Several important changes have take place in the Philippine Bureau of Immigration rules and procedures in recent months. Here’s an update covering some of the most important ones … in so far as I can verify things.
It is important to note that I am an “unofficial source” and my information may not always be correct .. although that is what I strive for.
It’s also important to note that different offices (and sometimes even different officers) may not interpret or enforce all procedures exactly the same. Nothing I can do about that, you have to be flexible and adapt as necessary. For more information on how things often are interpreted differently, see: Do I need a Visa? and Did I Say That?. Consistently Inconsistent is the phrase you need to keep in mind. I’ve bee writing articles and attempting to help people with visa issues for more than 10 years now .. and the number one mistake I see being made is driving themselves crazy over details and scenarios that can not be firmed up before you try them.
Two people going through the airport or visiting a local BI office on any given day may, in fact, find different answers to the same question.
There’s nothing you can do about it, if you want to deal with the Philippine government you have to deal with the government as it really exists, not as you would want it to be.
But hey, this news is (almost) all good, so let’s be happy and look forward to a great 2014.
NEW DRESS CODE POLICY
Gone are the days when you had to go home and change clothes just to visit the local BI office. The BI, working with the Department of Tourism, has decided that the former, very strictly enforced policy of “long pants” and closed toe shoe really did nothing to help the tourist trade. Hence:
Administrative Circular No. SBM-2013-007 was issued on 01 October 2013 revising the policy on dress code imposed on clients transacting or with official business in the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Policy amendments were made to maximize and accommodate visitors and foreign nationals with legitimate dealings with the BI as well as the consideration of the tropical weather in the Philippines and the usual tourist attire.
The new policy requires strict adherence to decent attire and prescribed the minimum dress code requirements both for men and women. Meanwhile, business/office attire is required for those attending hearings or official meetings.
This is a welcome improvement for all foreigners.
INITIAL 21 DAY VISA WAIVER STAY IS NOW 30 DAYS
OK now this one I thought would be easy to document, since it’s a major change for tourist convenience and it will automatically increase the stay-time of tourists, especially first-timers. In the past the “21 Day rule” meant the maximum stay without extending your stay (at a BI office) would be from say a Wednesday to the third Wednesday following your day of arrival. Under the new rule you should be able to stay from, say, a Wednesday arrival all the way through to the fifth Friday “in country”.
(The BI’s own rule for counting days is,whatever day you arrive, you begin country “days of stay” from the day following actual arrival until the day you actually leave the Philippines).
At the end of that initial 30 days you are able to extend your stay at any BI office for an additional 29 days. This is a very easy procedure for those of you not already familiar with it. You don’t have to provide proof of onward travel or any of the other “pernickety” detail that many other BI procedures require. In most cases you can be “in and out” in an hour or so.
Also, you can hire a licensed Travel Agent to do the procedure for you, typically for a fee of P500 plus the fees that have to be paid to the BI.
Standard Initial (29 day) Extension Fees from the BI website : http://immigration.gov.ph
- Visa Waiver P 500.00
- Visa Waiver application Fee P 1,000.00
- Certification Fee P 500.00
- Legal Research Fee (LRF) P 30.00
- Express Fee P 1,000.00
Total P 3,030.00
That will get you legally “in country” for 60 days total …
(But wait I hear you saying, 30 days plus 29 days don’t add up to 60. Well, they do in “BI Math”. Remember I taught you how to “BI Count” back in the first paragraph. Did you forget already?)
… from your initial arrival date. At the end of that 60 days you must either leave the country, or extend additional months as a tourist.
Up until 2013, your only extension choices were either 30 days or 60 days (2 months). Again the BI and the DOT have put their heads together and made things much easier.
Six Month Long Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) Available for 9(A) Temporary Visitor Visas
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently launched the Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSWE) scheme to encourage tourist arrivals in the Philippines. With the LSVVE, foreign nationals may now enjoy longer visa extension (six months) under a single transaction. The visa costs P13,900.00 for visa-required nationals and P11 ,500.00 for non-visa required nationals.
This phraseology is used often in BI regulations and information. It confuses many people. This article has grown far bigger than I wanted it to already, and I could easily write another thousand words on this technicality.
How about, instead, I just tell you that 99% (or more) of the people reading this are “non-visa required”. Just don’t worry about it and apply the KISS principle.
The six month visa extension option minimizes trips to the BUI. In addition, it saves money because although the basic cost is the same, per month, as the 2 month visa option, it saves you “express lane” fees and a few other small fees you would have to make if you made the two more trips you would have to make is you were staying in the Philippines on 2 month at a time visa extensions.
Unfortunately, at the time I am writing this, the six month extension is only available at the main Bureau of Immigration headquarters in Manila.
But I’ve Saved The Best For Last
Total Tourist Stay Increased From 24 Months to 36 Months
Yep, you read that correctly, Up until December 2013, those visitors on Tourist Visas could extend their stay (2 months at a time) for a total overall stay of not more than 24 months.
At the end of the 24 months, the foreigner would have to leave the Philippines.
But now the maximum stay has been increased to a total of 36 months. Three full years from original arrival date in the Philippines.
This should be a welcome changed for the large percentage of visitors who complain bitterly about having to go out of the Philippines (even if only for a day) on a “Visa Run” to “restart” their “visa clock”.
“Visa Runs” will still be part of the tourist vocabulary here, but the number of “runs” required when staying “long term” is now reduced by a full 33.333%.
It ain’t perfect, but it’s certainly better.
Let me let you go here, and run off and see if I can find some more (good) Immigration and Visa news. Happy New Year.
I sat at Immigration a couple days ago to pay my 310 peso yearly fee. They handed me a number (CDR-King style), and it took all day to pay. I did notice a sign under the counter that stated about an “Anti-Red tape law”.
@ Kenneth
Cheer up. It might have been the same day you are talking about when the BI main computer went down and no one could pay until the next day. Welcome to paradise.
By the way, not sure what experience you have had with the US INS but the Philippine BI is perfectly streamlined and customer friendly in comparison. While my wife was going through the citizenship process in Colorado I made several trips to the Denver INS office. Wait 2 or three hours to find out what your charges would be, then go stand in line next door at the 7-11 to but=y a money order, then back through the TSA type security line at INS .. body scanners and all, and then wait to hand in the money order (our own government won’t take cash, personal checks or US credit cards, and then you’re done.
Pack a lunch. That’s just normal procedure serving US citizens in the USA. Frankly, I always find the Philippine BI service much better.
Or, you could just live on the BB stamp as I do and never deal with annual registrations and such … as we say in the Philippines, ” ‘Sup To You 😉 “
Hi, Dave! 🙂 just want to know if BI Phil accepts payments thru credit cards?
@ shiela
I don’t believe _any_ BI office accepts payment via credit card. I’ve never heard of it. at any rate.
Ha ha… glad that the anti-red tape law is in effect, otherwise it might have taken 2 days to pay! 😉
EFFECTIVE JAN 08, 2014, PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATIONS CHANGED THE ANNUAL IMMIGRATION REGISTRATION PROCEDURE: ACR I-CARD HOLDERS MUST NOW COMPLETE A REGISTRATION FORM, GET PHOTOS, FINGER PRINTS, AND HAVE NOTARIZED BY A LOCAL ATTORNEY. INSTRUCTIONS ARE ON THE FORMS THAT CAN BE PICKED UP AT PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATIONS, CLARK; OUR OFFICE; OR MAYBE FROM YOUR TRAVEL AGENT. REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED DURING JAN OR FEB OF EACH YEAR. TOURISTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER. UNDERSTAND LONG TROUSERS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED AT IMMIGRATION
http://www.vfwpost2485.com/ACR-I.htm
Actually ..
..
.
is erroneous. Foreigners in country 60 days or less are not required to register, after your second month of stay you ARE required to register. Only other exemptions I know of are SRRV holders and Balik Bayan Privilege stamp holders.
Thanks Dave, Really big help to me reading this.
NP, Dominic, that’s why I write this stuff …
thats great news about the law change to 36 months, however I spent 15k on tickets to malaysia in april 🙁
Well if you hadn’t spent the money already, you could have stayed, but think about the broadening effects and benefits of travel. I go out at least once a year (I’m staying on the BB Privilege stamp) and frankly the change of scenery (or shopping at the BX and commissary in Guam) does me a world of good. I can’t sit still that long. As we say here, ” ‘Sup to You 😉 “
Enjoy your holiday.
Ha ha.. it will still re-set your clock, Scott, and you can save money next time! 🙂
yes, got to look at the positive! I wonder if one can re-book that far in advance with the tickets we have now?
Three hours in Davao emigration last week for annual report, then had to get photos and fill in two pages of the same information that they have had on me for years. Then go upstairs to get it verified by the atty, go back down stairs then wait to pay, then wait to get your name called, then you can go lol lol.
Rebooking is different depending on the ticket…. you’ll have to check with the airline or whoever sold the ticket to you.
thats cool Bob, at least there is a chance, hate to waste almost $500…but it is great to have the extended time now..
Excellent and helpful information! Thank you Dave! I still think it is always a good idea to take a book to the Immigration Office, and plan on getting a lot of reading done! 🙂
Hey AmericanLola… It’s 2014! Bring a Tablet instead of a book! Ha ha… just teasing you. 😉
@ Bob and Am, Lola
I know what tablets are. I spend a lot of time trying to keep my dear wife’s tablet working … batteries, power cords, nephews playing with it, etc. But after a year with a tablet in the house, I don’t think I would spend 100 Pesos on one. A big nuisance.
My book has never run out of battery life (or load) yet.
Either one! 🙂
THANK You Bob !!!!
You are most welcome, Robert Lindell.
Thanks for the great info Bob and Dave.
Very nice Bob – I just hit my 24 month stay (Feb 2014) but that was applied for in early December 2013 so new 36 month reg probably wasn’t in effect. No problemo! 🙂
Great advice Bob! between you and Dave I have learned so much. Just got my 1 year balikayan stamp and so did my daughter. Its wonderful to know I can mine fantastic info and not be lost in a sea of uncertainty…..Mark
Extending the 21 day tourist visa to 30 days is a welcome change for those like myself who enjoy vacationing in The Philippines. I had read about that change before my last visit. When I arrived at NAIA I was asked how long I planned to stay and I replied ” about 3 weeks ” and at that point I asked if the 21 day had been increased to 30 days. The officer said ” OK I will mark your passport for 30 days” . Although I always arrive with a round trip ticket I have so far never been asked to show it. Now, all I have to do for next time is to convince my employer to give me those 30 consecutive days off from my job LOL
@ Bob New York
I’m a believer in the Donald Eugene Lytle solution in cases like that, Bob…. (AKA Johnny Paycaeck)
Paycheck
Wishful thinking Dave, wishful thinking LOL
Sandy Bonifacio
Great. Now I don’t have an excuse to leave prior to 21 days. Will have to stay longer now. Darn the luck. Wink wink. Thanks for the update Dave. see ya soon.
Hi Dave – Very informative article. The 3 year tourist run is spectacular news for many.
Funny I never heard of being able to stay 24 months before you had to physically leave. I thought it was 16 months. In any event you are now saying it is 36 months for those with tourist visas before they have to physically leave the country? Great news.
Hi Corey – It is 16 months. You are correct! How ever you can get special consideration there after. Example – Maybe you like it here, therefore you lodge a request to stay longer. Therefore they consider such requests for up to an extra 8 months. All it means this goes up to 36 months total instead of 24 months total. Cheers.
@ Corey
Thanks for noticing. The 24 month rule has been in place for many years. The 16 month confusion factor comes from the way the rule is written.
Local BI field offices were only allowed to approve extensions “over the counter” up to the 16 month point (allowing a stay of 18 total months). However the visitor could apply direct to the BI commissioner for additional months of stay up to 24. Many expats took this to mean that the 24 months really meant 16 months, but every expat I know of who _did_ apply directly was approved.
The limit never was 16 months. The procedure was always explained correctly on the BI official website http://immigration.gov.ph but most people seem to operate on “I heard” rather than going to the source.
The new 36 month rule works the same way, you have to apply directly to the commissioner for the last 6 months of stay. Again, it’s all on the BI website.
I didn’t want to go into all that detail in the post as my articles already run too long … people don’t read long articles 😉
Also, if you are disabled and on Disability and travel is a hardship on you, you can get a waiver so you do not have to go out of country .
Bob, is the requirements for re-seting the stay different if your married to a filipina?
@ Bill Walker
The short answer to your question is NO … there is no difference in the maximum stay limits based on marital status … no matter what country your wife might be a citizen of.
The longer answer is, if you are married to a Philippine national, why wouldn’t you get a Permanent Residency visa (13(a) or 13(g) and then you have no requirement to leave, ever?
can any one tell me how to get a police certification from the US without going in person,now all of a sudden the immigration wants it befor they give me my perm. resd. card
This is a common question, with a long answer. If you read down through the comments to this article, I dug up the pertinent URL’s and procedures. It’s the only way I know of to get a police clearance from outside the USA. Good luck.
http://philfaqs.com/get-that-permanent-visa-in-the-states-or-in-the-philippines/
i had my daughter in the USA get the clearance, she has power of attorney and she had my signature notarized, it than must go to the sectary of state to have an apostilate attached than to Philippine Consulate they returned with approval than she sent it to me here in Davao, but i have learned if you get your police clearance from the USA the American Embassy in Manila can verify it for a fee of $50 and no need to go to Consulate in the USA
For those of you who have passports from an APEC country (Australia, New Zealand, etc) it may be useful to apply for an APEC card. On presentation of the card when arriving you are given 59 days from when you enter. You then just have to extend every two months, on the first extension you have to pay for an ACR I-card valid for one year. My APEC card cost $150 NZD and is valid for three years. Check out http://www.businessmobility.org for details.
Cheer
Muzz
Hi Bill Walker – No. The requirements are different depending on what type of visa you have. Being married to a Filipina gives you the opportunity to get different types of visas, but if you are on a tourist visa the procedure for re-setting your time is the same.
Can anyone out there post information on the visa you require to leave the country. As I understand it if you have stayed in the Philippines over six months you need a visa to leave. Help would be appreciated.
You don’t need a visa to leave, Murray.. what you need is an ECC – Exit Clearance Certificate. You get that at the BI office.
And for further info on the ECC please see:
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/index.php/information/announcements/advisory-to-all-foreigners-ecc
It’s a very important document you MUST have, and it can’t be obtained at just ANY BI office (see the footnotes on the article I linked to). Also, the ECC takes two trips to Immigration .. it takes 3 working days to process, so don’t wait until the very last minute to get yours.
my brother in law didn’t know this so when he went to the airport they wanted to know where his EEC was ,he told them he knew nothing about that ,they ask why he was leaving and he said it was medical emergency, they let him go but a P3000 fine he is one lucky guy
Hi Dave, I applied for and received my ECC in the same day in Cebu BI Office January 27, 2014. Do you also require an ECC when you leave the country after one year and you have Balikbayan stamp in your passport?
Hi John,
Don’t know why this wasn’t answered, but I just saw it now. A BB Privilege Stamp holder who is leaving after one year or less does NOT require an ECC.
Thanks Bob!! My wife is in Lipa City, and will come here this year until my retirement in 4 more years
Thanks Bob!! My wife is in Lipa City, and will come here this year until my retirement in 4 more years
Great, Bill! I hope everything goes smoothly for you.
Haha me too!! Thanks! We were married 9/2012 there, been fighting for her visa almost a year now, few mistakes here and there made it a long process. think we are almost done!!
Congratulations!
Hey while I have you a minute, I saw a post or advertisement from a place there, I thought was government agency who “assists” in those visas to stay longer. Asked for the info and never received it. Hoax?
My advice on agencies who offer to “help” is, avoid them like the plague. The Philippines Bureau of Immigration is the only agency you should be dealing with. You might want to take the time to read this article for some thoughts and guidance on the subject. I have seen many, many people worry themselves sick (and spend outrageous amounts of money) to people who say they “help” but don’t do a damn thing.
And sometimes do illegal things. Even when you hire lawyers, _your_ name and signature go on the form, and if something is a lie or a misrepresentation _you_ are the one responsible. Rely on yourself is my advice.
http://philfaqs.com/get-that-permanent-visa-in-the-states-or-in-the-philippines/
I really wouldn’t have any way of knowing. I am not associated with any such service, though, if that is what you mean.
Yeah, think it was a hoax. Never saw it again, we were married by the mayor in Lipa, so we sorta have connections there and friends in office through her sister. Should be ok when I get there. Thanks again Bob
Can you get the 29 day extension at NAIA on arrival?
Don’t know, never tried. The BI has been saying they would offer that service for years, b=and I have “heard” of some people being successful at extending upon arrival, but I don’t know of anyone doing it for a fact. You have to try for yourself. Good luck.
Hey Bob, do you know if you can get the first 29 day extension on arrival at NAIA? I think I read a reference to that on one of your sites. In the past I used a one year visa that allowed me to stay 59 days at a time since I need to travel outside the Philippines for a week each two months to work anyways. Now I think that visa would be a waste of money since I do not need to travel so much.
Hi Jeffrey – Yes, the first extension can be done at the Airport upon your arrival.
Thanks Bob Martin. Is it done in the small office on the left wall next to the immigration officets? Do you know if you can also get the extension on arrival at the Davao or Clark airport?
I haven’t been through the Manila airport in 14 years would not want to venture a guess where it is done now. Not sure if they do it at other airports.
Probably silly question but if i go there(p.i’s),on my next vacation for say 3/4 weeks would it be worth or can i? Get an acr card,,given that eventually i will be retiring there..
I figure if and when i do retire there,already having in a acr card would be advantages..
The only “silly” question about immigration is the one you don’t ask.
If you fly to the Philippines with no visa/no planning (the easy way) you get a stamp in your passport upon a arrival, good for 30 days. That’s approximately your specification of 3/4 weeks. So coming here could not be simpler.
To stay longer, you can extend your stay for one, two or six months, as long as you want up to 36 months total stay.
The ACR-I card (Alien Certificate of Registration) is required after 60 days of stay. You will get it (and be charged for it) automatically if you renew past the 60 days of stay point.
If you WANT an ACR-I card before 60 days of stay, you can apply for one from the BI at any time. Why you would want to, I don’t know, but the choice is yours.
I’ve been here going on 8 years now. I have never needed an ACR-I card for anything (‘m using the Balik Bayan Privilege program as the spouse of a Philippine citizen) so I can’t say whet you might want one for … but if you stay number than 60 days, you’ll get one.
ok thanks i usually stay there on a balikbayan visa too..i had a feeling they where making it compulsory to also have an ACR
@ bloodymal
Thanks for that clarification. It’s important to understand something which (I see many people are not clear on … all the rest of you BB Stamp folks read this to if you’d like…
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) and all the rules you hear about almost endlessly on every site have almost NOTHING to do with the BB Stamp, Properly called the Balik Bayan Privilege Program.
The BB program is run out of the Office of the President. It is not a BI program and has nothing to do at all with the BI except (the “almost” I mentioned above) the BI authorizes persons entitled to the BB Privilege to enter the Philippines by the simple act of stamping their passport. No filling up applications, no 2×2 photos, no fingerprints, notarizations, etc.
Then they authorize those people to leave the Philippines by stamping their passport.
That’s it.so far as the BI is concerned
No Annual Reporting,
No ACR-I card,
No leaving the country (for up to one year),
No Exit Clearance Certificates (ECC)
and best of all in my view, no visits to BI offices and no fees.
So if you are a BB Stamp person or if you are thinking of becoming one, remember not to get all confused by mixing up requirements for Tourist Visa or Permanent Residency Visa (13(a) and 13(g) ) folks with your own requirements.
Two completely different programs
Guess that answered my question above!
Hi Dave,
Although I was already aware of the points raised in your article, it is a very informative article for the unaware. 🙂
@ Chas
Thanks for the kind words, Chas. Good to see you, I haven’t seen you around for a while. Keep on having fun, my friend. I’m having more and more every day LoL.
Can you explain what is the difference between visa-required nationals and non-visa required nationals?
I’m a US Citizen who’s been extending every 2 months for the past 2 1/2 years. I’ve exited the Philippines for 3 days to go to Hong Kong to reset my Visa clock which was originally set at 16 months but since have extended from 24 months to now 36 months. I’ve been doing my extensions at the B.I. Satellite office located in Laoag, Ilocos Norte since I’m living in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.
Alan,
It’s a very simple question but a long-winded answer. Briefly, don’t worry about it, you are NOT from a “visa required” country. The USA and about 150-odd other countries are “non-visa required”, and several other countries are “Visa Required”. Here’s the complete details and even map. Enjoy your life here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_the_Philippines
Salamat Bob for the Info and I should have google wikipedia.
Hi Alan,
Bob is much younger and better looking than I. He has more hair than I do, also. But he didn’t look it up, I did. I make the distinction, not because I want credit, but because who knows when I’ll write something that offends someone or some such, and people will think it was Bob.
Also I didn’t “Google Wikipedia” I “Googled” “visa required countries Philippines” and Wikipedia happened to furnish the best answer. The same info is on the official BI site, somewhere, I’ve seen it, but I’m darned if I can find it when I need it. Neither can Google, apparently.
One of the factors of confusion is that 90% or more of the people currently in the Philippines on a “Tourist Visa” are not, in fact, on a “Tourist Visa”. They are instead on a “Tourist Visa Waiver” or a “Tourist Visa Waiver Extension” which is what people legally get at the airport when they are from “non-visa required” counties.
It’s a fine point, but actual “Tourist Visas” which look the same, are under a different Philippine law than “Visa Waivers”. Means nothing to the average visitor, but the BI made many people confused when they wrote the announcement with that “Visa Required” / “Non Visa Required” language. It’s what government agencies all over the world seem to do.
Just enjoy your stay and be well.
What are the requirements for a permenant resident living here over a year leaving the Phil’s for a short time
@ bill skelly
Thanks for contributing, Bill.
There is no requirement for a permanent resident (either the 13-series Permanent Residency visas from the BI or the SRRV visas from the Philippine Retirement Agency to _ever_ leave the Philippines. Stay 100 years (or even longer) if you like. …
The requirement to leave applies to Balik Bayan Privilege visitors, who must leave after one year (or convert to a different visa) and to Tourist visa visitors who can now stay up to three years.
Hope this helps.
Hi Dave,
I am a Nigerian Citizen and I want to visit my fiance of 5 years in the philippines. I want you to kindly tell me what kind of visa I would require as I plan to spend a month in the country. Explain in details all the requirements and the duration of issue of the visa type. Thank you
Eyitayo
Hi Dave,
I am a Nigerian citizen and wants to visit my fiance of 5 years in the philippines. Kindly tell me the type of visa and traveling requirements. Also the duration of visa issue. Thank you.
Eyitayo.
It looks like this thread has died but hope someone sees this and might be able to answer a question on the 13 series visa. I’m a military retiree and would like to know what documentation I could provide that shows proof of sound financial status.
Thanks.
Since you say you are a military retiree, you are getting a military pension, right? You should show that as proof of financial capability. You can show the regular deposits going into your account, some kind of paperwork from the pension. With that you would have no problems.
Actually this thread is certianly dead in the since that the BI has changed things at the end of 2014 significantly more than they did in 2013, but I’m tired about wring about those guys and so I have retired from that particular treadmill.
The answer to your question is exactly as Bob says. My US bank (credit union) allows me to download .pdf files of my statements any time I want to for at least a year back. Also go to MyPay https://mypay.dfas.mil and you can download your 1099R annuitant statement every year.
That should be more than enough. I don’t have a 13 series visa, but showing my annual pension statement from DFAS has been enough for my Philippine bank care loan and two different mortgages.
Godspeed.