A visa is an official document issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). It permits foreign nationals to legally enter the Philippines. This authorization is stamped in their valid passports and indicates the specified duration of their stay within the country. Upon expiration of a visa’s validity period, issuance of a renewed passport, and lost or damaged passports, visa re-stamping is necessary as a compliance with immigration law.

What are the Requirements for Visa Re-stamping?

The following documents must be submitted for visa re-stamping application:

• Letter request addressed to the Commissioner for re-stamping of visa with the “No Derogatory Records” stamp from the Certification and Clearance Section (CCS);

• Certified True Copy of Board of Commissioner (BOC)’s Order granting the visa from the Records Section;

• Print out of the latest arrival from the CCS or photocopy of flight manifest from Records Section, if travel is not recorded in the Centralized Query Support System (CQSS);

• A copy of police report or affidavit of loss, for lost passport; and 

• Photocopy of the following documents:

• • Bio-page of old and new passports;

• • Latest visa stamp on old passport;

• • Passport extension, if applicable;

• • Amendments/observations concerning passport and biometric information (e.g. amendment of names, etc.);

• • Official receipt of subsequent visa application, if approval is pending with the Board of Commissioners; 

• • Latest arrival in the new passport or summary of arrival stamp, if passport does not have any Philippine arrival stamp; and  

• • Passport pages indicating passport number and validity or extension of the passport validity, if the passport is not machine readable or not an electronic passport.

How Do You Process Visa Re-stamping in the Philippines?

To process visa re-stamping, you must request a travel certificate from the Bureau of Immigration (BI). This certificate will confirm your travel history and eligibility for a visa re-stamp. You will also need to request a Passenger Manifest from the airline you used to travel to the Philippines.

Once you have the requested documents, you can fill out the re-stamping application form. Ensure that all the information you provide is accurate and complete. There is a fee for the re-stamping process, which you will need to pay when you submit your application. You will be given an official receipt and claim stub as proof of payment and application.

After you have paid the fee, your application will be processed by the immigration office. Once your application is approved, your valid passport will be re-stamped. 

More importantly, it is advisable to seek legal guidance and assistance from a lawyer to ensure that you comply with all applicable regulations and avoid any potential issues with your immigration status.

How Much Does Visa Re-stamping Cost in the Philippines?

In the Philippines, the cost of visa re-stamping is as follows:

What are the Available Visas in the Philippines? 

Foreign nationals who want to work, invest, travel or reside in the Philippines can apply for the following visas:

• Pre-arranged Employment Visa or Work Visa (9G) is offered to foreign nationals who are employed in Philippine-based companies. This visa is valid for one (1) year and may be extended for three (3) years. 
• Special Visa Employment Generation (SVEG) Visa is given to qualified foreigners who are employed in at least ten (10) lawful and sustainable business, trade, or industry in the Philippines.
• Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA 47) or 47(A)(2) is issued by PEZA to foreigners holding executive positions, employees, and administrative positions by PEZA-registered enterprises, with a validity of two (2) years. 
• Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) allows its holder to live in the country permanently, provided that they are maintaining their investments.
• Quota Immigrant (13) Visa is only available to fifty (50)  foreign nationals whose countries have diplomatic relations with the Philippines and offer the same immigration privileges to Filipino citizens.  
• Temporary Visitor (9A) Visa is initially given 30 days upon arrival, and can be extended for initial 29 days. 

• Spouse Visa (13A) is granted to foreign nationals married with Filipino nationals and their child/children under twenty-one (21) years old. 

• Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is granted to foreign nationals whose country does not have a reciprocity agreement with the Philippines, but is married to a Filipino citizen. It grants them to stay in the country for one (1) year during probationary status and five (5) years if converted to permanent status and can be renewed for another five (5) years. 

• Chinese National Spouse Visa (MCL-07-210) is granted to Chinese nationals married to a Filipino citizen and their child/children aged below  twenty-one (21).

• Non-Quota Immigrant (13G) is offered to natural-born Filipinos returning to the country after acquiring a different citizenship. 

• Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) is offered to foreign nationals who are at least fifty (50) years old and wish to retire and reside in the country permanently. 
• APECO Special Permanent Residency Visa (ASRV) is authorized by the Philippine government within the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port Authority (APECO) Economic Zone, which allows foreigners to live permanently in the Philippines and to access various financial services.

Need further information and assistance regarding Re-stamping of Visa? Talk to our team at Duran & Duran-Schulze Law in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Philippines to know more about the requirements and process. Call us today at (+632) 8478 5826 or +63 917 194 0482, or send an email to info@duranschulze.com for more information.

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