee	PHP 500.00
Express fee Processing	PHP 1,000.00
Legal Research Fee	PHP 30.00
Visa Sticker Fee	PHP 100.00
Total	PHP 2,930.00

6^th extension:

This last extension needs to be verified. The open question is the "Annual Report Fee".

Last extension for 2 months, to a total of 12 months:

Visa Extension Fee	PHP 1,000.00
Visa Application Fee	PHP 300.00
Annual Report Fee ???	(PHP 300.00)
Certification Fee	PHP 500.00
Express Fee Certification ???	(PHP 500.00)
Express Fee Processing	PHP 1,000.00
Legal Research Fee	PHP 50.00
Visa Sticker Fee	PHP 100.00
Total	PHP 3,450.00

The total amount for one year's extensions is at least PHP 25,480.00 only! This is why expatriates often call the Philippines: Fee-lippines!

Consider two 6 months extensions if you stay for a year. This would cut your expenses.

Since 2015 you can extend your Visa for up to 36 month in total. After 16 month however you should make a Visa Run or try to get another extension for up to 24 months from the "Chef of the Immigration Bureau for Regulations". This might become too complicated, so it might be easier to make a Visa Run or to try to get a permanent resident visa.

 

Dresscode of the Bureau of Immigration

The Head Office of the Bureau of Immigration

Bureau of Immigration - Head Office

Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila
Phone: +632 527-3248
Toll Free: 1-800-100- ALIEN (24/7 Toll Free)
E-Mail: xinfo@immigration.gov.ph
Website: http://www.immigration.gov.ph

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WARNING !

If you do not want to stay weeks or even months at the Bicutan Detention Center then you should really fully comply with the immigration law of the Philippines.

The Bureau of Immigration can be very strict in interpreting this law. Visa violations and overstay often result in prison and deportation.

"Café carré" the "resort" of the Bureau of Immigration Detention Center in Bicutan.

Bureau of Immigration Detention Center in Bicutan, Taguig, also called "Café carré"

---

WARNING AGAIN!

Currently the Bureau of Immigration runs a program of citizen awareness. Any Filipino or Filipina can send a text (SMS) to BI and denounce a foreigner suspect of illegal immigration or overstay.

We recommend to fully comply with the immigration laws of the Philippines.

You won't like to see your picture (in the original it is clear) in press and on TV-screens.

You better do not travel with this bus. It might be your last journey within the Philippines.

The Visa Run

Many expatriates who live in the Philippines with either an extended visa-waiver or a 9a tourist visa prefer to travel abroad for a day or two instead of paying a lot of money just for a stamp in the passport.

A good moment for a trip abroad is before the end of the 6^th month and before the end of the first year.

As you know exactly when these expiry dates will be, you may book a promo flight already months before. Preferred "Visa Run" destinations are Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Hongkong.

 

 

Visa re-stamping

If a foreigner (alien) lives for a long time in the Philippines, one day his/her passport expires.

Most embassies can produce a new passport within 10 days to 2 weeks and send it to you by a courier service.

But your permanent resident visa, your Balikbayan stamp or your SRRV still sticks in the old passport.

The transfer of a visa from an old to a new passport is called "re-stamping" in the Philippines.

The procedure depends on your visa.

Any class 13 visa

You'll have to go to Manila. The re-stamping is only made in BI head office in Intramuros.

Here is the current form to fill in and to bring with your old and new passport.

RA 7919 form

The procedure will cost between PHP 1,010 and PHP 1,510

BI has invented a new "express fee: Simple or Double - Lovely Fee-lippines!

SRRV visa

Contact PRA. There is nothing about visa re-satmping to find on their website.

Their website is currently being overhauled.

But you can contact them on Client Relations

Leave them your phone number and your SRRV number. They call back within a day.

ACR-I Card

The Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card is requested from any foreign person (called alien) who stays more than the 59 days. This means that tourists with a 9A visa are requested to have an ACR-I card issued, when they apply for a visa extension after the 38 days extension..

The ACR-I cards are only available in some offices of the Bureau of Immigration. Please inquire here!

Processing time is about 2 weeks! You will have to get your card at the BI.

The advantage of this ACR-I card is that you can open a bank account, register a car or a motorbike or even get a driver license without being a permanent resident.
The ACR I-Card is needed to get and the Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC), and serves as Re-entry Permit (RP) and Special Return Certificate (SRC) of the holder upon payment of the required fees.

Since July 16, 2015 new ACR-I cards in different colors are issued. Long stay tourists (more than 59 days) get a white ACR-I card.

 

New ACR-I cards

Balikbayan Stamp

The easiest and (initially ;-) )the cheapest way to get a long term visa for the Philippines, is the Balikbayan Stamp in your Passport. This stamp is good for 1 year and can be extended at least once for another 6 months.

To get a Balikbayan Stamp in your Passport on arrival, you must be married to a Filipina/Filipino. You must present an English translation of your marriage certificate and your Filipina wife or Filipino husband must be together with you at the point of immigration.

Most important: You have to ask the Immigration officer for it, they won't give it to you automatically.

The immigration officer is not obliged to issue a Balikbayan Stamp even if you meet all the requirements. Nevertheless, it is rarely denied. The best of it: It's totally free of charge

The Balikbayan Stamp is available for direct relatives of Filipino citizens and former Filipinos who have changed their citizenship to another country.

If your Filipino husband or wife still has a valid Philippines Passport, he or she doesn't need a Visa or stamp in their Passports of course.

If you are legally married with a Philippines citizen, you may apply for the permanent Resident Visa (13A) as stated of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, Section 13. You must meet the following requirements:

 

• Notarized letter of application by the Filipino spouse
• Accomplished and Notarized General Application Form
• Copy of the birth certificate of the Filipino spouse, authenticated by the NSO
• Authenticated copy of the Marriage Contract by the NSO or Philippine Embassy abroad (if you got married abroad)
• Immigration Clearance
• Certified copy of the foreigners passport showing the date of arrival and Visa (Balikbayan Stamp)
• Certificate of a savings bank account with the minimum 10,000 US$ on it to prove, that you can financially support your family
• Pay about 20,000,- Pesos in total for fees (10,000 for application and another 10,000 for approval)

After the application is submitted, it may take several weeks or even month before you will finally receive your Resident Visa. After the first application, your Resident Visa will be granted for only one year.

After one year you'll have to submit another application but in a more simple way and the Visa then will be good for 10 years, before it needs to be extended again.

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

 

The Balikbayan stamp

The famous SRRV

Another way to get a permanent residence visa for the Philippines, is the Special Resident Retiree's Visa or SRRV . This Visa does not depend on whether you are married to a Filipino citizen or not, like the 13A Visa but it is based on a money deposit in a accredited bank in the Philippines.

The Philippines advertise this kind of visa with some advantages such as: Exemption from Customs Duties & Taxes for the importation of personal effects of up to USD 7,000.00, Exemption from Travel Tax, Exemption from the Exit Clearance and Re-Entry Permits, Exemption from the Immigration ACR-I Card, and from annual reporting. The holder of an SRRV has also the privilege to pass through the diplomatic channel at the immigration at the airport.

If you are interested in an SRRV, then we recommend to carefully read the website of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).

 

The famous SRRV and the corresponding ID

Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC)

UPDATED:
Every foreigner who has been for more than 6 months in the Philippines, will need to get an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before leaving. The Bureau of Immigration recommends foreign nationals to process ECC three (3) days prior to the departure date. This way, if you have additional documents required or something needs to be done, you have at least 72 hours to process it.

The fee for ECC Clearance is around PHP 1,210 to PHP 3,000.

Those who have an SRRV are exempt of this certificate!

To get your Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC), you have to bring:

• Application form;
• Photocopy of passport (bio page, visa pages, latest arrival);
• Original and photocopy of ACR I-Card;
• Photocopy of receipt of latest visa extension;
• Photocopy of order of downgrading (if applicable);
• Six pieces 2x2 photo

Here you can download the ECC Application Form.

The procedure (In Cebu-City you need 40 minutes):

• Go to the Reception Desk and tell the Immigration Officer sitting there that you need an Exit Clearance Certificate. She will ask to see your Passport and air ticket She will check to see if you have applied for all Extensions necessary for your stay. She will hand you a form to complete.
• You complete the form and return it to the same Receptionist and hand her your three photos. She will affix the photos to the form.
• You go to the "Cashier 3" window and hand in the form and your Passport. These will be checked and stamps are placed on the form; your Passport and form are handed back to you.
• You now go to "Cashier 1" and again hand over your Passport and Form. If you have a 9(a) Visa in your Passport (from a Philippines Embassy abroad) you will only pay an "Express Lane" fee of PHP500. If you don't have this Visa or if you have a Visa that grants residency (9(g), 13(a) etc), you'll pay considerably more (around PHP2900 + the PHP500 "Express Lane" fee). * You now sit and wait a few minutes before you will be called to be finger-printed. This takes place next to the "Cashier 1" window.
• After a few more minutes you'll be called and your Passport and ECC handed to you. That certificate you hand to the Immigration Officer just before boarding your international flight.

Waiting a very long time in the BI Head Office in Manila's Intramuros

Fingerprints: A lot of ink and nothing to clean your fingers

BI field offices

You should also check the address list on the website of the Bureau of Immigration. Unfortunately none of the lists is up to date, neither theirs nor ours! Many phone numbers are cellphone numbers and many e-mail addresses are private 'gmail' or 'yahoo' addresses. If you want to help us, please inform us about address or phone number changes."

Luzon

Metro Manila

NAIA Terminal-1
Arrival: 852-2936
Departure: 879-6085

NAIA Terminal-2
Arrival: 879-6018
Departure: 879-6017

NAIA Terminal-3
Arrival: 877-7888 loc. 8187
Departure: 877-7888 loc. 8128

BI CABANATUAN Satellite Office
City Hall Compound, Kapitan Pepe Subdivision
Cabanatuan City
Cell: 09163548685

BI STA. ROSA Satellite Office
Francisco Canicossa Ave. Balibago Complex
Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Phone.: (049)526-5786
Fax: (049)534-5205
Cell: (0917)897-5897

BI CAMANAVA Satellite Office
Caloocan Commercial Complex
Ground flr. Plaza, Rizal St. Cor. A. Mabini
Caloocan City
Phone: 288-8459
Cell: 0918-343 5534

BI TAYTAY RIZAL Satellite Office
Old Municipal Building, Taytay, Rizal
Fax - 658-7261
Cell: 0915 578 9199 /09178671519

BI MAKATI EXTENSION OFFICE
Third floor Lasala Bldg.
805 JP Rizal Avenue corner F. Zobel St., Makati
1210 Metro Manila
Phone: 899-3830; 899-3831 /899-2766; 897-5335
Cell: 092 284 12358

BI PEZA EXTENSION OFFICE
PEZA Building Ground Floor., Corner San Luis St.
Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Phone: 551-9590
Fax: 5519567
Cell: 0917 373 2357

BI PARANAQUE Satellite Office
Ground Floor Bldg. F., Great Mall of China
Bradco Avenue, Asiana Business Park, Paranaque City
Phone: 707-4859
Cell: 092 280 32061

 

 

Northern Luzon

BI Aparri Field Office
2nd floor Melval Bldg. RF Balizi St.
Apparri, Cagayan
Phone: (078) 888-2089 or 2098
Fax: (078) 822-8288

BI Dagupan Field Office
People's Astrodome, Tapuac District
Dagupan City
Phone: (075) 523-4047
Cell: 0917 693 22 48

BI Baguio Field Office
#38 Military Cut Off, Baguio City
Phone: (074) 447-0805
Cell: 0918 916 0361

BI Santiago Field Office
2nd floor People's Coliseum
Santiago City, Isabela
Phone: (078) 682-2513
Cell: 0928 296 90 98

BI Tuguegarao Field Office
2nd floor Old City Hall Building
(Science High School)
Mabini Street
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
Phone: (078) 844-9617

BI Laoag Field Office
Tupaz Avenue
Laoag City
Phone: (077) 770-4943
Fax: (077) 771-6855
Cell: 0917 830 3963

BI San Fernando
La Union District Office
Pennsylvenia Avenue, Poro Point
San Fernando City, La Union
Phone: (072) 888-4515 / 700-4370
Cell: 0906 372 2111

BI Cauayan Field Office
# 46 Burgos St., Cauayan City, Isabela
Phone: (078) 6523892
Cell: 0917-896-8247

 

 

Central Luzon

BI Angeles District Office
Annex 4-B Birthaphil III
Jose Abad Santos Avenue

Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
Phone: (045) 499-1246
Cell: 0917 510 8040

BI Bataan Field Office
Santiago Building
Balanga City, Bataan
Phone: (047) 237-6418
Cell: 0906-274 6898 / 0919-821 6072

BI Clark Field Office
Clark Development Corp.
Building 2127
Clark Special Economic Zone
Phone: (045) 599-4402 / 599-9000 local 402
Cell: 0917-858 1862 / 0920-909 5237

BI Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport
Phone: (045) 599-7283

BI Subic / Olongapo Field Office
7th 87 West Tapianac
Olongapo City
Phone: (047) 224-2766
Fax: (047) 223-1183

BI Lucena Field Office
2nd floor Quezon Provincial
Capitol Bldg.
Lucena City
Phone: (042) 710-7015
Cell: 0919 640 46 77

BI San Jose Field Office
Joe Marias Bldg, Magsaysay St.
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro 5100
Cell: 0929-239 1241

BI Cavite Satellite Office
Robinsons Place Pala-Pala
Dasmariñas City

 

Southern Luzon

BI Batangas District Office
Diversion Road, Barangay Bolbok
Batangas City
Phone: (043) 723-3032

BI Calapan Field Office
J. Luna Street
Oriental Mindoro
Phone: (043) 288-2245

BI Legazpi Field Office
L3-4B,3rd floor, Embarcadero de Legazpi
Port Area, Victory Village Legazpi City 4500
Phone/fax: (052) 201-0651

BI Naga Field Office
Unit 7, 2nd floor, Phonecian Bldg.
Panganiban Drive, Cor. Isarog St.
Naga City 4400
Phone: (054) 811-8265

BI Boac Field Office
Boac, Marinduque 4900
Phone: (042) 332-2475
Cell: 0920 368 1494

BI Puerto Princesa Field Office
2nd floor Servando Bldg.
Rizal Avenue
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Phone: (048) 433-2248
Cell: 0919 425 81 80

BI Brookes Point Boarding Station
Brookes Point, Palawan
Cell: 0919 640 4677

Visayas

Central Visayas

BI Cebu District Office
P. Burgos St., Tribunal
Mandaue City
Phone: (032) 345-6442-4
Fax: (032) 345-6441
Airport: (032) 340-1473 / 3400-751

BI Lapu-Lapu GAISANO Satellie Office
Office Address Gaisano Mactan Island Mall
Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015
Direct Line(s) (032) 495-2852
Facsimile Numbers(s) (032) 495-2852
E-mail Addresses: bisatellitemactancebu@gmail.com

BI Bohol Field Office
2nd floor Sarabia Co, Torralba Bldg.
CPG Avenue
Tagbilaran City 6300
Phone: (038) 235-6084
Cell: 0917 249 09 06

BI Dumaguete Field Office
Door #8 Lu Pega Bldg.
38 Dr. V. Locsin Street
Dumaguete City 6200
Phone: (035) 225-4401
Cell: 0918 280 84 25

BI Siquijor Field Office
Ground Floor,
Provincial Capitol
Siquijor
Cell: 0917 477 43 98

BI Kalibo Field Office
Municipal Bldg. Office
Kalibo, Aklan
Phone: (036) 500-7601
Cell: 0918 940 63 44

 

Western Visayas

BI Bacolod Field Office
2nd floor G & M Villacor Bldg.
San Juan, Lusuriaga St.
Bacolod City
Phone: (034) 433-8581

BI Boracay Field Office
Villa Camella, Boracay, Malay, Aklan
Phone: (036) 288-5267
Cell: 0918-940 6344

BI Iloilo District Office
Customs House Bldg.
2nd floor Aduana St.
Iloilo City 5000
Phone: (033) 337-5869
Fax: (033) 509-9651

Eastern Visayas

BI Tacloban District Office
Kanhuraw Hill
Tacloban City 6500
Phone: (053) 325-6004

BI Catbalogan Field Office
#655 San Roque St.
Catbalogan, Samar
Phone: (055) 251-6470

BI Calbayog Field Office
Cinemar Traders, JV Avellino St.
Calbayog City
Phone: (055) 209-3310
Fax: (055) 533-9746

BI Maasin Field Office
Maasin City, Southern Leyte
Phone: (053) 381-4136

Mindanao

Northern Mindanao

BI Cagayan de Oro District Office
Gateway Tower, Lapasan Highway
Limketkai Drive
Cagayan De Oro City 9000
Phone: (088) 880-18247
Fax: (088) 880-3255

BI Iligan Field Office
2nd floor, Room 203
Diocesan Centrum Bldg.
Salvador T. Lluch St.
Iligan City 9200
Phone: (063) 221-6282
Cell: 0920 932 94 80

BI Ozamiz Field Office
3rd floor, Rizal cor.
Valconcha St.
Ozamiz City 7200
Phone: (088) 521-1581

BI Butuan / Masao Field Office
3rd floor, Rural Bank Bldg.
A.D. Curato St.
Corner PF Lagnada St.
Butuan City
Phone: (085) 342-5097
Cell: 0919 347 53 72

BI Bislig Field Office
Tarefe Drive John Bosco, Mangagoy
Bislig City, Surigao del Sur 8311
Phone: (086) 853-5192
Cell: 0918 444 24 58

BI Surigao Field Office
2nd floor Gaisano Capital
Km 4 Barangay Luna, National Highway
Surigao City 8400
E-mail: bisurigaocity@yahoo.com.ph
Phone: (086) 310-0800

 

Southern Mindanao

BI Davao District Office
JP Laurel Avenue
Bajada
Davao City
Phone: (082) 228-6477
Cell: 0917 705 35 76

BI Bongao Field Office
Ridjiki St., Bongao
Tawi-Tawi
Cell: 0919 423 15 71

BI General Santos Field Office
2nd floor, Arcade II East Asia
Royal Hotel, National Highway
General Santos City
Phone: (083) 552-3442
Cell: 0917 714 1337

BI Zamboanga Field Office
2nd floor, Radja Bldg.Gov.
Camins Avenue
Zamboanga City 7000
Phone: (062) 991-2234
Cell: 0906 667 35 56

BI Glan Sarangani Field Office
2nd floor, Brgy. Hall, Poblacion,
Glan Sarangani Province
Phone: (083) 225-9029

BI Jolo Field Office
7400 Jolo, Sulu
Phone: 0917-724 0715
Cell: 0906 954 0948

BI Cotabato Field Office
Ground floor, Tanghal Bldg.
#5 Roman Vilo St.
Cotabato City
Phone: (064) 421-2066
Fax: (064) 421-7732