The 13G Visa
13G is another Residency Option in the Philippines
I have a 13G Visa.
A 13G Visa is a Philippine Visa that allows for permanent residence in the Philippines. It is for a Former Philippine Citizen. It also is for the spouse and minor children of a former Citizen of the Philippines.
At the time that we moved to the Philippines (May 2000), Feyma was already a US Citizen. Because of that, I did not qualify for a 13A.
Dual Citizenship
In those days, Dual Citizenship was not available in the Philippines. A law was passed since we lived here, though, that allows a former Philippine Citizen to re-acquire Philippine Citizenship and thus become a Dual Citizen. Since that law became active, Feyma has since become a Dual Citizen, our Children are all Dual Citizens, and I remain the sole “foreigner” in the house and still hold a 13G Visa.
Ian asked me some questions about 13G Visa
Recently, I got an e-mail from Ian asking about getting a 13G, and also some of the aftermaths of getting such a 13G visa so that he could retire in the Philippines. In today’s Podcast, I address Ian’s questions about the 13G Visa and share some of my experiences in getting a 13G Visa.
13G Visa is identical to 13A in terms of benefits
All of the information in this podcast also applies to a 13A Visa as well, in case anybody who listens it will also be seeking a 13A instead of the 13G. The application process and the benefits of a 13G Visa are exactly the same as for a 13A Visa. The only difference between the two is that one is for the spouse and minor children of a Philippine Citizen (13A) and the other is for the spouse and minor children of a Former Philippine Citizen (13G).
Don’t know how to listen to a Podcast?
By the way, a week or so ago, I got a comment from a fellow named Ed. Ed seemed a little upset that he can’t listen to the Podcast since he does not use iTunes. Guess what.. you don’t have to use iTunes to listen to the Podcast! The podcast is available right here on the website.
Just look below and you will see a little black bar with a “play” button on it. Just click that play button and the podcast will start playing!
Right under the black bar, there is a link in blue that says “Download”. If you click on that link the podcast will download and you can listen right on your computer or any device that will play an MP3 file.
The only connection with iTunes is that they have a listing of podcasts, sort of a catalog, which includes The Expat Answerman Podcast. But, anybody can listen in right here on LiP Website!
So, please listen in today and learn more about getting a 13G visa. To listen just click on the black box right below this line!
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Do You Have a Question?
If you want to send a question for inclusion in a future Podcast, just use the app below, click on the button below, where it says “Start Recording”.
Questions submitted by eMail will no longer be answered, you must submit through the voice message above.
Thanks again for listening, everybody!
I use gmail and never have had the black box you refer to which allows access to your Podcast.
Hi Stewart – It is not related to your email account! Doesn’t matter if you use Gmail, Yahoo or anything else. It is on the webpage right here. Look for the little black stripe. It is right there. Look for a paragraph that begins “So, please listen in today….” It is right below that! It is there, you just are not seeing it.
Take a look at this image, Stewart, showing what to look for!
I get your posts via gmail on firefox and have to click on the title of the post to go to the http://liveinthephilippines.com page that shows the link to play the podcast.
Thanks, Malcolm, glad you are listening.
First about podcast:
It is surely very nice and good to hear a voice (your voice), but i personally prefer to read and there could be readers that can’t listen of different reasons. Could you get it written too – and a link to that?
I know it is extra work, but i hope 🙂
Visa questions are always very interesting.
We still use Balikbayan rights, i call it rights since it isn’t a visa, just right to be here 1 year. We go out and back in a weekend once a year – and call it our yearly honeymoon.
Anyway, we are considering to get a permanent Visa and a 13G could be the right one.
Best wishes for your new (great) project.
Hi Axel – About a year ago when I started the podcast, I went to significant expense to hire somebody to make a transcript of each podcast. I did it for 4 weeks. I promoted the transcript. How many people do you think downloaded it? ZERO! Not a single person read the transcript in 4 weeks, and I was spending money to get the show transcribed. So, sorry, but no… I won’t be doing that any longer.
For those who prefer the written word… there are 5 or 6 new articles every week here on the site. Just one podcast. I want to reach as wide of an audience as possible, but it just is not practical to pay to have the thing transcribed when nobody reads it! Let’s say that 5 or 6 people read it, it still would be a wast of money, the audience is just too small.
Sorry about that, my friend…
The listening audience has gotten pretty large for the podcast, so it reaches many people.
Might as put my two cents in. I like the written articles certainly, but I also like the podcast. For me, it’s nice to have both options available. If I had to choose (and thankful that I don’t), I actually prefer the podcast.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tom. Glad you are enjoying the site.
I understand Bob.
No reason to use time and money if no one use it.
I will listen, when i see something of interest for me – no problem 🙂
Thanks for your understanding, Axel. 🙂
Hi Bob
Thanks for the informative pod cast. I have two questions for you.
1. I believe one of the requirements the 13A/G Visa is to remain resident in the Philippines for over six months a year, can you confirm this?
2. What is the legal age for property inheritance in the Philippines? I ask because I have a son 16 years old and two daughters 14 and 21 years old, all with dual citizenship. If my wife should pass away before me, who would legally own any property? Some of my kids, all of my kids or none of my kids?
Hi Gavin – Thanks for listening, and for leaving a comment!
Regarding your questions:
1. I have never heard that there is a 6 months per year requirement. I am not saying it does not exist, only that I have never hear of it before. One requirement that I do know in terms of staying a certain amount of time is that if you leave for more than 1 year your visa will then be revoked.
2. Regarding the inheritance of property… there is no minimum age. In the event of your wife’s death, each of your children, regardless of age, would be mandatory inheritors. So, that is not an issue, it would seem.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the reply. I tried to find the info that alluded to a minimum of 6 months resedencey in the Philippines per year; I was unable to find it!
I did look at the online 13A visa application form from the Philippines Embassy in London:
http://philembassy-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/visaform3.pdf
It is noted at the bottom of page 1: ‘The non-quota immigrant visa is a one-year multiple entry visa which should be renewed in the Philippines for three (3) consecutive years. On the fourth year (3rd renewal), the applicant may apply for permanent residency in the Philippines.’
This would indicate that the 13A visa is not permanent if issued overseas. 🙁
Am I missing something?
Not correct. Mine was issued abroad, it is valid and permanent. My ACR-i card is also marked as permanent.
Depends on whose name the property is
(1) Land can only be owned by Philippine citizens and dual citizens (your children)
(2) Condo, if it is already in your name, you are owner of it until you pass away and then your children inherit it.
Talk with lawyer and best to prepare a will properly. Visa can be revoked if you don’t make annual report. Make one visit to Philippines at the minimum once a year. If it is difficult for you, then transition to SRRV permanent visa through investment.
Bob. What are the requirements to re-apply for a 13g visa since I got one before but I left the country for more than a year. Do I need to resubmit another paperworks for it like application, picture ID, etc..etc. Do I need to go back to the Bureau of Immigration and apply and pay the fees.
Hi Ed – If your 13g was canceled, yes, you will just need to start all over again. Are you sure it is no longer active?
How do you know it has expired? Did you make annual report once a year? did you get any letter or proof from them stating it has expired and stating why it has expired?
Hi Bob!! I’m mark been married a filipina for a month now and wanted to get a 13a resident visa. Is the embassy or consulate change the procedures to get these legal documents easier and hassle free?
Hi Mark – When I applied for and received my 13g (virtually the same as a 13a) it was not really much of a hassle to do. I am not aware of any laws or policies being changed. Have you tried applying to see what they require of you?
Hi Bob, is it true that 13 a requires my ameican husband to have 10,000$ in hes account? What if he dont have that kind of money cause all hes getting is a social security pension disability ? Is there any other visa type that he can apply for? Thanks, Sheila.
It is not true. He must show that he is able to support himself financially , but there is no set amount of money required.
Hi
Im Fe Graf former Filipina I got 13G permanent residence Visa and now again in Germany.
Do I need to extend or reapply my 13G Visa
How do you think it will cost?
Thanks
Hi Bob, I am a British citizen but natural born Filipina. Not dual citizen. My husband want to moved to Philippines once he retires. Few more years. My question is am i still able to live in Philippines buy a property under the limitations of BP 185 RA7045? I have come acrross to this information while browsing online but I am not sure if this was true. And what are the required documents needed for 13 series visa? I am also looking to buy a farm in Davao.A farm planted with coconuts, mangos, bananas and some ricefield would be lovely. Maybe Feyma knows someone’s selling.
Thank you.
Maayong buntag Davao!
In my opinion, the best thing you can do is to get your Dual Citizenship. There is no downside and a lot of upsides.
Yes, though, you can still own land under the restrictions you enumerated.
For information on the requirements for a 13(a) or 13(g) visa, I would recommend you check these two articles:
http://liveinthephilippines.com/my-13a-visa-experience/
http://liveinthephilippines.com/a-new-13a-visa-experience/
Good luck. Maayong Gabii. 🙂
Hi,
I have been married to a Filipino man for more than 20 years. We got married in Guam and moved to California. He is a legal U.S. Permanent resident and has the card for that. I am a U.S. citizen. We want to retire in the Philippines and both live there. I will be getting my social security retirement in a month or so. So we want to move the start of next year.
Since he is a U.S. permanent resident, but still has a Filipino passport, he’s still a Filipino citizen.
The 13a visa doesn’t cover spouses from the U.S.
Does he need a 13g in this case? What do I need to move over there with him?
I don’t know what to do.
Hi! You are incorrect that the 13A doesn’t cover spouses from the USA, it does! I am American and have had a 13 series visa for 18 years already!
Your husband doesn’t need a visa since he is a citizen.
It sounds like you can use some help! We would be happy to consult with you and give you all of the information you need. Check out our services here.
CORRECTION: WE BOTH LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, NOT THE PHILIPPINES! SORRY.
I have been married to a Filipino man for more than 20 years. We got married in Guam and moved to California. He is a legal U.S. Permanent resident and has the card for that. I am a U.S. citizen. We want to retire in the Philippines and both live in california. I will be getting my social security retirement in a month or so. So we want to move the start of next year.
Since he is a U.S. permanent resident, but still has a Filipino passport, he’s still a Filipino citizen.
The 13a visa doesn’t cover spouses from the U.S.
Does he need a 13g in this case? What do I need to move over there with him?
I don’t know what to do.
Understood. No problem.
Hi Bob,
Reina is planning to get her dual citizenship soon. We are planning to retire in Butuan City either next year or at the latest 2020. For me I am hoping to limit the time spent in the immigration office. I have not had a chance to listen to the pod cast just yet but this is a topic that is on the front burner for us.
Mike Coyne
Do you know of any waiver for the 13g or 13a? The fees for them are impossibly expensive!
It costs only a few hundred US Dollars to get a 13A. If you can’t afford that, then you can’t afford to live in the Philippines. Same applies to a 13G.
I AM A FORMER PHILIPPINE CITIZEN, NATURALIZE U.S. CITIZEN SINCE 1982. I AM PLANNING ON GOING BACK TO MY FAMILY IN THE PHILIPPINES PERMANENTLY AS I LIVE ALONE IN THE U.S. I HAVE INQUIRED FROM SOCIAL SECURITY REGARDING MY PENSION. MY ONLY DRAW BACK IS THE $10,000.00 TO BE DEPOSITED IN A BANK IN MANILA. I WILL NEVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAVE THAT MUCH. WHY IS SUCH REQUIREMENT NEEDED. I WILL NOT BE A BURDEN TO THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT AS I WILL HAVE A STEADY INCOME AND WILL HAVE A MEDICAL INSURANCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
Hi, I am sorry (actually this is good for you) but you are misinformed. There is no requirement for a $10k deposit, unless you want an SRRV visa, which you don’t need.
You should get:
1. A 13G Visa, which is outlined in this article.
2. Philippine Dual Citizenship. You can keep your US citizenship and also recover your Philippine Citizenship.
Good luck.
Good day sir, do you have a copy of joint letter of application for 13A visa? My husband is an American we will apply for a 13A visa this December when he arrive. We have no idea what we will write in the letter. Hope you could help us. Thank you