Do you live in the Philippines?
Even if you don’t live in the Philippines, have you been in the country for more than 59 days?
If you have been here for 59 days or more, you are required to get an ACR I-Card.
An ACR I-Card is not a visa, but many people think it is. In fact, since it is not a visa, the ACR I-Card does not allow you any certain length of stay in the country.
Fact, is an ACR I-Card is only an Identification card, but it is an ID card that you are required to have if you are a foreigner staying in the Philippines for 59 days or longer.
What happens, though, if you lose your ACR Card, or if it is stolen? Well, in today’s Podcast, I give you the answers. I tell you what you must do to rectify the situation and get back in compliance with the law of the country.
So, listen in and get the scoop on how you can fix your problem is you suddenly lose your ACR I-Card.
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Thanks again for listening, everybody!
you say it takes a few weeks to get your ACR card. So do you have to apply for it right away so you get it before the 59 days come due, or do you have to wait the 59 days first? I’m asking this because I want to open up a Philippine bank account, and I have heard you can’t open up a bank account in the Philippines without an ACR card.
Hi Michael – You are not allowed to apply for an ACR I-Card until you have been in the Philippines for 59 days, at which point you are required to apply. There are a couple of exceptions – those on an SRRV or Balikbayan type visa are not required to apply.
It is not true that you cannot open a bank account without an ACR card. It is more difficult, but not impossible. There is no legal requirement to have an ACR card in order to get a bank account. It just depends on the policy of the bank branch.
bob i have a ACR card valid for 12 months only ,am i required to have a ACR-1 card
i have been in davao city since oct 2013 with no expectation to return to australia
in the near future
Hi Rod. Given the amount of time you have been here, you are indeed required to have a valid ACR card, unless you have an SRRV or balikbayan visa.
thanx for u r reply bob
so i take it now that a ACR-1 card is not required just the ACR card 12 mths.??
no i dont hold a SSRV or a Balikbayan visa. cheers …………..
Hi Rod – There is not and never has been an ACR “1” card. It has always been an ACR “I” card (the letter I). There are no changes, it is still the same as it always has been the same. If you have any kind of visa other than an SRRV or Balikbayan, and have been in the country for 59 days or more, you must have an ACR Card (I Card). At 59 days you may apply for one, and you will be issued a receipt that you carry until you have received your card.
sorry bob i miss read it
When I opened an account with BDO I had to have an ACR card. I also had to dress up in long trousers, shoes and socks, shirt with a collar and obtain a TIN number from the BIR.
Hi Murray – Each bank branch has their own policies on what is needed. I have walked into banks with no ACR, no TIN or anything else and walked out with an account. But, each branch is different.
Doing business in the Philippines is not a casual thing. Wearing nice clothes is important if you are doing business here. It is a matter of respect. I would recommend always doing that if you are doing business in the Philippines.
Murray, I opened an account in BDO just two weeks ago, and needed NONE of those. I was wearing flip-flops, shorts, and a t shirt!!!
Hi John – As I keep saying… these policies are set on a branch by branch basis. What happens at one BDO branch is not the same as what happens at another BDO branch. It is up to the branch manager. So, it is understandable that what you experienced is different from what Murray experienced.
Yes Bob. I understand that. One thing I don’t understand here, is their attitude to shorts. Considering it’s a tropical country. I can wear a nice, smart pair of Gucci designer shorts, and I’m not acceptable. I can wear a pair of dirty old, torn jeans from the local flea market, and I am!
Hi John – Yes, that is true. But, that is the culture. We cannot change it. We can either choose to live with it, continue to be upset, or move somewhere else where the culture is more acceptable to us. I choose to try to live in a more culturally acceptable way, and it makes my life more enjoyable.
Hi John
It wasn’t BDO who wanted me to dress up, it was the BIR. I find it amusing the different names for flip flops, flip flops is Australian, in New Zealand we call them jandals, here in the Philippines they are called slippers. Can an American please advise me what they are called in the USA.
We call them flip flops in the States, Murray. There was a day when they were called “thongs” but that word has slightly changed meaning these days! 🙂
Murray, all government offices here used to be very strict, on dress code. However the BOI in Manila has relaxed this somewhat.. You just need to be dressed “smartly”, but still no slippers/flip-flops/thongs!!!(but maybe thongs are ok for the girls!)
If i dont live in philipines but i am married to a fillipino girl now for 3 years do i still need a ….acr1 card???
Hi Greg – It is an ACR I card. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking it is a ACR 1 card, but it is not.
You only need an ACR card if you are in the Philippines for a time exceeding 59 days. If you are not, you have no need for one! 🙂
It took bout 4-5 months after I paid for my card to receive it Nov 2013 when it did come it was good into the next year………….2015
Hi Lenny – Usually, ACR cards have a 5 year validity, so it seems strange that it took 4 or 5 months to get and then was only good for another year or so. I am not saying that is not possible, but it doesn’t line up with what the law is.
It depends on what sort of visa you are on. If you are classified as a tourist the ACR card is only valid for one year, if you are a resident (13a, 13g, retirement, or quota visa) it is valid for five years.
Understood, Murray. My apologies, I thought you were on a resident visa. 🙂
I wish I was Bob, but I can’t afford a retirement or quota visa, and I am having great difficulty in finding a nice Pinay to marry. Perhaps if I moved from Angeles City to Mindanao my luck might change. I spent some time in Iloilo and met some pretty nice girls there. LOL
Yeah, I understand. When I got married, 25 years ago, it was easy to find a good lady here. Now, it is extremely difficult. I was lucky to find my wife, she is a great lady, but many people were able to find good wives here then. Nowadays…. too many scammers out there.
Bob, I am so happy for you and Feyma
Thank you Murray! I sincerely hope you the find the same jackpot that I did!
Agree 100% with you. I am blessed to have my lovely wife.
Thanks, Bob, another informative topic. The last time I updated mine (yearly since I’m still a technically a tourist after almost 7 years), the local BI office in Makati was pretty indifferent if I renewed it or not. I always do renew it though, great form of ID, and as you stated, it IS the law.
Yes, it is a good idea to do the renewal, since like you say… it is the law! Glad you enjoyed the podcast, Floyd! Have a great day.
Bob, have you done your annual report yet? Some are saying no extra paperwork this year, in and out in 10 mins.
Hi John, nice to hear from you. I usually do my report in February. I have heard reports that it us quite easy. However, I have also heard reports that in Davao they are requiring the same complicated process as last year. Hard to know which is correct.
Hi Bob, I did the annual report about a week ago, in Bacolod City field office. it was easier than last year, but before you go to the office, have a look at the BI web page and click under “Annual Report” There is some important information you should take note in order for your annual report to be processed swiftly when you arrive at the office. of course you will take your passport, I Card and the receipt from last years annual report. Just for the record, this is in Bacolod City, a small field office that does not have all the modern equipment like Davao, so it may be a different experience you may encounter, but definitely not like last year. Cheers Richie R.
Hi Richie – I’m glad to hear that it is easier this year in Bacolod. That is good news. Unfortunately, in Davao it is a repeat of last year’s procedure again. Not sure why, but I am getting many reports about it now.
Sure sounds like a lot of samok and gasto Bob! Good job we are balikbayans ! (:-))
Hi Malcolm – For me, the Balikbayan would not be the right way to go. I am glad it works well for you. But, I don’t care to have to leave the country on a regular basis. We are in different situations, that’s all.
Balikbayan is a good visa also, but would not be ideal for me, Malcolm.
Yes, its only really for visitors with Filipino spouses. Is it still 12 months Bob?
Yes, it is 12 months, Malcolm. After 12 months you can either leave, or you can convert it to a tourist visa and stay up to another 36 months (with the proper extensions at the proper intervals). You can live here on a Balikbayan Visa, you just have to leave the country when it expires, then re-enter the next day and receive another Balikbayan Visa. I know a number of people doing that.
Wasnt there talk of them changing it to 2 years for the bailbayan visa?
If there was, I never heard that talk, Malcolm. 🙂
I actually thought it was you that mentioned it a couple of years ago Bob…No?…I know it would be a lot more convenient for the ex pats who live in Phills just using that method..
No, I have never mentioned that, because I never heard of any talk of extending it. As far as I know, the Balikbayan is one year and will stay at that time period. I feel that using the Balikbayan visa would be a pretty inconvenient way to live here, because you would have to keep leaving the country every year. I have been here 15 years and never left. With my 13a, I have to go report at the BI one time per year, it usually takes about 15 minutes each year. For me, that is the most hassle free way to live here. But, we all have different situations and different preferences, I understand that.
How about if you were to get Filipino citizenship, would that not be better ?
Sure, it would be, Malcolm Mac. But, you want to talk about a hassle? After applying it takes about 10 years to get the citizenship. It is also very expensive, figure on spending about a half million pesos as part of the application process. I want to become a Philippine citizen, but it is just too much hassle and expense to be worthwhile to me.
p200,000. And it takes one year after you begin the application. That is only because you have to file the intention form 1 year in advance. The actual application only takes a few months at best.
I am sorry, Hans, but you are completely incorrect. I have a very close friend, like a brother, who is going through the process right now. The numbers you quoted are nowhere near correct.
Oh I see! LOL you are better off as you are then. The most I would want to stay in Phills would be about 4 months a year to avoid the winter in UK! So a Ballibayan is great for me. Love getting that stamp in Manila! It is damned cold here at the mo! We are expecting snow tomorrow . Goodnight Bob, time for beddybyes!
Thank you, Malcolm. Have a good night! Get some dreams of the tropical beach and my sipping on my buko juice! 🙂 I will be thinking of you with each sip!
Cheers…I will be thinking of you when I am throwing snowballs!! lol
Bob why is it a computer generated voice asking a question ?
Hi Argo – Because the person with the question did not wish to leave a voice message. When people don’t wish to record the message, I just run their email through the voice software. I hope it is not a problem.
Hi!
When I arrived to Philippines, I asked to get and pay for a 59 days visa. They asked me how long I will stay in Philippines. I told that I will stay 3 months and they made me a stamp for 90 days! So now I don’t know if I should go to Immigration to get an I-Card or not…?
That is highly unusual, Andrew. I have never heard of such a thing! Legally, if you stay more than 59 days you are required to have an ACR I Card.
Hi Bob, this may be a silly question, but can you tell me where I can find the ACR number once you have the card? I’m filling out the latest Tourist Visa Extension form and it’s asking for the “Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) Number”. Is it the F140…555TV number in your photo (on this blog post) above the chip? Or is it the 9-digit (XXX XXX XXX) number on the back of the card above the bar code? There’s also a 13-digit “CONTROL NO” on the top of the back of the card in small grey/silver print. The Tourist Visa Extension form contains space for 20 digits under where it wants you to write the ACR Number which is why I’m a little confused.
I also tried looking on my various receipts from the Bureau of Immigration for the ACR number but couldn’t find it anywhere. I wonder where else you could find it if you were to lose your card and needed to know your ACR number?
Hi sir. Is it true that we don’t need to renew my husband ACR-I card if his on a BB ( Balikbayan Visa)?
Those who are on Balikbayan Stamp do not require an ACR I-Card.
I came back to india for my vacation from philippines . In India I lost my ACR I-Card . How to claim it back and if it is not possible how can i go back to philippines ? Please help me
I’m foregin student and I’m study in Philippines and I lost my ACR card during vacation in my country so what can I do and I came back Philippines?
Read this article, this article outlines what you have to do.
Hi ! My son is a student in AUP University and he is to fly back home for holidays but lost his I-Card can he leave the airport with out card and can he come back and make a new
Where can I re print for my annual report receipt…I lost it