Live in the Philippines

Live in the Philippines helps expats with visas, moving and other services regarding the Philippines.

Living in the Philippines on a tourist visa 2018 Update

Immigration, Tourist Visa / by

Tourist Visa to LIve in the Philippines

If you want to live in the Philippines, you need some kind of visa to stay here. Let’s look at one way you can do it: tourist visas.

2018 Update

This article is a couple years old (2016), and there have not been many changes since publication, but I get questions from plenty of people asking for an updated version of the article, so here it is! Small changes have been made to keep the article as fresh and up-to-date as possible!

This article applies to those from Visa Waiver eligible countries

Those from Visa Waiver eligible countries (listed below) can use this method to live, more or less, permanently in the Philippines. Read the rest of the article to find out how permanent it is. Countries not on this list are “visa restricted” countries and cannot avail of the benefits listed in this article. We will be coming out with a new article in the near future explaining how those from visa restricted countries should act in order to live in the Philippines.

Visa Waiver Eligible Countries

Nationals from the following countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa:

  1. Andorra
  2. Angola
  3. Antigua and Barbuda
  4. Argentina
  5. Australia
  6. Austria
  7. Bahamas
  8. Bahrain
  9. Barbados
  10. Belgium
  11. Benin
  12. Bhutan
  13. Bolivia
  14. Botswana
  15. Brazil
  16. Brunei Darussalam
  17. Bulgaria
  18. Burkina Faso
  19. Cambodia
  20. Cameroon
  21. Canada
  22. Cape Verde
  23. Central African Republic
  24. Chad
  25. Chile
  26. Colombia
  27. Comoros
  28. Congo
  29. Costa Rica
  30. Cote d’Ivoire
  31. Cyprus
  32. Czech Republic
  33. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  34. Denmark
  35. Djibouti
  36. Dominica
  37. Dominican Republic
  38. Ecuador
  39. El Salvador
  40. Equatorial Guinea
  41. Eritrea
  42. Ethiopia
  43. Fiji
  44. Finland
  45. France
  46. Gabon
  47. Germany
  48. Ghana
  49. Gibraltar
  50. Greece
  51. Grenada
  52. Guatemala
  53. Guinea
  54. Guinea Bissau
  55. Guyana
  56. Haiti
  57. Honduras
  58. Hungary
  59. Iceland
  60. Indonesia
  61. Ireland
  62. Israel
  63. Italy
  64. Jamaica
  65. Japan
  66. Kenya
  67. Kuwait
  68. Lao People’s Democratic Republic
  69. Lesotho
  70. Liberia
  71. Liechtenstein
  72. Luxembourg
  73. Madagascar
  74. Malawi
  75. Malaysia
  76. Maldives
  77. Mali
  78. Malta
  79. Marshall Islands
  80. Mauritania
  81. Mauritius
  82. Mexico
  83. Micronesia
  84. Monaco
  85. Mongolia
  86. Morocco
  87. Mozambique
  88. Myanmar
  89. Namibia
  90. Nepal
  91. Netherlands
  92. New Zealand
  93. Nicaragua
  94. Niger
  95. Norway
  96. Oman
  97. Palau
  98. Panama
  99. Papua New Guinea
  100. Paraguay
  101. Peru
  102. Poland
  103. Portugal
  104. Qatar
  105. Republic of Korea
  106. Romania
  107. Rwanda
  108. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  109. Saint Lucia
  110. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  111. San Marino
  112. Sao Tome and Principe
  113. Saudi Arabia
  114. Senegal
  115. Seychelles
  116. Singapore
  117. Slovakia
  118. Solomon Islands
  119. Somalia
  120. South Africa
  121. Spain
  122. Suriname
  123. Swaziland
  124. Sweden
  125. Switzerland
  126. Tanzania
  127. Thailand
  128. Togo
  129. Trinidad and Tobago
  130. Tunisia
  131. Turkey
  132. Tuvalu
  133. Uganda
  134. United Arab Emirates
  135. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  136. United Republic of Tanzania
  137. United States of America
  138. Uruguay
  139. Venezuela
  140. Vietnam
  141. Zambia
  142. Zimbabwe

Living in the Philippines on a tourist visa for the countries listed above

airline-industryWhile I don’t think a tourist visa is the best way to go, for some people it is one of the only ways of doing it. When you fly into the Philippines, you will automatically be issued a visa waiver with which you can legally stay for 30 days. When it is coming up on your 30 day limit for staying, you can go and visit the Bureau of Immigration office in the city where you are visiting, or a nearby city if you are in a small town. For a matter of paying a small fee, your initial 30-day visa will be extended to 59 days. Subsequent visas will give you a full 59 days stay (or a more expensive 6-month extension is also available in major cities). There is a catch here, though…. your total stay cannot exceed 3 years (note:  The law has been changed, previously you could remain in the country up to 16 months). So, basically you can get a total of 18 visas and extensions of 59 days each, and then you must leave. Or, you can stay for 3 years using the 6-month visa extensions, and need to get fewer extensions, whichever you prefer.

How can I stay longer than 6 months?

When it is time to leave the country because your visa can no longer be renewed, you have a few choices to make. Maybe you want to return home, to the USA or wherever you came here from. Alternatively, maybe you don’t feel a need to go back home and want to just take a quick trip out of the country so you can re-enter and start all over again. If you check the Sunday newspapers in the Philippines you will find lots of advertisements for travel agents selling getaway packages to Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam or Singapore. For just $200 to $300 (sometimes even less) you can take a 2 to 3 days getaway to one of these locations, with a return flight to the Philippines. When you enter the Philippines after your short jaunt abroad, your tourist visa merry-go-round starts all over again, allowing you to get another 3 years here (in 59-day or 6-month increments, of course).

Remember the ongoing ticket requirement

Keep in mind that when you return to the Philippines, you must have an ongoing airline ticket that will take you out of the Philippines within 59 days. Many people call this a “throw away” ticket because you just show it to the immigration officials to prove that you have one, then throw it away because you have no intention to use it.  You can get a valid throwaway ticket for as little as $20 and certainly under $50.

For all intents and purposes, you can continue this process for as long as you like, leaving once every 3 years and coming back for another 3-year stay.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Bob,

    Just a question concerning the tourist visa application process. When you enter the Philippines on a 21 day visa you must have a return ticket or a ticket to somewhere. If you immediately apply for a visitors visa that extends your stay to 59 days what happens to the return ticket you purchased that would have brought you back to your home country in 21 days. Its a concern because I will be entering the Philippines from the US in August and need to clear up this issue if possible.

    Thank you…………Bob B………….WB8QEP

  2. Hi Bob B – Firstly, you cannot "immediately" extend your 21 day visa. You must do so a few days before it expires. They won't let you do it right after you enter in most cases. Now, regarding your return ticket…. in most cases, if you have a return ticket, even if it is beyond 21 days you will be OK. So, you should be able to book your return for when you actually want to return, not within 21 days. But, if you need to, you can generally contact the airline and change your departure date. With some low price tickets, they cannot be changed, so you need to check before buying the ticket to be certain that the departure date can be extended.

    Good luck!

  3. To amplify Bob's answer a bit .. the issues her are never easy. You are dealing with two separate entities regarding the onward travel ticket … the Philippine BID and the airline you chose to use. The BID is happy with a ticket or a "travel itinerary from a licensed travel agent". The airline may be much more picky, requiring an actual ticket before they allow you to board for your inbound flight to the Philippines. One solution as Bob mentioned is a ticket for departure within 21 days that can be changed … typically for a fee. A second solution is a ticket with a Philippine-serving discount airline such as Tiger Air which flies from Clark to Macau ir Singapore for as little as $20 or $30 US … by the ticket on line and throw it away if you don't use it. You have to do something to prove onward travel, though. Many Americans, Brits and Australians find this rather strange and annoying, and it certainly is … but bear i mind our own countries have exactly the same kind of restrictions on visitors … so find the cheapest "show" ticket and just enjoy.

  4. Hi Dave – Thanks for adding your thoughts. Lots of people these days are doing the "throw away" ticket thing.

  6. Hi John – When an open ended ticket can be obtained, that's always a good thing! Congratulations on that.

  7. Hi Bob, I was just browsing and came across your site, nice job and like your relaxed style.
    Let me add a note to this from experience,
    let's say you go to HK, for your one day out, with your wife, using two roundtrip tickets on CebuPacific, when you are ready to return at Lap Kok airport, unless you have a valis ACR card (not the paper one the plastic one) they will not allow you on the plane until you buy another ticket back out of the Philippines, just as when you first arrive, unless you are a Philippine citizen you can not have the Philippines as your final destination.
    So I bought a ticket at Lap Kok from the Philippines back to HK, then upon arrival back here in the Philippines, I submitted it for refund, our trip was in March

  9. Hi Dave – I'm glad that you found the blog! And, I'm glad that you are enjoying it! Luckily for me, I finally have received my plastic ACR card, so I am good! But, in the 7 years I've lived here, I have yet to leave the country, so it's not of too much use, I guess! Nice to have it though.

    Good luck on that refund!

  10. HAHA THANKS bOB, i JUST READ YOURT NEWEST ADDITION AND SEE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BUSINESS, I DON'T HAVE ONE, JUST PENSION, SO I REALLY DON'T MIND LEAVING, EVEN WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO, LOL, BUT THAT ACR CARD IS GOLD FOR ID, IT IS THE BEST ID A FOREIGNER CAN HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY OF RED TAPE HAHAHA

  11. Hi Dave – When I moved here, I was only 38, so too young to already be getting a pension! I have to work, or I have no way to support my family! I'm not lucky like you with that pension money coming in! Ha ha….

  12. Ionly have a 150 pesos. Really! I am American, just not a suit, was regular guy, just a bass player in a band in America. Fell in love with a Filipina, and packed my bags and married her. We decided to stay here. I am 31, still trying to figure out the work thing. I am glad these blogs on visa are here. I really had no idea I couldn't just keep renewing my visa every two months. Nobody told my wife or me. Seems quality information is sometimes hard to get around here about such matters. It is true that if you can sort out this stuff in states you would save a lot of time. I wouldn't wait three days before my visa expired to renew either. I have run into situations where it took five days because they say they had computer trouble or something and were backed up. Better to be safe than sorry, though it is unlikely they would trouble you for this if the process was already started.

  13. Hi Edward – I understand your statement about not waiting too long to renew. The only thing is that the authorities here won't allow you to renew too early either. It's a balance, I guess.

  14. Hi guys I am an Australian 68 looking to relocate and live in the philipines I will have pension of 35,000 peso per month any suggestions on where to live must be a place where I can get good fresh food like to make some contacts OZ is a good pace to live but a single penison now here would make me homeless

  16. hi just want to ask something… my fiance will be home today but hes worried that the imigration here in the phil wont allow him to in because his return ticket is over the 21 days…coz he has plan to extend his stay here . will the immigration allow that?

  17. Hi melanie- It is possible that he could be denied entry, but in practical experience, I think that they would not deny him. Worst case scenario, your boyfriend could buy a "throw away" ticket out of the country within 21 days. In other words, he could buy a one way ticket from Manila to Taiwan or something nearby like that, and just throw it away.

  18. I am curious. What would be the closest cheapest place to visit to get this throwaway ticket. I have looked at Taipei and just a 1 way ticket at $250, most after that get higher. i suppose one could opt for the refundable ticket but that would probably double the cost wouldn't it? As it stands it will most likely cost me 1k+ per ticket round trip and about $800 + taxes,fees for a one way. It looks like it would cost about the same price as to get the round trip as it would to get the throwaway ticket.

  19. I am curious. What would be the closest cheapest place to visit to get this throwaway ticket? I have looked at Taipei and just a 1 way ticket at $250, most after that get higher. i suppose one could opt for the refundable ticket but that would probably double the cost wouldn't it? As it stands it will most likely cost me 1k+ per ticket round trip and about $800 + taxes,fees for a one way. It looks like it would cost about the same price as to get the round trip as it would to get the throwaway ticket.

  20. hy bob im ritiring next yier to philippines from uk wats the best way to transfer my penshon and the bes t bank im going to sindgan to live geting marrid thanks bob

    • Hi Ken.
      You can have your pension transferred into a Filipino Bank.

      I have an International Bank Account with Lloyds Bank ( Bank Branch is in Isle of Man). You then can have your money in Great Britain and transfer money to a Filipino Bank…Also consider getting a Safety Deposit Box to hold your important Documents ( Like Passport UK Credit or Debit cards ).

  21. Hi Bob, been reading your helpful sites for a couple of years now. There was a guy originally from your neck of the woods in the US who lived in Daanbantayan, Cebu (God rest his soul) who would buy a ferry ticket out of the country. Very cheap ticket from a company that gave his money back. He explained it all on his website. I think his widow still owns their resort and website, shouldn't be hard to find the info on Google.
    Hearing "throw away" tickets sounds bad to me with so many poor people in the Phils who will never have the opportunity to travel anywhere. I think your readers are in a position to help out a student, small businessman or friend rather than waste what is out of reach for so many. Just a thought 🙂

  22. "how will the student get back into the country?" I don''t know the answer to that Bob. I know that if I was a student and someone gave me a one way ticket to HK, Siingapore or some place like that, I'd find a way to come back. Opportunity doesn't always knock twice 🙂
    When it's my turn to start taking a yearly flight, I will probably go round trip air with a one way ferry ticket to Taiwan or Indonesia in my pocket for proof of onward passage on my return.

  23. Hello Bob
    I am going to live in Ozamis city with a Filippina lady in March and have been reading the info on obtaining a tourist visa. Is it really that simple?
    Just go to a B I office just before the 21 days and extend it to 59 days for a small fee?
    I understand I have to leave once a year and start the cycle again.
    A return ticket out seems not to be a problem you say?
    But I read this below…
    BI extends stay of foreign tourists can now stay 16 months without prior approval of the commissioner, 24 months with approval or they have to leave for one day every 16 months.BI extends stay of foreign tourists can now stay 16 months without prior approval of the commissioner, 24 months with approval or they have to leave for one day every 16 months.

  24. Hi Joe Zeglicki – I want to make sure that you are not understanding what I wrote. A ticket out of the country is a requirement when you enter. Most of the time they don't ask for it, but legally you must have one. Whether you have one or not is your choice, but I don't want you to think that I gave you bad advice, because legally you must have that.

    Some would argue that the fee you must pay is not small – about $75 every couple of months.

  25. I was wondering. A boyfriend of mine entered the Phillipines in Sept 2008 for
    business purposes. Can he beceme a permananet resident, or does he have to leaver their country?

  26. Hi lois ann russell – Your boyfriend would qualify for a resident visa if he marries a filipino citizen, but since he is your boyfriend, I guess that is not going to happen! 😆

  27. Hello,

    Can I incorporate and operate a Philippino company while staying on tourist visa, provided that I will mention tourist/business visa? I want to work freelance in software development, such a company would require minimal investment.

  29. Hi Bob,

    Thanks for the answer. What about I own a company abroad or I am hired by a company in Europe for to work with European companies and work from the Philippines. Is it legal? Is it in a grey area? Is it illegal but basically impossible to get into troubles since it would not harm local economy and nobody would gain interest to report such activity?

  31. Hi Bob,I am moving to Carcar with my filipina.I am coming from los angeles.My question is what is the best way to ship my crate which is 24"x48"x84"(300 lbs)?

  33. can american work here with a tourist visa or we need to get married first and obtain him 13a visa to be able to get a job in the philippines? i am detz and engaged…

  34. my boyfriend is a danish and plan to go here in the philippines for 14days but the problem he only have a one way tricket and plan to get or buy a ticket here when he arrived.. is it possible that he can enter the philippines?pls advice .. thanks

  35. Under Philippine law, he should have a return ticket, or at least a ticket leaving the Philippines (not necessarily a return ticket, but a ticket going somewhere outside the Philippines). Sometimes that is not enforced, but usually it is.

  36. I’m planning to come to the phillipenes on a tourist visa. I read on another site you can only leave the country and come back twice in a row. Then have to leave for 90 days is this not true. I’m from the U.S.

    Also do you have to delcare your bank account balances during any part of the visa extension process?

  37. hey bob,

    I have a question, my american friend already booked his flight from may 19-june 9, and you said they can only stay in the philippines for 21 days. well in his case, his 21 days will be up on june 8. Will he penalized for staying for 22 days? His return flight to US will be on his 22nd day… do we still have to apply for extension? that seems kinda useless since he’s only exceeding 1 day. I don’t know. please advise. thanks

    • Hi joy anne – Firstly, I never said any such thing that your American friend can stay only 21 days. I said that if he wants to stay longer than 21 days he must obtain an extension to his visa. If he plans to stay for more than 21 days, even 22, he must obtain an extension. If he does not extent, he will just pay big fines at the airport when he tries to leave. Cheaper to just extend. However, the dates that you have given is only a 21 day stay, not 22, as the day of arrival does not count.

    • Hi Bob,
      So, if I understand this correctly, If my child was born here in the US whose mother is a Filipino citizen, my child can also get dual citizenship? If my wife gets US citizenship, any child born after that will not qualify for dual citizenship? If my wife gets Us citizenship, then obtains dual citizenship, any child she has here in the US is still eligible for dual citizenship?

      • Hi Hudson – the things you say are absolutely correct. For any child born in the USA, you need to file a report of birth abroad with the Philippine Embassy or consulate nearest you in order to claim the Philippine Citizenship for that child.

        • Hi Bob, just came across your website today. I’ve a question related to this: I was also born abroad (US naval base), but at the time, my dad was a naturalized American while my mother was still a Filipino. What I don’t know is if they filed for a report of birth abroad to the Philippine Embassy. I’m currently in the Philippines right now, and I plan on working here so I want to get my dual citizenship, since I’m entitled to one. What I don’t know is how to go about it? Will I be calling the Department of Foreign Affairs?

          • Hello Ria – It could be tough to obtain your Philippine Citizenship, but I would agree that you should inquire at the DFA. It will all come down to whether you can prove the Philippine citizenship of your mother at the time of your birth.

            Good luck.

  39. Thanks Bob. One last question; what’s the difference between applying for dual citizenship and claiming it through a consulate? My main problem is that I don’t have my parents support, so I don’t have many documents. Despite already being technically a dual citizenship, can I apply for it myself instead of my parents reporting my birth?

    • Hi Ria – You are not qualified to apply under the dual citizenship law. The dual citizenship law covers people who were Philippine Citizens in the past and then gave up their Philippine citizenship in order to become a naturalized citizen in another country. You never did that.

      If you cannot document your mother’s Philippine citizenship, and she is not willing to help you, then I see no way that you an become a Philippine Citizen. No, may not apply yourself, it must be your parents. That is my understanding of how the law works. You can check with the DFA and see what they say, but I think they will give you the same information that I have given you.

      Good luck.

  40. GEORGE JUST TAKE ONE OF THOSE WEEKEND TRIPS TO HONG KONG WITH YOUR WIFE AND COME BACK THROUGH PHILIPPINE CUSTOMS AND HAVE HER ASK FOR BALIKBAYAN AGAIN. THEN YOU ARE GOOD FOR ANOTHER YEAR. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO LIVE HERE YOU NEED TO OBTAIN YOUR I CARD FROM THE PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION. THEY ARE GOOD FOR ONE YEAR THE FIRST TIME THEN WHEN YOU RENEW IT IS GOOD FOR 5 YEARS. TALK TO ANY OF THE FORGINERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR AWHILE AND THEY WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT AND HOW TO GET IT. GOOD LUCK Pastor Bud Bias

  41. Sir
    In my case I came in the Philippines almost 2 years ago using a US passport and got a BB visa
    I completed the dual citizenship process within a month of arrival in manila and stayed as a
    Filipino student since then.

    I’m not planning on going back to US for another 2 years, Am I going to have a problem when I come back to US?

    Suppose I get a Philippine passport and use it to get out I’ll probably have problem in the US when they see the BB visa and arrival on my US passport and not have a departure back to US.

    Is there a process that I should do or papers I should ready just so I’ll be clear for staying here for 4 years straight?

    • Hello dennis – When you leave the Philippines, present both your Philippine and US passports, they will both be stamped. You should have no issues re-entering the USA.

      As for staying here for 4 years… you’re a citizen… you can stay here for 40 years or even 400 years, no papers to get ready, nothing to do. Just come and stay.

  42. I’m a dual citizen.fil-am.i stay in the us for only 5 months.and go back to the philippines to study.do i need to get a permit to study?can this affect my us citizenship?does my us citizenship can be lose?

    • No, if you are a dual citizen, you need nothing but to just enter on your Philippine Passport. Nothing else is required. No chance of losing your US citizenship either.

  43. My parents are both Dual Am- Fil Citizen.. They have plans of staying in the PI for 15 mos.. But not sure if what passport they used when They went to PI? Do they need some papers to do? Also They brought my 18mOs niece with them but she’s not a dual citizen.. Will they have any problems staying In PI for over 12 mos?

    • Hello Joey – Your parents should present both US and Philippine Passports upon entry to the Philippines. When re-entering the USA they present only US passport.

      There is no paperwork to do, they are citizens.

      There may be difficulty bringing your niece, though. Firstly, your niece is not a Philippine Citizen, so she will be allowed 21 days stay, and after that she must renew her visa at 21 days, 59 days, and every 59 days after that. The maximum stay will be 16 months. There will be fees of P3,000 to P5,000 at each visa renewal date. Also, international travel with a minor who is not your own child is difficult these days. They will need paperwork from the parents of the child giving express permission for the child to accompany them while traveling. They should check with the airlines to find out the extent of the paperwork required. Perhaps they will need an attorney on this matter as well.

  44. hi..
    im a dual citizen (Fil.Am) I’ve been staying here in the Philippines for 3 yrs now for college. I haven’t gone back in the US yet..
    my question is will there be a problem me going back in the U.S since i stayed here for 3 yrs?

    coming back here i showed both my US and Philippine passport and also my Dual Citizen documents. But they only stamp my US passport.
    will there be a problem once i go back to the US?

    • Hello mhaly – No, there will be no problem. You are a citizen, and can go back any time you please. Even if you stayed in the Philippines for 30 years or 100 years, you can go back, because you are a citizen. Just keep your passport renewal current, and no problems at all.

  45. hello sir, i have a question regarding my status, im a dual citizen right now (FIL-AM), last september 2010 i came back here in the Philippines with AMERICAN citizenship ONLY, then by December 2010, i applied for my Dual citizenship here in Philippines, then my certificate was released by february 2011, my question is, i did not go back yet to the US since Sept 2010, so im almost 19 months here staying in the Philippines (because im studying in college), me and my parents are worried, if i will encounter problems when i will enter back the US?? is there a possibility that my american citizenship will be rebuke?? thankyou..

    • No, it is impossible that your US Citizenship will be lost. You are a citizen for life, unless you specifically renounce your citizenship at a US Embassy or at the State Department. You cannot lose citizenship for being out of the country. Even if you go back 100 years from now, you will still be a US citizen. Just make sure you keep your US passport up to date.

  46. I have to say I really admire Bob for taking the step to be reunited with his gf, and wife nowadays, first going back to the USA< and later living in Phil. However, in Europe in my case thats just very difficult to arrange for 30 year olds with a normal casual managerial job. Just curious how others make a living in the Philippines once they have found their girlfriend. If you have money, or a stable job sure it´s easy to do on those visa´s. However, what about guys aged 30 from the USA or Europe, who are in the middle of their career, it´s very hard to just give that all up to live in the philippines for such a long time. They would probably lose their job, and getting a working permit or a well paid job there is very difficult. On the other hand, for a simple Pinay, getting a visa for the Europe (Netherlands-Amsterdam), where I am from, is very difficult and will probably get denied due to lack of property-financials, education etc… I´ve experienced this with my boyfriend from Manila, I can only visit him 3 weeks a year in my holiday, but I simply can´t just live there forever or any longer, nor can he visit me here. I'm afraid this will lead to a death end in our relationship because we both wish for a family but we simply cant be together… How do you guys think about this, and handle your relationship?

    • Hi Stephanie,

      If you are interested in living in the Philippines, but you need a source of income, getting a job here is generally not the way to go. Firstly, most companies are not looking to hire foreigners. Secondly, you probably won’t want to work for the kind of wages offered here, usually only a few dollars per day.

      To help out people like you, I have written a book called “49 Ways to earn a living in the Philippines” and I cover ideas of all sorts on how you can earn a good living while living in the Philippines. I have been earning my living here since 2000, and I earn more money now than when I lived in the States. So, I know that I can help you do that too!

      To check out the book, go to:
      http://books.auctiontopia.com/books/49-ways-to-make-a-living-in-the-philippines/

      As a special offer to you, I am going to offer you $10 off the book, but the offer is good for only the next 24 hours. During checkout, just enter the coupon code – 10discountToday – and the book will be $10 off the regular price. But, remember, the discount expires after 24 hours.

      Check it out today, I am sure that this is what you are looking for, if you want to live in the Philippines!

  47. How do I obtain my Philippine Citizenship? I was born in the Philippines and was adopted at the age of 10 and became a US Citizen. Would I be able to get a Dual Citizenship and If I qualify, how do I go about obtaining the Philippine Citizenship

    • Yes, I believe that you qualify for Philippine Dual Citizenship, given that you were formerly a Philippine Citizen. The application process, all of the procedures, and a list of all that is required in the way of paperwork and such is included in our book, Philippine Dual Citizenship. The book is only $9.99 and can be downloaded immediately upon making payment. Good luck to you.

  48. my daughter was born in the USA 1/18/12. I filed the birth abroad report. You can get all the requirements from the Philippine Embassy online. You can also download the form. You have to send certified copies of your Filipino passport including the tourist visa. You also need to send a money order and return envelope with prepaid postage. You will also need to send the original US birth certificate of your son. It sounds complicated but it was relatively easy and only took 2 weeks to get the approved Birth Abroad returned to me. Now my daughter is a legal dual citizen. Your case may have some different requirements since you are not a US citizen and you don’t have a green card. Just check out the Washington DC or New York Embassy sites…they have a lot of FAQ’s to help you. Good luck.

    • The visa renewal fees vary each time depending on different requirements, but you should figure somewhere around $75 to $80 for each renewal.

  50. Thank You for the information, I’ll be making a visa run on Monday and return on Tuesday, I’ll be going to Singapore since I been there before. This is a great deal, you can stay up the max in the Philippines 24 months, after 16 months you need to write a certified sampled letter by a lawyer to explain why you need to stay longer than the 16 month period, that is what I did I will reach my 24 month max limit on Monday so I have to leave for at lease 1 day, so thanks Bob for giving some great info. Take care and God bless.

  51. Hi! good day bob! I’m a dual citizen both us and philippines..It’s been 7 years from now since i stayed here in the philippines.. Now, I’m going back to US this october. Will i have a problem when I go the US? I just want to make sure…Thank you

  52. As usual Bob has given an accurate assessment of George’s situation. When arriving with your Filipino or Former Filipino spouse, you may avail of their Balikbayan privilege for a one year visa. If you leave the country prematurely, the visa is finished.

    However, visitors arriving in the Philippines without an entry visa are now given visa for 30 days at the gate and it can be extended for another 29 days. After the first 59 days a visitor may extend up to 2 months at a time (not necessarily 59 days) thereafter. Alternatively, a visitor may obtain an entry visa from a Philippine Embassy or Consulate before travel (US$30, valid for 90 days) and will be given 59 days at the gate.

  53. Hi, I am actually a visa required national (sri lanka) and before going to the Philippines, I needed to get my visa first before going on the flight to Philippines. Is this visa run procedure you mentioned the same for me? Any advice you can give for someone like me?

  54. I’m British, so I know nothing about the Green Card system, but I have a Filipino friend here who has one, and he goes to Guam once a year, just to keep it active.

  56. We use Balikbayan “visa” – as Bob have said earlier…Balikbayan isn’t a visa – it’s a right. Same same anyway.

    When we do that we see it as a yearly trip to somewhere here in Asia – a yearly honeymoon, I may consider later to get a 13 series visa…

    One thing though: When we go out on that trip we must have a ticket out of Philippines, so it’s not enough to buy let’s say Manila-Singapore-Manila. We need one more out. It’s possible to find very cheap “throw away” tickets though.

    I did have a talk with BI here and two different persons told me it wasn’t needed, but when departing from another airport it doesn’t seem like they have that information, they demand us to show that ticket out. No ticket out – no leave.
    In a few occasions they haven’t asked for it, but we always have it, just in case.

    This is something BI should look into – inform foreign airports about the rules, clear and precise 🙂

    Until then – we support some airline company with a cheap ticket.

    • Hi Axel – Legally, those on a Balikbayan Privilege are not required to have an ongoing ticket. However, even some Bureau of Immigration officers are unaware of this. But, if you ask them to look it up, they will then know that you do not need the throw-away ticket.

      Good luck!

  57. Hi Bob i am getting ready to move over to Zamboanga to my fiancee we are planning to marry when i arrive or soon aftedr my question is if when i get there i dont have the proper visa seeing as how i am from the united states can i then apply for the 13 series once we are marries and wil that allow me to stay in the country or do i have to leave and then come back

    • Hi Rex – After you marry and have an NSO Certified Marriage Certificate you can apply for your 13a visa. You cannot apply before you marry. Once you have the 13a visa you can stay here for as long as you wish.

  58. i should probably also mention that her and i have known eachother for almost 6 years nwo and talked back and forth that whole time and made plans for me to come over so we can mary and be together .

    • awsome thank you so much for the info it is much appreciated i was looking into a few thigns and the tourist visa seems to be my best bet so far til we can marry and then me appy for a 13 series visa but yes than k you very much

  59. We are EU citizens with free 30 day stay allowance and we would like to stay without paid extension of this premit which costs quite much.

    See our situation is: coming to PH 9th of august, then leaving (always flying) on 13th (china) and flying back on 18th of aug, than staying till 18th of september and then leaving again till 28th of september (together it is still up to 30 days of stay in PH) and finally leaving for good on 30th od september.

    My question is: from which moment does they count the entry day for this 30 day free non visa requirement stay? Is it the day of first entry (9th of august) or do they count it every time with every single entry?
    I heard about the visa run thing, but here we dont have visas yet and hopefully wont need any.

    Thank you for your answer!

    • The first day of entry counts as day 1, even if you arrive at 11:59 pm, that one minute counts as one day.

      Under the scenario you describe, you never day for 30 days, though. Each time you leave the country, when you re-enter a new 30 day stay begins

  60. Thank you for the informative article. It seems that everyone mentions the visa run opportunity only as a mean to “reset the clock” after 1-2 years stay. In my case instead, I am planning to do a visa run in order to avoid paying 7600 pesos required to get a tourist visa extension after the initial 59 days, since I only need to stay a couple of weeks longer than those 59 days. Would the visa run work in this case, or will I still be asked to pay when I return into the country?

    Thank you in advance for the help!

  61. Hi Bob!

    I plan going going to the Philippines for a total of 4 months to get enough proof for my Fiancee to come to my country on a Working Visa (Shove that aside)
    I recently flew there going through on Visa Waiver as i didn’t have any sleep for 2 days Travel, Will you need a Return ticket on the first day you arrive into the Country or when you apply for a Extension? I would just like to know thank you so i am more ready for this 🙂 Also if i get an Extension will i need to have a certain amount of money in my bank account to prove i can fund myself whilst over there?

    1. Will i need a Ticket when i first enter country, Will i need one when i apply for first Extension and what about the Others?

    2. Will i need to prove i have money in my bank account to accredit my Stay?

    3. What are some Problems i could even run into?

    • Update: Say if i Entered October and my Return ticket was in Feb the following Year, Would they still allow me in? Or will i need to just get a throw away ticket? I plan on going with just a one way ticket and stay as long as it takes till my Finacee’s Visa is accepted, (Maximum 4 months)

      • The ongoing ticket is supposed to be dated within 59 days of your entry. If your ticket is beyond 59 days you should probably obtain a cheap ($25-$35) throw away ticket to carry with you to ensure your entry. If you are unable to find a ticket in this price range, check this site: http://throwawayticket.com

    • Hi Brian,

      Firstly, you wil never need a return ticket. What is required is an ongoing ticket. There is no requirement that the ticket return you to where you started only that there is a ticket that leaves the Philippines.

      1. There is only one time that you will be required or asked to show an ongoing ticket – when you enter the Philippines and go through customs & immigration. For visa renewals, extensions or any other time you will not be asked for any ticket.

      2. No.

      3. There are problems anywhere in the world. I am not sure what type of problems you are talking about, please be more specific.

  62. Okay so if i processed in my mind Properly, I will need a Ticket when i first arrive into Philippines to show i will leave the Country within 59 days, I was not however asked to provide any ticket to show any Further Travel out of the country on the Day i arrived except to show my passport where i got it stamped with no Questions asked or anything, But it would be good just to have a throw away one within a 59 day Period just in case?

    Also, If for a period of 4 maybe 6 months even in the Philippines, How much money would i need for a possible Regular stay? (Not sight seeing or anything but more relax type of thing) This would be in Cebu, So how much would you suggest?

    • Hi Brian – When you enter the Philippines on a tourist visa you are required to have an “ongoing ticket” – a ticket that will take you out of the Philippines within 59 days. The fact that you were not asked for one on your previous enter is no surprise.. they do not consistently ask for one. If you don’t have one and arrive and they do ask you will not be allowed entry to the country, so it is a good idea to have one. They go through streaks, sometimes they almost always ask, other times they don’t. Just do the right thing and get a “throw away ticket”. For a small price, say $20 to $35 or so, you can get a ticket out of the country to cover yourself.

      I am sorry, how much money you will need is entirely dependent on your lifestyle. There are people who could make it on $500 per month, and there are others who cannot get by without a minimum of ten times that amount. It all depends on how you live and such.

      Have a great trip.

  63. Sorry keep on bothering you, So if i fill in a form for Visa Extension and its Accepted it will be Granted the same day?

    • You are making this harder than needed. If you go apply for an e tension you don’t have to worry, you will get it. Yes, it is all done the same day as long as you go early in the day.

  64. Hi Bob, I am plan on going to Philippines soon to stay with some Family friends, I am 17 and will be leaving in February, I will need to get a extension visa Whilst there, I am wondering as i will be going Alone, If i will need to actually have my Fathers signature on the Extension form? I am also wondering if a 17 year old Foreigner traveling to the Philippines alone would be able to get through Customs without any such Problem…. Thanks.

  65. Most would be ashamed but I have nothing to hide. I am fairly well off I guess . I own 3 houses and a condo 3 cars and a 40 foot motorhome. My plans were to live in the Philippines the rest of my life but those plans got shattered. You see during the SRRV visa process and physical I found out I am terminally ill . Maybe 6 months maybe 6 years who knows. But because of this I was denied a visa. Luckily for me my girlfriend is one of the top paid females in Makati. And holds 2 engineering degrees so she can move to America and we can get married there which annulment here has been denied twice. I agree with the 3 year tourist visa but I don’t think it’s that cheap. Especially in Makati where you wait all day while others pay off for the in and out service they provide under the table. And I pay close to 2700p for 59 days with fees at the immigration office. That’s almost 50000 p per 3 year loop. I would like to know just in case how the 20 to 50 throw away ticket works and where I can buy one. Keep up the good work bob and as always over the years it has always been a pleasure reading your articles.

  66. Hey Bob nice info but not complete : remarks first after 2 months you need extension and there you will have to pay for an ACR I Card around 50 dollars and that every year if you stay 3 years so total 150 dollars plus fees second after 6 months if you want to leave the country you will have to pay an EEC A cost 500 pesos plus fees third after 1 year you will need a EEC B cost around 2350 to 2850 ( airport) pesos so people will know this also 🙂 salamat franky

  67. Hi I want to marry in the phillipines so can I get married if go over for an initial period of 30 days then extend to 59 being a British citizen?

  68. Hello.
    After 3 y when I need to go out from coy try. Is it OK if I take my flight to hk in the morning and come back same day in the evening.