Live in the Philippines

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

New tourist visas in the Philippines – EAM

Podcasts, Tourist Visa / by

Some time back, I got a question from my friend Bill.  He was wondering about tourist visas.

How long could Bill stay on his tourist visa?

How often would he need to renew or extend his visa?

Where could he do the renewal?  Would he have to travel far to do the extension?

Well, as many know, the Philippines has a new Tourist Visa program for about a year now.  A lot of changes have been made, most of which make it much better for the tourist or expat who is living on a tourist visa in the Philippines.  Truth is that there are not very many countries around the world who make it as easy and inexpensive  as it is to stay in the Philippines on a tourist visa.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I have a question about your last few sentences. How do you get permission from Manila to stay beyond 16 months? Do you have to travel there?

  2. Hi Bob, I’ve talked to you before. I didn’t know you could stay beyond 16 months, could u explain more, I can’t get your ipod channel. I’m coming up on my 16 months. I have an 8 month old and wife is 4 months now. pregnant, don’t want to have to exit and return right now. This is a risky pregnancy for her. Thanks. Hope u can email your response.
    Russ

    • Hi Russell – You can listen to the podcast right here on the website, no need to go to iTunes or anywhere else. To see instructions on how to listen to a podcast, check here.

      Under the current Tourist Visas, they can be extended up to a maximum of 36 months. It has been more than a year since the 16 months was changed to 36 months. There is not much to explain, if you have been staying up to 16 months, you just keep doing the same until 36 months now. If you entered under a max of 16 months tourist visa, I am not sure you can stay for 36, though. You might have to leave and re-enter again getting the newer tourist visa and a 36 month total stay. Check with the BI next time you go there and they can certainly give you a ruling on that.

      • I am worried about Duterte. I heard he is so strict and will fill p his cabinet with commies. Do you think the immigration policy could be reversed back to the less pleasant form by Duterte?

  3. Hi Bob Russ again, I was just able to listen to your podcast. I have a couple questions. What should be in the letter? any document or proof why I want to stay longer. My kids who are philippine citizens. I’m also wondering which is better the balik bayan visa or staying for the 3 years? Which is better financially also as I’m on a budget? Kids will do that to you. Lol.

    • Hi Russ – Glad you were able to listen. The letter should just request that you be allowed to stay longer, nothing special.

      Which is better… Balikbayan or Tourist for 36 months? It just depends on your preference and your situation. Balikbayan is good for one year and it is free. Tourist will cost money to extend. On the other hand, with the balikbayan you must leave the country once per year (unless you convert it to a tourist visa at the end). Why not look at getting a permanent 13a visa? If you are qualified for a Balikbayan Visa, you should also qualify for a 13a.

    • Hi Lenny – Technically, the cost of an ACR card is not part of the cost of extending your visa. Yes, it is required, and it is done at the same time, but it is two separate things, though. But, yes, while you are at the BI to extend, you will also spend for the ACR card. 🙂

  5. Hi Bob. I am currently on the 1 year Balik Bayan visa. I do not want the hassle of doing the “visa run” every year due to cost and do not like leaving the Philippines anyway. My wife has told me we will get me a permanent visa here. One year trial and then permanent. I was wondering once I get the permanent here if there will be any hassle for me to leave here to go visit Australia whenever? Another Australian expat told me there can be a hassle. I know there is probably immigration sites (very confusing sites) that I could find the answer to this but i thought i would try you first.
    Hope you can answer my question.
    Cheers

    • If you have a 13a Visa, or 13g, there is a big of hassle when leaving the country, but it is not too bad. There is also some expense as you must pay the travel tax. The amount varies depending on several factors, even including what class of ticket you are traveling on. I still feel that it is the best visa available for those who qualify.

  6. Finally had a chance to listen, Bob. Some good info there, especially the fact they have finally started rolling the Long Term (6 month) Tourist visa option out to the Provinces.

    One thing that throws a lot of people off on these extensions is to 59 day business. Really you get a 60 day extension but due to the way the BoI calculates dates it only comes up to 59 days by their count.

    Don’t worry folks, you will see by the date they put in your passport that you always get 60 days per renewal .. it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

    Also I agree with you fully that it’s a pretty good system. I get depressed at times listening to continual complaints about how complex and complicated and expensive the system is here. Well I’ve studied a number of other countries regarding tourist (stay) programs and trust me, the Philippines is the cheapest and easiest by far. For my fellow Americans, next time you want to bitch, just look backwards at the US tourist visa system for those who are not US citizens.

    It costs a non-refundable $165 USD to apply, you have to wait weeks or months, and if you were to tell the Consular officer you wanted to say in the US longer under your tourist status than the original term? You’d be thrown out on your ear, visa-less.

    There is no such thing as staying long term on a tourist visa in many of the countries on earth .. it’s more fun in the Philippines 😉

  7. Tourists that stay beyond 59 days now have to register for the Alien Registration Project.

    https://dumaguete.com/bureau-immigration-alien-registration-project-arp-2/

    http://www.mb.com.ph/bi-urges-aliens-to-register/

    BI urges aliens to register
    by Jun Ramirez
    October 5, 2014
    Share this:
    The Bureau of Immigration has reminded foreign nationals staying in the country to personally present themselves before the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for biometrics measurement and issuance of special security registration number (SSRN), Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison disclosed yesterday.

    BI Commissioner Siegref B. Mison reiterated the need for registration under the Alien Registration Project (ARP) after only 200,000 of the more then 1.5 million aliens staying here have so far registered themselves with the agency.

    The immigration chief said SSRN is an alpha-numeric number assigned to every foreign national who registers under ARP to facilitate transaction with the bureau.

    The ARP which started last week and ends in September next year was initiated to account and update the BI’s database.

      • Wow. Now ARP too? The whole process Seems complicated. I wish somebody would map this out in a fishbone diagram or something. Haha.
        And when you go to BI office can you bring just a copy of passport? Or do you need the original? I don’t like carrying around the original.

        • It is not that complicated. If you do not have an ACR I-Card that is current, you must report to the BI and fill out some forms, get pictures, fingerprints and such taken. After that, it’s all good.

          You should always bring your original passport when you go to the BI.

      • The ARP does apply to permanent residents, but will be handled differently. They already have most of the information needed for permanent residents, thus the additional things they need (bio-metrics) will be given during our annual report in Jan/Feb.

  8. Bob, I do not know what information is in the Podcast as internet signals are too slow to work with that.
    I just want to let you and others know that more Immigration Offices now handle the 6 months and longer Visa. I had it done in Butuan City (Mindanao) and it was quick, very pleasant and efficient.. That was in May 2016.

  9. Hi Bob, I just came on to your site been reading a few articles I have a flight leaving November 9th 2016 to Manila I plan on visiting a few women from Christian Filipina website I speak with one regularly from Pavia, llilo.
    I don’t have any specific plans for traveling she did mention taking a boat to different islands is available but I have many questions I guess my first is when I fly into the airport I I’m wondering do I get my visa extension there I have a round trip ticket leaving December 21st back to the States I read some of your older articles from 2010 2012 some of the area’s sound pretty rough but I don’t drink anymore just a Teamster on Pipeline jobs I can carry myself pretty well almost anywhere of work with major cities in the US I don’t go where white boys don’t go so any direction on your website on weather I need the hire somebody to travel with me so I don’t get scammed I’m just a truck driver on vacation to meet these Christian women for possible marriage I was planning on staying at the hostel that’s well-known in Manila I forget the name of it right now

    • Hi Gregg,

      Firstly, regarding extending your visa.. you can either do it right at the airport when you arrive, or you can do it at any Bureau of Immigration office in the country, they have an office in all of the larger towns and every City.

      I don’t feel that you need to hire anybody to travel with you. Just use common sense and I don’t think there will be a problem at all.

      Have a great trip!