Visa Types — Philippines

Major Visa Categories for Immigrating to the Philippines

*Note: The Philippines distinguishes between "non-immigrant" visas (temporary stay, renewable) and "immigrant" visas (permanent residency). Fees are set by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and are subject to change—always verify with the BI or the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consulate before applying. Costs below are approximate and often paid in a mix of PHP (for local processing) and USD (for consular/visa fees).*

1. 13(a) Visa – Marriage to a Filipino Citizen

Who it's for: Foreign nationals legally married to a Filipino citizen who wish to reside permanently in the Philippines.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Valid marriage certificate (registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority if married abroad)
• Proof of legal capacity to marry at the time of marriage
• Police clearance from home country and/or NBI clearance if already in PH
• Medical examination (including HIV test) from a DOH-accredited clinic
• Initially granted as "probationary" for 1 year, then converted to permanent

Processing Time:

• Probationary visa: 2–4 months
• Conversion to permanent (after 1 year): additional 2–3 months

Cost:

• Application/filing fees: approx. PHP 8,000–10,000 (~$140–175)
• Legal research fee, ACR I-Card fee: approx. PHP 2,000–5,000 (~$35–90)
• Total (probationary + permanent conversion): approx. PHP 20,000–35,000 (~$350–620)

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2. 13(g) Visa – Former Filipino Citizens (Balikbayan Immigrant Visa)

Who it's for: Natural-born Filipinos who acquired foreign citizenship and wish to permanently resettle in the Philippines.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Proof of former Filipino citizenship (old Philippine passport, birth certificate, naturalization records)
• NBI/police clearance
• Medical clearance
• Certificate of Naturalization or Alien Certificate showing loss of Filipino citizenship

Processing Time: 3–6 months

Cost:

• Visa fee: approx. PHP 8,000–10,000 (~$140–175)
• Legal research and other miscellaneous fees: PHP 3,000–5,000 (~$50–90)
• Total: approx. PHP 15,000–20,000 (~$260–350)

*Note: Many former Filipinos instead opt for Dual Citizenship under RA 9225, which is simpler and cheaper (~$50–100 total) and grants full citizenship rather than just residency.*

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3. 13(e) Visa – Immigrant by Right of Return / Child of Naturalized Citizen

Who it's for: Alien wife/husband and unmarried minor children of a Filipino citizen who became a naturalized Filipino, or foreign spouses/children returning as immigrants.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Proof of relationship to the naturalized Filipino citizen
• Certificate of naturalization
• NBI and medical clearances

Processing Time: 2–4 months

Cost: approx. PHP 15,000–20,000 (~$260–350)

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4. Quota Immigrant Visa (Section 13, Philippine Immigration Act)

Who it's for: Foreign nationals from countries with reciprocity agreements with the Philippines; limited to 50 persons per nationality per year (by law, though often filled through other means in practice).

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a national of a country that allows Filipinos similar immigration privileges
• Good moral character, no criminal record
• Proof of financial capacity
• Medical clearance

Processing Time: 6–12 months (subject to quota availability)

Cost: approx. PHP 20,000–40,000 (~$350–700), varies by nationality and BI processing

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5. Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) – Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA)

Who it's for: Foreign nationals (35 years old and above) and former Filipino citizens who wish to retire in the Philippines with multiple-entry, indefinite stay privileges.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Age 35–49: Time deposit of $50,000 (SRRV Classic)
• Age 50 and above: Time deposit of $10,000–$20,000 depending on pension income and visa type (SRRV Smile, Classic, or with pension)
• Medical clearance (no HIV/AIDS, communicable diseases)
• NBI/police clearance from country of origin
• No criminal record
• Must maintain PRA-endorsed bank deposit

Processing Time: 1–2 months after documents submitted to PRA

Cost:

• PRA Application/Processing Fee: $1,400 (principal) + $300 (each dependent)
• Annual PRA membership fee: $360 (principal)
• Time deposit: $10,000–$50,000 (refundable/convertible to investment after 30 days)
• Visa/ACR I-Card issuance: approx. PHP 8,000–10,000 (~$140–175)

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6. 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa

Who it's for: Foreign nationals with a job offer from a Philippine-registered company; commonly used by expatriates working long-term in the Philippines (though technically non-immigrant, often leads to long-term residency).

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Valid employment contract with a PH-registered employer
• Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from DOLE (unless exempt)
• Employer must justify hiring a foreign national over a local (Labor Market Test), unless exempt (e.g., under treaties)
• Medical clearance
• NBI clearance/police clearance

Processing Time: 2–4 months (AEP + 9(g) visa combined)

Cost:

• AEP fee (DOLE): PHP 8,000–10,000 (~$140–175) for 1 year
• 9(g) visa fee: PHP 8,500–10,000 (~$150–175)
• ACR I-Card: PHP 3,000–5,000 (~$50–90)
• Total: approx. PHP 20,000–30,000 (~$350–530), often employer-sponsored

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7. Special Non-Immigrant Visa 47(a)(2)

Who it's for: Foreign nationals employed by special economic zones (PEZA), or working in projects with government-registered enterprises (e.g., IT, BPO); often used instead of 9(g) for faster processing.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Employment with a PEZA-registered or similarly qualified enterprise
• Endorsement from the hiring agency/economic zone authority
• Medical and NBI clearance

Processing Time: 1–2 months (faster than standard 9(g))

Cost: approx. PHP 15,000–20,000 (~$260–350), often covered by employer

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8. Treaty Trader/Investor Visa (9(d))

Who it's for: Nationals of countries with a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with the Philippines (primarily U.S. citizens and Japanese nationals) who wish to engage in substantial trade or investment.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a national of a treaty country (U.S., Japan, Germany in limited cases)
• Substantial trade/investment in a PH business (typically at least $120,000+ capital investment recommended, though no strict legal minimum universally fixed—case-by-case BI evaluation)
• Business must be substantially owned by treaty nationals

Processing Time: 3–6 months

Cost: approx. PHP 20,000–40,000 (~$350–700), plus business registration costs (SEC/DTI, varies widely)

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9. Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) – Board of Investments (BOI)

Who it's for: Foreign nationals investing at least $75,000 in a Philippine BOI-approved enterprise, seeking permanent residency tied to their investment.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum investment of $75,000 in qualifying BOI-registered industries
• No prior deportation or criminal record
• Investment must remain active to maintain visa validity

Processing Time: 2–3 months after investment verification

Cost:

• Application fee: approx. PHP 5,000–8,000 (~$90–140)
• Visa issuance and ACR I-Card: PHP 5,000–8,000 (~$90–140)
• Investment: $75,000 (separate from visa fees)

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10. Special Resident Visa for Investors under CARP or other economic programs (e.g., SIRV variants for BPO/agriculture)

Who it's for: Investors in specific priority sectors (agribusiness, tourism, real estate under certain conditions).

Key Eligibility Requirements: Similar to SIRV but tied to sector-specific government agency endorsement (e.g., Department of Tourism for tourism-related investments)

Processing Time: 2–4 months

Cost: Similar to SIRV: $75,000 investment + PHP 10,000–15,000 (~$175–260) in fees

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11. Permanent Resident Visa via Native-Born Status (RA 9225 Dual Citizenship – for reference)

Who it's for: Former natural-born Filipino citizens who lost citizenship through naturalization abroad; not technically a visa but grants full citizenship and residency rights, often preferred over 13(g).

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Proof of natural-born Filipino status (birth certificate, old PH passport)
• Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines
• Valid foreign passport and naturalization certificate

Processing Time: 1–3 months (via PH Embassy/Consulate or BI in-country)

Cost: approx. $50–100 (embassy processing fee) + PHP 1,500–3,000 (~$25–50) for Identification Certificate

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Summary Notes & Recommendations

• Most common route for foreigners: SRRV (retirement) and 13(a) (marriage) visas are the most popular long-term/permanent options for non-Filipinos.
• Costs fluctuate: BI and PRA periodically adjust fees; always check the official [Bureau of Immigration website](https://immigration.gov.ph) and [Philippine Retirement Authority website](https://pra.gov.ph) for current schedules.
• Currency conversion: USD estimates use an approximate exchange rate of PHP 56–58 = $1; actual costs will vary with prevailing exchange rates.
• Legal assistance: Given the complexity and frequent regulatory changes, consulting a PH-based immigration lawyer or accredited visa facilitator is strongly recommended, especially for investor and quota visas.
• Processing times can vary significantly based on document completeness, BI backlogs, and whether applying from within the Philippines or through a consulate abroad.

More about immigrating to Philippines