VISA GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

WHAT IS A PHILIPPINE VISA?

A Philippine Visa is an endorsement made on a travel document by a consular officer at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad denoting that the visa application has been properly examined and that the bearer is permitted to proceed to the Philippines and request permission from the Philippine Immigration authorities at the ports of entries to enter the country. The visa thus issued is not a guarantee that the holder will be automatically admitted into the country, because the admission of foreign nationals into the Philippines is a function of the immigration authorities at the port of entry.

DEFINITION OF A FOREIGN TOURIST (TEMPORARY VISITOR)

A “foreign tourist” is defined as a person without distinction as to race, gender, language or religion, who is proceeding to the Philippines for a legitimate, nonimmigrant purpose such as sightseeing, sports, health, family reasons, training or study (excluding enrollment in schools for the purpose of obtaining a title or degree), religious pilgrimage, business, cultural and scientific purposes.

STANDARD PROCEDURE/MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING A TEMPORARY VISITOR’S VISA

Applicants for temporary visitor’s visa should normally apply at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. For those residing in Alberta and Saskatchewan, you should send your applications to the following address:

Visa Section
Philippine Consulate General
Suite 100 1001 1st ST SE Calgary Alberta T2G 5G3

The following are the minimum requirements for applying for a temporary visitor’s visa:

1. Passport/Travel Document Valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines;
2. Duly Accomplished Visa application form;
3. Passport Photos (2 pieces);
4. Proof of bona fide status as tourist or businessman;
5. Confirmed tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination; and
6. Payment of Visa Fee (CAD58.00) - Payments can be made in Canadian Dollars either in cash, bank draft, postal money order, debit card, or credit card (with 2.4% convenience fee applied for credit card only), for applicants submitting their application forms personally at the Consulate

OTHER VISA/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS

• Minor children below 15 yrs. old Traveling to the Philippines Unaccompanied by or not Joining a Parent in the Philippines

A Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) Under Section 29(a)(12) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, is required for children below 15 yrs. old who are traveling to the Philippines unaccompanied by or not joining his/her parent/s to the Philippines. The requirements and form and additional information for the WEG are found here. The accomplished form must be notarized at the Philippine Consulate General for a fee of $36.25.

The WEG Order will be issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the port of entry upon submission by the WEG applicant of the following requirements:

1. Affidavit of Consent by either parent or legally appointed guardian of the child, naming therein the person who will be accompanying the child to the Philippines and with whom the child will stay while in the country. The said Affidavit must be duly notarized by a local notary public or the consular officer at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country or residence;

2. Clear photocopy of the data page of the child’s passport;

3. Clear photocopy of the data page of the passport of the accompanying adult or guardian; and

4. Payment of immigration fees (currently, P3,120 per child).

• Foreign Newsmen, Journalists and Cinema/Television Groups

Foreign newsmen and journalists visiting the Philippines in pursuit of their profession are required to apply for a temporary visitor’s visa. The following are additional requirements for visa application of foreign newsmen, journalist, cinema/television groups:

1. Curriculum vitae of newsmen/journalists;
2. Shortlist of work credits;
3. Copy of one (1) sample article written by the applicant;
4. Background of media organization, including target market/audience, circulation, format; and
5. Administrative arrangements for the work in the Philippines, as follows:
   1. List of members of the reportorial team, nationality and passport details;
   2. Planned itinerary and activities, with storyline for any films to be made;
   3. List of equipment to be brought by each team member, with certification from the media organization that said equipment will be re-exported at the end of the trip to the Philippines;
   4. Flight details (arrival and departure); and
   5. For each team member, one (1) photograph, size 1"x1", to be submitted to the International Press Center (IPC) for the issuance of an accreditation card.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the newsmen/journalists will have to report to the IPC for accreditation.

• Foreign Nationals who wish to take up a short-term non-degree course

Foreign students who wish to take up a short-term non-degree course like language and computer courses must apply for a temporary visitor’s visa. Upon arrival in the Philippines and acceptance by the school/institution authorized by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students, he/she should apply for a Special Study Permit at the Bureau’s Student Desk, together with the following documents:

1. Letter request;
2. Certificate of Acceptance from the school accredited by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students;
3. Photocopy of passport reflecting the applicant’s authorized period of stay;
4. Affidavit of Support and Proof of Financial Capacity; and
5. Birth Certificate.

VALIDITY OF VISA

The validity of the visa indicates the dates during which the visa holder may legally enter the Philippines and the number of times he/she may do so. It is not equivalent to the period of stay in the Philippines. Every entry entitles the foreign national to a period of stay in the Philippines of 59 days for Visa-free countries and 30 days (or less) for Non-Visa-free countries.

Please take note of the difference between the ‘validity of the visa’ and the ‘period of stay’.

• The period indicated under “Valid From” to “Valid Until” in your visa are the inclusive dates during which the visa holder may enter the Philippines.
• The “Period of Stay” indicates the continuous period of authorized stay in the Philippines which commences from the date of arrival in the Philippines. This may extend beyond the period of validity of the visa, depending on the date of arrival in the country.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZED PERIOD OF STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES

To stay longer than the authorized period of stay, the foreign national will have to apply at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration for an extension of stay.

Click the links below for more information about securing an extension of stay and the corresponding fees.

• Extension of Authorized Stay Beyond 59-days
• Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension
• www.immigration.gov.ph