The Philippines offers a path to permanent residency for children born to immigrants. Under Section 13(c) of the country’s immigration law, if the parent’s visa is valid, and the child is born after the immigrant visa is issued, the child is eligible for an immigrant visa as well.
This visa does not count towards the yearly immigration quota for each country. Moreover, children of immigrants born here and abroad are both qualified to apply. The key requirement under 13(c) is that the child is born after the parent acquires the immigrant visa and not before.
To apply for this visa, submit the following requirements to the Bureau of Immigration office nearest you:
- Checklist of requirements (child born in the Philippines, child born abroad)
- Letter to the Commissioner requesting for an immigrant visa on behalf of the child. The letter must be signed by the accompanying parent with a valid immigration visa;
- Two (2) filled-out, original copies of the Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) for immigrant visa;
- Photocopy of the accompanying parent’s passport bio-page, latest admission, and valid visa. The original passport(s) must also be presented for verification;
- Child’s birth certificate, authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (if born in the Philippines), the Philippine Foreign Service Post (if issued by a foreign agency), or the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (if issued by an Embassy based in the Philippines);
- Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate; and
- Original or certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance (if applicant is a national of the countries listed under Annex “A” of Immigration Operations Order No. SBM-14-059-A).
These documents must be arranged in the above order and compiled in a legal size (8 ½ x 14 inches) folder. Bring extra copies of the documents in case immigration officials ask for them.
A hearing or interview is scheduled after the Bureau of Immigration accepts the documents. Application results are posted on the agency website. Once the visa is approved, the child’s passport is stamped and an Alien Certificate of Registration card is issued.
This visa costs about USD 220.00, excluding costs associated with preparing the requirements.
Note that requirements or procedures may change if applying from abroad. Inquire with the local Philippine consulate or the Bureau of Immigration for more information.
