Just a quick note for anybody who is coming to the Philippines on a tourist visa. As I have said before, on your initial tourist visa, which is automatically issued upon entry, you get to stay in the country for 30 days. Near the end of your 30 day stay, if you wish to stay in the Philippines longer, you will need to go and extend your visa.
In order to renew your visa, you need to go to the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) and file for an extension. The process has changed slightly, though, and you need to know before you go to the BoI. They are now requiring that you present two ID photos (2″x2″ each) with your application. If you do not have the photos, your visa extension will be denied.
Getting the photos is very easy. On nearly any street block in the Philippines you can find a shop or even street stand where they take ID photos for a very small price. Just stop at any of these and pick up your photo on the way to your visa renewal at the BoI.
Hi Bob,
Just a quick question if I may. Entering the country on a normal 21 day visit, I naturally have a return flight booked within that timeframe. If I now apply for a Tourist Visa and my time alloted is extended to 59 days what becomes of my return ticket requirements that Philippine Immigration has in place. i.e. My ticket has expired now that I am on a visitors visa. Is it a requirement that I always purchase a return flight each 59 days or a ticket out of the country. Or is is feasible to obtain an open return for my length of stay?
I am applying for residency when I arrive in Manila in August and know their can be some delays in the receipt or approval that would require me to renew my visitors visa at lease once. My retirement is final from my engineering position at that time and my Filipina wife, who resides in Dumaguete will meet me in Manila for my residency application.
Thanks and I hope I haven't confused you too much.
Bob Budzbanowski……….WB8QEP
Hi Bob B – Firstly, you cannot "immediately" extend your 21 day visa. You must do so a few days before it expires. They won't let you do it right after you enter in most cases. Now, regarding your return ticket…. in most cases, if you have a return ticket, even if it is beyond 21 days you will be OK. So, you should be able to book your return for when you actually want to return, not within 21 days. But, if you need to, you can generally contact the airline and change your departure date. With some low price tickets, they cannot be changed, so you need to check before buying the ticket to be certain that the departure date can be extended.
I would definitely recommend getting an open return ticket.
Good luck!
Hi Bob what hapen the other article example the bakikbayan
visa and no remember what other article you write this is very
importand Because somes I go read again I thinging same
to me make the new foreigners have plan to come in philippines.
Hi Zois – Over the next 3 or 4 days, each of those articles about the various visas available in the Philippines will be re-posted so that new visitors can keep up with this important information. Just keep following along and you will be seeing them again soon.
hi bob! i want to go to philippines to go studying at manila, in what procedure i will do and how
You will need to get a student visa, sam, if you want to study here.
Bob- I see this article dates from 2006. Are there any changes that people should be aware of ?
Hello ian – To my knowledge there is nothing new. As far as I am aware, a 2″ x 2″ photo is still required.