The Philippines is a tropical paradise full of opportunities and adventures. Whether you are planning to visit its tourist spots, build a career in its thriving economy, invest in Philippine companies, or settle down in its vibrant cities or provinces, the Philippines offers a range of visas tailored to different needs. But which one is right for you?
Duran & Duran-Schulze Law is a full-service visa and immigration law firm that can help you navigate through the complex world of Philippine Immigration Law. With 11 years of experience, we have successfully assisted foreign nationals from over 40 countries as well as Filipino citizens living abroad.
If you are planning to apply for a visa in the Philippines or need assistance with renewing it, we can help you!
Type of Visa Services We Offer:
Work Visas allow foreign nationals to work in the Philippines temporarily. These types of visas can be used for travel, business trips, or even long-term employment.
Invest Visas allow foreign nationals to invest in Philippine companies without needing to reside in the country permanently.
Stay Visas allow foreign nationals to retire and live in the Philippines with either their dependents or just by themselves permanently.
Work Visa
If you are planning to work in the Philippines, here are the visa options for you:
Pre-arranged Employment Visa (9G)
It is commonly known as a Work Visa. It is given to foreign nationals who want to work or seek employment in the Philippines. The validity period of this visa usually depends on the foreign worker’s employment contract.
Additionally, you must acquire the following work permits:
- Alien Employment Permit (AEP). This work permit must be secured before applying for a work visa and can be applied by either the applicant or their employer. It is valid for one (1) to three (3) years, depending on their employment contract, which allows foreign employees to engage in long-term employment in the country.
- Special Work Permit (SWP). This permit is given to foreign employees in the Philippines for a short-term. It is valid for three (3) months and can be renewed for another three (3) months, allowing them to work in the country for a total of six (6) months.
- Provisional Work Permit (PWP). This type of work permit is issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to foreign employees in the country who are waiting for the approval of their work visa application. It is valid for three (3) months from the date of the issuance or until their visa has been approved.
Philippine Economic Zone Authority Visa (PEZA 47)
It is issued by PEZA to foreign nationals holding executive positions, employees, and administrative positions by PEZA-registered enterprises, with a validity of one (1) year. Individuals can apply for PEZA 47 if they meet any of the following qualifications:
- Employed as executive, supervisor, specialist, consultant, or special staff of a company registered with PEZA or BOI;
- Employed by an enterprise with existing agreement/s with the Philippine government;
- Exchange professors, scholars, trainees, and social workers under sponsorship; or
- Approved by the President to apply for a PEZA 47 Visa.
Special Visa Employment Generation (SVEG) Visa
It is given to qualified foreign individuals who are employed in at least ten (10) lawful and sustainable business, trade, or industry in the Philippines, given that:
- Employed as a full-time or regular employee;
- Occupies managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled or unskilled positions in a business activity, investment, enterprise, or industry in the Philippines.
Note that housekeepers, household workers, domestics, nannies, cooks, guards, caretakers, and the like are not eligible for SVEG Visa.
Invest Visa
If you are planning to invest in the Philippines, here are the visa options for you:
Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV)
It allows foreign investors to live in the country indefinitely, provided that they meet the following qualifications:
- Has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;
- Not afflicted with any loathsome, dangerous, or contagious disease;
- Has not been institutionalized for any mental disorder or disability;
- Willing and able to invest the amount of at least US $75,000.00 in an eligible form of investment; and
- Holder of a Temporary Visitor’s Visa or Tourist Visa (9A) with at least one (1) month validity.
APECO Special Permanent Residency Visa (ASRV)
It is authorized directly by the Philippine government within the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port Authority (APECO) Economic Zone. It allows individuals live permanently in the Philippines, given that they have established or in the process of establishing a residence within the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport, whether through acquisition or lease of a residential unit for at least five (5) years.
To apply for ASRV, the following documents are required to be submitted:
- Notarized Letter of Request
- Duly accomplished APECO General Application Form
- Copy of any document showing proof that applicant has established or is in the process of establishing a residence within the APEFZ
- Photocopy of passport bio-page and latest immigration stamp
- NBI Clearance
- Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate (BICC)
Stay Visa
If you are planning to reside in the Philippines, here are the visa options for you:
Spouse Visa (13A)
It is granted to foreign nationals married to Filipino citizens, and their child/children under twenty-one (21) years old. It allows them to live in the Philippines permanently. With this visa, the foreign spouse can also work in the country, but still required to secure a work permit.
To apply for a Spouse Visa, the following requirements must be submitted:
- Photocopy of Passport Arrival in the Philippines
- Original passport (both spouses)
- PSA Birth Certificate of Filipino spouse
- NBI Clearance of foreign spouse
- Barangay Certificate
- Curriculum Vitae
- Marriage Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
It is offered to foreign nationals married to a Filipino citizen, but whose country does not have a reciprocity agreement with the Philippines. Their unmarried child/children aged below twenty-one (21) can also apply for this visa. It allows them to stay in the country for one (1) year during probationary status and five (5) years if converted to permanent status and renewable for another five (5) years.
To apply for a TRV Visa, you must have the following documents:
- Passport with a minimum of six (6) months validity beyond the intended period of your stay in the Philippines
- PSA Birth Certificate of Filipino spouse
- Marriage Certificate
Note that if the marriage took place outside the Philippines, it must be apostilled by the issuing agency or authenticated by the Philippine Embassy.
Chinese National Spouse Visa (MCL-07-210)
It is issued to Chinese nationals married to Filipino citizens, and their legitimate children who are under twenty-one (21) years old.
To apply for a Chinese National Spouse Visa, the following requirements must be submitted:
- Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from you and your petitioning Filipino Spouse
- Duly accomplished CGAF (BI Form CGAF-001-Rev-2)
- Photocopy of passport bio-page, visa implementation page and latest admission with valid authorized stay
- Joint affidavit of continuous cohabitation of you and your petitioning spouse
- NBI Clearance
Non-Quota Immigrant (13G)
It is issued to natural-born Filipinos returning to the country after acquiring a different citizenship.
To apply for 13G Visa, you must acquire the following requirements:
- Proof of being a natural-born citizen of the Philippines (i.e. PSA Birth Certificate)
- Naturalization papers in a foreign country
- No record of any derogatory information against you in both local and foreign law enforcement agencies
Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV)
It is offered to foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens who are at least fifty (50) years old and wish to retire and reside in the country permanently.
The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) offers different SRRV, which are as follows:
- SRRV Smile is offered to active and healthy foreign retirees and may deposit a US $20,000 in any of the PRA accredited banks.
- SRRV Classic is for active or healthy foreign retirees who would opt to use their visa deposit to purchase condominium units or use for long term lease of house and lot. The visa deposit under this scheme are as follows:
- US $20,000 – applicants aged 50 years old and above without pension
- US $10,000 – applicants aged 50 years old and above, and currently receiving pension
- US $800 per month – for single applicants
- US $1,000 per month – for applicants with dependents
- SRRV Human Touch is offered to ailing retirees who need medical or clinical care. They must have a monthly pension of at least US $1,500.00 and a health insurance policy accepted in the Philippines. They are also required to deposit a US $10,000.
- SRRV Courtesy is granted to former Filipino citizens and foreign nationals who have served in the Philippines as ambassadors and diplomats. They are required to deposit a US $1,500.
- SRRV Expanded Courtesy is issued to foreign nationals who receive a monthly pension of at least US $1,000 and can remit a visa deposit of US $ 1,500.
Quota Immigrant Visa (13)
It is granted to foreign nationals whose countries have diplomatic ties to the Philippines and grant the same immigration privileges to Filipino citizens.
Every year, this visa is offered to fifty (50) individuals who meet the following qualifications:
- High educational attainment
- Technical knowledge
- Unique experience, or exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, professions, or business that will benefit the national economy or be of national interest
Additionally, you need to have sustainable investment authorized by the BI Commissioner.
Other Immigration Assistance
Temporary Visitor’s Visa (9A)
It is given to foreign nationals who visit the Philippines for tourism, business, and medical purposes. Most of them can stay in the country for thirty (30) days upon arrival, but initial stay can be seven (7) days to fifty-nine (59) days. The required stay duration depends on their home country.
The following are the minimum requirements for applying a Temporary Visitor’s Visa:
- Passport/Travel Document Valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines
- Duly accomplished visa application forms
- Two (2) copies of Passport Photos
- Proof of bona fide status as tourist or businessman
- Confirmed tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination
Lifting a Blacklist Order (BLO)
Foreign nationals whose names are listed in the Bureau of Immigration (BI)’s blacklist system are not allowed from entering the Philippines. If they are already in the country and unaware that they are included in the Blacklist Order, they will be deported.
Under Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 or Commonwealth Act No. 613, foreign individuals are prohibited from entering the country if they are identified as:
- Sex offenders
- Violators of Philippine laws
- Criminally convicted
- Undocumented
- Supporters of subversive acts
These individuals are considered threats or liabilities to the country. In this regard, the BI may decide to add individuals to a blacklist at its discretion. Being blacklisted has an effect on international mobility, job opportunities, and travel plans.
Visa Downgrade
Foreign nationals are required to change their current visa to another type of visa if they cannot longer meet the qualifications and requirements of it. Failure to downgrade a visa could result to facing immigration consequences, such as being blacklisted or any other enforcement derogatory records in ports of exit, under Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613. Violators will also be deported and required to pay the necessary penalties.
Emigration Exit Clearance (EEC)
Emigration Exit Clearance (ECC) is a document required to foreign nationals who are planning to leave the Philippines. This serves as a proof that they do not have derogatory records, pending obligations, legal issues, and unpaid fines. Additionally, there are two (2) types of ECC: ECC-A and ECC-B.
The ECC-A must be secured by the following individuals:
- Holders of a Tourist Visa or Temporary Visitor’s Visa who have spent six (6) months or more in the Philippines
- Holder of Non-Immigrant or Immigrant Visas that have expired or been reduced
- Holders of valid Immigrant or Non-Immigrant Visas, but are leaving for good
- Philippine-born foreign nationals who will depart from the Philippines for the first time
- Bonafide seafarers with a legally issued BI discharge who have been thirty (30) days or more in the Philippines
Meanwhile, ECC-B is given to departing holders of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Visas with valid Alien Certificate Registration Identity Card or ACR-I Card and are leaving the country temporarily.
Note: Immigration laws in the Philippines can change unexpectedly. This means that eligibility for visas, required documents, processing times, visa validity, and other visa application information may be subject to updates. To stay informed, we advise consulting with our Immigration and Visa Specialists.
Duran & Duran-Schulze Law Can Help
Application Process Assistance
We handle the entire visa application process on behalf of our clients. If you also need assistance with renewing your visa, we can help you. We also offer assistance with citizenship applications and naturalization.
Offer Legal Counsel
We are committed to offer legal counsel and assist our clients by providing information about the visa application procedures and the necessary requirements. We also help our clients solve their problems to prevent any delays and assist them in exploring legal remedies.
Follow-Up and Monitor
We monitor the progress of our client’s visa application and follow-up with immigration authorities as needed to urge the process. We ensure that our clients will stay informed about their application status.
Resolve Visa Concerns
We are dedicated to answer our client’s queries and address their concerns promptly. Our goal is to keep our clients informed about potential risks and guide them on providing solutions.
