If you are planning to have a long stay in the Philippines, you have to know that long-term purposes need an appropriate and right visa to use. Foreign nationals must know that there are four (4) Philippine visas issued for long-term stay/purposes. These main visas are the Philippine Work Visa, Philippine Student Visa, Philippine Spouse Visa, and Philippine Retirement Visa. If you are a foreign national who is seeking to know how to apply for a long-stay visa in the Philippines, then this article will help you get the necessary information you need.
Where to apply for longterm-stay VISA?
There are two ways you can apply for a Philippine long-stay VISA:
- Visit the Embassy or Consulate of the Philippines in your country.
- At the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines (this means that you need to travel to the Philippines with a tourist visa and go directly to the Bureau of Immigration to convert it to the type of visa you need. There are some terms and conditions to become eligible for this).
How to get a Philippines Student Visa
Foreign students, aged 18 and above who wished to pursue or attain higher education in the Philippines must need a student visa. You can apply in an Embassy or Consulate of the Philippines in your country. Below is the application process you must know when applying in your own country:
- You need to get accepted into the school of your choice that is accredited by the Bureau of Immigration.
- Your current school must apply to the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in order for you to study in the country.
- CHED will notify the Bureau of Immigration for the decision/approval.
- If your application gets approved, the Bureau of Immigration will then forward the decision to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and from then, they will notify the Consulate Embassy to which you will apply for your Philippines Student Visa.
Another way to apply for a student visa is to go directly to the Philippines using a tourist visa, and then physically apply there in the Bureau of Immigration to convert your visa into a student visa.
What documents/requirements do you need for a Philippines Student Visa?
Listed below are the following documents you will need:
- A Certificate of Acceptance from the school you are applying to in the Philippines
- A Certificate of Good Moral Character from your school in your country
- A Certificate of Police Clearance approved and issued by the authorities in your country
- A Health Certificate, including X-ray results, issued by a medical practitioner, or licensed medical employee.
- Personal History Statement forms or the forms you need to comply with the new school you are applying to.
- A list of any contacts or connections you have in the Philippines
- Previous educational/academic qualifications (diploma or other certificates issued)
- School Transcripts
- Birth certificate
- And lastly, any other documents as requested/required by the Embassy/Consulate or the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines.
How to get a Philippines Spouse Visa
This Visa is a permanent residence visa issued to foreigners who are married to full Filipino citizens. But, this type of visa is only limited to some countries.
You can apply for a Philippines Spouse Visa at an Embassy or Consulate of the Philippines in your country or enter the Philippines with a Tourist Visa/short-stay visa and convert it into a Spouse Visa at the Immigration Bureau.
What documents/requirements do you need for a Philippines Spouse Visa?
Listed below are the documents you must need if ever your country is eligible for the spouse visa.
- A Letter of Request for the Visa addressed to the Embassy/Consulate (by you and your spouse)
- A Passport of your Filipino spouse
- Birth Certificate of your Filipino spouse
- Marriage Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and in Security Paper (SECPA)
- If you and your spouse were married abroad: Marriage Certificate duly translated and notarized and Apostilled.
- PCC issued and approved in your country is required.
- A Health Certificate, including X-ray results, issued by a medical practitioner, or licensed medical employee.
- Proof of funds that show you both have sufficient financial means that can support living in the Philippines
- And lastly, any extra documents as requested/required by the Embassy/Consulate or the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines.
How to get a Philippines Retirement Visa
This visa is issued and granted by the Bureau of Immigration, and the Retirement Program of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). It is a permanent residency visa issued to foreigners who want to retire in the Philippines.
What documents/requirements do you need for a Philippines Retirement Visa?
The following documents listed are the ones you will be needing for your application:
- Certificate of Police Clearance issued in your country
- A Health Certificate, including X-ray results, issued by a medical practitioner, or licensed medical employee.
- Proof of deposit in a bank approved by the Philippine Retirement Authority:
- If you have a pension (over the age of 50): A deposit of US$10,000 and a monthly pension of US$800.00
- If you do not have a pension (aged 35-49): A deposit of US$50,000
- If you do not have a pension (over the age of 50): A deposit of US$20,000
- If you are a former Filipino citizen over the age of 35: A deposit of US$1,500
- If your spouse is joining you, you will need: Marriage Certificate, legalized by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your country
- If your dependents are joining you you will have to provide: Birth Certificate, legalized by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your country
- And lastly, any other documents as requested/required by the Embassy/Consulate or the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines
How to get a Philippines Working Visa
For foreigners who want to work or need to work long-term in the Philippines, you need to have a Philippine Working Visa, and in order to have that you need to obtain first a working permit/work permit.
But take note, your employer is the one who needs to get you the working permit. Your employer must get you one at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Philippines.
Once your work permit is approved, you are now eligible to apply for your working visa to the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines. This means that you need to enter the country with a short-stay or tourist visa first and then change it in the Bureau of Immigration. The process can take up to three months so you need to extend your visa as it goes.
What documents/requirements do you need for a Philippines Work Visa?
Listed below are the following documents you must submit when applying for a work visa:
- You will need a Letter of Request for the Visa addressed to the Embassy/Consulate.
- A copy of the Employment Contract.
- A photocopy/copy of your company’s latest Income Tax Return (ITR)
- A copy of your Work Permit approved/issued by the Department of Labor and Employment in the Philippines
- Your employer is the one who will get you your working permit on DOLE.
- A document showing the number of how many Filipino and foreign employees working in the company
- A Certificate of Police Clearance issued and approved in your country.
- A Health Certificate, including X-ray results, issued by a medical practitioner, or licensed medical employee.
- And lastly, any other documents as requested/required by the Embassy/Consulate or the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines.
If you are aspiring to stay in the Philippines for a long period of time, then you must comply diligently in order to have a seamless application. Till then, Goodluck!