This article has been updated for changes in policy for 2017. The updates appear at the bottom of the article.
When you decide to live in the Philippines, you need to get some sort of visa that will allow you to live here. In my opinion, for those who qualify, a Resident Visa is the best way to go!
So, you ask… how do you qualify? Actually, it’s quite simple. If your spouse is a Philippine Citizen, or a former Citizen of the Philippines, you can qualify. You will need to fill out an application, take some medical tests, get police clearances and such, then send it all in to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your area. Generally, it takes only a week or two for your visa to be approved, and then you have six months to enter the Philippines, and live here for good! No need to leave the country from time to time, no need to go to the Immigration office ever 2 months, etc.
In addition to applying for the visa in your home country, you can also apply after you arrive in the Philippines, but I would strongly recommend that you do the application before coming to the Philippines. Doing it here involves a lot of hassles, extra paperwork, takes months to process, and will probably require some extra money on this end. Take my advice… do it at home!
When you apply for your resident visa, if your spouse is a Philippine Citizen you will be applying for a 13(a) visa. If your spouse is a former Citizen you will be applying for a 13(g) visa. With either of these visas you are also allowed to work in the Philippines!
The only requirement is that once per year (in January/February) you are required to check-in at the Bureau of Immigration office.
2017 Updates
No Longer Living Together?
As I mentioned earlier in this article, your ability to get a Resident Visa (13 Series) is based on being Married to a Philippine Citizen (13A) or a former Philippine Citizen (13G). Over the past few years, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has started cracking down on this. In the past, even if you had an annulment or divorce, they did not revoke your 13 Series Resident Visa. But, for the past few years, more and more, the BI has started revoking resident visas for those who are no longer married. Furthermore, it has even come to the point that if you are still married, but separated, no longer living together, your Resident Visa will be revoked! If the BI finds out that you are no longer together with your spouse, they are revoking 100% of those resident visas.
So, how will they find out? Well, they are asking this question now. When you go to do your annual report (you must go to the Bureau of Immigration every year – in January or February – to report and pay a “head tax” of P310. Much of the time, when you do your annual report now, or have other business with the BI, they will ask you if you are still married and living with your wife.
Guam Divorce
Something that happens fairly commonly here is that expats will go to Guam and file a divorce case. It is very easy and quick to establish residence in Guam if you are American, so if you go there for a week or 10 days, you can come back home to the Philippines with a divorce in progress, and it can be completed very quickly. The BI officials at the airport know about this, and it is very common now that if they see a 13 Series Visa holder returning from Guam they will ask if you are getting a divorce in Guam, and if you are, they will revoke your Resident Visa. You can still enter on a tourist visa, but your 13 Series Resident Visa will go bye-bye.
So, this is the new state of Resident Visas in the Philippines. Be forewarned.
Bob,
Doesn't the 13 series visa require a person to check with the Immigration Office to get permission to leave the country?
Dan
Bob,
From what I gather, since I’m a U.S. citz and my spouse is a naturalized pinay, we just need the 13(g) visa in order to reside in the Philippines without having to depart the country yearly and just check in with immigration once a year. Can we still leave the Philippines like to visit the U.S. without having to get another 13(g) visa? Thanks.
Dan
Yes, you are correct, a 13g is what you need to get.
Yes, you can leave the Philippines to go abroad and do not need to get a new visa.
hi Bob. i am a permanent resident in the philippines 13A with an ACR . all what you have said is correct but i still have a question which i didnt get a chance to inquire about it yet.
i left the philippines for vacation for the 1st time after obtaining my permanent resident and in the airport they charged me around 100$ calling it immigration fees. what do you know about that knowing that the lady there is saying that whenever i leave i have to pay the same amount. have you ever encountered that.? tnx
Off the top of my head,there are three fees that you should have been charged in the airport:
1. ECC Fee, which is around P500.
2. Terminal fee, I am not sure how much that is these days, it changes from time to time.
3. Travel Tax, which is P2,560 or close to that amount.
You should have been issued a receipt, which would list in detail every charge.
I’ve lived here since 2010 and yes you still have to pay the exit fee at the airport every time you leave. You are allowed to come and go as often and as long as you want. I have also been able to get a senior citizen card that saves you 20%. I use my wife’s Phil-Health card. There are a lot of benefits if you know what you are doing.
I am sorry my friend, but it is it illegal for you to use or even possess that senior discount card that is reserved only for people who are citizens of the Philippines and live in the Philippines. Be very careful, because you can automatically be deported if you are caught with that.
I use my Philippines driver license
You can use anything you like, but it is illegal for a foreigner to get a Senior Discount. In most cases it won’t cause you a problem, it won’t be reported. But if it is, that is a deportable offense.
Good luck to you.
Hello Bob i am a filipina living here in belgium i only have a f card holder (5 years holder).
I want to return to philippines and stay there like 6 months is it possible to return in belgium without getting new visa?
My son also is born here in belgium he will not have any problem staying in the philippines an returning in belgium if ever were allowed to stay and not loose our or my visa?
Thank you in advance.
I am sorry, basically you are asking me about the laws in Belgium, and I know nothing about that. Good luck to you.
Once you are married and have your NSO marriage certificate you can apply.
Hello Bob.
I am a Filipina, living here in Germany. We plan to retire in the Philippines, so for now we are planning our future while we are capable of working.
My question is, if my husband will apply for ACR card as a resident, can he also apply for SSS? Or such other security stuffs which we can have benefits if we get old?
Having other sources is better than just relying on our future retirements. All gets expensive and we want to get independent and not ask for allowances from our kids if we get old. You know even up until now, Filipinos still have that mentality. We still give help to my family/ parents in there. Not a problem though, but we don’t want to be like that. We don’t want to burden our kids and be just independent and secure in the future.
Thanks so much.
Lordz
How about to those country that are not belong to 13a/13g list, what is our option?
I am filipina and married with Nepalese in Nepal but we already have record of marriage at NSO what kind of visa do you think he can apply if he wants to stay in Philippines?
Read the comments. I have covered this at least 100 times in the comments.
If I may add: If a 13A visa holder departs the Philippines and does not return prior to the new year or within 60 days of that new year to “report” to immigration, on return they must “report” to BOI within three days. Even with the advent of technological advances, business requires me to leave for extended periods.
Hi bob,I am Filipina I’m married since last year,my husband planning to stay here in the Philippine for permanent residence.but I don’t know exactly how much the exact price ? Please I need your hepl
The cost of a resident visa varies widely. Depends on where he applies, other factors too. If he budgets $500 for the whole thing, he should be fine.
Doesn’t the permanent resident Visa require a $10,000 deposit into Citibank for an approved Philippine Bank?
No, it does not. I believe you are confusing a 13 series resident visa with an SRRV (Special Retiree’s Resident Visa) which does have deposit requirements, although not with Citibank, nor is it always $10k.
The SRRV Visa for Military is available to Australians n US citizens, amount to deposit is USD1,500 plus USD35-00 every 3 yearsfor yr white card. YOU ARE EXEMPT FROM ALL ENTRY AND EXIT COSTS. A Classic SRRV is for anyone else and requires USD 10,000 deposited, which may be used to buy a Condo or pay for a long term lease. I have had my Aussie Air Force SRRV now for 4 years, have just renewed it for 3 years, cost US$35-00 and it is great. Rob Haydon Angeles City, Pampanga.
Thank you, Rob. Just one clarification. The SRRV is not only available to US and Aussie vets. It is available to citizens of many, many countries around the world. Also, There are 4 “flavors” of SRRV, so the classic is not “for everybody else” it is for most though.
hello Bob 🙂 my British husband wants to live here in the Philippines.
i have read that there are plenty of requirements in applying Residence visa. i just want to ask you if these are really needed in applying such residence visa.
-Notarized letter of application by the Filipino spouse
-Accomplished and Notarized General Application Form
-Filipino spouse birth cert authenticated by the NSO
-Authenticated copy of marriage cert by the NSO
-Immigration Clearance Certificate
-Copy of foreigners passport showing the date of arrival
-Certification of Savings Bank Account with the minimum of 10000 US dollar on it to prove that can financially support the family.
-pay about 10k for application and 10k for approval
and it takes several weeks or even months before finally receive the Resident Visa. But the first application it said will be granted for only one year and after that another application again and will be good already for ten years.. i just wonder that it is the opposite of what you said that it is very simple to apply for a resident visa. just want to know more and i hope it will be easy for my husband to apply for it 🙂
Hello Irish,
Most of the information you have is correct, but the following are not correct:
1. I have never heard of an “Immigration Clearance Certificate” and do not believe there is any such requirement.
2. There is a need to prove finanial ability to support yourself, but there is no requirement that it must be $10k in the bank.
3. If the visa is applied for outside the Philippines it is permanent, not for a 1 year probationary period. If you apply in the Philippines it is probationary for 1 year.
That’s correct you have to ask permission to travel out of the Philippines whilst a 13A residents visa is been processed which is a big wait up to 3 months they have massive backlogs in Manila Immigration offices( if you apply in Cebu it still goes to Manila) not a couple of weeks I’m afraid and if you went home alone and not come back in with your wife on a balik bayan visa you are issued with a tourist visa and have to renew that until your 13A is ready. You pay up front for your 13A application which is around 9000 pesos and still pay for the tourist visas you must keep your stay legitimate yes you pay twice in effect no getting around that one then the 13A its a probationary one year the 13A gets converted to a full residents visa after this period.
The 13A is worth the hassle as you can access bank loans for building a house which the 13A qualifies you if you can make the repayment budget if you don’t pay they’ll take your land off you. Then the 13A saves renewing visas but you must report once a year in January for annual reporting at minimum cost. You don’t need a 13A to get a bank loan for a SUV or car just proof of pension and 3 months in the local bank. To track your 13A go to Immigration Philippines and read the outcomes for that month and be warned its a very slow process and if you try phoning nine times out of ten you will not get through and get no answers you desire so be patient bank on 3 months from when they say it may be done.
Hi dan I am married to a Philippine lady and we have a baby girl there I want to live in the Philippines can i get my police cleace her in Mexican or can I do everything in the Philippines what do i need to do
Hi Dan – that used to be the case, but it is no longer like that. This year, all foreign immigrants living here were required to obtain what is called an "ACR-iCard". It is a little yellow card with a computer chip built in. Now, when you are going to leave the country, at the airport they just scan your ACR iCard and you are on your way. No more need to go to the Immigration Office before leaving the country.
Yes, but you need to pay almost 3000 pesos for everytime you leave the country! I was shocked and can still not understand why the country treats its foreign residents this way.
Yes, that is correct. The original commenter did not ask about exit taxes, though, only permission to leave the country.
hello Bob my name is Bill and I was married to a Filipino woman who passed away 3 years ago March 2012. we were buying land there and I finished making all payments. a real estate agent in the Philippines told me that I would be the legal owner because I am now the beneficiary. I plan to return to the Philippines in the next few months after i sell my house in USA. I would like to retire there. am I able to apply for a permanent visa before I leave the states? or because my wife passed away I must go to the Philippines and apply my visa? am I able to get a permanent visa or do I need to get married again? any advice you have for me will be appreciated. Thanks
Hi Bill, I am sorry to hear of the death of your wife.
Firstly. I am afraid that the real estate agent has misinformed you. The Philippine constitution expressly will not allow you to own property in the country.
Secondly, more bad news. Because of the death of your spouse, you no longer qualify for a resident visa. You have to either remarry or look into getting an SRRV retirement visa instead.
he can own the property automatically if his wife died after they get married..
No, he can’t.
Hi Bob I am reside in the Philippines since 2012,my first visa was student visa,but now I’m bout to get marry to a Filipina citizenship, what can I do in order for me to have Philippines citizenship? Is that possible? If I will marry her will I still have 9(f) or what sir?
After marriage, you have to live in the Philippines 5 years and then you can apply. After applying it will take 7 to 10 years.
If you want to learn how to do it and what all is involved, we can set up a consultation, just let me know.
not true. I own 12 properties with my wife and if she dies I legally own my house. I have already checked on this.
I said nothing about owning properties, you mentioned the senior discount card and that is what I was talking about. It is illegal under current Philippine law for you to have or possess that. Good luck to you.
My Philippiine wife died 8 months ago and I was told that I could get a 13A once my daughter turns 30 in 2 and a half years is that true?
You can get a 13A if you marry another Filipina. But, your child, regardless of her age, would have no impact on whether or not you can get a 13A.
Regarding the SRRV, it seems to be the wsy to go. If you are ex-military they waive most of the $10k deposit/investment requirement. There is no annual check-in with Immigration. But you do need to renew annually with Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). $10 renewal fee and the renewal can be done entirely by email. Supposedly no extra exit fees, and no pre-travel clearances required, but I have not tested that yet.
I’ve done one renewal, and the PRA office in Cebu has been very easy to work with.
I agree.
You mentioned ex-military. I’m prior US Navy. Do I qualify for the discount? If so, where and how do I apply. Is the discount good for the 13a also?
Hi bob.. Can I ask something if my fiance marry me in Philippines. Is he can stay longer together with me in Philippines without any visa?I’m filipina and he is British citizen. Please help me to know what to do. Thank you very much.
Your boyfriend can enter the Philippines under the Visa Waiver program, and he can stay in the Philippines for up to 36 months with no visa, as long as he extends at the appropriate times and pays for his extensions. After you marry, he can get a 13a resident visa and live here permanently.
Hi Bob, what is the mean of visa Waiver program?
Bob,
Some years ago I had a 13a visa and surrendered it when I returned to the states. I understand that I am not eligiable for another but a 13e might be an option. I have been unable to get any information from the local Philippine Consulate, as I understand this is something that has to be applied for in country, and am wondering it you have any information on this type (13e non-quota immigrant) visa?
Thanks, Alan
Hi Alan – I am sorry to say that I am not familiar with the requirements or benefits of a 13e. If you are still married to a Filipina you should be eligible to re-obtain a 13a though.
Hi bob,I marriage the Pilipino man but his citizen card is not come yet.can I go to Philippine that my pe
rmanent residence
Is not yet .can I help me if what a good idia to go in Philippine
Hi Bob,
What kind of visa do you have? I don't know in the states, but here in Canada I think )I still have to verify it) we should not leave the country more than six month if you don't want to loose some benefits. I have a friend who live in Belgium and will verify with him. Regarding the doctors and medicine, how do you qualify them…the services and evrything is it good? still enjoy this site thank you again
Hi Patrice – I have a 13(g) Resident Visa. It allows me to stay here permenantly without need to leave on yearly trips like a tourist visa would require. I find that living on the 13(g) to be the way to go in my case. So far I've been here for over 6 years and have never left the Philippines. So, making regular trips out just for visa purposes would be inconvenient for me.
The thing you are talking about with having to be in Canada part of the time to keep certain benefits is not something that is a problem in the USA. For us, it doesn't matter how long you are gone, you lose nothing. I am not in that position anyway, as I don't get anything in the way of benefits from the government anyway. I do know Canadians who live here, but I don't know what they do about the supposed 6 month requirement.
Regarding health care, I will be posting a new post about that in the next few days, so keep an eye on the blog!
That’s not quite totally correct if you’re gone from the US longer than 30 days and you are on SSI sssid benefits you lose your benefits
What you say applies to some types of SSI benefits, but not others, Randy.
True Bob. I am a retired American living in the Philippines. I get direct deposit to BDO dollar account from the SSI in the United States. I just transfer it into my peso account at BDO. I currently have my ACR-1 (tourist) card and I am applying for my permanent resident card because I am married to a Filipina. Philippine Immigration in Tacloban said it is about p10,000 before all said and done. It will save some where in the neighborhood of p2000. + – every 2 months for visa renewals.
What you are doing is a federal crime.
I too am on SSI, and it is a Federal Crime to move out of the STATE that gives it to you. On REGULAR SOCIAL SECURITY you can move anyplace in the world on that (as long as you continue to be an American citizen) but SSI does NOT WORK like that! But, the worst that can happen to you, since you are in the Philippines already, is that they cut your money to zilch 0 and you have no money perhaps. They can’t hardly arrest you.
Hi Bob. Is it possible to apply for a resident visa through a Philippine Embassy in a country other than your country of origin whilst working abroad. Also if working outside the Philippines with a resident permit, would I be liable for tax on my earnings. And one more, is it possible to have property registered in my name if I had a resident permit. I am married to a Filipina.
Hi John – wow, you are full of questions! That's OK, I am happy to answer for you!
Applying for a Resident Visa (13 series) should be possible from wherever you are living. I am thinking of one thing that may be a problem for you, though. You need to have police clearances from the police in every location where you have lived over the past five years. So, if you lived in the USA, in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or whatever, you would need police clearances from each of those places.
Regarding taxes – under Philippine Law, as an ex-pat foreigner, you are not liable for income taxes on any income that is from a foreign source. So, for example, if you get your money from the USA, or from The UK, you do not have to pay Philippine taxes on it. Even if you are living in the Philippines when the money is paid to you, you have no tax liability as long as the money comes from a foreign (non Philippine) source.
Regarding property ownership. Sorry, but no matter what you do, what kind of visa you have or whatever, you can not own property in the Philippines. There is no exception to this. Your wife, as a Philippine Citizen (or former Philippine Citizen) may own property in her name.
Good luck to you, John! Come back and visit again!
Hi Bob & Jhon,
Im a filipina with dual citizen, my husband is french. I made a permanent visa for him in Philippines last january this year. He got it just for a month of processing because i have a friend in the imigration, but i paid 500 euro to my friend which was just normal compare to others. The permanent visa is just for one year we call it provicionary permanent visa, the philippines consulate here in france tell me that it is just normal to have one year provicion to know if i am still married with him. So next year 2012 one month before the expiry of his i-card provicion for one year, i need to process his permanent visa so that he can go & come in philippines alone or with me, but another process means another 500euro. The good things of this permanent visa are he can work in philippines like a filipino, owne a land (yes this is new) because we buy a lot in bicol region & on the way the construction on the house, can open a bank account, own a business & many more opportunities.
This is for you jhon if you buy a property in philippines you & your wife is the owner, the tittle of the land is indicate the name of the couple. In case of divorce or seperation 40% for you 60% for wife filipina according to the law in the philippines
Good luck to both of you & more power!
Hello “name” (I do ask that you use real names on this site, and I am sure that your name is not “name”).
I will tell you what I think is going to happen. You will move here, and within 6 months or a year, you and your husband will get disenchanted, and you will start complaining about the corruption in the Philippines. You will bitch and moan about so much corruption, and you might leave because of it
You know what, though? You are part of the corruption by making an illegal payment for your husband’s visa. You are as corrupt as any official here in the Philippines, because you are illegally paying money. Frankly, to me it is sickening.
I am not trying to belittle you in any way, just stating the facts.
Oh, another thing. Although you used a fake name, you linked to your website, so you can be easily identified and prosecuted.
Good luck to you, name. I think you will need it.
Hello Bob, i’m wondering why you call me (name) in fact that i write my real name or maybe i was confuse in my keyboard to type. Anyway im so sorry for that.
I want to clarify to you that i am a victim of their system (processing the i card). Before i lunch for the permanent visa of my husband i made a research, even i ask in philippines consulate her in Paris if a can process it here in France. But they told me that i can do only the request of permanet visa in Philippines. So i deepen my research for the price of this I card & i was shock of the prize they are asking for the processing one of my friend in costa palmera he is japanees he paid in immigration 250k pesos. So after a month iaccept the cost 30k pesos now is 600 euro. The bouquet is when we come back in France again Imade a request in philippine embassy if i can process again the final permanent visa here they told me only in philippines i can process. So I need to go again in immigration, but before that i ask in philippines embassy what is the opportunity of my husband to have this Icard? They tell me that he can own a lot through conjugal property, he can work, he can open an account, etc. etc. So i went in Philippines last january, feb, march 14 he had his icard but the corruption in immigration i confirm that still going on. This corruption made me mad of their system. This time im in France, i work , philippines is hell for me thier system. What can i do, i just spend a lot of money, but what can i do Bob. Philippines is my country, even i hate their system but i need to come. Good luck & more power.
Laarni
Hello Nhie – The reason I called you “name” is because that is what you put for your name on the last comment, that’s all. The cost that you mentioned of P250k is not the real cost. Somebody is playing games with that.
and i card cost only in philipines only 2500 pesos im married with filipino and for resident visa cost only nothing so what u talking abouth to pay it come on be normal greethings chris from belgium i live here in philipines
yes you are right,it cost only P 2,500.00 the ACRI card and I year validity
Hi bob can you please advise me I am a British citizen livening in cape town south Africa .i want to come and stay permanently in the phillipines and open a bar business what do I need to do ?I see you seem to have all the right intelligent answers .
Regards john roberts
Hi John – Thanks for stopping by my site and thank you for your comment.
If you are thinking of moving here and opening a bar, my very best advice to you would be to forget about it. The bar business is a tough business. It seems that every foreigner out there wants to move to the Philippines and open a bar. I would guess that around 95% or higher fail when they try, and end up losing their shirt. It has to be the #1 business idea for foreigners, though, who want to move here.
If I am not mistaken, LiP writer, Paul Thompson used to own a bar when he lived in Puerto Rico, and I believe that I have seen him write that it is not a good idea. I have never been in the bar business, but these are my impressions about the business. You might leave this question on one of Paul’s articles and get a more first hand answer, since he has been in the business before and I have not.
Hi Bob. How are you doing? I’m a Filipina and married a foreigner but we’re planning to move back permanently. I’m just wondering if you know how long it will take to get a working permit or if the visa itself will allow him to work there. I’m trying to contact our govt agency but just wanted to ask you as well since you’ve been through the process, I guess.
Will appreciate your response.
Have a good day!
It depends what type of visa he will get. If he gets a resident visa, that includes the ability to work.
Hello Bob,
We are in Guam. I went through the Philippine Consulate here on Guam and did the Physicals, Clearances, etc. The wife and kids are all dual citizens US and Philippines). I have 13a Visa that is good for 1 year.
I was told to take my large sealed envelope to Manila before the year is up. The Consulate here didn’t have any further information to give me.
Not really sure what the next step is, or who to call to make an appointment.
Can you give any insight as to what comes next/
Thank you,
Paul DavisManila.
Hi Paul – When you arrive in the Philippines, you will give the envelope to the customs/immigration officer that checks you after you get off the plane. They will send you to the Immigration Bureau, and also to the Bureau of Quarantine to complete the entry requirements for your 13a. There will be some additional fees to pay and such. It’s all easy, nothing complicated. Your visa will likely be permanent, not 1 year. Those that are issued abroad are generally made permanent immediately, so that will be good news for you!
Good luck.
Thank you for the information. The folks at the local consulate here did not have the information as to what happens next. There is one other question I have – where does the ACR I-card or IRC come into play?
Thank you,
Paul
During your time when you go take care of everything at the Bureau of Immigration you will apply for an ACR-I Card. It will be ready for you in a short time.
Oh, one other thing, name. Your information about land ownership is 100% incorrect. A foreigner is not allowed to own land here, it is forbidden by the constitution.
The constitution prohibits the foreign ownership of land. However, there are certain exception to this rule. As an example the Law on Succession provides for such exception, the condominium act also provide another, as well as the Corporation Code. But, Bob is correct in saying that generally, on his own, cannot own real property as in the ‘physical’ land. On the other hand, under the Family Code of the Philippines if a couple is married after the effectivity of the Code and no pre-nuptial agreement is entered into, the property regime that will apply to the property relation of husband and wife is the Absolute Community of Property… this means that the spouses are co-owners of all properties which the spouses separately owned at the time of the marriage and all properties they acquired during the subsistence of marriage. This serves as the best law which excepts foreigners from the constitutional prohibition. However, the title will state that the Filipino spouse who is married owns the property. The Land Registration authority requires a joint affidavit of civil status when one of the spouses is not a filipino.
I would like to counsel everybody here that for every situation there is a different treatment and different rule applies. However, I commend Bob for always sticking to the law on his opinions. I agree with Bob that Ms. Laarni has been duped by paying a large amount. For the amount she paid, I an immigration consultant with a lawyer for a partner in the consultancy, could have done her application for a more reasonable amount. Although you can do this applications by yourself, unscrupulous filipinos might prey upon you. How? By making you run around through the laws, as discussed above Philippine laws are very intricate. This is the reason why there are lawyers and consultants. Please be careful with people posing to be consultants though, including me, because some tend to be no more than fixers. A fixer will take you as a client no matter what stage of the application yours is in. As for me and my partner, we only engage a client who takes us from the very onset. We assist our client from the preparation of the requirements, hearing, and implementation of visas and claiming of the ACR card. We also have contacts in different government agencies who help us review first if all the requirements we have collated are already satisfactory. They do not fix a blatantly illegal application for us and we also do not fix things.
Again, I commend you Bob for commenting only on what you know and in always keeping with the law. I admire this community you have created because this helps us fighting corruption, at least in the immigration service, while improving and professionalizing the industry.
If ever you need help with immigration and labor matters and you are open to engaging us, e-mail me at [email protected].
I hope I could have some chat with you Bob for exchange of ideas opinion and knowledge. Piece of advice to you though Bob, dont spend time replying to the likes of Laarni, she is clearly just proceeding from “practicality” and not in legal logic.
Hi Garard,
Thank you for your kind words, and your advice. Welcome to my website!
What the attorney will do is state on the land Title your Filipinas wife’s name first married to then your full name so your not left out fully and feel part of the package and may help legally further down the line.
That's great Bob. Thanks very much, if I ever meet you there I will buy you a few pints of beer.
John
John – looking forward to seeing you in Davao! 😉
How can I get visas for my adault children ages 23 and 20 so they can live in the philippines with me and my wife who is born philipina. My wifes plans are to gain duel citz. I am going to go the 13type visa after she gets her duel
Your comments would be highly valued
Thanks
Hi Mitch – the kids, are they your kids from you Filipina wife, or from a non-Filipina wife? That will make a world of difference. I do not believe that kids over 18 years old would be eligible for a 13 series visa, but if they are your Filipina wife's kids too, they may be eligible for dual citizenship as well.
Thanks for the response.
Yes all kids are from "us" I'm American and she is born Filipina, who became a us natualized citizen so I could get my Clearance to work for the Department of State late 80's – early 90's.
This is both our only marrige 25years last xmas.
Oldest was born at the old naval base in '84, became a US citz at birth now 22, next was Hawaii, now 19, next was born in the Middle East while I working for the Navy.
Staying together is my only goal
More INFO is and will be greatly appriciated……
R,
Mitch
Hi Mitch – OK, I think that you can do it! Be sure to go and read this post about gaining dual citizenship:
http://liveinthephilippines.com/blog/?p=73
Toward the bottom of the post, there is a link where you can download the guidelines for obtaining dual citizenship. Once your wife obtains dual citizenship, the kids should be covered too (they will have to file an application, I think). Double check all of this with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the USA to be sure that it is still current.
Good luck to you!
Its a lot easier to go fo a dirty week end in hong kong once a year and get a balikbayan visa its free at the airport and lasts for a year …. no hassles no fees
Hi Alf – For somebody who is going to live here full time, I feel that a 13 series visa is the best. It is very low cost, and allows permanent stay. The cost of one trip out of the country will pay the visa, and the yearly costs are only P310. No hassles for it either.
hi i beleive i have the 13a visa…i didnt register this year i just got it last year. i just went on holiday and about to go back they scanned my acr and i paid fees at imigration thats it though. will there be any problem when i come home at immigration. if there will be is there anything i can do at the philippine embassy here in my country where it was issued
Hi nic – If you have a 13(a), it would seem that you would know about it. But, then again, if you have an ACR card, then you probably do have one! Interesting.
With a 13 series visa you are required to go and check in every January or February. You must pay a P310 fee for your check-in. You say that you paid fees at immigration, is it possible that your annual P310 was included at that time? If so, you are fine.
If the check-in was not done during your exit, you should still be OK, they will just charge you a penalty (nothing major) on your re-entry.
I have an American passport and recently married a Filipina woman in the ohillipnes on Feb 2 2018 and she is getting her passport and we want to have her come to usa and work 3,4 months and live there ,,,does she need a visa for here and can I get a resident visa from phillipines embassy in USA, what will it cost if you know and where do I start
If your wife is Filipina and wants to go to the USA, she will absolutely need a visa! It will be difficult to get too and take a long time.
For information on getting a resident visa, check my book, How to Move to the Philippines Manual.
http://expatisland.com/product/how-to-move-to-the-philippines-manual/
ah ok i didnt know about regestering every year but hopefully i can still renter…as for my 13a visa in my passport it says expires may 18th so what would i do about that do i renew it or do i need to get a new one they didnt make it too clear thanks for the quick response
Hi nic – I suspect that you have some other kind of Visa, not a 13a. 13 series visas don't expire, they are for permanent residence. Did you file police reports, have medical checkups and such before being issued the visa? Those are required for 13 series visas.
Aloha,
What a great website you have. This is a bookmark site! The Philippine consul jast gave me my sealed packet 13a for me to hand over to an immagration officer when i arrive to the Philippines next month. After i turn it over what is the process? i will be in Manila for a week can i complete processing and ba valid 13a guy? Thanks again for all you do!
Thanks for writing! Basically, when you arrive in Manila, you will then need to visit the Bureau of Immigration office in Intramuros to complete your paperwork. Don't be surprised, it may take 2 or 3 days to complete everything, unless the efficiency of the office has increased in the years since I did it. You will also be required to make a visit to the Bureau of Quarantine as well. You will probably have a few hundred dollars worth of fees to pay, and some paperwork to complete. It's nothing hard, just takes time and patience!
Bob said
"With either of these visas [13(a),13(g)] you are also allowed to work in the Philippines!"
I didn't know that. When I come to retire there, I want to be able to open a ESL tutoring school to teach English to the Koreans and maybe get into the Scuba diving business.
You will also need to secure a work permit from the labor department… and register with the bureau of internal revenue
Hi Kevin – Yes, indeed. Having a 13 series visa includes the right to work here. With your resident visa in hand you have no worries!
So I could open a small business?
Hi Kevin – Technically, yes, you could open a small business. There is only one problem… you can't legally own it! So, if you are married to a Philippine citizen, you could put the business in her name, and then you could work in the business.
There are some intricacies in this Bob… i hope you advise him to consult a lawyer.
Of course, it is always best to consult an attorney for any legal question.
Thanks for the reply Bob. My wife is Filipina and that's one possibility we're looking into. My wife could open the business and I'll work in the business. We're going back next summer for seven or eight weeks to visit family on Mindanao and then up to Cebu to check it out.
Hi Kevin – During your trip to Mindanao, should you end up around Davao, please let me know. I would enjoy meeting you!
Hi I’m aroline im filipina i am married he is romanian since last year my husband want to stay more in my country this month he want to come to stay more with me can you help us what we do if he allowed to stay in philippines without visa ? Because he come here but he stay only 30 days i dont want to accept anymore if he stay again only 30 days pls help us what we do thank you
Hi Aroline,
Sure! Just read the article above, it explains about getting a resident visa. Since you are married, he is eligible to get a permanent resident visa, and then he can stay in the Philippines for as long as he wants.
Thanks for the invite. We usually go through Davao International on our way to Digos. It would be nice to meet you too. We could all stop for lunch, or breakfast someplace.
Bob I'm living in the philippines I'm married to a filipina and we have a new born son. The bad news is i have oversyated my tourist visa and have run out of money. i've no way to get back home where i have a great job to go back to to help my family. and no one in the states to help me get back there. Basicly i'm curious to know what will happen if i go to the US embassy in manila and ask them to help me get back home. I dont want to get jailed. do they help americans get back to the states and we just pay them back? We have a japanese neighbor here who did that, he went to the japanese embassy and since he was married to a pinay and had kids they where easy on him payed his way back and he just payed it back when he got back to japan. i know i should have gotten the 13(a) visa and i will as soon as i can figure out how to get back to the states! please reply ASAP i need anyones help. i'm afraid to go to the authrities now. but i may just have to face the music and go i cant let my son suffer.
Hi Alan – Wow, I am sorry to hear of your problems. I do believe that you can get help from the US Embassy. I have heard that they will buy you a ticket home if it is needed. I believe, though that you will be required to pay back the ticket price when you are able. Also, i don't know about your fees for overstaying. Do you think you can come up with enough money to pay for that? Another thing I fear is that it is possible that you will be blacklisted and not allowed to come back, depending on how serious your over-stay is. I would recommend that you go to the US Embassy, not to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration with your problem.
Good luck to you! If possible, let us know how it all turns out.
Well i did get some good news, i have a friend who works in immigration she said they usually dont black list people who have families here but they are strict with them about getting the proper visa next time. they black list people who open illegal business or tourists who just ignore the law. my overstay is not even a year it will hit a year in july. i have a friend in the states who will wire me the money for the fee's then i'll head to the embassy. i'll be sure to let you know how it goes. thanks a lot for your help and i love your site keep up the good work. it's really chunk of golden knowlage all foreigners should read before moving here.
Hi Alan – that is indeed good news! I am happy that things look like they will work out, and I look forward to hearing about the outcome! Good luck to you.
Hello Bob,
I just want to greet you, for a very nice and helpful website you have.I was just reading all the questions of the problems of the senders here,and read your answers, and I’m touch because you we’re not a Filipino
But you know a lot, about the legality of the foreigners who want to live in the Philippines .as my husband is a Japanese, I’m quite interested about how to process the visa, but we’re planning to move here after my
husband retired from work.more or less I have an idea of processing.
Thank you!
Hi Zenyuehara, thank you for reading my site! It is my pleasure to help you if I can.
For your husband, since he is married to you, he can qualify for a resident visa to live here permanently. If you are still a Philippine Citizen, then your husband would be qualified to receive a 13a Visa. If you are no longer a Philippine citizen and became a Japanese citizen, then your husband can get a 13g visa. For either of these visas, you should contact the Philippine Embassy in Japan to apply. Once you follow their instructions and your husband gets either visa, he can legally stay here in the Philippines for as long as he wishes to stay.
Good luck to you!
hi bob. my name is rendell lee carter i would like to ask you a question, i am a US citizen and i am applying for a permanent resident in the philippines, they already process it, i am not sure if when can i get my ACR-i card , i am processing it in cebu, . Can i get my ACR-i card or my permanent resident papers , when i go to cebu for my annual report? or i can get that anytime? because i live in leyte and cebu immigration is far away from where i live,
If they have already processed your Visa, you should be able to pick up the paperwork at any time. If they have told you that you need to go for an annual report, that should mean that everything has been processed and approved already. Perhaps you could email the Bureau of immigration office, or call them, before making that long trip.
hi, i'm not sure if you're the right person to ask about this, but you seem to be pretty familiar with the i-card subject and i don't know where to start (government officials are not always the best people to talk to)
first of all, i'm a third generation chinese who was born and grew up in the philippines. my family gave up my filipino citizenship for me when i was 16 and i came to taiwan. that was 10 years ago. thing is, taiwan doesn't allow citizenship for "non-taiwanese" so now i'm an alien here and an alien in the philippines.
what exactly does the i-card do for me? i go back to the phils only once a year but my parents are worried that i'll have no place to go if i lost my staying privileges here (as if i'm not nothing enough already).
another question: from what i understand i have no nationality. can i go ahead and pick a country and get a nationality that way?
thanks in advance!
Hi Jenny – Well! You are certainly in an interesting situation! I can't say that I know for sure what the law would be in your case. What I would recommend is that you go to the Philippine Embassy in Taipai and claim your "dual citizanship". Once you do that, at least you will have Philippine citizenship again.
Good luck to you!
thanks for the tip. is it difficult to apply for dual citizenship?
Hi Jenny – It's actually quite easy! And, it will be easier to do there than back here in the Philippines.
hi, my husband is an American and we are here in Davao City… we are still working on his 13 a visa and waiting for his birth certificate to be authenticated by the Philippine embassy in the US.. Mr. Bob, do you know how much is the payment for the papers to be notarized here in the Philippines? Is it true that each paper will cost 50 pesos ? thank you
If it is the birth certificate that you want notarized dont do it here in the Philippines have it authenticated at a consulate nearest the place where it was obtained. Notarization prioces depend on the kind of documents needed to be notarized…. Fly by night notaries do it for 100 pesos per document (not per page) but with these types you can be sure that you wont see your document recorded in their notarial register. Go to a reputable notary public with a law office.
I currently have a lawyer working on my resident visa for me. The time for my leaving the country is approaching, the one year deadline for turist visas. I was told that if I can show I have someone working on my visa I won't have to leave the country and don't have to worry about any extensions. Any truth to this??
My filipina wife just flew to the Philippines, she was a filipine citizen, but is now a US Citizen. I am retired military intending on living there with wife and I have a one way ticket to the philippines for the first part of July and I have no VISA at all. What will happen upon my arrival into the Philippines. Any info would be helpful, thx.
Hi Janet – Honestly, I don't know the cost of notary in the Philippines. I have had the service performed a number of times, but never paid much attention to the cost, I guess. I think a charge of P50 per notarization is probably about right. It seems reasonable.
Hi Robert – I don't know the answer to your question. Check with the Bureau of Immigration, they should be able to give a straightforward answer on that. I believe I have heard from another person who was in the application process that he did not have to leave the country. That was a few years ago, though. Also, what about your attorney? He should be able to give you an answer to that question too.
Hi Joe B – Upon your arrival in Manila, you will be issued a Visa that is good for 21 days. When you have been here for nearly 21 days you can go to the Bureau of Immigration and renew it for another 59 days. You can repeat that process until you have been here for 1 year. If you can arrange that you and your wife can enter the country together, you will be eligible for a 1 year balikbayan visa upon your entry.
do we need to have a lawyer to work on my husbands resident visa?
Hi Janet – No, you should not need a lawyer. I do recommend that your husband applies for his resident visa in his home country, though, not in the Philippines. When I applied, it was just a matter of filling out the form, getting some medical tests and police clearances, and sending it in. It took only a week or so to finish. I never hired a lawyer.
So how do i get a police clearances???? Is it some thing from the police station saying i can leave the country???? And do i need my wife there to get it??
I am not married but still wish to be a phillipine resident. Plan on buying a house and living there. I will fill out the documents here in the U.S. will I still be able to live there if not married?
Hi Manuel – if you are not married to a Philippine citizen it will be more difficult for you to get a resident visa. You will then have to get a "quota" visa, which means that only a certain number of people (who fall under the quota) are able to get those each year. Once the quote is filled, no more are issued until the next year. Check with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate nearest you to see the status of Quota Resident visas. You can still come here and stay, though. You can do it on a regular tourist visa, which you will need to keep renewing. Once per year you will have to leave the country, maybe just a quick trip to Thailand or Taiwan and come right back again. Good luck.
Hi Bob,just been looking at the SRRV visa and for any Brits reading this I think its a bargain due to the weakness of the dollar.(Well for an oldie like me lol.) 1. With Pension
50 years old and above – US$10,000.00 deposit plus a monthly pension of US$800.00 for a single applicant and US$1,000.00 for couple
2. Without Pension
1. 35 – 49 years old – US$ 50,000.00 deposit
2. 50 years old and above – US$ 20,000.00 deposit
Hi John – Thanks for leaving your comment! I personally have never been a fan of the SRRV. A few years ago there was some scandal revolving around the SRRV program and some people were out their investments. Maybe things have been cleaned up now, I can't say for sure. I recommend that you investigate thoroughly before making a final choice, though.
Hi Bob,
In one of your recent responses you write:
"Regarding taxes – under Philippine Law, as an ex-pat foreigner, you are not liable for income taxes on any income that is from a foreign source. So, for example, if you get your money from the USA, or from The UK, you do not have to pay Philippine taxes on it. Even if you are living in the Philippines when the money is paid to you, you have no tax liability as long as the money comes from a foreign (non Philippine) source."
Can you please provide your source for this information as my Philippine accountants (CPAs) are not in agreement. If you are correct I would like to prove them otherwise, as this would obviously be beneficial to me.
Hi John – Take a look here, in the last sentence of the Paragraph 1 under A. Individual taxpayers.
Also, you can look here in the last paragraph it clearly states that only Philippine sourced income is taxed (for non-Philippine Citizens).
I hope this helps!
Hi Bob,
Just as everyone here has said you seem to be pretty knowledgeable about how visa filing happens in the Philippines. I am working with a company in Makati and not as an expat so the attorney that they want me to use is charging P30,000+ to renew my visa. I checked the prices and it looks like it would be one third of that to do it on my own. I just dont know how to start. According to his proposal this is what needs to be done.
-File and application with PEZA and DOJ
-File for renewal with DOLE
and this sounds easy enough but I was just wondering if there is anything special that I am supposed to do because it seems outrageous for the fees alone to only be near P8000 and the atty fees are P25,000. The visa that I am renewing is the 47(a)2 Visa or PEZA Visa and the Alien Employment Permit. I hope this made sense thanks for your time 🙂
Hi Lyd – I really believe that you can handle this on your own. I personally am not knowledgeable regarding a 47(a) visa, but I don't think it should be hard to take care of on your own. I recommend that you visit the Bureau of Immigration and speak with an officer there. Ask what you should do, and if what he says sounds complicated, you can always call in the attorney!
Good luck to you!
Thanks for the vote of confidence 🙂 I think that I will try it just seems absurd to shell out that much money for something that I can do on my own. Thanks for your time!
Good luck with this, Lyd! I am sure you will do fine.
I have been here for almost six months, and married my wife on May 4th. All this time I have just been renewing my visa every two months. I had no idea I would have to leave at some point or be in violation of the law. Now that not good because I don't have the cash to leave and come back. It seems to be considered a given that all us foreigners can come and go with ease. Hmmmm, I sure as heck can't afford that. Heck I am trying to figure out how to make a living here. Not everyone is a businessmen, and I look for work to know avail all the time. When I do find it, they wont give me a work permit. I think I better find out about this other visa. I Need a job if anyone can help, not looking for riches. My rent is cheap (7,000 pesos), and my wife makes pretty good money for a Filipina. We are in Manila.
Hi Edward – not sure if you realize, but you can take a trip to Thailand or some other nearly place and come back very cheap. Maybe $100 or so!
hi bob!
my boyfriend and i planned to get married and then live permanently here in the Phils. He is still in the US.. you mentioned its better to apply for visa there then here. Can he apply there for a visa even if we are not yet married?
Hi Star – your boyfriend will not be able to apply for a resident visa until after your marriage.
Hello everyone,
I am living here in the states right now. I am a former filipino citizen & been naturalized american citizen a while back. I have a big interest on working in the U.S. Embassy with any jobs available. What is the best way on getting the visa, residency or work permit, and how long does it take? I am planning to apply there in the Philippines for visa, but it was mentioned here that it is more advisable to apply where I am coming from. My plan to go home will be early october of this year, is it too late to apply now for a visa?
Thank you and a very good site by the way!
Cheers,
Resty
Thanks Bob for a great response. The only thing that bothers me regarding the dual citizenship will be getting any security clearance. I know having 2 will be very difficult compares to just even 1 as american. I have thought about re-gaining my Philippine Citizenship, but changed my mind. Because I know in the end, I will have a hard time getting a job at the U.S. Embassy. Anymore options that you can advise me? I am keeping an eye with the 13(g) visa, how is the process? I am planning to do it there in the Philippines, but I wasnt sure if I will do it here in the states.
Thanks again,
Resty
hello bob,i just joined this site and i think you doing a great job,that said i have a question about the 13 series visa, if i get one here in the usa(i am married to a pinay) will i still need round trip ticket when we fly to the phils? also will my new baby need return trip too? we are planning to move to phils. in about 6 months or so.my wifes family lives in iligan city ,and we are planning on living there also. thanks ahead, david ,graceh and kyle(due feb 6 08)
Hi david – Thanks for stopping by my site!
Yes, I do think that you should get the 13a while still in the States, that is much easier than doing it here in the Philippines. Next question – is your wife still a Philippine Citizen? If she has been naturalized as a US Citizen, then she will also need some type of Visa to live here, or she will need to acquire dual citizenship.
If your wife retains her Philippine citizenship, your baby will automatically be a dual citizen, and can stay in the Philippines as long as he/she wants.
Regarding airline tickets – if you have your 13 series visa that entitles you to stay here indefinitely, so you do not need a return ticket. In this case, the airline people will probably be uninformed and will argue that you do need the return ticket, but just remain solid, and they will end up giving in to you, and letting you fly without one. I was lucky in my case, the airline did not give me any hassles at all about it.
Good luck with the coming baby, and your move to the Philippines.
thanks for the reply Bob ,yes my wife is still phil. citizen, and i didnt know about the child being auto citizen in phil,thats great. graceh just recieved her permament status, on dec 17 so she has a ways to go to become citizen.i am hoping after a vacation in the phils, will help to convince her of the need to get american citizenship.again salamat, cheers david
Hi david – I think I made a slight mistake. Actually your baby will not "automatically" get dual citizenship, but almost. You should simply notify the Philippine Embassy or Consulate of the birth and indicate that the mother is a Philippine Citizen. Then, the dual Citizenship will be automatic. Sorry for any confusion on that!
Hi Bob
In regards to getting a resident visa and being able to stay for ever, i have a filipina gf and we live in bangkok,not my home country, i am from uk,and very rarely go to the uk,twice in last 8 yrs,anyway, we are going to be married when we arrive in the philippines in april or may this year,what do you suggest i do about getting the resident visa in the philippines after we marry,what info do i need for the consulate,?and can i expect a long drawn out affair to get this visa,?
i have to thank you also for this amazing web site you have, you seem to know your stuff and you make a lot of people very happy,i am one of those people, thankyou for your services and when we do finnally meet,Myself and rita,would like to take you and your wife out for dinner,
Hi steve – best thing you could do is to come to Davao on a tourist visa (it can be renewed for up to 2 years), get married, and then go back to the UK to apply for your resident visa here. It is more difficult to get that visa while you are in-country, but can be done quite easily at the Philippine Embassy in London.
Good luck on the move! I also look forward to meeting you!
hi bob! this is a really helpful site you have! would you know what kind of visa my husband has, he is actually a japanese and all he has is this passport? the immigration just stamps on his passport "balikbayan". i am his wife, a filipina. isn't he entitled to a better status rather than just a "balikbayan"?
Hi mowglih – Balkbayan means that he has a Balikbayan Visa, that is one of the best visas he can get, unless he applies to be a resident. With a balikbayan visa he can stay in the country for up to one year without any further requirements.
thanks for the answer Bob. if he has that kind of visa, the balikbayan visa, why is the people in immigration telling me that my husband is overstaying? what is the penalty for overstaying? he just arrived this april and on his passport, it is written "balikbayan". but i must admit that when my japanese husband came to the philippines last april, i was not with him. but nevertheless, they still wrote on his passport balikbayan. is this possible or is this illegal?thanks a lot for the anticipated answer Bob.
Hi mowglih – If he really got a balikbayan visa, that is good for a one year stay. I would go in to the Bureau of Immigration office and ask them to inspect his passport and find out exactly what he was issued. If you were not with your husband on his entry, it is doubtful that he received a balikbayan visa. Also, for a balikbayan visa, it won't be "written" in his passport, but rather stamped there. Best to go to the BoI office and get a ruling on that.
thanks for that quick reply Bob. just as i suspected!!! a lot of times, his passport has been either stamped or written as balikbayan even if we were not married yet. this is a frame-up then, so that they can extort money from my husband. we intentionally lost his passport so that there will be no traces of illegal entry. if that were the case, would the immigration still have another way of tracing those illegal "writings" on my husband's passport? would it be shown in the bureau's computer as to what kind of entry or visa my husband had when he came to the philippines?thanks again Bob, you're really a big help!
Hi mowglih – I am not really sure about all of that regarding the passport. I would just try to go to the Bureau of Immigration and see if you can get it all settled. Good luck to you and your husband!
Hi Bob, if I understand it correctly you say your not married, I actually have a question about moving there and trying to lease land long term if I can't buy and stay on a 13 series visa,or the visa I heard you mention about the quota type of visa for permanent residency, this is all new to me and am starting my research, are all provinces under the same laws? Are you renting, own or lease property, your help would be much appreciated thanks again Larry
Hi Larry – I am married… my wife writes on this site too (Feyma). We've been married for 18 years now.
Yes, all Provinces are under the same national laws when it comes to land ownership.
Personally, I rent my house, although we own some property on Samal Island where we intend to build a house and live there in the future.
thanks for the reply Bob, is there leasing? and which visa should I get to live there? thanks again for your help
Hi Larry – Yes, you can lease or rent a house, no problems there.
As far as your visa choice – it's really up to you, and a number of factors need to be considered. How often do you intend to go abroad? If you will be going out of the country more than once every two years, living here on a tourist visa is easy and ok to do. If you want to stay long term (I believe you are not married to a Philippine citizen or former citizen) then you should check into a Quota Permanent Resident Visa, I'd say.
No I am not married, I think once I get there I wouldn't be leaving the country anymore than that and probably not that much, I was going to look in to the quota permanent residence visa, thanks so much for all your help, I know most of these questions I could have answered from checking out the website but I am on the road and have no time to spend on the computer, just little bits here and there, thanks again Larry
Hi Larry – Happy to be of assistance. Just keep in mind – if you do a tourist visa, you MUST leave the Philippines after 2 years, you have no choice.
Hi Bob, Have been doing research and am getting an idea about the philippines, My mother is staying at a board and care facility run by a philipino, very smart guy and has been very helpful with questions I have had. I have read the blog and I see your point on moving around to what might be right for me, in my situation I know I want to live near apo island, I am a diver and have done research on diving in the philippines. I have focused on beach properties around duaguete City, Nick the Board and Care owner where my mother is staying has property near there, he has told me he would help me any way he could, his family lives there, I have know him for almost two years and feel comfortable in accepting his help. Him and his staff have givin my mother better care than I could ever hoped for, if I was to accept some help from him, what would be appropriate to recipricate or show gratitude in some way, what would you do, he has given me opportunities to get help with most everything I need, As a westerner we feel we always owe a debt for everything somebody helps us with, I feel overwelmed at his generousity, however it seems as though it would save me so many pit falls to except, also what is the best way to connect with the philipinas that don't have financial agendas? are there any situations where they don't want children? I am 54 and and not ready to have my own grandchildren, It maybe more of an expense than I can handle, I am sure birth control is not widely accepted. But at 54 my libido has slowed down enough for me to be no more than flattered by the attention, however I would like to meet a philipina who has a desire to be in a monogamous relationship. thanks for your help, Larry
Hi Larry – when I moved here, I knew that I wanted to live in General Santos city, there was no question in my mind. Two years later, I was very happy to move to Davao. Now, I don't think I would ever go back there to live, although I enjoy visiting. So what I'm trying to point out is that plans to change. There is diving available all over the Philippines, the country consisting of 7107 islands after all.
As far showing your appreciation for his help, just some kind of token gift to him would be appropriate. Nothing too expensive, but nice and thoughtful.
Hello Bob!I am a Filipina citizen and legally married a foreigner in his country 2 months ago.After that, I went back here in the Philippines as I was on a tourist visa.He will be visiting the Philippines next month.My questions are:
1. He wants to work here in the Philippines after he gets a visa.Which one is easier to get a temporary residence visa or a permanent residence visa?What are the limitations of both?
2.Is it easier to fix that visa here in the Philippines(he will only stay here on tourist visa for 14 days) or in his country?
3.Which is better a non-quota or a quota immigrant visa by marriage?
Thank you and God bless! 🙂
Hi bunny – To be honest, I have never heard of a "temporary residence visa" – I don't know what that is. As far as I know, no such thing exists.
It is much easier to just get a resident visa while he is still in his home country.
There is not any working difference between quota and non-quota visas. Once you have it, the effect is the same. Since he is married to you, no doubt just get the non-quota since he is entitled to that.
hi! bob. i want to know if you have any idea on how to apply for resident visa for my 2 years old daughter, me and my husband is living here at indonesia as i am a former filipino citezen and now became a indonesian citizen coz i have to follow my husband. I want to left my daughter in my mum as we are too busy at work. My first child is in the philippines and he is filipino citizen coz that time, me and my husband is still not yet married then later on we married here at indonesia and have my 2nd child daughter here at indonesia. Hope that you could help me to have some some info on how to work her resident visa there at philippines.
Thank you and God bless!
Hi mary- My recommendation would be for you to go to the Philippine embassy or consulate nearest you, and apply to become a dual citizenship. You can keep your Indonesian citizenship, and also re-acquire your Philippine citizenship. When you re-acquire your Philippine citizenship, any kids you have will also become dual citizenship. Once you accomplish this, you won't have to worry about a resident visa.
Hi Bob,
iam an indian citizen married fillipina, iam planning to come phillipines on permenant basis,please advice once i come there what all i have to do,my wife is doing some small business there and i want to join her,means want to expend it, but iam worried may i wont be able to get pemenant residency,please advice asap,thanks and regards
Thanks Bob,
For replying, infact i am visiting philiipines with tourist visa, if its not too much to ask i just want to know what all documents i require for 13a immigration visa, as i read they ask for medical, financial security etc . though my wife is phillipines citizen does i have to provide seperate account for my financial status,moreever do i need to pay some fees for it. and does it take long time to get immigration vias,kindly advice
hi, im a filipino but now got a german citizen, so im actually a balikbayan here and have a 1 year valid to stay in the philippines. During my stay i have decided to go to school for 2 years, but my problem is i cant get any student visa so i have to extend for every 2 months and its getting more expensive after my 1 year stay here. Is there any other way where maybe i could save some money and time?
Hi Bob! I am living with a woman commonlaw in Canada. We r both Canadian born. I want to separate from her, marry my soon to b divorced Manillia born girl who also lives in Canada. She is dual Canadian and filipina. How do I marry her and apply for viza. I want myself and potential in future new bride to live in Phils permanentely. Wish to visit family in Canada frequentely. What do I do? Thanks again Bob. Ps can we buy property together in phils and legally run a business together as husband and wife? Also would I have to liquidate and sell all my canadian assets before leaving for phils? Thank u again!
Dea Mr. Bob – please help – my father is from Mainland China and he is 90 years old – he is living in the Philippines since 1937 – he came to the Philippines by boat – we have just got him ACR card this month Jan 2009 – but now we want to get him a passport thru the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines – but they require him to get a letter from China to certify that he was born there – we do'nt know what to do as he lost contact with his relative in China – please help us – thank you very much – Josie
Hi Bob,
I'm holding a 13G visa here in the Philippines and a fresh graduate from college. I was planning to apply for work here in the Philippines. I'd like to know if I need to secure an Alien Employment Registration Certificate from DOLE before I can work? If yes, would you know the requirements for the application and how long it takes to apply for one?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Bob, I spoke my mind but I guess I must have offended you or something, please forgive me if I have, I had posted a comment yesterday and see it was removed, All I did was share my experience, if you don't mind I would like to know what happened, thanks Larry
I need to spend 12 months in Manila for a IT assignment. Can I get a long term visa without a local employer?
Hi Bob,Im from the U.S. and will marry a filipina soon,i then would like to live with her in the philippines,but in my past i have been in trouble with the law in the U.S. Will this cause a problem for me to get a visa to be able to live in the philippines with my new wife ? i have heard the term police clearances ? Thanks !
Hi Bob, I am new to this site and hope that you will be able to give me some helpful advice here. I am a UK citizen and plan to marry my filipina fiancee in the Philippines very soon. I would like to reside in the Philippines once we are married and i have been looking at the list of requirements to apply for the residency visa.
One of the requirements is to obtain a Police clearance certificate. Unfortunately I have several covictions from the distant past and in 1974 was given a 9 month prison sentence for marijuana offences. I have enquired to the Uk Police authority and they tell me that they do not have such a thing as a Clearance Certificate and that in every case they would just supply the history of every person, including any convictions no matter how long ago the offence was committed. I am very concerned that this might affect my chances of becoming a resident – or even worse perhaps..
You mention that it is easier to apply for the residency visa from one's home country but in my situation do you think that it might be better for me to remain in the philippines on a tourist visa for a while and apply for the residency visa from the philippines?
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thankyou
Hi Bob!
I am living in Tibungco in Davao City with my filipino husband and my sweet little puppy. My husband gave me my Chihuahua as a gift the day I got all my paper work done for my 13A ACR-ICard on January 16, 2008.
I am a permanent residence of the philippines I have my 13A card ACR-ICard. It is a little yellow card with a computer chip built in.
My question is my Canadian Passport is up for renewal in December 2011. I want to know how I renew it. I want to have it in case of having to go back to Canada in the future.
I have been living here in the Philippines for more than a year. I can honestly say that I am still having a very difficult time adjusting to seeing the proverty. Also, I am the only white person whom lives in the village. But, I really do love the climate and all the fresh vegetables and fruits, the seafood. The fiestias and the people.
Also, now that I have my 13A ACR-ICard which is up for renewal in August 2013. Does it allow me to have a Philippine Passport?
I find that your web site is excellent.
Bob, you said you have lived there in Davao for more than 6 years, how long does it truly take to adjust to this way of life? I sure would love to meet you and your lovely wife. Could we arrange to meet in Davao at Victoria Mall one day soon or you can come to my home? If you and your wife agree to this than I shall give you my husband cell #.
Thank you in advance for looking into my questions Bob. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yvette Morin – Abad
Hi Yvette – In order to renew your passport, you should contact the Canadian Embassy in Manila and they can fill you in on their procedures. You may need to travel to Manila to complete the process.
Having a 13a visa and an ACR I-card does not entitle you to a Philippine Passport. You must become a Philippine Citizen in order to obtain a Philippine Passport. Once you have lived in the Philippines for 5 years (if you have never left the country), you could apply to become a citizen, but only if you meet the requirements. The most difficult of the requirements is that you must be able to speak and write one of the Philippine languages.
Adjusting to living here is not easy, as you point out. It took me, I would say, 3 to 4 years to living here. It took Feyma, my wife, about 5 years to adjust to living here again after 10 years in the USA. You will adjust, but it is not easy, and you have to give it time.
Yvette, I would be very happy to meet you. Victoria Plaza would be a great place to meet, as it is not far from our house. You can contact me by calling or texting me, my cell number is (0915) 216-0300. Alternatively, you can e-mail me using the "Contact Us" link at the top of every page of this website.
Hi Bob,
i and my husband are living in Europe, but we are thinking about moveing to Philippines for few years to live, but i am not sure if there are such kind of visa if you want to live there. My husband is not from philippines, so what kind of visa we would need if we would like to move to Philippines?
Thank you in advance!
Victoria
Hi Victoria – You didn't give me enough information… you say your husband is not from the Philippines… what about you? Are you Filipino? If so, no problem moving, you can get a 13(a) Visa. If you are not Filipino, then you and your husband, since you only want to be here for a few years, could just live here on a tourist visa. After 16 months you would have to take a trip out of the country for a day or two.
Hey bob i just got on your website and it seems like you know a lot about living in the philippines, well i have a huge question i'm only 17 and turn 18 in 2010 after high school i wanted to go and play basketball in the philippines all of my family lives there but i was wondering can i still keep my u.s. citizenship while being able to have a resident visa in the philippines? i'm really curious i have a lot of questions because most websites say that if your married well i'm not yet and i need to know if someone my age can get in or will i have to drop my u.s. citizenship
Hi Matt – OK… I will try to answer, but you did not give enough information for me to give a straight answer. When you say that "all of your family" lives in the Philippines, does that mean that you are a Filipino American? Or your family is not Filipino, but they just moved here? Are your parents Filipino? Was either your mother or your dad a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth? If one of your parents was a Philippine citizen when you were born, then you can claim dual citizenship – American and Filipino. If one of your parents was a former Philippine Citizen you can also claim dual citizenship. If your parents are non-Filipinos, then you are going to have problems trying to work here (play basketball, I assume as a job). It is nearly impossible to get rid of US Citizenship, and it sounds like you don't want to do that anyway. If you get back to me and tell me about the citizenship and former citizenship of your parents, I can give you a straightforward answer to your question.
Good luck.
Hi bob, My question is about past criminal charge I have two 3rd degree felony from 1994. They were non violent. I did 5 years probation with no other problems. Do you feel this will disqualify me for a residence visa? I am to be married in Cebu in September and wish to live there with my wife.
Hi S Ruilova – Well, I don't know for sure, but I think you'll be OK.
Bob, thank you for the quick reply on my question. I found my heart feel in love with my beautiful fiancee and this beautiful Philippines. Cebu is where we are going to live and I find the culture and the love Of our God rewarding. May God Bless you and your family. And your nieces baby is gwapa. Salamat SJ Ruilova
Bob,
Currently looking for the best visa options and could do with your
advice, Im a UK passport holder living in Main land China.
I wish to relocate to the Philippines, I have a long term
Philippine girl friend 5 years plus and we also have a 2 year old son with both Philippine & Uk passports what visa can i have?
Best regards Lloyd
Hi Lloyd – I just finished putting together a new Immigration Guide for coming to live in the Philippines. The guide is fresh, brand new, and totally up to date. I will let you know what Visas you qualify for if you want to live here.
You can order the guide book by clicking on this link.
Hi, Bob. I want to move to the philippines next year and marry a girl there, but i have a violent felony conviction over 20 years old here in the USA that i committed when i was 18.
I know there will be difficulties obtaining an immigration visa for residence, but what about the Temporary Resident Visa? Would that be easier to get with the record I have or do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi albatros – I am not sure where you got any information on a "Temporary Resident Visa" but there is not such thing that I am aware of, and I know about Philippine Visas! I've never heard of such a thing. There is a Conditional Resident Visa, but the requirements are the same as the regular Resident Visa. I am not sure that a felony 20 years ago would affect you. Your Police clearance only has to go back 5 years, so my guess would be that the old conviction probably would not be an issue. You should check with the Philippine Embassy, Consulate or Bureau of Immigration for a ruling on that, though.
hi please tell me how much does this 13a or 13b resident visa cost thanks SEAN
Hi, Bob, this is a new query on an old post… I am American, resident in Taiwan, and married to a Filipina from Agusan del Sur. We intend to buy farmland in the province and eventually reside there permanently but visit a few months a year; on our last trip we discovered I can't even open a bank account without a green card. My question is, would there be any complications in getting a Pinoy green card while still keeping my Taiwan residency, and have the laws about property ownership changed? For instance, what if we are successful farmers and she dies before I do?
Thanks a bunch,
Jay A. Shumway
Hi Jay – When you say a "green card" I am assuming you mean an ACR card? Actually, you can even get one of those if you are on a tourist visa. It should be no problem. You can only do it in Manila at the BoI office in Intramuros, though.
Is the ACR the same as the ICR?
No, those are two different items.
Hi Bob,
I have an american friend who wants to live here. Problems is, he does not want to marry here. He's 45 years old and has very meager income. Is there a way for him to stay here rather than spend a lot of money renewing his tourist visa? I really hope there is a way because he is such a nice and decent guy.
Hi Carla – There are three ways he can do it:
1. Marry a Philippine Citizen, then apply for a 13(a) Resident Visa.
2. Come on a tourist visa and renew every 59 days.
3. Obtain an SRRV Visa, but he will be required to invest $20,000 in the Philippines to get that Visa.
Good luck to your friend.
Hi chris nunn – If you get married here then you need to invest ZERO, because you then qualify for a long term resident visa. If you want to get a SRRV to live here, then you need to invest different amounts, depending on your age. But, $20k is the maximum. It used to be $50k, but was reduced a few years ago. If you are 50+, then the investment is only $10k. If you choose to do the visa that requires investment (SRRV), the investment will be "tied up" for as long as you choose to live here.
hello bob my question is can i get a resident visa if i have a finance in philippines but not married yet or is it better if we get married first
Hi dennis – To get married here, you will need to visit your embassy in Manila (not sure what nationality you are), and get an Affidavit for Marriage (it has slightly different names, depending on what country you are from). After you get that, go apply for a marriage license, get married and you are done. Good luck!
Hi Bob,
We will be moving to Manila next year from New Zealand im a Kiwi married to a Filipino,We got married in Manila 6 years ago and now have 4 children(1 set of twins),I have reseached about all types of visa etc and are not really convinced about the SRRV visa.We will be funding ourselves and the education of our children from investments in NZ We will have approx $100k us to live on .I don,t intend to work, have a business etc.My reseach also questions the tax laws,ie estate and gift duties, capital gains taxs, and other I don,t know about.What is your thoughts on what we are doing?
Regards Warren
Hi Warren – Since you are married to a Filipino, I see no reason why you should even consider an SRRV Visa. You are entitled to a 13(a) or (g) Resident visa and don't have to invest the money.
When you say taxes… are you talking about Philippine taxes? If you are a foreigner (which you are!), and the source of your income is from outside the Philippines, there is no Philippine tax due on the income.
Hello Mr. MArtin and thanks for the good work.
I am a Nigerian and resides in the philippine on residence visa just approved.
I have two questions:
1.Please where can i travel without a visa around here in Asia.
2.With my just approved residence here as a worker,can i apply for any visa here for a visit to other countries as i am a resource person i do deliver papers?
Thanking you while waiting for your response.
hi bob,
im leah a pilipina woman,
i just want to ask if im going to marry a nigerian man what is the requirement if ever we will going to marry in philippines and what is the requirement for fiancee to get a married certificate and could it possible my husband to be can have resident visa?????
Hi leah – I am sorry, I don’t know what the requirements are for a Nigerian. He should have no problem with a resident visa once you are married, though.
Dear Mindanao Bob,
I should be very grateful of your advice. I am a 56 year old Englishman who currently has two small pensions of about 20,000 pesos per month. When I am 65 I will have four pensions of about 60,000 pesos per month. Would 20,000 pesos per month be enough for me to live in the Philippines right now (and could I get a visa to stay forever/long time)?
Hi Keith – Personally, I could not live on 20k per month. We are all different, though, and perhaps you would be comfortable at that level.
I am at present building a house north of Cebu in a small fishing port.
I have been going out with my girlfriend for over 6 years and we get on fine ,I moved her and her family from manila a short time ago to live down in cebu because of the floods plus got a small sari sari store built as well as a trycycle so now all the family has work.
I met a guy here in Australia who told me not to marry her because the family will then bleed me dry. I understand the family thing and am happy when I retire to the phillipines to live in our house with the family and my girlfriend. that was my plan all along.
but now some thought is creeping into my head as to why this guy would say not to marry her.
I love and respect my girl and her family we are all good friends and they ask for nothing from me in fact they tell me not to spend so much and always do things in a way to save me money.
any comments,I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter.
Hi Frank – Of course, there are some Filipino families who will take advantage of you. There are also Australian, American, British and German families who will take advantage of you too. The Philippines does not hold a monopoly on this. If you love the girl, you should consider marrying her. If you don’t, well, you should probably keep looking.
Hi frank,
I understand the advice of this australian guy, he is just concern to you as un expat. But i anilyse that the family of your girl friend is taking care of you ( you’ve got the right one). The family does’nt want abuse you instead they will protect you because you give them a goodlife. I know the needs of filipino people as long as they have their foods & shelters they are satisfied. But then better marry her so that the people not think bad againts the family of your girlfriend. They think that they are just taking advantages of you.
Fallow the advice of your gf family: not spend much money, save money for you for extra needs (medical care example).
You must have a limit in terms of helping her family, because you dont know what will happend next, especially that you are not married. All what you put up are not yours when it comes to the law in philippines.
So marry her then both of you are owner of all your investment even it is small.
Im a filipina married to a french men, we invest in philippines even im still in france. My family is not hasle to my husband, he is helping sometimes if my family is in difficult situation & during the existance of my parents he help them a lot. Now my parents are past away for iternity he is now happy & very proud telling all the people that i made my job, because my parents taste good life during their last few years in this earth.
Hope you enlighted, goodluck & more power, Laarni
hallo bob i am a filipina have a german fiancee … my question is can he apply a resident visa here so he can stay 90days ?me and my fiancee planning married hopefully nxt yr would u giving me advice the requirment? vilma
Hi vilma – Your fiancee does not qualify for a resident visa until you are married, unless he goes with an SRRV. He can stay here for up to 16 months on a tourist visa, though, provided that he extends it at the proper intervals.
Hi Bob, I’m a Indonesian and i have a Filipino boyfriend. We are planning to get marry in Philippine and live there.. Can you tell me what’s the requirements or any documents that i have to prepare in order to get Philippine’s citizenship.. Thanks a lot…
Hi vivi – Obtaining Philippine Citizenship is a long and complicated process. A couple of things you should realize before deciding to become a citizen – firstly, you need to understand that you will be required to relinquish your Indonesian Citizenship before you become a Philippine Citizen. This is required. If you still wish to become a Philippine Citizen, here is what I recommend you do:
1. Get married.
2. Have your husband sponsor you for a 13(a) Resident Visa so you can live here.
3. Start learning to speak one of the major Philippine languages (not including English).
4. You must remain in the country for 5 years without leaving, and then you can begin your application for citizenship. Contact an attorney to do this.
5. It takes a year for your application to be complete.
6. You will need to meet the 5 year requirement of living here, have a Philippine spouse, and know the language. If you meet those requirements and a few others which are less difficult, you can then take the oath of citizenship, and relinquish your Indonesian Citizenship at the same time.
Good luck to you!
Hi Bob,
I’ve been living in the Philippines for approx. 18 months, traveling in and out on a tourist visa as I work abroad. I would like to start some small business ventures there but am unsure of the correct visa I would require to do this. I’m only talking small business, investing a few thousand dollars, not the USD75000 required by a SIRV. For example, a small store, or a taxi, something like that. Can you please advise me?
Many Thanks,
Ewan
Hi Ewan – I need more information to answer your question properly. Do you have a Philippine spouse?
Hi Bob,
My wife is a Philippine Citizen, we both live in the US, we are planning to move in the Philippines for the future.
I have been arrested twice in the past, in 1994 and in 2001, in both cases for domestic battery, both cases have been dismissed by the Court. I don’t have conviction of any kind.
Since a police report is requested to obtain a resident visa in Philippines, do you think I may have problem for my past arrest?
Thank you for your answer.
Leo
Hi Leo – That is a tough one to answer, and I am not really sure. I would think that if you were not convicted there should be no problem.
BTW, you only have to submit police reports from the places you have lived from the past 5 years. Is it possible that you are no longer living in the places where you were arrested? If so, that would wipe your record clean.
hi bob, i am a filipina who got married to a syrian national here in tagum city last july 2010, but we are residing here in davao city. is it possible to apply for a temporary resident visa here in davao? our documents are complete. i have inquired from BID re this one but the people i have spoken with have different answers. one saying its possible as they have done it before, the other one says its not possible and have to go to manila for the application.
please advise.
thanks a lot.
Hi Alyra – To be honest, I don’t know what a “temporary resident visa” is, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that. There is a resident visa, 13a, but it is permanent. The first year is conditional. Do you mean a conditional resident visa? If so, yes, you can apply for that in Davao.
hi bob, thanks for that very quick response. as per http://www.philippine-portal.com/visas/non-quota-temporary-resident-visa-13a.html,
http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=80
my husband’s nationality falls under restricted national, and they say we can apply for this TRV for the moment until he reach 5 yrs stay here (we want to stay here for good), till then he can get dual citizenship. we had extended his visa 3x and will be extending it before we leave.
were off to manila next wk and honestly, i dont like going to manila as its crowded there and too much traffic. even if its means cancelling the ticket as long as i can apply here it would be really a relief, especially i am undergoing medical treatment nowadays.
and also, this 5 yrs, does it mean he cant go out of the country even for a vacation (say 1 month)?
Hi,Alyara,
Could you quickly help ,e as well as i also fall in restricted category and need to apply for the TRV(5 YRS),
Just quickly is this the only requirements They asked
1.Notarized letter of application by the Filipino spouse
2.Accomplished and Notarized General Application Form (BI Form No. MCL-07-01)
3.NSO authenticated copy of the Filipino spouse’s birth certificate
4.NSO authenticated copy of the Marriage Contract (if married in the Philippines); or Philippine Embassy or Consulate authenticated copy of the Marriage Contract (if married abroad)
5.Bureau of Immigration (BI) Clearance Certificate
6.Photocopy of the foreign spouse’s passport showing the date of arrival and authorized period to stay
Anything else besides this,Like ALIEN husbands Birth Certificate attested By Philippine embassy from His Home country,Police clearance certificate From his home country ,was it required,just check po
Regards
Ron
hi bob, thanks for the quick response. as per http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=80
my husband’s nationality falls under restricted one, we were advised to apply for a TRV the 13a visa as per above site. we already extended his visa 3x and was issued an ACR last august, and will be renewing again before we leave. were off to manila next wk, and honestly i dont want to go there as its too much crowded and traffic. if we can only apply here it will be much of a relief to us, especially i am undergoing medical treatment.
BTW, this 5 yrs stay, does it mean he really have to be here straight 5 yrs? can he not go for a vacation, say 1 month?
I’m sorry alyra, I just don’t know anything about that visa. Wish I could help.
Hi Alyara,
Your Husband can Go out of the country and come back again No problems on that,and yes you can apply for it in DAVAO,However you need to go to Manila for iNitial application,I checked on that already with them
My only question is what are the requiremts they asked from your Husbands side
was he asked to get his Birth Certficate From Syria also attested /Authenticated By the Philippines embassy or consulate in syria ,also was he asked to get A Police clearnce certificate from Syria and also get it attested /Authenticated By the Philippines embassy or consulate in Syria
and besides whats your update on the TRV for your husband
Regards,
Ron
My husband is Syrian and i would like to get the updates on resident application regarding the required papers
To keep up with the latest news and information for resident visas, you should read here:
http://liveinthephilippines.com/my-13a-visa-experience/
Be sure to read ALL of the comments, as that is where the latest information will be found.
bob,
hi bob,this is anne..i just got married to a u.s citizen and i got my greencard already…Now my husband wants to get his residensy too in the phil…can we apply for 13a visa for him here in u.s??but we are not yet planning to stay to phil?maybe after 2 to 3 years then we will stay in phil…can we still process his 31a visa?or do we both need to stay in phil while his visa is under probinational???
Hi anne – No reason to get a resident visa until he is ready to live here.
Hello Bob,
I’m in the Philippines since 13 months now on a Tourist Visa… I’ve an idea for a small business with tourists, that could give me a living here for about 4-5 months every year…
I’m not married and I do not would like to get married because of a Resident Visa…
There is any opportunity for me to live here in the Philippines an run my little business? Wich way should I follow? As written above my business would not bring plenty of money… is there a cheap solution?
Thanks a lot,
Neno
Hi Neno – You could get an SRRV Visa, but it’s expensive. Also, you have the problem that you cannot legally own a business here since you are a foreigner.
Can an American citizen with a conviction for attempted forgery, in 1997, get a work permit in the Philippines?
Getting a work permit is very difficult, but has nothing to do with having such a conviction. The conviction may or may not affect your ability to enter the country at all, but I don’t believe it will impact a work permit. If you ware wanting to do a job that a Filipino can do… you cannot get a work permit for that.
hi, if a child is born in the UK and the father is English and the mother is Philippines then can the mother take the child to Philippines to live? Even though the childs godmother and 48 year old cousin brough the child up from 3days old and the child is nearly four. Would the cousin have any say on wether the child stays or goes, as the mother can not cope with the child and is under social workers care. so what am asking is can the cousin of the child keep the child in england.
If the mother is a Philippine citizen, she should just file paperwork with the Philippine embassy in London to report the birth of the child, after which the child will also be a Philippine citizen and can live in the Philippines.
Hi Bob – I’m from North Georgia here in the U.S. I was married in the Philippines last December. I plan to live in Cebu with my wife. I have been investigating my visa options and thin the 13 a is the way to go. I found a blog by a British gentleman that made the process seem very complicated. He listed a bunch of documents and fees that were needed. I don’t know it was because he was British. I’m also not sure if he filed in his home country or in the Philippines. I’m not sure if the process is different being that I’m from the U.S. But needless to say homeboy had me more than a little confused. Let’s face it I’m from North GA and we don’t handle a lot of info coming at us all at one time well. I have several questions if you don’t mind.
What document’s do I need?
Do I have to go to a Philippines Embassy or consulate in person or can I mail in the application?
Do I need an official NSO copy of my wife’s Birth Certificate, our marriage contract and certificate?
What are the fees involved?
When and if approved what do I need to do when I get to Cebu?
Thanks for any advise you can offer… Have an awesome day.
Hi Jason – My experience in getting a resident visa in the Philippines was 11+ years ago, so a lot has changed since that time. To get the most up to date accurate information, check this article by John Miele. Be sure to read the comments as well, as there is some good information in there.
Thanks very much Bob… Have a great day.
Thank you for the prompt reply. I am 62 years old and receiving a social security pension o $800.00 dollars. I like to live there; someone told me that for a single person like me, my pension could stretch; I intend to live in Samar. I know a family here who have families there. What you mean show annuity? Is that bank statement from local bank there showing that SS direct deposit there my check? Suppose I meet someone there I could marry what would be the procedure of getting the visa and how much I would pay to stay there permanently? Thanks for help.
Hi David – Your Social Security payment would qualify as an annuity in terms of the visa. But, it would have to be direct deposited into a Philippine Bank instead of an American bank, otherwise it won’t qualify.
If you marry somebody who is either a Philippine Citizen or a former Philippine Citizen you will qualify for a 13 Series Resident Visa, and the amount you will need to pay for that is ZERO! Pretty good deal, huh? 😉
the link for this article is niot working for me any suggestons?
It’s bad. Work your way down from the root: http://philippinedualcitizenship.com/
thanks that worked
Thanks for the heads up, guys. Looks like everything is working now.
hi
Hi Chris
Hi Bob, I appreciate this information so much, thank you! I am a little upset to say that I already applied for a K1 visa, and wish I’d found out this information sooner, then I’d have just gone there to get married, I like their marriage/divorce laws better. 🙂 I am so happy to find out however that when I do get married and she moves here, after saving up a bit I can just move there and stay there, like I wanted to do in the first place. I know she doesn’t really want to come here other than visits with my family which won’t be very often, lol.
I wanted to ask you what you meant by “check in with the Bureau of Immigration.” Does that mean in person, or by the phone, or what specifically does that cover?
Hello Rob – Once per year, either in January or February (your choice) you must appear at the Bureau of Immigration, in person, to check in. It is part of the Visa requirement. You pay P350 head tax and you are good for another year.
Mike, We just moved here this last NOV on a 13a so if you need good contacts for shipping and a broker just send me a email. When I was searching around I got prices from 6k to 15k to ship my stuff. (40 ft container) I took the 6k and it went perfect. I loaded it the way I wanted to and they delivered it just like she said she would. The people that are charging the higher prices will try to convince you that it’s better if they load it so customs won’t give you a hard time. It’s not true if you have a good broker on this end. My broker in Manila has been doing this for years so she knows all the right people to include Dept Finance where she will apply 4 your tax exempt HH goods. Not once was it ever asked how much was my shipment worth. Good Luck BTW once you land in Manila, take a day to get your permanent resident status. It’s easier once you are already in Manila.
Thanks for sharing your experience with Mike, Travis. I am sure he will appreciate it.
Hi Travis, I would definitely like to hookl up with you broker in Manila. Also, what freight company did you use to ship with. I will be relocating from San Antonio, TX to Dinalupihan, Bataan. Door to Door.
Regarding ownership of property. When your wife/you purchase property the title will read as follows; is registered in accordance with the provisions of the Property Registration Decree in the name of ” Your wife’s name here” , of legal age, Filipino, married to “Your name here” , an American citizen..
Indeed, you can have the title worded like that, but it still gives you no protection.
According to both of the attorney’s that did ours about 4 years ago, it was changed like that to help protect the foreigners. There were a number of people getting foreigners to buy the property and then dumping them. Now I have yet to hear of one going to court so I don’t know how it will hold up but the attorney stated that both people have to be available for the transfer of title unless the foreigner is deceased.
Hi Travis – Under Philippine law, there is a way that having the wording like that can help you. If you are a foreigner, and your wife owns land that is titled in the way you suggest… IF you have been in the Philippines for a minimum of 5 years, and you also have a Resident visa (not living here on a tourist visa), and you have had that resident visa for a minimum of 5 years… should your wife pass away, you can inherit the property. There are no other protections, though. For example, if you divorce, the land still belongs to your wife, even if the title is written that way. If your wife passes after 3 years or 4 years, anything less than 5 years, you cannot inherit the land. If you have been here for 7 or 8 years, but do not have a resident visa, then the land will not be yours, even if the title reads like that. Sad but true.
Take care!
hi there,
I am married to a filiupina so have no problemwith a visa, but my son who was born in the philippines who we adopted and took to the uk where he is now a uk citizen. What would be the position for him if we all wanted to stay in the philippines.
Hello Jim – Your adopted child should qualify for a resident visa through your wife’s Philippine citizenship.
Sorry I should have type ” 3months to 6months ” instead of the word “long time” on the 3rd option.
Is there some reasons his tourist visa will not be approved for 3 to 6months stay? He dont have any criminal record and with regards to his financial thats im not sure how much he have in the bank. But you think 3k dollars in the bank is ok? He already have a return ticket.
Flight schedule
oct 22,2011 arrival
Departure is January 11
thanks again
Anne
Hi Anne – I know of no reason why his visa application would be denied. Regarding the money in his bank account… the decision is up to Philippine authorities, not up to me, but I see no reason why that would not suffice.
Good luck.
I hear citibank is the way to go they have branches all over the U.S and here in the Manilla area. It is nice to be able to walk right into your bank and do business or get a lost/stolen visa or debit card replaced. Good Luck
Semper Fi
Thanks so much for clarifying! I was getting a headache trying to figure out which day and period ended where, so your answer makes things much simpler for me. I’ll be printing it out and posting it at my new digs once I get to Cebu. I hope it opens the way for others in my situation to see that staying IS workable. Thanks again! -H.
Glad to be of help, Henry! Enjoy your stay in the Philippines!
Thanks so much for clarifying! I was getting a headache trying to figure out which day and period ended where, so your answer makes things much simpler for me. I’ll be printing it out and posting it at my new digs once I get to Cebu. I hope it opens the way for others in my situation to see that staying IS workable. Thanks again! -H.
Glad to be of help, Henry! Enjoy your stay in the Philippines!
very informative….thanks Bob!
You are very welcome, Coi.
hey bob i to am in Mindanao i have been here since 2008 and i love it here and i am married to a wounder full Filipino woman i don’t think you can find a better life then in the Philippines.
If somebody marries a natural born Filipina, that does not allow them to apply for citizenship. There are many other requirements, and they are not based on marriage.
Hi Nathaniel – Any time you want to contact me you can send me an email by going here.
Thank you, Coi.
Hello David – Indeed, it is a great life here. I have been here since 2000, and loving it!
Yes, you will most likely not be able to get citizenship. My dad is a legal permanent resident through marriage to my mom, but he cannot attain citizenship. So, it would be a no to citizenship, yes to residence. So you can do it through marriage if you want residence.
An American FB friend once said that under the Philippine Law…you can’t be a Filipino citizen by just marrying a Filipina (not sure) . However try to inquire legaly. Or was it you Bob Martin who said it?
The only way for a foreigner to become a Philippine Citizen is by going through the process of Naturalization. And, if you become a Naturalized citizen, you must renounce your other citizenship as part of the process.
I would be willing sometimes
I am considering it, Ronin. It’s a very person decision, don’t you think?
Actually that is not totally correct. If you are a US citizen and you gain citizenship in another country you notify the US in writing that you have done so without the intention of giving up your US citizenship.
Thanks for the quick reply Bob. I am in the Philippines. Do you have any idea where should I go first? (DFA, NSO, BI) You think I still need to obtain the NSO certified one or just go ahead and submit the supporting documents?
Hello Habiba – I am sorry, but if the Philippines and Syria don’t have immigration reciprocity in place, there is no other choice other than to just renew annually, as you said is possible. Really, P8,620 is a pretty small price to pay for the renewal, only around P720 per month!
Good luck.
It is, I still have family I’d like to see here. BUT, it goes both ways they could come to me and its better there then here. There something about PI thats so refreshing and so better. But the anchor is if I had to come back to make some money or get healthcare
Actually, what I said is perfectly correct. What you suggest is legal under US law, yes. It is not, however, legal under Philippine law. The law of the Philippines says that you MUST renounce your citizenship. It does not say that you must use some trick to make it look like you renounced your citizenship when you really didn’t.
Firstly, I see no need why you would need to go to the BI. You already have a letter from them stating that you are a Philippine Citizen.
If I were in your shoes, I would go to the DFA with your documents and apply for a passport. If they decide they want an NSO birth certificate, they will tell you. In fact, they will tell you any documents that you are lacking.
I understand what you are thinking, Ronin. For me.. I have been very happy with the health care here, and I also make more money here than I ever made in the States…. so those are not really considerations.
No Bob. Renouncing is not the same as giving up. Renouncing is just a ceremony. The Philippines does not require you to give up your US citizenship! lollolol
Why would you say that, Bob?
Coz I think the problem is I dont have the other documents like the Oath of Allegiance and
Order of Approval, as what they are asking for Applicants who availed of Dual Citizenship or Election of Philippine Citizenship under RA 9225 but I think I fall under this because I did not lost my filipino citizenship. As far as I know I still am a natural born filipino thru blood. I’ll check with DFA to see what I really need. I had a problem when I went back here in the Philippines I did not notice that the lady stamped my passport with a 21 day entry. I think she did not look at the paper from the BI that I showed her.
Hi Victor – I am thinking you are talking about the 5 year stay before applying for citizenship? If that is what you are asking, then no, you don’t have to start again. If you just take a short vacation/holiday that does not reset your clock. If you left for a long time, it would have that affect, but I don’t know if there is a set time limit on how long you can be gone for.
Hello Thomas – Because your mother is a Philippine Citizen, you did not gain dual citizenship as a foreigner. Since your mother is a Philippine Citizen, the Philippine Citizenship is your birthright. No matter where you were born, you are a natural born Philippine Citizen, as Philippine Citizenship is passed through blood, not where you were born.
Thank you for the info. It helps a lot.
I didn’t realize you were in Davao until I signed up for the email.
This where we are at the moment.
Have a great day.
Mary
Hi Bob. I am currently speaking to a woman who lives in the Philippines. I live in the east coast, usa. Do you have a facebook or email that I can contact you by if things progress between her and I? You sound very informative about nationalization etc.
Its currently my belief that the best course of action for our future is for her to come to the states and become a us citizen…. idk. Thank you.
I subscribed to your news letter btw.
Should your wife pass you will be allowed to keep your resident visa.
You make your money in the states, but if the US economy continues its course it will collaspe theres no way to get out of it. Then your income stream will have to change so being a local might help you
Hi Tom,
I think you need to study up a little bit on what words mean.
According to the United States State Department, here is what it means to “renounce your citizenship”:
A. THE IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY ACT
Note that it says “LOSS of nationality”. If you renounce, you are giving up your citizenship, Tom.
Now, you are also completely incorrect when you say that the Philippines does not require you to give up your US Citizenship, Tom. On the website of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration here is what it says:
Notice it says “former nationality”. In other words, you can no longer have another nationality upon naturalization. You are Filipino and only Filipino. They do not allow foreigners to retain their former citizenship.
Now, Tom, you really should be careful about throwing around inaccurate information, and be honest with people.
Actually, that’s not fully correct… I make much of my income from the States, but also from Europe, Australia, etc. Kind of gives a bit of diversification.
That’s good so you would be okay and the peso might go up. My friend Frank said there was lots of talk about the dollar sliding 30% to the peso. He came back to go to rehab for a scooter accident there. I guess the scooter was better then him so he’s using medicaid here. If theres nothing here for you why not. You have the 8 yrs residence like they want. I’m sure you could get a visa to go back here. I see more and more people at the unemployment office I had to go in for an extension and 4-5 people came in to file. This is a small office and the lady told me the 1 person who does UI see’s about 17 per day and they just laid off 11 people. Things are bad when even the post office is thinking of going to 3 days a week
Yeah, things are looking bad there. No doubt on that. I meet all of the requirements for citizenship here. It takes a year to complete the process. I have a friend who is doing it right now.
Well its not something you have to do. Theres many things to consider good and bad. I’m sure you can make a list. But if your happy, don’t really plan to live in the US anymore. Why not ? Me I have a love hate relationship. I love my country but hate the politicians and they way everyone points out everyone else instead of pointing at themselves. In PI seems most people will help you and you learn to do likewise. When I was there I was at the apartment bymyself in Dona Asucion village. My fiance was around the block at her moms. I went to the fence/door/gate and went out looking for her. I hear people yelling to me and waving me to come to them. I smiled and waved and went inside. Latter I found out it was her cousins having a cockfight and they wanted me to come and meet them. Here we have so been taught that someone will harm you, or beat you up and steal from you.
I STILL THINK YOU WOULD LOOSE ALL US GOVERNMENT BENIFITS LIKE SS…..MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ALL THE INS AND OUTS BEFORE YOU GIVE UP YOUR AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP. YEP ITS BAD OVER THERE BUT MORE STABLE THAN HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
My wife is not a US citizen and if something happened to her I would get $97 a mnth. All because she worked here
Of course that is certainly a consideration, Bud.
Hi Ronin – Please tell your wife that I said to be very careful. Some men would kill their wife to get $97 a month! ha ha
Scary! Such an evil scheme!
Ha ha… that’s just a joke, Ma. Riza.
Nice to know how easy it is but not cheep
you get a 21 day visa upon arrival which u can extend up to 59 days. you can then extend every 59 days up to a total of 16 months …not 2 years
I am sorry, colin, that is incorrect. Anybody can extend up to 16 months as you say, but you may also apply for permission to stay for 2 years and that can be issued to you by the BI. So, indeed, 2 years is a possibility.
i received an extension to 24 months, i had to have a letter explaining the reason to the Officer in Charge at Davao, than it was sent to Manila for approval, it was approved in about 4 days, the reason i got the extension i did not have 20 days on my visa to apply for 13A but had all the paper work they needed in Davao
The law was recently changed, and tourist visas can now be extended up to 36 months.
Bob,
I am an American who will marry a Filipina. Can I open a bank account there prior to marriage?
Hi Matthew – You can if you have the proper documentation. Most banks here require you to have an ACR I-card (sort of similar to a Green card in the USA) in order to open a bank account. There is no law that says such a card is required to open a bank account, but that is the policy of most banks. If you don’t have such a card, as I assume you don’t, what you can do is just go to bank branches and try to open an account. If you do that, you will probably be turned down a number of times, but it is likely that you will eventually find a bank that will open the account for you. Good luck!
Bob, thanks for your response
There is NO WAY …NO WAY i would ever bring my wife and daughter here to this country .I dont know what you do for a living or, if you even live in the USA . I am here in the USA by myself . Do you really think anyone is going to put 10k in my bank ? how many people do you know,that has a extra 10k . I’m not sure what what country you live in but its not the USA , All I want to do is get out of here and rejoin my wife and daughter. My wife has a small store and canteen in RP. The way things are going here , in 5 years , the streets of the USA are going to look like Smokey Mt ,
Kevin – You come across as a pretty ungrateful guy. I offered you my help for free. I answered your questions the best I could. And you react like I somehow attacked you. OK, no problem, but don’t ask for my help again. When people go out of their way to assist me, I say thank you. Apparently you don’t have such manners, though.
I am not being ungreatful but you seem to think that getting 10k is no big deal . if you cant understand why I would never bring my wife here then I dont know what to tell you . If you have been lucky enough to have had a job that paid you well, then you are just that LUCKY . All I have been doing is working my slef to death here so I can get back home to my wife and daughter
Kevin – I am not lucky. I work hard, and work smart. I have been self employed for the past 20 years and have made money the old fashioned way… by making smart choices and by working hard.
Kevin, to be honest, if you cannot come up with $10k, which is a small amount of money in the scheme of things, i seriously doubt that you will be successful in making it in the Philippines. If you don’t have a small amount of money like that, I can almost guarantee you that your 13a Resident Visa will be denied.
I did not say that bringing your wife and child to the States is the best thing that you can do, but given your financial situation, it would seem to me that your choices are very, very limited, and that may be the best choice available to you at this point.
All I can say is good luck to you, Kevin. I don’t think that I can help you much beyond that, because you don’t seem to willing to willing to listen when honest genuine help is what is being offered to you.
When you write to someone for advice you would think that what that person tells you is something that is going to help you do what it is your trying to do.
When they tell you what you need to do and you just disagree with what they say, you have to step back and wonder why it is that you asked the help in the first place.
Yes I am speaking of you Kevin. because Bob didn’t say what you wanted to hear you automatically attack him. I don’t think he is here just trying to mislead you and you don’t want to handle reality.
If things were as easy as you want them to be then we wouldn’t need any requirements to do anything we want to do.
The Philippines is not our country, we are the visitors, we must abide by what they publish, or stay home. Bob is here and he saves us time and money by pointing us in the right direction. There is no reason to bash him when he is there to help us.
I will like to thank Bob on behalf of those who never say thank you,, and I’m sorry for those who are less than nice cause you tell the facts that only help.
Keep up the great work Bob
Thanks again
Bill
Wow, Rob, I am really touched by your comment. Thank you very much for your kind words!
I am not being ungreatful but you seem to think that getting 10k is no big deal . if you cant understand why I would never bring my wife here then I dont know what to tell you . If you have been lucky enough to have had a job that paid you well, then you are just LUCKY . All I have been doing is working my self to death here so I can get back home to my wife and daughter. If you cant understand how I feel then I dont know what to tell you .
Hey Bob quick question for you. I am coming th bukidnon in Feb and I already have a 59 day visa but I will get married and then apply for the 13A visa.First can I apply from in country/ and second for my criminal background check does it need to be certified.
Thanks for your time Bob and keep up the good work
Bill
BTW please forgive me, making mistakes in English as I’m a non-native Englishman/American.
Again thanks for your patience and expertise, o Mighty Bob
Hi Eric – Yep, that was a long story! Thank you for sharing your experiences.
You cannot work here after getting married. However, once you get married you can then get a 13(a) resident visa, and when that is issued, you can then work, without any problems!
Take care, and good luck to you.
Hi nick – no, when you go in to extend your visa they do not ask for any airline tickets, so don’t worry about that! Enjoy your stay in the Philippines.
I will have to say, I am not 100% certain on the medical. Since medical is so much cheaper here, though, I would do it in the Philippines if it were me.
I have reentered the Philippines many times. I have always purchased a cheap outbound ticket as far in the future as possible. Last October, 2013 I returned from Canada, being incorrectly informed that I did not need a departure ticket if i had an ACR card, so I did not purchase one. I was not asked to show one when I provided the immigration officer with my passport and ACR card. So I thought I was good to go. I left the Philippines for a holiday in Lombok a week later, returning to the Manila airport only to be refused entry for not having a departure ticket. They would not allow me to purchase one either. They stated that I had to return to where I came from purchasing a last minute high priced one way ticket, but I talked them into allowing me to fly to Bangkok instead. That was a costly lesson to learn. Many times I have not been asked, and even after explaining they still refused to allow me to purchase one, rather than having to fly out of the country to purchase the ticket, and I have been living here for nearly 3 1/2 years. Lessons learned.
Question: I am still trying to determine what visa to get; either the 13A, the SRRR, or the Balikbayon (spelling). We will be married this summer and I am planning to start a business for export in the Butuan region, not so far from CDO and Malaybalay. I have read that the $10,000 deposit for the SRRV can be used to lease land or house for 20 years, but My Fiancee and I already have land under her name. Do they allow you to use that money to build a house, or from what I read it did not seem to allow that. I could invest it in future business plans as well, but the house may come first, as we are getting a little tired of renting.
Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated,
Troy
Yes, You must have a visa to visit. You should contact the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria to obtain your visa.
I am sitting here reading your last reply and all I can tell you is , i work in the most difficult industry in the USA and you would not last ONE day doing what I do . You my friend have lost touch with reality..
I will get my visa .There are a lot of Americans living in the Philippines who are just like you . They were able to achieve financial success and look down on those of us who have not been so fortunate .
Ingat
Thank you for your support, Bill. Yes, Kevin was rude, and I was only trying to help him. Perhaps he was just having a bad day, I hope so anyway.
Wow! just plain Wow
Hi Bill,
In response to each of your questions:
1. Yes, you can certainly apply for your 13a Visa from within the Philippines.
2. On your Criminal Check, it must be notarized through a Philippine Consulate or Embassy.
Hope this helps.
hi, i’m not sure about the talk of a show money but my husband (US citizen) got his 13(a) non-quota immigrant visa in 2009 without us/him showing any proof of income or savings. my husband came to the philippines with only a dollar (US$1!) in his pocket. he lost his job and lived on unemployment for a while. never had a chance to build savings while he was there before finally deciding to come to the philippines (and we got married.) we were only asked 1 question by the immigration lawyer, and that is, if i really want to petition my husband to be a permanent resident. after a few weeks we got his passport back with a permanent resident stamp.
from our experience (we did all the paperwork on our own), the whole application process was painless and very easy. fortunately, i have a decent work that allows us to live comfortably (though we are always frugal) even if he doesn’t have a job. he mostly stays at home (and now we have a baby he is a stay-at-home dad.) once in a while, he gets to make a few hundred dollars here and there doing online stuff which is great. otherwise, we get by just fine. so i don’t think it’s not impossible for an american to live here without any savings or even a job.
Hi bob but can i have the certified background check done in us and present it in the philippines as part of my visa app.?
Dear Bob,
First of all, thanks for your quick response and the info given.
What I’m not completely clear on, will those people at BI accept me if I would to propose I wanna work and therefore will generate income, but only later after the visa is issued….
And would I have a future as a Truck Driver there? Or should I reconsider doing something else or start-up a small PC business??
Hi Bob. My question here would be how did Nick get into the philippines on a tourist visa without an outward bound ticket. My experience upon entering the philippines is to be asked to show my return trip ticket
Thanks again Bob, look forward to talking again.
Have a Great day
Bill
Hi Eric – If Paypal is a problem, I have several other options.
1. I can take Western Union payment and then e-mail you a download link for the books.
2. I can use another company to send you an electronic invoice, which you can pay with any debit or credit card.
If you just let me know which books you would like to purchase, I can work out the payment details with you. Just let me know.
Yes, you are right, they don’t always ask, but you never know when it will happen!
Hi, you said after I get married I can’t work in the Philippines before getting a 13A. Does that apply for self employment (photographer) or only working for someone else.
Hi Tulley – I am sorry, but I am really not the right person to ask that question. It has been more than 20 years since I went through the process of bringing my wife to the States, and I really have no idea what the current laws are. I know a lot about visas to come to the Philippines, but now days I know virtually nothing regarding visas to go to the States.
I would recommend that you might contact one of the following, as they are in the business and also are sponsors of this site:
Marriage Visas
Take care, my friend. I am sorry that I was unable to help you on this inquiry.
Kevin – Good luck, I think you are going to need it. I have not looked down on you at all, only tried to help you by answering the questions that you asked of me.
Hi Bob! I would like to seek for your advise if you don’t mind. My fiancee had been to the Philippines twice already as tourist, his 1st visit in May 2010 was for 2 weeks and the last one was Dec. 2011 for almost 2 months. My fiance plans to be here in the Philippines by March 6, 2014 for we plan to get married here. He already bought his ticket and he is now in the process of getting a visa. I read in one of your blogs about Living in the Philippines using Tourist Visa. If my fiance is to apply for Tourist Visa he is required to show or submit copies of his plane tickets (with a return ticket or next destination). If he is to buy a next destination ticket and he can use it before his 59 days visa ends to go to an Asian country for our honeymoon, when we get back to Manila will he still be required to have a return flight ticket to US or another next destination? We would like him to stay in the Philippines longer or if possible for good. Is there a way we can apply for his extension visa or can we apply for his resident visa soon after we get married? We are at lost about this kind of process and we appreciate it so much if you can give us an advise. Thank you very much for you time. God bless…
Hello, hey bob quick question, I don’t need to have a round trip ticket to get extension do I, on a tourist visa?
I’m an American married to a filipina, we r ready to come to Davao!!
Hi Bob thanks so much ,,ok now I got you and the same goes for my medical Bob?
I have it done here and bring it with me.
Great Thanks Bob
Best Regards
Again thnx for the quick response….I’ll check out those books u mention…..
Thnx again
i have been to the Philippines 8 times never been asked at immigration for an onward ticket, alto i had one, only the last time i came on Japan Air in LAX they asked to see the onward ticket
Yep the only time I was asked about a return ticket was in Seattle never in Cebu,
but always had a throw-a-way ticket
Dear Bob,
After taking a look at ur website on those books, I can’t find a way to send u money other then with PayPal, which I dont have.
Do u have a solution or workaround for it…like some bank account info so I could perform an international transit with my electronic banking???
Thanx again and sorry for bothering u so much….just try to understand I don’t wanna loose another 10yrs with her…..
Dear Bob,
Here in the Netherlands most people don’t have such a creditcard/debitcard.
Mostly only very rich or very spending people have those. And I never heard of Western Union or any other US payment systems….
I’m willing to give at least 1 book a try, but only if I have a suitable trusted way of payment thats custom to my country. I’m very sorry Bob, plz dont take it personal, but over here most people are very cautious about buying online. Because of all the privacy problems these days and all the way people on the net try to scam u for ur money…Again dont take it personal, I’m not stating that ur 1 of them….just saying how the dutch customs are here….
BTW I was think the book of 49 ways to make a living..
plz let me know if u have different solutions, more suited for dutch international payments…
HELLO DENNIS , I HAVE READ THROUGH ALL YOUR BLOGS AND I AM NOT SURE YOU ARE STILL ANSWERING QUESTIONS . I HAVE COME TO THE PHILIPPINES AND FOUND OUT I CAN NOT MARRY MY FIANCEE ,AS 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO SHE WAS MARRIED BY A LAWYER . THE EX EMPTIED HER ACCOUNT TOOK HER DAUGHTER AND TOOK OFF WITH HIM MISTRESS . HE WILL NOT DISPUTE THE ANNULMENT , BUT I JUST PUT CLOSE TO 1,500,000 PESOS INTO OUR WATER BUSINESS . I HAVE AN ACR CARD . WE ALSO HAD THE NOTTORY WRITE UP A CONTRACT , THIS SO I DON’T GET TAKEN FOR A RIDE . I WAS HOPING YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT STATUS I SHOULD LOOK INTO SO I CAN STAY HERE WITH MY FIANCEE . BY THE WAY I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THE MARRIAGE BIT WHEN I WENT TO MY CANADIAN EMBASSY TO GET MY OK THAT I HAD NOT MARRIED BEFORE . I AM REALLY FEELING UNEASY ABOUT THINGS , EVEN THOUGH SHE EXPLAIN THE PAST MARRIAGE BIT TO ME . YIKES A VERY CONFUSED CANADIAN
Hello Stephen – Firstly, I am the owner of this site, and my name is Bob, not Dennis. I don’t know who Dennis is.
Right now, you are in a very precarious situation, Stephen. If you are living together with this lady, you can go to jail for adultery should the husband choose to press charges. This is serious. Even if they have been separated for 7 or 8 years, the girl is still married, and the husband can have you arrested. If he finds out that his wife is involved with a foreigner, he will think that big money is available and he may well try to have you arrested and then drop charges in exchange for money.
Be very careful, Stephen. If you are living with the lady, move out immediately until you can get the annulment pushed through.
HELLO DENNIS , I HAVE READ THROUGH ALL YOUR BLOGS AND I AM NOT SURE YOU ARE STILL ANSWERING QUESTIONS . I HAVE COME TO THE PHILIPPINES AND FOUND OUT I CAN NOT MARRY MY FIANCEE ,AS 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO SHE WAS MARRIED BY A LAWYER . THE EX EMPTIED HER ACCOUNT TOOK HER DAUGHTER AND TOOK OFF WITH HIM MISTRESS . HE WILL NOT DISPUTE THE ANNULMENT , BUT I JUST PUT CLOSE TO 1,500,000 PESOS INTO OUR WATER BUSINESS . I HAVE AN ACR CARD . WE ALSO HAD THE NOTTORY WRITE UP A CONTRACT , THIS SO I DON’T GET TAKEN FOR A RIDE . I WAS HOPING YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT STATUS I SHOULD LOOK INTO SO I CAN STAY HERE WITH MY FIANCEE . BY THE WAY I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THE MARRIAGE BIT WHEN I WENT TO MY CANADIAN EMBASSY TO GET MY OK THAT I HAD NOT MARRIED BEFORE . I AM REALLY FEELING UNEASY ABOUT THINGS , EVEN THOUGH SHE EXPLAIN THE PAST MARRIAGE BIT TO ME . YIKES A VERY CONFUSED CANADIAN
Hello Stephen – Firstly, I am the owner of this site, and my name is Bob, not Dennis. I don’t know who Dennis is.
Right now, you are in a very precarious situation, Stephen. If you are living together with this lady, you can go to jail for adultery should the husband choose to press charges. This is serious. Even if they have been separated for 7 or 8 years, the girl is still married, and the husband can have you arrested. If he finds out that his wife is involved with a foreigner, he will think that big money is available and he may well try to have you arrested and then drop charges in exchange for money.
Be very careful, Stephen. If you are living with the lady, move out immediately until you can get the annulment pushed through.
I went and lived with my gf in the philippines for close to 1 year,apon entery i was not asked to show any return ticket 🙂 ( US citazen )
I mean FIANCE
If your fiance is from the USA, as you indicate, he has no need to file an application for a tourist visa, it will be issued to him upon his arrival at the airport. He will need to have an ongoing ticket with him, or he can be turned away. He will be required to have an ongoing ticket any time he enters the country until he has some kind of more permanent visa like a Balikbayan Visa or a Resident Visa of some kind.
He cannot apply for the Resident visa until you have an NSO validated copy of your Marriage certificate.
If you want to move to the Philippines, there are many things to find out about, and to do in preparation for the move. I have come up with a series of electronic books that will provide you with all of the information that you will need to make the move easy and smooth. There are a total of 31 eBooks in the set, you can find out about each title at my website: How to Move to the Philippines. http://HowToMoveToThePhilippines.com
I have a special deal that I want to let you know about, though. The books are $7.99 each, but that can add up if you want the whole set. Because of that, I have a special package that includes all of the books, 31 titles in all. You can get the entire package, which I call the PH Pro Package, for just $49. I can offer you the PH Pro package for a special discount price of $10 off for the next 24 hours though. When you are buying the books, just use this coupon code during the checkout: Move2PH10 Keep in mind, though, this coupon code is only valid for the next 24 hours for your purchase.
You can find the PH Pro package here:
http://expatisland.com/how-to-move-to-the-philippines-ph-pro-all-in-package/
I really believe that this package of books will give you all the information you need to make it a successful move. If you have other questions that you don’t find answered in the books, though, you can e-mail me any time for a personal response to your question.
sounds good
Thank you Serge!
anytime Bob! tnx for your websites, very informative, help a lot!
Thank you Serge, I’m glad that you have found my various sites to be informative. Take care!!
your welcome Bob! ingat!
Amping permi, Serge!
what is 13a resident visa?
Hello Ben – The answer to your question can be found here.
all these legal processes make world hard place 🙂
wheres the times when we didnt need visas or else? huh
Kevin needs to have a REALITY Check. ALl you are trying to do is give him good advice and he is being an ungreatful @#$^#&&@%
I have a copy of the circular which the embassy gives out, in which they specifically said that they do not do anything regarding these background checks. They even give instructions on how to handle the FBI check if you are here, but they say specifically that they will not handle it for you.
Hi Thelma – BoI is the Bureau of Immigration.
Hi John – I would advise your brother to not get the 59 day visa at all. Just hop on a plane with no visa. When he arrives at the airport in Manila he will be issued an automatic 21 day visa waiver. He can renew the visa up to 59 days. There are no income requirements to do this at all. He will need a round trip ticket (or just an ongoing ticket) that will be within 59 days.
Hi bob, what is the financial requirements to qualify to bring my finance here to the USA? Which is better to do marry her in the Philippines or here in the USA. Above all, with your experience & knowledge I would greatly appreciate your help & any information you can provide thanks again bob.
yes, especially after World War 2 and 9/11
If your wife’s business can show that it can support all of you that will satisfy the requirement.
Hi Troy – Each of the visas you mention have upsides and downsides. It is really a personal choice. For me, I have (and prefer) the 13 series resident visa. But, if you travel out of the Philippines often that is less attractive because the travel taxes will eat you alive. If you are coming in and out regularly, and your wife travels with you, getting the balikbayan visa is a quick and easy thing, and probably the right move. For me, and this is only my personal opinion, the SRRV is not the way to go for somebody who has a Philippine spouse, but we all have our own personal preferences.
Bob,
The current income required for a 13a as of 2013 is 125% of the poverty guideline which as of 2013 was $15, 510 for the lower 48 states. (higher in Alaska and Hawaii , not sure how much though) It will most likely go up a little for 2014 though. If a persons income is not high enough, they can also use a co-sponsor to subsidize, but have read that the Philippines will very rarely allow co-sponsor, but most other countries do. Same requirements for green card also. Assets in bank can also be used to offset a possible shortfall in income as well.
My fiance and I are currently going through the process of getting her an I-129 visa, so I am somewhat up to date on all the requirements.
Bob i am hoping you can help me with this question.My wife and I hoping to apply for a visa to the USA
for her niece,she is 18 and we are paying for her college expenses.My wife has her US citizenship if that matters.Can this be done if so do you know the forms and how many years will it take.Thank you in advance for this question that is alittle off topic here. wayne
Hi Wayne – I’d love to help you, but I’m not the right person for that. The truth is, I know a lot about getting visas to come to the Philippines. I know next to nothing about getting visas to go to the USA, though, since it’s been more than 2 decades since I have been involved in doing that. I am sorry to say I can’t help, but I’d rather be honest and tell you that than to give you inaccurate information.
Bob thank you for your prompt reply.I thought give it a try even if it was alittle off topic.You do a great service to us on your site,which i really enjoy.You helped with a question about dual citizenship question,i just found out the Philippine embassy just changed the prosess,know it cant
be done threw the mail.Like for us they will be coming to seattle to take care of people in this area.i thought you might be able to use that info. thanks again wayne
Hello Wayne, thank you for visiting my site, I appreciate it very much.
Hi there, I was just wondering. I was reading about the visa to live in PH and it says you must have 75k USD $ to live there if you are ages 35+ and then 50k if you’re 50+ , but I was wondering what the requirements are if you are below 35.
Hi Andrew – The information you quote is very outdated. You are talking about an SRRV Visa (Special Retiree’s Resident Visa). Under today’s rules, If you are 50+ your investment amount is $20,000 (or it could be $10,000 if you have a pension which can be deposited monthly in a Philippine bank), and if you are 35 to 49, then your investment amount is $50,000. Persons under 35 may not participate in the SRRV program.
However, there is not a need to use the SRRV if you want to live here. I mean, there are other options. Regardless of age, you can always just live here on a tourist visa, renewing basically every 2 months, and leaving the country once every 16 months for a short getaway.
Hi! Good day!I am an american citizen living in philipppines,i was married on july 1,2011 and have over stay my 21 day visa,what is the best method to obtain a permanent residence visa to live here with my wife and children.thank you!
Hi Keith – since you are married to a Filipina, you are eligible for a 13(a) resident visa. You should go to the Bureau of Immigration and apply, but first you will need to clear up your status of overstaying.
Hi Bob i met this girl on line and want to get maried ..when i do marie her can i be a philippine citizen .or do i need to fill out papers to become 1 ..i do not have much money and i want to know can i make it as a gig farmer in the philippines i sent her money to buy us some pigs and her brother is helping us take care of them till i come to her in jan we do not have land or a house but her brother has a hous he can care for them there.. i have no familey in the us can i make ti there im 53 years old i do have like 10 k in us money.. i want to do this and i want it to work for us we do love eachother so much .will i make it till i retire at age 66 ?or even 62
Hi John – No, you cannot become a Philippine Citizen by marrying somebody. If you want to become a Philippine citizen you will have to live here 5 years, learn the language and also give up your US citizenship too.
hello bob,im a pinay.and i want to know of what to do to get a phil.visa for my boyfriend whos in pakistan right now.please rply me asap.thnxx a lot
Hello Jen – Actually, it is your boyfriend who needs a visa, not you. He should visit the Philippine Embassy in Pakistan and apply, they will take care of it on that end.
Hello Bob, my American fiancee is coming here in the Philippines next month to marry me and our plan is that we will settle here in the Philippines… Is it possible for him to obtain a 13a visa without leaving the country from the time of his arrival here? Thank you and God bless!
Can’t say for sure. There is not any set figure that is acceptable, it is up to the person who approves your application. Only thing you can do is to try.
I mean after marrying me, can he directly apply for a 13a visa without leaving the Philippines or after his tourist visa expires?
Hi Mindanao Bob,
I just wanna ask how do I go about getting my British Partner to get a permanent Resident Visa here in the Philippines. We are Gay couples married in the UK but we are thinking of staying here in the Philippines for good. Other than PRA what’s our other options.
Thanks
Hi Coco – Unfortunately, the Philippine Government does not recognize gay couples in terms of visa issuance. As far as I know, the only option would be SRRV (PRA) or living here on a retirement visa.
Hi Bob,
I’m a filipina citizen married to a danish citizen we got married in Hong kong and still live here..We are planning to move to Philippines for good in two years,is it possible to get a permanent visa in Philippines for my husband? And apply it in Hong Kong Philippine cosulate?
Hi Samantha – Sure, that’s actually quite easy. When it is getting closer to your time for the move, just contact the Philippine Embassy in HK and tell that that you need an application for a 13(a) Visa. You can process everything right there in HK.
Good luck.
Thank you Bob Have a nice day 🙂
Happy to help, Samantha! 😉
Bob, I am planning to visit the Philippines in June. I will meet my bride to be there. She is Philippine and we are getting married there. I am retired and receive benefits check every month from railroad retirements. Will my retirement and Medicare benefits be affected if I permanently live in the Philippines. I do plan to return to states occasionally . I have children and grand children here. Will there. E a problem with that. Since my future wife is Philippino, will the 13 visa be permanent and I can start business in my wife’s name and also work with her in the business?
Should I apply for my visa here? I already have my passport. I do t understand the process but need to get thing in order before June. Thanks in advance for your help. Roy
Hello Roy – Your retirement benefits should be unaffected by living in the Philippines. At least US Govt benefits would be unaffected. You should check on your RR retirement, as that is private they could have anything written in there. But, I doubt that it would be affected.
You cannot apply for a 13 series Visa in the States at this time, because you are not yet married. You must be married to a Filipino to get a 13(a) Visa. So, your best bet would be to come here on a tourist visa, get married and then apply here for the 13 series resident visa. Yes, once you get your resident visa all of the things that you asked about are possible.
Good luck to you Roy!
Thank you again… Hope to see you soon. You are doing a wonderful thing for we that have no clue as to where to start…
Roy Daniel.
Happy to help, Roy. Good luck with your move!
Roy Daniel says:
December 22, 2011 at 2:21 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Bob, I am planning to visit the Philippines in June. I will meet my bride to be there. She is Philippine and we are getting married there. I am retired and receive benefits check every month from railroad retirements. Will my retirement and Medicare benefits be affected if I permanently live in the Philippines. I do plan to return to states occasionally . I have children and grand children here. Will there. E a problem with that. Since my future wife is Philippino, will the 13 visa be permanent and I can start business in my wife’s name and also work with her in the business?
Should I apply for my visa here? I already have my passport. I do t understand the process but need to get thing in order before June. Thanks in advance for your help. Roy
Reply
Roy, your comment was already answered above. Not sure why you are reposting the same comment again??
Hi bob i like your comments and i do enjoy reading it. I have a problem i lost my i card so it also expired and i just got my permanent the problem is i have to leave the Philippines but i dont have my i card will i be able to leave the Philippines or can i reapply for permanent when i get back or whats the procedures i really dont know what to do . Thanks
Hi Garthon – I recommend that you go to the Bureau of Immigration and inquire about what they recommend for you to do. To be honest, I can’t give you a concrete answer on this.
Hi bob-
I am planning to study in the Philippines. Would it be worth it to get the resident visa? I was born and raised in the Philippines and naturalized in the US. I am planning to finish medicine in Philippines, and do not want to travel back and forth to the US during my study period. I am looking at staying for at least 6 years.
Thanks!
Hi Janelle – If you want to stay here for 6 or more years you basically have two choices:
1. Apply for Philippine Dual Citizenship. This is what I would do if I were you. You can be a Philippine Citizen and a US Citizen too. Check the site linked for more information about Philippine Dual Citizenship.
2. You qualify for a 13(g) resident visa, which will allow you to stay in the country as long as you wish, but you will be a foreigner here, so you will not have all the rights of a citizen. That is why I would recommend going for the Dual Citizenship.
hello, my bf want to stay here he come one time last year and he want to come this february to stay long ,it is ok to stay long for the second time to come?
thank you and more power
julie
Your bf can get a tourist visa when he enters which will be good for 21 days. He can renew it for up to 16 months.
i am an Indian citizen wants to relocate in Philippines and also wants a resident visa or permanent resident visa in Phillipines.how can i get that.and if i got a work permit ,then for how long i will have to work in phillipines so tht i can have a permanet resident visa of phillipines.plz any1 of u suggest me the best thing.i need to go there at any cost.
Hello nirupam – Basically, you have two ways of getting a resident visa:
1. If you have a Filipina spouse.
2. SRRV.
If these are not an option for you, you can come on a tourist visa and stay up to 16 months. But, being able to work basically will not be an option.
thans “mindanaoBob”..but are u sure tht by “srrv” i can get resident visa for phillipines? if yes then wht i have to do or wht is srrv …i have opened the site but couldnt recognize for wht they are providing vacancies….so plz give me a reply sir.
Hi, i have a question to ask, my wife is a Filipino living in Philippines, can i convert my 9A visa to 13A visa once i am in philippines or do i need to apply before i go to philippines
thanks
You may apply for your 13(a) resident visa in the Philippines or in your home country.
the Philippine embassy in New Delhi does not have any info. on 13A type visa, they only give 9A visa,so if i take 9A visa will it be converted in 13A visa in Philippines,
hi bob,
may ask how much is the residents visa in the philippines…
im looking forward for you reply thank you
Hi genrey – the cost varies depending on a number of factors, one of which is where you apply (in the Philippines, or outside the Philippines). I would recommend that you check this article for more information: My 13(a) Experience
Hi Bob, I find yr column very helpful and you did your job professionally. You are polite and know how to deal with people esp those who has annoying question. You’re such a great help for those who need answers to their questions desperately. More power to you Bob.
By the way, I am a green card holder (filipina citizen) and non active Jordanian passport holder married to US citizen since ’08. We are intending to live in Phils permanently starting June 2012. We are in the process of applying 13 (a) for my US citizen husband so he could live in Phils permanently. I believed that we do not have to purchase a round trip ticket to go to Phils as we are not planning to return back US…probably in the future but only for a visit. I learned and gathered all details that I wanted to know about the legalities in living in Phils for US citizen on yr website and that’s a huge help. Thank you once again and more power to your column!
Sincerely,
Cristina
Thank you for your kind comment, Cristina. There was a time when I let those “annoying questions” bother me, but I long ago decided to just answer and let it go at that. When you get dozens and dozens of comments every day, it can wear on you, though, no doubt.
You are correct, because you are a citizen and your husband will be a holder of a permanent resident visa, you are not required to purchase an ongoing ticket. This can get a bit sticky from time to time, because the airlines are the ones who generally enforce the “ongoing ticket rule” (because they stand to lose money if you are denied entry) and they often do not fully understand the rules. They may demand the ongoing ticket even though you are not legally obligated to get one. So, you need to make this clear to the airline officials.
Good luck to you and your husband on the move, Cristina!
My US citizen husband is on a Social Security disability which is our source of subsistence. If something happen to my husband in Phils (God forbid!) I am not eligible to claim his benefit for the reason being that I am not naturalized and the only time I could get it is when I get 60 yrs old but I need to be residing in US and need to be naturalized? I am a green card holder since 09 and if I live permanently in Phils without going to US at least once a year, I will lose lose my permanent residency as abandonement? Could you verify all of these please?
Hi Cristina – On the SS benefits, I cannot verify, because being honest, I do not know that for sure. Sorry about that.
Regarding your green card status, you are right, you must return on a regular basis to keep your green card active. It can even be once every 6 months, it is at the discretion of the immigration officer when you attempt entry to the USA. You might want to consider just becoming a citizen before moving to the Philippines.
Hello Bob,
I am coming to you because i think that you are the man of the situation regarding philippines immigration question. So may I ask you something ?
Fire away, Vincent. If I can help you I gladly will.
Just a comment. I live in the Philippines after a couple of years of preparation to do so. I read a lot written by the people who create websites and offer advice to those who wish to come here. “Mindanao Bob,” and his wife are among the most respected writers with an online presence living here in the Philippines. They offer honest and free information and when I read the exchange here with Kevin, I can see why Bob is thought of so highly. His responses are patient, direct and kind while “Kevin” seems overwhelmed by some hardships he has had. You are a class act Bob. I read what you write often. Thank you for your willingness to help those who wish to live in the Philippines successfully. -Rob in Cebu
Magandang Gabi Bob!
I am a US Citizen and have been in the Phil 12 months and currently on a tourist visa with the Salvation Army. I’m getting married in May and will apply for the 13a trv. My question is, after I receive the 13a, let’s just say its approved in July, can I go back to the USA and visit in January for 2 weeks. Is there a restriction on the initial year of the 13a? I’ve heard once you receive the 13a, during the first year you can work and leave for a short visit home. Any info is appreciated.
God bless
Hi Matthew – I don’t speak Tagalog, so I’ll reply to you in Cebuano. Maayong hapon, kumusta ka ba? Daghang salamat sa imong nagbisita diri sa akong website!
I believe you should have no problem in making that visit to the States, but you need to be sure you are here when there are things you need to do like converting your temporary visa to permanent.
Maayong swerte, akong higala. Unta naa kay swerte sa imong visa.
hi bob. I find your site so informative. We are also living in General Santos City, anyway Im a filipina, I wish to apply for a resident visa for my husband here in PI. Is it easy?and he is from Europe. Is it the same 13a form he needs to fill up there if in case we plan to apply for him there?
Hello elrig – Yes, it is very easy. It is a 13(a) Visa which he needs to apply for. He can apply there in Europe or here in the Philippines.
Magandang Gabi Bob!
I am a US Citizen and have been in the Phil 12 months and am currently on a tourist visa with the Salvation Army. I’m getting married in May and will apply for the 13a trv. My question is, after I receive the 13a, let’s just say its approved in July, can I go back to the USA and visit in January for 2 weeks. Is there a restriction on the initial year of the 13a? I’ve heard once you receive the 13a, during the first year you can work and leave for a short visit home. Any info is appreciated.
God bless
Matthew
i got some good informantion. but need more.i plan on applying for a trv visa and would like to move to the philippines. i married a filipina woman we married there.she has registered with nso i now understand bi clearance .i have poof of income and my question is do i need medical records and if so what records and forms to i need to bring with me i dont want to go empty handed i am from the usa also would it be wise to hire a lawyer to do this
Hi Robert – No, I would not recommend hiring an attorney. Frankly, I think it would be a waste of money to do so. Getting a visa to live in the Philippines is quite simple, especially given that you are married to a Filipina. You need to get a 13(a) Resident Visa. Just call the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that serves your area. They will send you an application a list of all the items you need to gather for the application. It’s very easy to do, Robert.
good luck!
thank you your a good man to take your time to help others good bless
Hi Robert – Thank you very much! 😀
Dear Bob,
My name is Eric, I’m 28 yrs old and live in the Netherlands.
My gorgious angel’s name is Riezel and is 27yrs old. We met about 12yrs ago in Tagum City, while I was there for work. I travelled as a Maritime Officer’s Apprentice aboard a Dutch banana reefer. We used to load in Madaum Bay Harbor. I think these places sound really farmiliar to you, as you are living in Davao. (Taking that the info I read on your (older) website, where you try to sell your book on enterprising in the Philippines, is still accured).
Imagine loading in about 2weeks by local people, then sailing a fixed route to Japan, China and S-Korea in just 3weeks, returning empty again in Madaum Bay Harbor. While doing this for little under a year, I had lots of time lingering in dancings and karaoke bars getting (slightly) drunk and whining along with golden oldies. After completing my second trip, on an ever so fortunate tropical evening, I got my Captain’s Approval for some R&R ( as you people like to call it in the US (I guess)). That evening changed my live forever, when I met my angel while enjoying a breath-taking sunset as never witnessed before in my live. We have spent every second possible, whenever I was over there.
Then, after months of truly awe-inspiring fun and romance, we got a Captains Relief (ie. change of watch by a new Captain) and my little fairytale came to a quick ending. I was still underaged by my country’s law (ie. 18yrs (I was 17 at the time)), I got into a big fight with him. I spare you the details, but it wasn’t pretty. So one night I decided, young and advertures and naïef as I was at that age, to pack up my things and escape the ship and stay there with my angel, worrying about legal stuff later, after a phone call back home to my parents.
So I did, I escaped and hitched a truck out of the harbor, but meanwhile the Captain got wind of it all and called Gate Security, where they intercepted every truck with dogs and M16’s around there neck’s. Although the guards were very friendly and had a good laugh about me, they kindly asked me to go back to the ship. I was so intimidated by the M16’s and the dogs, that I wisely chose to willingly return to that SOB (forgive the term) and the ship where he detained me and confiscaded my passport and stuff, against all rules and regulations by my country.
So basicly, I was tranported as some prisoner to S-Korea, where they dropped me on a plane back home. I never had a chance to properly say goodbye or make any future arragements as necessary.
Once back in the Netherlands, I tried to keep in touch with my angel, but that quickly faded away, as the means of communication were quite poor in the Philippines in those days. But I never forgot her or stopped loving her and kept the few shards of memory I had left (ie. 3 loveletters and 2 small pictures). I never could commit to any relationship here and never able to forgive myself for the way things turned out, I finally, after 11yrs, came to the point of giving up hope. Until……
Come januari 10th 2012, I got a late Christmas Miracle in the form of a facebook message from a complete unknown girl from the Philippines. Perculiar as it was, I started to investigate a little and responded to her message to contact her and confirm my identity. I learned she was my angels younger half-sister, which I never knew she had, asking on my angels behalf, if I would contact her again. After all this time SHE found me, stating she never could forget me or stopped loving me. That’s the day I started to think there might be a God (me not being religious) and being elated and probably, for a day or 2, being the happiest man ever walked the face of this planet.
Contact is fully restored and in a weeks time of intensive chatting, we were back where we left off…
But enough romancing down memory lane, back to the business end of this post….
I am planning on getting married over there and also apply for a Sect. 13(a) Visa.
Here’s the deal, in my country everything is extremely expensive, being the worlds 3th most expensive country to live life. Also here, we have almost no economy going and no jobs available, thanks to our ever spending “friends” in southern Europe (ie. European Crisis).
So my idea is to save up some money to go over there and get married right away, given I can make some necessary prelimanery arragements over here. Also make sure I immediately apply for the visa, but with very little to no money…as I will be forced to give up my live and livelyhood over here in the Netherlands.
Knowing the conv. between you and ‘ungrateful’ Kevin, I know it will be very hard unless I get lucky again and encounter a Maria situation. Which is very unlikely, but not impossible. I just feel I got so incredibelly lucky to get my angel back after all these years, I dont get lucky again so soon.
My question to you, o Mighty Bob ;-), once I get married in the Philippines, am I allowed to work and make my own living there, so I then can provide for my family. By trade I’m a international truckdriver, also I’m very good with computers (Microsoft/Epson job long ago, but still self-educating at home) and if so is there a real chance for me as of such…???
Also would like to know, how to go about getting a job, taking into account they have an entire different view on job ethics and salary….(eg. in my own country I normally make around 2600,- Euro’s per month, I gues a little over 3000,- USD). I know I have to be realistic and not expect to get anywhere near this amount in the Philippines, but will there still be a future for me and is my plan any bit viable or not….
Thanks for your expertise here, Bob.
And please forgive me my extremely long post, it’s my ever first post ever on the net, so I thought make it a good one….hahahaha….next time I’ll keep them way shorter…..
Hi Maria – I agree totally, it is not impossible. But, having some savings or a job is a real plus, no doubt.
Also, the 13(a) does have a financial requirement. You were not asked to prove financial capacity, and I don’t know why, but nobody should go into the interview expecting to not be asked, because the Philippine government does require that.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Maria.
Yes, you actually MUST have it done in the States. Next, you must get it notarized by the Philippine Consulate or Embassy. Next, present it to the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines as part of your application process.
Hi Eric, once you have your 13(a) it is not up to the BI. You have work permission then.
If you want to be a truck driver, it is doubtful to me that you could get such a job as a foreigner. Also, you should expect to earn around P300 per day for that type of work.
For information on how to earn a good living in the Philippines, I have two books that you might want to check out:
49 Ways to Make a Living in the Philippines
and
99 Ways to Make a Living on the Internet
Both books are electronic books that can be downloaded immediately upon making payment.
Good luck.
Hi Ted – Well, to be honest, Nick did not say that he entered the Philippines without an onward ticket. He may have had a throw away ticket in his possession upon entry. He may have had a refundable onward ticket which he already had refunded. There are many ways to enter the Philippines with an onward ticket, and to relinquish that ticket without costing too much money.
Another possibility is that nick entered the country with an onward ticket, but the date of the onward flight has already passed, but he decided not to go. In that case he would have had an onward ticket upon arrival and would no longer have a valid onward ticket.
Also, the officials at the entry point do not always ask to see an onward ticket. In fact, in all of the times that I have entered the Philippines, I don’t recall ever being asked for an onward ticket.
I have heard from one Expat that you can get the Police report from the USA certified at the US Embassy a fee of $50, no Philippine embassy or consulate involved, any one know , or checked with US Embassy on this
morning bob
can i ask a few things, i am married to a lady from here in phils.
our plan is to live, retire here, but i do work away at the moment, am australian.
been coming here for 5 years now.
ok, at the moment i just come in with out visa, long as i dont stay anymore then 21 days, iam good.
this works ok as my work roster is 16 days work, 12 days R&R
but i would like to set up a business for my wife and self.
can i do this, can i work in it while here.
can we have a joint bank account.
i understand we can own a house, well my wife can.
i do have many things to ask, but wont bother you right now, love top chat more if we can
hope to here from you
pete
Hi Pete – Yep, you’ve got a few questions there. Let me see if I can answer them for you.W
Your wife could certainly own any type of business, since she is a citizen of the Philippines. As for yourself, whether you could own any portion of it or not depends on what type of business it is. The percentage of allowable foreign ownership depends on the type of business. As for working in the business, if you are here on a tourist visa, no, you could not legally work there. If you apply for and are issued a Resident Visa (13a), then you could legally work in the business, though.
There is no legal reason why you cannot open a bank account, whether your own account or a joint account. By practice, though, most banks require an I-Card before they will issue you a bank account. This is not legally required, but a policy of most banks. Some banks will open an account for you, though, you just have to find one that will.
Yes, your wife can own a house. You cannot have any percentage of ownership, though, as a foreigner. You can own a condo unit, though, if that is of interest to you.
Good luck to you Pete.
Hi Bob,
This must be a full time job for you, but I admire your dedication in helping people like me.
I am aussie and my gf is Phil but currently living in Dubai;. I want to come and check out Phil to potentially live in the future. Not sure if you can clarify or confirm the following for me:
1. you mention that to get a resident visa you need to invest $20k in Phil. does it have to be in a bank or would a purchased property be considered?
2. Are there other options for living long term in Phil without the need for investing $20k?
3. Can you suggest areas to live where there is abundant mountains of rainforest which are out of the heat and humidity and protected from typhoons?
Appreciate your efforts here mate. thanks
Pete
Hi Pete – Yes, you are right, my array of websites is a job for me, it keeps me very busy, and also keeps me out of the poorhouse! 😆
To answer your questions:
1. I have never said any such thing. If you opt for an SRRV Visa you will have to invest between $10k to $50k, depending on your age and other factors. But, there is nothing forcing you to go for an SRRV. Since you say your gf is Filipina, if you opt to marry her later you can get a resident visa here – a 13(a) Visa – with Zero investment. If you opt for the SRRV and make the investment, it must be put into a bank account that is approved by the PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority). However, after some time, you could move that money into something like a condo purchase with PRA approval. When you say “property” if you mean a house or land, no, that would never be approved because as a foreigner you are not permitted to purchase or own property. If you put it in your gf’s name, that won’t work either, because the required investment must be in your name.
2. Yes, as I said above, there are plenty of other options. 13(a) Visa is the best, if you are marrying a citizen of the country. You could also live here on a tourist visa, and leave the country for one day every 16 months. For a full rundown on Visa options for living here, check my book, Philippine Visa Guide.
3. Really for the type of area you mention, there are only two places I am aware of: up in the Baguio area, or Bukidnon Province in Mindanao. Baguio, however, is not in a typhoon free area, while Bukidnon is. However, where you will want to live is a highly personal choice, and I recommend that you do a bit of touring and find the place that is right for you.
Good luck, Pete.
Thanks for the quick reply Bob.
My mistake about the $20k, i think i was using outdated information maybe from another site.
If you dont mind me asking, i read somewhere that if we were married and bought property in her name, but unluckily became divorced down the track, the property will be split 40%-60% ( and i cannot remember who gets what). I have unfortunately walked the globe with SUCKER on my forehead and have lost a lot of money to women, through divorce etc.
If i was to marry and buy property in my wife’s name, can I protect my investment in any way or is it simply pot luck?
Pete
Hi Pete – The information on the 20k is not out of date, but it is not the only way to get a visa, it never has been.
If you married, single, divorced, whatever your status, you cannot own property here. Only Filipinos can own property. If you get divorced or if she dies or whatever, you cannot have the property because it is illegal for a foreigner to own property here. If she dies, it can go to whomever she leaves it to… but not you. If you get divorced or split up… the property is hers.
It’s that simple.
No, you cannot protect yourself.
Hi Bob,
Do you really have to show a receipt of property purchase to get a certificate of financial capacity to acquire 13A visa? I’m married to a Filipina.
regards,
James
Hi James – I have never heard of any such thing before. You have to show financial capacity, but there is no requirement to purchase any property.
Hi Bob,
Do you really need to show a receipt for purchase of property and fenancial capacity to get a 13A visa? I’m married to a Filipina.
regards,
James
Not sure why you are posting the exact same question twice, James. As I said before, I’ve never heard of this before, as far as I know there is no such requirement.
Thanks Bob,
So now i have a big chance to get my permanent visa in the philippines without more hustle as i’m married to a pilipina , I’ve been working here now in korea for 3 years to save some money to buy a land and a house just to get the financial capacity needs which is not needed as you said. I’ve been in the philippines many times before i got married by tourist visa as i am a missionary in the philippines.
You’re website really help us a lot specially like me who doesnt know anything about obtaining 13a visa.
Regard,
James
Good luck, James. I hope you enjoy your life here.
Hello Bob,
my mom is an American citizen but would like to apply for a dual citizenship (US/Philippine). However, she heard from friends that it’s not advisable to do so as she may lose her (US) pension. Will she lose her pension if she has dual citizenship?
Thanks,
Hunter
That is blatantly false.
hi im a uk citizen, im marry my filipino gf next year in the philippines and then plan to stay there, we have a 2 year old girl already. Im a qualified diving instructor and plan to work in the Philippines. My gf is also looking at boats to buy to so she can start some fishing business. What requirements will i need to get a resident visa. We dont have much savings but we already have a house to live in. Do i need to show a certain amount of savings when applying for the visa? thanks
Thanks a lot for the article post. Much obliged.
You are most welcome.
Hi, Bob, thanks a lot for this article. Does it mean that it is possible to apple for residents visa from my own country, just send docs to the nearest Embassy? As you remember, my husband is Philippino and I am Kazakhstan’ citizen.
Hi Yuliya – Nice to hear from you. Yes, you should be able to apply for a Philippine Resident Visa there in your home country. Just contact the Philippine Embassy and ask for an application, they will send you a list of everything that you will be required to present with your application.
Hi Bob, thanks a lot for your quick and positive reply:) I heard from one of my friend, that this type of visa can be issued for a maximum possible term for 1 year at first time and second time for a lifetime, is it true?
Hi Yuliya – Yep! It’s true. The initial visa that you get is probationary for 1 year, and you have to go make it permanent at the end of one year.
Hello Bob,
I am living in the Philippines right now. Me and my wife got married in Sept. So if I go to immigration in Manila I could get my ACR-i card the next day or the next 2 days?
Hello Michaelg – No, that is not correct, sorry. Firstly, I suspect that you are mixing up an “I-Card” with a “Resident Visa” although I am not certain. You see, and I-Card has nothing to do with whether you are married here or not, it is only an identification card. If you want to get an I-card, you can apply at the BI, but it takes longer than 2 days or so. If you are wanting a permanent residence visa, you need to apply for a 13(a) visa, which is totally different than an I-Card. An I-card does not allow you any stay at all, it only serves as Identification.
Sorry I can’t be more specific, I just am unsure what you are actually wanting to get.
MindanaoBob, you are an asset to this country!
Thank you so much.
There really is no other clear resource for this as far as I can tell.
Thank you so much, Vince. I really appreciate your kind comment!
MindanaoBob, you are an asset to this country!
Thank you so much.
There really is no other clear resource for this as far as I can tell.
Thank you so much, Vince. I really appreciate your kind comment!
How will I know if visa status 13(a) is permanent?
Also, do I have to renew it every year given it’s already 13(a)?
If I wasn’t able to renew it, how much would the fine cost?
Please help me clarify these questions.
Thank you.
Hi Mel – The first 13(a) Visa that you are issued is a probationary visa. If you stay out of trouble for the year, you will then be eligible for a permanent 13(a) Visa, after 1 year. The 13(a) Visa is for life, no renewals are needed, ever. You must go and check in at the Bureau of Immigration once per year, every January or February and the cost of that is P310.
I am sorry, I don’t know. There are too many variables. I don’t think it wil be too high, though.
How will I know if visa status 13(a) is permanent?
Also, do I have to renew it every year given it’s already 13(a)?
If I wasn’t able to renew it, how much would the fine cost?
Please help me clarify these questions.
Thank you.
Thank you, Bob. That was helpful. Do you have any idea how much is the penalty fee if I wasnt able to go to BI for more than a year? I think it’s overstaying.
You are welcome, Melo.
hello…Here’s my daughter status. 2 years old, born in the philippines. uS citizen,,she acquired US citizen thru my US citizenship, but her father is a filipino citizen, came from the US to philippines on january 2011, and stayed here since then. My question is… since she’s been here for about 1 year and 5 months. Will she have to pay penalty for over staying? the reason why Im asking is that will be leaving for hongkong and I just wanted to make sure that there wont be a problem on the immigration side at the airport? pls advise? thanks
Hi Bob,
I’m a Philippine citizen married to an Indian national. We would like to settle down in the Philippines. At the moment, I am here and he is in India taking care of our marriage certificate registration in the Philippine embassy so that it will be recognized by NSO. I do have a couple of questions though that I’m hoping you can answer for me:
(1) What kind of visa should we apply for immigrant quota or non-quota?
(2) Will the visa allow him to work in the Philippines right away?
(3) How long is the procedure before we get his visa?
(4) should we apply here in the Philippines or there in India?
Thank you so much!
Hi Alyx – I recommend that you go for a 13(a) Resident Visa. Read this article to find out how to process it and the costs involved.
Agreed.
Yes, indeed, Serge! I forgot do you have a resident visa?
Im on tourist visa, Bob. As i read here resident is even more expensive. Im from poor Russia, Bob, dont forget :).
Hi Serge – A resident visa is way, way cheaper than a tourist visa! 😯
Yes, with a 13(a) – or a 13(g) like I have – you pay a couple hundred dollars to get it, and then it is P310 per year. Very cheap.
Im not married to filippina yet either.
really? u mean 13a?
thx Bob, i agree, but that is marriage visa, i got this, knew this before, thx, just thought there are other ways
Indeed, Serge – It is a visa for a person who is married to a Philippine Citizen or former Citizen.
Hi Bob! My sister is married to a Japanese and they both lived in Japan for almost 10 years already. Recently, her husband decided to become a permanent residence here in the Philippines. My Concerns are:
a.) Can they apply for permanent resident for Philippines in Phil. Embassy/Consulate in Japan?
b.) What are the necessary papers to submit?
c.) After they get her husband permanent residence visa in their home country, what are the next possible procedure they are going to take when they arrive here in the Philippines?
Thank you.
Hi Tere, just have them contact the Philippine Embassy in Japan and request an application for a 13a visa. It will include all instructions and requirements.
For any expats living in Cebu…i have been using the services of cebuexpatservices.com …for a very reasonable fee they will do all the work for you to renew tourist visa, Paul Whiteway is an aussie married to a filipina and can be trusted.
hey i applied for TRV 13a and tom.. is our hearing can you please advice me what to expect on hearing its in manila BI with attorney Tan what question i can expect
Thank you
hi again bob,
to apply for a 13(a) visa do i need to shaw my bank acount with a minimum some of money in it and if yes how much??
thx
Yes, they will look at your finances. Sorry, but there is no set amount of money needed, just a belief by the consular officer that you have enough to live here.
John Hi. Is there a Philippine Embassy in Inda you coud go to. I did my 13A visa in the USA. Was very easy and all I had to do was pick it up in Manila immigration office when we got here. Just maybe an easy way out for you,..,
pastor Bud
hi Bob, im an American married to a Philippina and have a daughter (she is 6y.o.)with duel citizenship ,I am on social security disability and have permanent residence visa .Other then going home at the one year mark for 3 months ived lived here now 8 years .I have heard there is a way for me after living here for 10 years to gain duel citizenship for myself .Is this true and if so how can i do this? Thanks Michael Patrick Brown p.s. i think its great u helping folks like u r doing .
Under Philippine law, Michael, you and I can never become dual citizens. Philippine law requires that a foreigner must rebounce their citizenship to become a Philippine citizen, thus dual citizenship is not possible for us.
hai i am indian citizen i have fiance filipina i want marry and settle there even herer philipines embessy asking tourist visa lot of requiremnt it is posibel she and me meet another country and marry and without my tourist visa i came in manila can ther thy give blik byn stamp we not marry in india or philipines if we marry 3rd country its is posoble they blik byn visa sir and
Hi Bob,
I have been reading this newsletter of you regarding visa matter.
Thank you for your dedication. You are a help for other people that needing those info.
I also want to ask if you have some info regarding my setuation. I have a nigerian boyfriend and curently still married in other country. He is planning to apply for their divorce and we are planning to get married here in philippines and start our life and small business here. We already have 2 year old son. Is it possible for us to get married here in philippines before he finally apply divorce on that country he was been married before? Can he be qualified for a 13a visa after we get married? Thank you so much for your help! God bless!
Hello Ofhel, no, you cannot marry until he applies for divorce and it is finalized.
Regarding the residence visa, I think he can get that, but honestly, I am not certain on the rules for Nigerian citizens.
how can i apply phillipine resident visa for sri lanka resident?
Hi Maureen – I assume you mean for a Sri Lankan CITIZEN? If that is the case, you could get a resident visa by marrying a Filipino, or get an SRRV visa.
Wonderful posts. Quick qs. My husband and I were born in the Philippines and are now US Citizens. Which one is better for us? 13A Visa or Dual Citizenship? Thanks!
Hi Noning, thanks for visiting. I would recommend Dual Citizenship.
hi bob
i leave in Dubai and would like to stay in Philippines for rest to my live with my family got two boys 14,12 and my wife is not from Philippines we have visited thee times ,how can get permanent visa
Hello Dubai bob – Thanks for stopping by. I guess the only options for a permanent visa would be an SRRV or a 13 series quota visa, but those are hard to get.
thanks Mr bob for reply, what is SRRV ,actually i was in Philippines in jun and someone told me that i can fine some girls who can marry just for paper work and get some amount of money but if its so how about my family
Hi,im an OFW who got married with an iranian national,now i want my husband to stay in the Philippines while im working here in Canada….would it be possible for him to pro
I suppose that your husband can apply for a 13a resident visa.
when I file the 13a and are granted a 1yr probation period for permanent residence, is the first 6 months count for the 6 month requirement, or does it have to be 6 months after the 1yr probation period is finished for filing the I-130?
I must say, Randy, I am quite confused by your question. An I-130 is a document in the process for getting a US visa. A 13a is a Philippine Visa. I don’t understand what the two things have to do with each other? Maybe I am missing something?
You can only file I-130 FROM a country that you are a resident, I’m a USA resident but want to file FROM the Philippines, hence the 13a is required FIRST as it gives Perm Residency in the Philippines.
OK, I see, Randy. To be honest, this site is about Philippine visas, so questions about US visas really go beyond the scope of the site, and to be honest, I really know little about US visas. It has been 22 years since I filed for a US visa for my wife, and so much has changed in that time… and I’m getting a bit old, so I have forgotten a lot! 😆
“This site is about Philippine visas”
Its a requirement of the Philippines, to be able to file visas from the Philippines as a permanent resident…
Ha ha… OK, Randy, OK. Let me explain to you more carefully, because you don’t seem to understand. You see, the I-130 has nothing to do with Philippine Visas. Not a thing at all. I do not know enough about US Immigration, or the I-130 application to be able to give advice on that. I am well aware that the 13(a) is a Philippine Immigrant Visa. Do you understand that the I-130 is not?
Good luck to you.
Hi Bob,
I just want to ask, My husband is Lebanese-Armenian. We’re planning to go to philippines and make a business. we have a friend wants to go with us to be a partner to our business. (e.g. restaurant) How can we get a visa for him? And its possible to get a permanent visa to my spouse?
Your answer will be much appreciated.
Thank you and More Power.
Hi Armenia – I assume you are a Filipina? A Philippine citizen? If so, your husband can qualify for a 13(a) resident visa. Your friend… well, perhaps an SRRV or an SVEG visa connected to the business.
I am collecting my permanent 13a tomorrow and that list is pretty much what I had to provide. Its not what is on the website, but its certainly what has been used in practise.
Glad to hear that, Jason. Good luck with your visa!
Hi, Bob
You’ve probably been asked this question many times, but for me there is some confusion. I’ve looked on websites with regard to the requirements for a US citizen coming to PI to live. In my case, I have a friend who is retiring and wants to try to live here. He is not married, so what type of visa must he get and how much will he have to pay to have it renewed every so often? He’d like to stay here for several months at a time. He lives in the Los Angeles area. Can he do any of the legwork where he lives? Appreciate any help. Thanks, Mike
If your friend is single, he basically has two options:
1. Tourist visa. This will have to be renewed at 21 days, 59 days, and then every 59 days following. Maximum stay is 16 months, upon which he must leave, even just for one day, and return again. Renewals vary, but figure around $75 for each renewal.
2. SRRV – Special Retiree’s Resident Visa. No renewals, no need to ever leave. High up front cost, though, as you are required to invest in the Philippines (though you get this back when you leave). Investment amount varies from $10k to $50k depending on your age and other factors.
Salamat Bob! Appreciate the guidance. Mike
Hello Bob…..I am a retiree on a pension and wish to live in the Philippines….The places that I have been to and like are Dumaguette, Bohol, and Cebu.
I want to apply for a SPRC visa as I have all of the qualifications to do so, but my question to you
Bob is how do I go about it?
Do I get a tourist visa for 58 days and go to the Philippines with $10,000 in my bank here in Australia and then go to the PRA wherever they are and apply for the SPRC.
And Bob what do I need to take to them besides proof that I have the $10,000, and how do I open a bank account there, and does this $10,000 collect interest whilst it is in the bank?
I really appreciate your knowledge on these matters Bob,but I need to know what is the best way to go about applying for this visa, because I have never done this sort of thing before, and I dont want to mess things up when applying.
I will be coming to Cebu for 58 days in two weeks time, so I thought that if you would be kind enough to give me your opinion on this matter, and where to go for applying I would then be
able to able to maybe set the wheels in motion before I come back there again.
Many thanks…..David
Hi David, to be honest, I have heard of an SPRC visa before, I suspect that you are asking about an SRRV, or Special Retiree Resident Visa. Is that what you mean?
Sorry Bob…yes I meant a SRRV……Everything else is as stated.
Thank you Bob.
Hi David – Yes, your plan is sound, and correct. You can come here and get a 21 day or a 59 day visa (there is no such visa as a 58 day Visa). Choose where you will live of the places you said that you liked. Then visit the PRA office and they will assist you with the application and everything else that you need to do. My experience is that the PRA folks are very good at helping to make sure that your application is all proper and processed for you. In the case of a friend who got an SRRV, they PRA folks even assisted him in the opening of a bank account.
Yes, bank accounts earn interest, but generally it is a very minimal amount of interest.
Good luck to you David.
Thanks so much for your help Bob…..Maybe I will meet you one day.
I must try to stop talking in Australian slang when I live there as my fiancee
never knows what I am talking about half the time, but I will learn her language
and then there will be no misunderstandings I hope. lol
Thank you once again Bob.
Hi David – Happy to help, David! I’m glad you enjoy the site. I understand what you mean about cutting back on the slang, I had to do that about 22 years ago when I married my wife!
Hey Bob,
Caleb here, so in conclusion it sounds like tourist visas are good, Balikbaya are better, and residence visas are the best! So if I have this right, work permits are not required under resident visas, but otherwise Balikbaya visas are the only other visas you can acquire a work permit under, correct?
Blessings
-Caleb
Hi Caleb – there are other types of visas that allow work as well. The SRRV (Special Retiree’s Resident Visa) allows you to work, and various Business visas too. But, generally you are correct.
Hi Bob,
I’m U.S citizen, naturalised 16 years ago, born in Egypt, and living in USA since 1988. I’m 66 yrs old, I receive a pension about P 28,000/monthly. I would like to stay in Philippines. I was there several times before, and I like the nature of living. Please let me know the best way to have that living without breaking the Law, and before to book my Ticket. Your answer will be very appreciated.
Hi Raouf – Not sure how to take what you said. What laws do you think you might be in danger of breaking? Living here is certainly not illegal. Just come here, live a clean life, don’t hurt anybody and you should be 100% legal. If there is some other issue at play, please let me know so that I can consider it in the answer.
Thanks for your reply. I’m U.S citizen, and living in USA since 1988. I’m 66 yrs old, I receive a pension about P 28,000/monthly. I would like to stay in Philippines. I was there several times before. Please let me know what is the best way to have a legal permenant residense, in Philippines, and is it better to apply here in US, or their after arival. Thanks for your patience.
Hi Raouf – There are two ways to have legal permanent residence in the Philippines. If you have a spouse who is either a Philippine Citizen or a former Philippine Citizen, then you can get a 13 series resident visa. If you are not married to a Filipina, then you can get an SRRV visa.
Hi Bob, again… I found the following, for “SRRV” in the webside of “PRA”;
Deposit for 50 Years Old & Above, with pention, is $10,000. My pension is about $700. Is that deposit untuchable, by me? What is the reason for that deposit? How long it take, for that deposit to be available for any personal need by me?. Sorry for making Headeck to you..!!
Hi Raouf – The information you have is only partially correct. The deposit is $10,000 only if your pension reaches the amount that is acceptable. I believe that it has to be a minimum of $800 per month. If your pension is less, then your required deposit is $20,000. That deposit, though, can be used to buy a condo or a few other things.
Hi Bob, I’m married to a Filipina and planning to settle there for good and soon.
However, my wife stays in the Philippines while I’m in my home country. Can I apply for 13(a) in my country with my wife in the Philippines?
I’ve read most messages here but cannot see one that covers my circumstances.
Thanks.
Hi Roman – I know that this could be done in the past, as I have a friend who did it in the 90’s. To be absolutely certain that it is still something that can be accomplished, contact the Philippine Embassy or consulate that serves the area where you live.
Good Morning Bob and Feyma hope you are all well and wishing you a Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year
Thank you Philip! We are all doing well, and wishing you also a Merry Christmas!
Hi Bob,
My name is Joel from D.R.Congo, Africa. I currently live in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines for almost 8 months now, and I am married to a Filipina. Considering the fact there is no Philippine embassy back in my country, I had to come as tourist, then convert to 13a.
My concern is that I was able to pay about P50,000 so far just to obtain the iCard, is the amount reasonable? From what I know, the 13a visa is not supposed to exceed P10,000.
Allow me to mention that I have started applying for the said 13a since last July of this year, but I haven’t been issued the visa yet.
What would you suggest I do?
Looking forward to hearing from you very soon!
Joel
Hi Joel – The amounts of money you are talking about are way, way more than you should be spending. Somebody is taking advantage of you.
hello bob,i know and read all your post here and i think you have a lot of knowledge about the visa.anyway,I am a crazy now thinking what is right to do about my husband visa because I been asking the Phil. embassy here in beijing on how to apply and what requirements and they just say they dont know about it and till me just go to BI in intramuros.anyway,I am finish to register my marriage here and also my daughter at Phi.embassy china .and i really dont know what requirements is?Please help me!Is it both need ACRI-CARD and 13a visa ? I am a Filipina and married to a chinese guy.
Hello jeni – Yes, the 13(a) visa and the ACR-I card are two completely different things. The I-Card is not a visa at all. He will need both. I would recommend that if the Embassy in Beijing is uninformed about this, just do the Visa here in the Philippines. Let your husband enter on a tourist visa waiver, and then apply for the 13(a) once you settle in. That will be the easiest thing to do, in my opinion. Good luck to you.
Bob,
I’m a US citizen. My girlfriend was born in Philippines, but is now a US citizen. She doesn’t have dual citizenship. We are planning a trip to see her family in Philippines. My research indicates a maximum of a 21 day stay, if we both use only our US passports.
Could you please confirm, as we had hoped to stay a month.
RG
No, this is incorrect. The maximum stay if you enter on a US Passport is 16 months. You will initially be issued a 21 day visa waiver, but it can be extended up to 16 months if you wish to do so.. in 59 day increments.
Enjoy your visit.
Hi Bob, I am in Philippines now, but I was not with my husband when I arrived in Manila. He will be joining us in November. If I go to Tokyo and join him with his flight to Manila, to be with him physically in the BI, is this valid to get him a Balikbayan Visa? If he arrives without me and gets a 21 day stay, and stays for 22 days, need he apply for extended stay? How much would it cost?
Yes, if you meet your husband in Tokyo and fly into Manila with him, he will be eligible for a Balikbayan Visa. Make sure you have your marriage contract with you, they may ask for that.
Hi Bob, I am a filipina married to a french man. We are currently in his country now and in August we go to Philippines for holidays. My husband would like to apply for 13a visa, we have the list of the requirements and my question is should we submit documents translated in English like his birth certificate, income tax returns and bank statements? And where should we get the police clearance, from where we live right now or from Philippines? Thanks!
Hello Sofia – Yes, all documents must be translated to English. As for the Police Clearance, you will get that in France, where you are living now.
A question, though… if you are coming for holiday, why would he apply for a 13(a) Visa? That is for living here, not visiting. If you will return to France, the Visa will no longer be effective, unless he returns often to the Philippines.
My husband told me that as a French he can only stay 21 days in Philippines for holiday, I am not sure if this is correct. We have properties under our names that we need to attend to during our stay in August and the process takes time that’s why he needs to stay longer than 21 days…
Hi Sofia – I am sorry, but your husband is wrong. You get a 21 day stay upon entry, but that can be extended up to 16 months. You can rely on this, I know for sure, and have been advising people on this sort of stuff for more than a decade.
Hello there Bob,
I have been reading your post and I would like to ask something.
I am Filipina married to an English Man for 2 years now. We want to apply for a permanent residence visa but we are worried because we don’t have any savings. We were able to build a good business under my name where we are getting our regular income just enough to pay our monthly bills like the office rent , utility bills, our food and apartment. He dont have his pension yet, we don’t have any other source of income and we can’t afford to put $10,000 in his bank account, but we are living here quite good.
Can you give us any advice if what is the best thing to do with our situation if there is any.
Also how much it will cost us, so we can prepare for it.
Hi Ella, as far as I know there is no requirement to have so much money in the bank. Who told you that?
Best thing to do is apply and see if it is approved.
Good luck!
Hello again Bob,hope you are well. Bob I emailed you about two months ago saying that I am staying in the Philippines for two months to see if I could live there or not,and I have decided that I can but before I make the big commitment I would like your advice please Bob.
Firstly I am forty years older than my fiancee and that is the reason why I don’t want to bring her to Australia, because of all the sniping that would go on because of our age difference, whereas in the Philippines all of her friends and family have accepted me, and I know that they are genuine because none of them including my fiancee have ever asked me for money.
I even tried to turn my fiancee against me because of our age difference but no matter what I came up with she always had an answer, so I finally agreed that she loved me for me only.
Bob now that I am back in Australia again I am so lonely and sad and I cant talk to anyone here about what I should do because they are all judgmental if you know what I mean, so I would like you to tell me what your thoughts are on what I should do.
I am 71 and so far have no illness, and in fact I always feel healthier when I am in the Philippines but I know that anything could happen at any time so I would have to live where there is a hospital…..maybe Cebu in case something should happen.
If I sell me house I would be able to invest $10000 into the bank to obtain a SRVV visa, so that should not be a problem, but I would leave the rest of my money invested here in Australia ( which would not be a large amount) and just live on my pension of $1400 per month for at least one year to see if nothing changes between me and my fiancee, and after that time I will then be able to plan a permanent future for us both.
Bob if I were younger I would have no hesitation in doing this but I just need a little push and advise from somebody like yourself who understands the ups and downs of living in the Philippines..
Would you be kind enough to let me know what you think of what I want to do, or maybe give me another direction to go in.
Thanks so much Bob for all of your advise in the past, and I will wait for your further advise when you are able.
Warm regards..David.
Hi David – Once you marry your fiance there is no need to get an SRRV visa or invest all of that money. Just get a 13(a) resident visa, which will cost you a couple of hundred dollars, no more than that. You are eligible for it once you marry a Philippine Citizen. I think that not needing to invest all of that money should put your mind at ease about living here.
Good luck!
how i can get a resident visa am a indian like to buy a house in makati and also to start business in makati
Hi Bob,
I am currently living in the Philippines with my wife Filipino citizen) and 2 children. I actually have 2 questions for you. First, do you have a personal idea of how long the process would take since I am already in-country? And secondly, will a the residency visa allow me to work for a local company here without a work permit? I am not the type to just sit around all day (smile).
Thanks.
Craig
Hi Craig – For information on getting a 13(a) locally, the time frames and such, read this article: My 13(a) Experience.
If you have a 13(a) Resident Visa, you still need an AEP (Alien Employment Permit) to work locally. However, having the resident visa makes it easy to get the AEP, though. But, keep in mind, local salaries are very low, and you should not expect much more than a local Filipino makes, if any more. In my opinion, self-employment is a much better way to go.
Hi again Bob,
Since I am new to this site, i just started reading some of the posts. One in particular that may affect me. I have been a contractor for the U.S. government since 2002. the last 5 years I have lived in Iraq, Afghanistan, U.S., Qatar, and now here. Police clearances in from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar are not possible as I was sponsored in those countries by our government, and not living on the locla economy.
Any thoughts?
Thanks again.
Craig
That is an issue that I really have no idea about, Craig. I believe that if you are living locally already, a police clearance is not required. However, I would recommend checking with the Bureau of Immigration to get the most accurate information on this.
well thanks bob for this info i been looking around to make sure i get the correct info, i been reading the same response from like 10 other blogs or yahoo answers. i have dual dominican and u.s citizenship due to my parents being dominican, i am planning to marry a filipina but seems i cant get a 3rd citizenship:). thanks again
yes you loose all of your government benefits like your pension, your social security, you will no longer receive it any more its like starting life over from day one so just stay as a resident.
Yes, you are correct. But I was just stating an example representing what I had to go through. I was born in the United States and my mom had Philippine citizenship. I’m assuming she had both US and Filipino passport at the time that I was born because I have an NSO birth certificate from the DFA. But I attained Filipino citizenship through my mom so I can identify myself as a “natural born” citizen.
If you are going to marry someone who is a natural born Filipina with Philippine citizenship but you are not, then maybe you can apply for Philippine citizenship or just legal permanent residence. I have’t seen any foreigners with dual citizenship who married a Filipina. If a foreigner is a Philippine citizen, most likely their mom or dad is a Philippine citizen. So I would just recommend looking up the requirements for living in the Philippines indefinitely.
Hi Bob I am going through the process of applying for resident visa 13a Here is the story so far. First visit to immigration to submit all paperwork and pay fees,you are then given date to return for interview with lawyer to check paperwork and you have financial capacity, after that finger prints and photographs taken. you are then advised when visa will be approved by looking on website,this can take a week or two. On approval yet another visit to Manila to claim ACR I card one more form to complete then you are told your card will be ready to collect in five to ten days. I hope within the next two weeks i will at last complete this saga. The point I am trying to make is even with all paperwork being in order the least number of visits made will be four,which when you live a four hour drive from immigration can become very trying beside the added cost. I also asked if i pay for the card to to be sent by register post this is not possible. The visa is only temporary and process repeated in one year, I am only pleased i payed all the express lane fees he he otherwise who knows how long this would take. I would like to add all staff there are very polite and do there best.
Thanks for sharing your experience Peter.
Hi bob, been reading through all comments here on your site and its all really helpful stuff to know. You are obviously a good person to seek advice from. I was just wondering, do you have to be married to a Philippine citizen to qualify for a Resident Visa? I am a British citizen and I have a filipina girlfriend, we have been together for over 3 years now, she stayed in England for 2 years which is where we met, and after her visa expiered she had to return home. Last year I went to the Philippines and stayed with her for 4 months, I was on a tourist visa though which was a nightmare as I had to renew every 2 months and pay fees, so sadly I had to return to England to work as I wasn’t permitted to work in the Philippines. I am going to go and visit her again next month, but only for 3 weeks this time as I have to come back to work here in in England. It’s all a bit of a nightmare at the moment as we keep being separated and all we want is to be together. I was just wondering what you advice in this situation would be.
Thanks in advance.
Chris.
Hi Chris – No, you don’t have to be married to a Philippine Citizen to be eligible for a resident visa. But, being married to a Philippine Citizen does broaden your choices. If you do not have a Philippine spouse, you are limited to either a “quota” resident visa, or an SRRV. Unfortunately, the Philippine government has a policy that they issue only 50 quota resident visas per year (that’s why they call it a quota visa). Don’t even try, because you will never get one of those. Go for the SRRV instead. To find out about the SRRV (Special Resident Retiree’s Visa) go here.
Thanks for your reply Bob, the only problem is that I am only 24 years old, so I dont think that i will qualify for SRRV Visa. Is there no type of visa that will allow me to stay in the Philippines and work legally? If there isn’t then is there a Visa that will allow me to stay in the Philippines for at least a year, but with one fee, so I don’t have to go to the BI every 2 months to update?
Thanks in advance.
Chris
I am sorry Chris. Given the information you have shared, I know of nothing I could recommend.
Hello Bob.. I appreciate all of your inputs and this is a wonderful site. My situation is similar here, I have a German (nationality) girlfriend and she is now in UK. Our plan is to get her here in the Philippines to get married, to stay and and to live. What do you think is the easiest route? Should she go for a tourist Visa, get married then apply for 13(a) Visa? Another concern is when switching, is it required for her to leave the country? Thanks in advance and more power
Hello Dale – Since you are a Philippine citizen, then yes, your wife (after you marry) can apply for a 13(a) Visa. When she switches from a tourist visa to a 13(a) she is not required to leave the country.
Sorry Bob, I forgot to mention that I am Filipino and my bride-to-be is German. 🙂
Hi Bob ,
I’m from Philippines living with my family in Malaysia. We tried to apply my husband a resident visa in Phil. Embassy and they said that they are not doin it here unless we are going to Philippines and apply it there.they also did not give us a list of requirements …..can you please give the list of requirements to us from basic to the rest? Note: we are married here in malaysia. He is also not from this country…. What and what requirements do we need here to prepare before we go to the Philippines to avoid any hassle…..
Thank you…. Waiting for your response patiently.
Gelena
I an sorry but you did not give enough information to be able to give information. Firstly, you said your husband is not Malaysian, but I need to know what is his nationality.
Hi Bob,
Thank you for your quick response.
My husband is from Nigeria.He is a student here while me and our two children are dependent to him.We would like to stay in the Philippines for good.this is our second time going to Philippines.My husband using social visa the first time we visited there and this time we are planning to go are also the same thing as well.
If any information do you still need feel free to ask .
Thank you .
I am sorry, but the truth is that I don’t know anything about immigration for Nigerian citizens. I know it is different than it is for people from the USA where I am from, but I don’t know the differences.
Hi randy thanks for the good info..My husband is applying for 13(a) .. and we ask for help from someone who is working in BI cebu…He asked for 15,000 for processing and he said that after one week, we will give him another 10,000..then another 10,000 when all the papers are done…that means we will pay 35,000 total…He said we will go to their office just once instead of 3 times…Maybe he charge much money because when i read your post,it only cost less than 6,000 peso….
Run as fast as you can, Wing. Those fees are not legitimate!
yes bob I was wondering if having felonies in the U.S will prevent me from getting my visa here in manila, my wife is filipina. I know when I get my fbi clearance it will reflect alot of past felonies so im concerned they will deny my application, what do you think. Thankyou..
Hi Don – Depending on the severity of the crimes, you should still be able to get a visa. I just finished a new book on this topic, as it is a question that I get a lot. It gives the run down of what you can do to get a visa, and how to do it. The book is just $7.99, if you are interested, please let me know. I have not yet begun to market the book, but it is ready to sell.
Hi Bob,
I am a British man married to a Filipina. We married in the UK. We moved to the Philippines in June 2012. I got my 1 year visa stamped in my passport as my wife was with me.
Now I need to go to Korea to escort my 6 year old niece to be with her parents (my wife cannot get a visa to go there, very difficult and expensive for Filipina). Upon return to the Philippines will I get another 1 year stamp if I have my wives passport and marriage certificate with me?
If not (as I suspect), what will happen, will I get a new 21 days or will my existing 1 year visa remain in place (still good for another 3months +)?
Any help or info will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Stewart
Hello Stewart – You are only eligible for the one year Balikbayan Visa if your wife is physically with you when you enter the country. Since she will not be, then you will most likely be issued a 21 day tourist visa.
I have been told of a few cases where a person in your situation has been given the 1 year Balikbayan Visa, but that is not proper under the law. You never know, you may get lucky.
Hi Bob, great information and thanks for taking the time to answer questions. My Philippine born parents were naturalized US citizens when I was born in the US. My parents acquired dual citizenship a few years ago. As a US citizen, I am currently living in the Philippines with a 13G visa (icard). I love it here in the Philippines. Can I own property here? Also, I will be expecting a baby soon here in the Philippines with my Filipina girlfriend, can my baby be a dual citizen? Thank you in advance.
Hi Mark – Sorry, since your parents were US citizens at the time of your birth, you do not qualify for Philippine Citizenship. You cannot own property in the Philippines. Because your baby will have a Philippine Citizen mother and an American Citizen father, the baby can indeed be a dual citizen.
Bob,
I sent you a message a while back on wanting info on a 13a visa. Basically you said said it would be better for me to do the paperwork before i get here in the PI. Well i didnt wasnt sure i was going to stay well i am. My queestion my wife is philippino we live in Lipa City. I have been here for 2 mths and just extended for another mth cost 6,800 peso that was at the BI. Dont know why so much anyway i want to apply for the 13a will i have to keep extending my stay until the 13a is approved or will the let me stay without paying the extension. This could run into money and also rough figures how much will a 13a visa cost. Thanks for the advice. Robert
Hi Robert – I am sorry, but you made a major mistake by not getting the 13a back in the States before coming here. The BI has made a change now, and you will have to travel back to the USA to get an FBI clearance before you can get a 13a here. If you had done everything back in the States this extra trip would not have been necessary. Sorry to tell you this, but your 13a just got a lot more expensive.
Hi Bob 🙂
I have been leaving in Philippines for nearly 4 years now on a working visa.
With my partner we are not married but we have a daughter (5 months old) do you know if it is possible to get a 13(a), 13(g) or any kind of permanent residency visa because of my daughter being Philippina.
Thank you for your help.
Regards.
Patrick
No, I am sorry, having a child here does not entitle you to any type of residence visa.
Hello Bob,
I have read all your help comments here on your site and must say it is good to have someone around like yourself mate.
I am in need of some help from you as follows:
I am married to a lovely Filipino lady and we love each other very much, at this moment in time I am on a a extended tourest visa and now seeking to get my resident visa which has 2 new requirements, a NBI check over here if your stay is over 6 months and and a Criminal Records check from the UK, I am need to know if I can process this through the British Embassy in Manila.
I would go back to the UK and process it at the Philippines Embassy in London but the requirement is that your Spouse must be the Interview after the application is accepted.
I would be most pleased Bob if you could guide me on this matter.
Wishing many days Bob.
bobDonnelly
Hi Bob – I can’t say for sure about whether the British Embassy in Manila will process this for you or not. I know that the US Embassy will not. The US criminal check, through the FBI must be processed back in the US, so Americans (like me) would have to go home to get it done. I have not heard yet about British, though.
If you go back to the UK, you don’t have to process it at the Philippine Embassy in London. Just go back and get the background check, then bring the papers back to the Philippines with you and process it here. Still, though, needing to do that travel is expensive.
Good luck to you.
Hi Bob, If you dont mind answering a question for me, l am an Australian and my girlfriend of 7 years is from the Phillppines we meet in Thailand as she was teaching there, now she has stayed with me in Ausssie for the best part of 2 years on and off.
Now she is married to a phill who happen to be a Lawyer in Davo, he will not devoice her so can l still live in the phil with her as husband and wife. thanks john
Hi John – The answer to your question is complicated. The short and easy answer is that yes, you certainly can come here and live with her. The complicated part is that you could end up in jail here if you do so. You see, if the husband wants to, he can file charges against you and his wife if you are cohabitating like that, because the lady is still married to him. The fact that he is an attorney makes the situation more dangerous if you do what you are thinking of and come here to live with her. Adultery is a crime here, and it can land you in jail. I would be very careful if I were in your shoes.
good day bob this is fila,
i just wanted to know if a permanent visa will be worthless or invalid if a foreigner spouse divorce a filipino wife.Does he need to start over again if ever he marry a filipino again? thank u
Hello Fila – If you get a permanent visa and then divorce your wife, the visa is still good. However, if at any time (while you are married or divorced) your wife goes to the Bureau of Immigration and requests that your visa is cancelled, it will be. So, your visa becoming invalid is not dependent on remaining married, it depends on the continuing approval of your wife for the visa.
thank so much bob you may help many people more thank u
You are most welcome, fila.
hello bob
good day to u bob its me again i just wanted to know and ask u if a permanent visa will expire if u wont be in the philippines for a year or two thank u again.
Hi Fila – To be perfectly honest.. this is a question that I have never been asked until now. I don’t know the answer, either. I don’t know how long you can be outside the Philippines and still keep your resident visa active. Sorry, wish I had the answer.
thank u bob its okei il try to look for the answer and research good day more power.
If you find out, Fila, please let me know! I would be interested in that. Thanks!
Hi Bob
you mean the 13(a) visa is still good, if divorce. but how about icard? icard will valid only 5years, if divorce already. how to extend icard?
sorry my bad english, hope u get what i mean
I am sorry, you misunderstood me. I specifically said that the 13a is NOT good after you divorce. It will be cancelled by the BI.
An iCard is only an ID card, it is not a visa. If your Visa is cancelled the I-Card is also no good.
Sorry for the bad news.
Bob, My brother would like to travel to the philippines on a tourist visit. He, however, only gets about $1500 a month from social security. Is that likely enough for him to get a 59 day tourist visa? He is an American citizen. The application form indicates that onward or return ticket evidence be included. If he were to get a rountrip ticket and the visa be denied, he would lose the return ticket if it were the kind that was not changeable. Thanks for your help.
hi Jason – Thanks for sharing your experience. That has mirrored my experience as well.
I’m an American who will be retiring in 5 yrs. My wife is Filipina who has become an American citizen. Our plan is to retire in the Philippines. My wife is going to get her dual citizenship. If I obtain a resident visa, will the Philippine government tax my retirement income?
If your income is not derived from a Philippine source, there will be no Philippine taxes due, provided the income is in your name and not your wife’s name.
Bob,
I live in Mindanao as well but I spend majority of my time at my farm in Makilala about an hour and half away from Davao. I have a prperty in Buhangin. I am Filipino American. Anyway, I have doing a lot of research hoping I will find the best solution to my little issue. Reading your responses, I was hoping you might be able to help me out.
My kids are American Citizens born in the Philippines. They were not Naturalized per say but considered as “Americans Born Abroad”. Can they get the 13 series visa? (Permanent Residence Visa) The mother is still a Filipino citizen and because of work, I cannot apply for the visa or dual citizenship. I want it just for the kids since they are goign to be living in the PI until they are adults. I want to avoid the dual citizenship route as much as possible. It may hinder them in the future in case they want to do what I am doing.
Let me know if you got any ideas. I went to the BI in Davao and I was flatly told by the officer there to to lie on the Passport Application and put “NO” on the part that asked if the applicant is a passport holder of another country. I am definitely not doing that. That is FRAUD and my job has ways of finding out stuff like that. Not good. Thanks!
Hi Seigfreid – No, I am sorry, your kids do not qualify for a 13 series visa, as they are not married to a Philippine Citizen. I would highly recommend doing the dual citizenship route. There are very few cases under which that would hurt them at all.
Hi Bob, I am german and getting different info about the cost of conversion from balikbayan visa to Permanent Resident. Are you familiar with the total cost of that visa today? I was at a private office, they ask for ridiculus 106 k pesos…
Hi Sir Bob,Ive read your site everyday what’s the latest news. I really appreciated your did because you are not Filipino by blood but your helping for those filipinas married a foreigner and you give them an ideas what to do.I salute your deed.Always posting.God bless..
I married American guy last June 2012.At first he got 21 days to stay in the Philippines but within that 21 days we should get married. He overstayed here because his passport has no JR. indicated because in the US it doesn’t matter but here in the Philippines is very strict for that,it should be your birth certificate and passport are the same name. So what we did we always filed extensions that it costs badly until he was stayed here for 1 year. The immigration told him to leave the country including your wife to stamp BalikBayan Stamp.So we leave the country June 18 and we back here June 20,2013 to stamp the visa of my husband Balikbayan Stamp.So we have no payment for 1 year he stayed here but the ACRI card we paid it already it cost 2,500 pesos 1 year validity (2013).Last year (2014 ) we filed probationary that it costs almost P 15,000.00 including the ACRI card,that is the costs of whole year but he needs to report in Immigration Gensan last January or February 2015 and paid P 350.00. Yesterday we went to Davao Immigration to file his permanent Visa it costs P 8,960.00 including the ACRI card.This coming July 9 is our hearing for his permanent Visa.
My question is my husband is planning to go back in the US for work next year while hes status in his visa living here permanently, that status sir bob is invalid?thanks
Unfortunately, if your husband is gone for a year, his 13a resident visa will be cancelled, and he will have to start over again from the start.
Looking forward to asking questions at a later time and hearing your response
OK. I will answer your questions if I can, John.
Hi Bob,
I found your website really very interesting,thank you for helping to those in need of answers to their questions like me.I am a Filipina and right now im back here from working in Singapore 1 yr ago.I met my boyfriend 2 years ago,he is from US and visited me here last year for almost 2 months.My question is,what visa he can apply to stay long here or me going to him in US?We cant be married yet because the lawyer who handle my annulment cheated us, for the meantime can we stay together without marrying either here or US?Sorry for the trouble,thank you and hope you will help us.If you do not mind can i have your personal email….again,thank you so much…..
Really, Vine, given that you cannot get married, he is pretty much limited to either a tourist visa or an SRRV. Be very careful about living together, since you are married. Your husband, even though you are separated, can bring charges against you for adultery.
Good luck.
Hi Bob,
I find your website full of useful advice and I am very glad that it exists to help guys like me.
I am a UK citizen and am unhappily married and have a Filipina girl friend who I will join to live in the Philippines very soon. I am presently drawing my pension of about GBP850 per month. (USD1290 or PHP54530)
Having read many articles I presume that the best option for me is the SRRV route.
Also would you please confirm for me:
– how I will qualify for the SRRV?
– will I be able to work under an SRRV?
– the deposit, when and how do I get it back? Also can I use it towards the purchase of a house in Philippines?
– One advantage of the SRRV route is that should my relationship or even marriage fail I will not lose my right to reside in the Philippines?
– What is my my position regarding property ownership? I understand that only Philippine citizens can own property. So it is not until I gain citizenship that I can gain property rights?
Many thanks for your advice.
Kind regards
Richard
Hi Richard – Thank you, I’m glad you find the website useful.
To answer your various questions:
1. Each of the different flavors of SRRV have different requirements. As long as you are 40 years of age or higher, you will qualify for an SRRV.
2. Yes, with an SRRV, work is allowed.
3. You will get your deposit back when you leave the Philippines and relinquish your SRRV.
4. No, you cannot purchase a house in the Philippines. As a foreigner, you cannot legally own real estate. You could purchase a condo, though, with your SRRV investment.
5. Yes, you are correct.
6. As said previously, you cannot own property legally as a foreigner. Yes, if you become a citizen you can. However, it will take 10 years before you can apply for citizenship, probably 2 years to gain citizenship after you apply… and you will be required to relinquish your UK citizenship if you want to be a Philippine citizen.
Thanks a lot Bob, I am most grateful for your advice.
You are most welcome, Richard.
When I get to Phil, and I am in Davao I would like to buy to a “pie and a pint” as we say in UK. It would be nice to meet up and have chat over a pint!
I will be looking forward to that, Richard! Sounds like a plan!
Hi Bob,
I am 53 yrs of age an d will try to get the SRRV classic without pension.
Therefore I have to deposit $20000.- used for an investment in a condo or long term lease for a house. My Girlfriend and myself own already 2 houses and don’t need a 3th one……any other ways or whatelse can I do to get the money back?
Thanks Peter
by the way we stay in Matina and we may catch up one day
Hi Peter – One thing that might be a consideration is that you could use your investment money to purchase a condo, then rent that condo out for income. At the end of your time living in the Philippines, you could then sell the condo and recover your investment.
Hi Bob,
Can you please help me.
I am going to apply for an SRRV visa and one the documents I need to provide is a medical report. Can you please let me know where I can find the scope of this medical examination i.e. what it must cover to be valid for my visa application.
Maybe you can point me to a website that gives this scope.
Many thanks,
Kind regards,
Richard
Hi Richard, you should check with the Philippine Retirement Authority. They are the folks who issue the SRRV and could provide you with the most accurate answer to your question.
Thanks Bob, hope that you are having a good day.
Hi Bob my question to you is how long will it take to get an extension visa for my 11 yrs. old grandson,he traveled with me here .His parents are both residing in USA.
Thank you for your time,kindly appreciated
Liza Faulk
Generally, it just takes a couple of hours to do a visa extension.
Hi Bob, I read all of the posts here and i find it very informative. I want to share something hoping i can get information about my concerns. I am a Filipina legally married to American citizen for years, he still working in US and always come home, twice or once a year and stay for 21 days her in the Philippines. We got property and business here, I never been in US, though my husband had petitioned me for a fiancee visa last 2005 before the marriage, i chose to stay in the Philippines for good. My husband and I don’t have kids,only taking care of my relatives kids to filled the house of kids noise. Then this year i decided to foster a child from DSWD,they matched me to a less than 3 years old baby girl, my husband and i fall in love with the baby and want to adopt her, my question is, if my husband get his permanent visa the 13a visa, will it help us to process domestic adoption for our foster baby now? He is coming home next week and we really need advise to start the paper works for adoption. They pushed inter country adoption for the baby but its too expensive to do,and my husband have a plan of retiring here in the Philippines but he is just 49 years old now and it takes a while, i read it here that 13a Visa allow foreigner to purchase property, do business, and work legally in the Philippines, i want to know if my husband and i can file domestic adoption for our foster child if he get a permanent resident visa 13 a. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you and more power!
Hi Marisyl – I am not an expert on this, but I do believe that having a permanent visa will help your husband in the adoption process. However, he will not be able to buy or own land, regardless of a 13a visa. Only a citizen of the Philippines can own land.
Good luck on the adoption, I hope it goes smoothly!
I think 13 “A” visa never expired.. that is permanent just the ACR-I CARD expires and need to renew..
I think i am correct..
SAM
You are right, a 13 series resident never expires.
hallo,
how much are the coast for permanent residence? some told me they ask 80 T pesos.
after one year the same procedure?
regards
Fritz
Hello Fritz – There are many different ways to achieve permanent resident, and the cost is different with each method. I know of no method that requires you to pay that amount, though.
I’m a single US citizen living in the Philppines for over 5 years and I’ve been told by a local “attorney/fixer” that I could Naturalize in the Philippines using my PRA visa. My PRA visa rep. tells me I can’t but I think he does not know the law.
Also I’ve been a teacher here in the Philippines for over 2 years and I would like to qualify the the exception to the 10 year rule which allows me to naturalize after 5 years.
Do I have a chance at Naturalization after 5 years using my PRA visa and the teacher exception to the 10 year rule ? ?
Thanks
Seven Frazier
Hello Bob. What if you are an American and 8 years late on your visa in the Manila area and you have been living here and have a wife and a few kids. What would one need to do to fix that? Do you know the process one would have to go through for something like that? Will the person go to jail over not having a visa for that long even though he is married with kids or is there some kind of automatic citizenship or visa since it has been 8 years and married with kids?
Hello Jay – Really there is only one thing you can do. Go to the Bureau of Immigration and make it right. You will be fined for your overstaying, but it is doubtful that you will end up in jail. They will add up all of the months that you were late, fees due and penalties, and assess a total. I don’t know how much it will be because it depends on factors that I don’t know, like what type of visa you have, etc.
There is no “citizenship” available to you. The fact that you are married and have kids will also not be relevant. You will just have to pay what is due.
Good luck.
Hi Bob,
Just a related question. I have a mate who would like to move to the Philippines and marry his lady. The trouble is he doesn’t want to spend the money for the annulment process. They are both mature age. I checked with an attorney and apparently it is legal to be self represented in an annulment case. Have you you ever heard of that being done.
Nick
I have not heard of that being done, but perhaps it is possible. I will say, though, that the process takes a minimum of about 7 years even for an experienced attorney. For an amateur, it could take a lifetime.
Hello Bob,
I’ve been a reader of your Blog on and off for many years. Always appreciated an excellent info and articles on your sites. I sponsored and was married to Filipino woman for a couple of years till she had an affair with her boss. I decided to divorce her.
Now am retired, my pension is OK. Lately I’ve been a friend to a lady who seems to have good moral values. She lives in Cebu. Her status is ‘married’ even though her husband left her long time ago. She started the annulment process but I know it takes a long time.
The question is: Is it even legal to have a relationship in Ph. with a woman who is still married?
I heard about the foreigner guy who got arrested and spend time in jail for that. For sure wouldn’t want to put myself in a situation like that.
I’d appreciate a comment by you or somebody who knows this particular law there.
Thanks in advance, Ted
Hi Ted – What you heard is true. If the relationship becomes sexual in any way, that is illegal, and you can end up in jail…. or blackmailed by the husband!
Thanks Bob,
Never had any trouble with the law in my whole life so will not take any chances with that lady for sure. I really appreciate your reply. You helped so many people over the years to avoid troubles in Ph.
I’ve a highest respect for you Bob. Ted
Hi Bob, is it possible to apply for Temporary Resident Visa by Marriage through a Philippines Embassy abroad?
I’m confused as In his website http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=35 at no.5 they mentioned: Photocopy of applicant’s Passport (bio-page, admission and authorized stay of at least twenty (20) days from date of filing).
I haven’t stayed in Philippines for more than 20 days. So can you please guide me in this regard?
Thanks
Hi Shaker – Yes you can apply for your resident visa at any Philippine Consulate or Embassy in the world. Just call them and request an application, they will send it to you.
Greetings Mr. Bob,
I am a Filipino citizen and married to an indian nationality. Sir I would like to have an idea what are the requirements and fees in acquiring TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISA for my husband who is currently in India right now.
Thank you and hoping for a reply as soon as possible.
I am sorry, but Philippine Immigration laws are different for Indians than for Westerners. I don’t know the laws for Indians. Very sorry. I would recommend that you check with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, or the Philippine Embassy in India.
Dear Bob,
I’m really thankful that you take time on making this blog.it’s very helpful .
By the way, my American husband & I are planning to retire in the Philippines.I am a dual Citizen.
We need to bring his daughter ( my step-daughter) with us; she’s an autistic kid a 28 yr old.
I need your help ….what kind of Philippine visa you could advise for my step-daughter?
Thank you so much!
Ann
Better check with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration to see if they can help you with his child. I have heard of the Philippines having some flexibility in such cases, but I don’t know for sure. Would love to help, but I just don’t know the accurate answer on this one.
Bob,
I just read with interest the previously post about a foreigner who was arrested and spent time in jail for having a sexual relationship with a Pinay who was legally “married” but separated from her husband for some time while residing in the Philippines.
Here’s my question: My fiancé was married civilly approximately 26 yrs ago in the Philippines to a Pinoy. About 16 yrs ago they separated and each has gone their own way. He remains in the Philippines and she has since been in HK as a domestic helper in order to support / educate her children. I’ve known, met, and fell in love with her over the years. Since our meeting she has a legal document from the PI government (the document was “fixed”) stating her legal status is “single” in order for us to legally marry in HK in the near future.
If we marry in HK and return to the Philippines to live and eventually retire, how will our marriage in HK be recognized in the Philippines? Her ex-husband is unaware of our relationship but I certainly want no problems with him nor spend any time in a Philippine jail!
I realize you’re not an atty. but really enjoy your website. Thanks for all of your help and all you do.
Frank
Hi Frank – Thanks for stopping by, and for leaving your comment!
How did she get that document that declares her as single? Did she go through the process of getting an annulment in the Philippines? If so, everything should be good to go.
If she obtained that document in some other way, that sounds very fishy to me, and I would tread with extreme caution.
Getting an annulment is a long process, it takes years, and it is quite expensive too, so I just wonder if she completed that process. I’d just advise that you should check carefully and make sure that the document was obtained in a legal way, and that it is legitimate.
Good luck to you.
Dear Bob
Thank you so much for your good info. I use them so much.
I am going to Filipino girl so soon. We can say it is in progress. I want to know how I can get Philippines Passport? is it possible?
How can I send you privet email?
Best regards
Hamid
If you are not a Philippine citizen, you cannot get a Philippine Passport.
hi bob,
i m currently living in philippines and i got only 1 month stay visa here..i m indian and i want to marry my filipina gf and i want to know whether the indians also get the citizenship and how to apply for that..whether i also need to stay here for 10 continous years..please suggest..
Irfan
Hi Irfan – I am sorry, on this question I can’t be of much help. I know that some nations have different rules when it comes to Philippine Immigration, and I know that India is one of them. I don’t know the rules when it comes to India. Wish I could help, but I really don’t have any idea.
hi Bob,
how are you? so glad to see your site, im a filipina born here in Philippines & i would like to ask if how am i gonna process the resident visa of my american husband from hawaii? we met 2010 & every month he go back & forth from hawaii-philippines for 1yr. then since dec 2011 till now he never went back to hawaii, we just have his visa stamp for extension every 2mos. we are married now for almost 1yr and we now have a 1 yr old daughter. since we are decided to stay here we would like to apply for his resident visa but not so sure about how to process & what are requirements? & also i would like to ask f is it possible for me to get my baby a dual cirizenship visa or passport? i badly need help.. seems u know a lot about this stuff.. looking forward for your reply..
thank you! God Bless! 🙂
Hi Andrea – You won’t process the visa, he will! The visa is for him, and he will be the one to do it. Of course you can help. How? Get an application form from either the Philippine consulate where he is from, or from the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines. Fill out the form, submit it with the required supporting documents and pay the fees. Since you are married, he would be eligible for a 13a resident visa. It is not too hard to get, just follow the instructions provided at the Bureau of Immigration (same place where you are currently getting visa extensions).
Your baby should already be a Philippine Citizen, since she was born here and you, her mother, are a Philippine Citizen. She can also get US citizenship by having your husband go to the US Embassy in Manila and apply for it.
Good luck to you.
hi’ I am an English man and I married my girlfriend on 29/6/13. we got married here in Philippines. I am applying for resident visa,. I have sent to London for police clearance, My police record is very bad and I have been to prison in England. I am worried this will sop me getting resident visa,,
All you can do at this point is see what they say.
Hi Bob,
I am 56 years of old and Singaporean. I wish to retire and live in Phil. Recently i purchased a condo in Manila at a price of USD 220K in my name. Please advise if i need to do any thing more to qualify for SRRV visa.
Thanks in advance for your help
Cheers
dk
Hi dksid – Did you already have approval from the PRA for that condo purchase to be part of your investment for the SRRV? If they did not approve it before purchase, you won’t be able to count that toward your investment requirement.
Best to get any further requirements from the PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority), they will give you a list of exactly what they need from you.
I want to permanently live in the Philippines because I have a son now by a filipina woman and the economy agrees with me and my income. Can I get residency with my son’s birth certificate?
No, you cannot. You can still live here on a tourist visa. If you marry here, then you can get permanent residence.
Bob – Can you show where the requirement for the work permit on a 13a comes from? The DOLE order 97-09 clearly states that foreigners with ‘resident status’ are exempt from obtaining the Alien Employment Permit. (Sec2 – g)
Anecdotal evidence is that if you ask at the BI, they say it is required. Sometimes at the DOLE they say it is not, sometimes they say it is required too. I would advise to at least seek to get an AEP. Of course, that is only my advice, and each person can follow whatever path they feel is best.
hi’ bob. i am here in philippines and i was married 6/29/13. i am here under tourist visa and my wive and me want to stay here.you say its better and quicker to get visa in london. My question is; can my son apply for the visa for me and send it to me or must i do in person.???
Hi Michael – To be honest, I have never had anybody ask me if another person can take care of the visa application for them. To be honest, I don’t know the answer to that, but my feeling is that you would need to be there and do it yourself.
My boyfriend is a Filipino and I am from Scotland I would like to live there in the Philippines is a visa hard to get? And does it take long time ?
Hi Emma – You don’t qualify for a resident visa until you and your boyfriend are married. For now, just enter on a tourist visa and you can extend it for up to 16 months. After 16 months you just leave the country, go to Thailand or Hong Kong for a day, and return, which will start another 16 month clock.
Here’s something else to think about: If you DO get a resident visa in the Philippines, you must, unlike any other country in THE WORLD, keep $10,000 in a Philippine bank savings account….and never touch it again. Then, you can pay an annual fee to immigration (this is the “annual check-in) that is about the same as renewing your visa every 2 months. My advice, just extend your visa, travel the east every year, and don’t spend all your money in the Philippines.
That is absolutely incorrect, Wade. That is for an SRRV, not for a 13 series resident visa. I have had a 13g resident visa for more than 13 years and I don’t have any such account as you describe. The annual check in is P310 per year, not much in my view. The renewing every 6 months costs $75 to $100 for 2 months. So, I hardly see how $7 is the same as $600 or so. You need to get better information, my friend. Also, please don’t use my site to spread lies and disinformation.
Hi Bob,
I would like to ask how to get a permanent resident in the Philippines if I am single?
What if i was a previous Filipino Citizen who is now a citizen of another country and would
like to go for a long term stay in the Philippines? What is the best application form I should take?
Thanks
Nyx
If you are a former Philippine citizen you have two choices:
1. Apply for a 13good visa.
2. Apply for dual citizenship.
I would recommend #2.
Thank you for the advise Bob. I guess the 1st option would be the best as my current country does not allow dual citizenship. Do you happen to know what documents are needed and amount of fees for the application?
Hi Nyx – You can get that information here: http://howtomovetothephilippines.com/getting-a-resident-visa-to-live-in-the-philippines/
Hi Bob
I did see a requirement (not here) for ‘proof of residency in your home city or town’ for 13 visa. Have you heard of this? What sort of thing are they after? I’m from the UK and that sort of thing doesn’t exist here.
Regards
Hi Paul – I have never heard of such a requirement. Sorry.
Hi Bob I have red the thread and everything is helpful . I do have also questions hope you can help me find the answers, I am a filipina married to an Egyptian,currently we’ re in Egypt but few weeks from now we will Be in Philippines.
I inquire in Philippine Embassy hre and the only visa they can give is tourist visa for 1 month only. i tried to asked regarding multiple entry visa apparently they won’ t give,honestly even me I cant understand Why like that. As we arrive in Philipines we should apply immediately 13a Or 13g visa? Or Since most likely we will Be staying in Philippines for good. How mch the 13 series visa? Do we have to get police clearance from here ( egypt) and bring it with us in Philippines,as a requirement for 13 series visa?
Thanks——
Hi jobelle – I am sorry, but Philippine Immigration laws are different for people from Egypt than they are for Americans like me. I do not know the laws that govern Egyptians. You will need to inquire at the Bureau of Immigration. Wish I could help, but this is something that I do not know.
Bob,
My partner Cristine (filipina) & our son Matthew (Aust citizen by descent)born in Manila were departing Manila for Sydney on Friday 13th Sept.Immigration advised that my son (australian passport holder) would not be permitted to depart the Philippines until he registered at the bureau of immigration???What do you advise i should do?
Martin
I suppose that if they say that he must register with the BI before he leaves, then he should register with the BI.
My question… is your son a dual citizen, Philippines and Australia? If so, did he show a Philippine Passport (and an Australian) when he entered the country? If not, then he will owe fes to the country for overstaying his visa, I would guess, based on what happened.
Bob,thanks for your prompt reply.My son was born in the Philippines to a Filipina mother,he showed an Australian passport(Aust citizen by descent)The only reference i can find to registering with Bi is as an Alien,which he is not.Surely as a natural born citizen of the Philippines & Aussie passport holder he should be allowed to depart
How long did your son stay in the Philippines?
Bob,my son was born in the Philippines 5months ago & has never left
OK, that gives me the information I need to answer you. Your problem is that your son is a dual citizen, but when he attempted to leave on Sep 13 he showed only an Australian Passport. I assume that he does not have a Philippine Passport, or that if he has one he did not show it when he attempted to leave. The problem is that when a person shows a passport, that person is declaring that he is a citizen of the country that issued the passport (Australia). If he did not have, or did not present his Philippine Passport, then he is not declaring himself to be a citizen of the Philippines. As a foreigner, he must have some kind of registration with the BI.
The proper procedure would be to obtain a Philippine Passport for your son. When exiting the country, show both passports, and there should be no problem. The Philippine passport will allow your child to leave the country, and the Aussie passport will show that he is eligible to enter Australia without the need for a visa.
This is my opinion, but I feel very certain about this.
Good luck.
Can you please tell me how much tax on monthly salary foreigners with prrmanent visa pay? Tanks in advance.
Luigi
If your income is derived from outside the Philippines, there is no tax at all on that. For income derived in the Philippines, there are variables, and I cannot give a simple answer on that.
Great job Bob.
Thank you Dominic.
Bob,
My boyfriend is planing to live and stay in the Philippine,do we need to get married first before he can apply for 13(a)?and using that residency visa can he able to buy land in the Philippine?
Mae