Balikbayan Program

The Balikbayan Program is instituted under the administration of the Department of Tourism to attract and encourage overseas Filipinos to come and visit their motherland. This is in recognition of their contribution to the economy of the country through the foreign exchange inflow and revenues that they generate.

The program allows visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of one (1) year for foreign passport holders, with the exception of restricted nationals. It also includes a kabuhayan shopping privilege allowing tax-exempt purchase of livelihood tools and providing the opportunity to avail of the necessary training to enable the balikbayan to become economically self-reliant members of society upon their return to the country. The program also intends to showcase competitive and outstanding Filipino-made products.

Who are entitled to avail of the Balikbayan Program?

The term "balikbayan" shall mean a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year, a Filipino overseas worker, or a former Filipino citizen and his or her family who had been naturalized in a foreign country and comes or returns to the Philippines.

The term "family" shall mean the spouse and the children of the balikbayan traveling with the latter to the Philippines.

For more information on the benefits and privileges of the Balikbayan Program, please click here.

Seaman's Visa

Definition of Seaman

The Term "seaman" refers to any foreigner who, in good faith, has signed on the articles of a vessel arriving at a port of the Philippines from any place outside thereof, employed in any capacity on board such vessel, and seeking to enter the Philippines solely in pursuit of his calling as a seaman, with the intention of departing with the vessel or reshipping on other vessel that is bound for a foreign port or place or one coming to the Philippines to join a vessel in this country.

Requirements for Seaman's Visa

1. Duly accomplished visa application form
2. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond authorized stay in the Philippines
3. Two (2) passport-size pictures taken during the last six (6) months
4. Letter from the shipping company
5. Must not be an excludable alien; and
6. Must not be in the DFA Blacklist

Payment for a Seaman's Visa: NOK 237

Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)

The Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) entitles the holder to reside in the Philippines for an indefinite period as long as the required qualifications and investments are maintained.

Who can Apply for a SIRV?

Any alien, except for restricted nationals, at least twenty-one (21) years of age, who meets the qualifications and follows the implementing rules provided for in the issuance of an SIRV. The applicant's spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one (21) years of age may also be issued the same visa.

The applicant must not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, been afflicted with any loathsome, dangerous or contagious disease; has not been institutionalized for any mental disorder or disability; and is willing and able to invest the amount of at least USD75,000 in the Philippines.

What are the Privileges of having a SIRV?

The holder may reside in the Philippines for as long as his investment subsists and is entitled to import used household goods and personal effects tax and duty-free as an alien coming to settle in the Philippines for the first time.

Requirements for a SIRV

1. Duly-accomplished and notarized application form, with recent photographs;
2. Clearance from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), together with either a clearance from the central government agency of the applicant's country or place of residence, competent to give information about any criminal record that the applicant may have, duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy, or the Interpol Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) indicating that the applicant has not been convicted by final judgement of a crime involving moral turpitude. The NICA shall issue an initial clearance within three (3) working days from receipt of the BOI endorsement, and a more thorough verification to cover the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police should be made within three(3) months after the grant of the probationary visa. Any derogatory record may be the basis for revocation of the SIRV holder's visa. The expiration date of said clearances should not be earlier than six (6) months from date of filing of application;
3. Medical certificate issued by the Department of Health (DOH), any government hospital or health facility, or any licensed and accredited hospital, medical center, or laboratory or the equivalent in the applicant's home country, certifying that the applicant is physically and mentally fit. The expiration of the certification should not be earlier than six (6) months from date of filing of application;
4. Certification under oath from the duly-authorized officers of any accredited depository bank in the Philippines as to the amount of foreign exchange inwardly remitted by applicant, and its conversion to pesos through the said bank, in the prescribed form. Should the inward remittance be sent through non-accredited correspondent banks, the total amount of remitted money should be immediately transferred to the accredited banks. In all cases, inward remittances shall not be made earlier than one (1) year prior to the filing of the application;
5. Certified true copy of the certificate of peso time deposit with a maturity period of at least thirty (30) days. The original copy of the certificate of time deposit shall remain with the depository bank for safe-keeping;
6. Birth certificate/family registry/household registry duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate/Embassy located in the applicant's home country or the applicant's embassy in the Philippines;
7. If spouse and dependent children are included in the application, marriage contract duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate/Embassy located in the applicant's home country or by the applicant's Embassy in the Philippines;
8. Original passport of the applicant; and
9. Payment (3,160 NOK)

Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)

The Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) is issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Republic of the Philippines under the Retirement Program of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to foreigners and overseas Filipinos. It entitles the holder to multiple-entry privileges with the right to stay permanently/indefinitely in the Philippines.

Who may apply for SRRV?

1. Any foreign national, except those nationals of countries with which the Philippines does not have diplomatic relations and those nationals considered restricted by the Department of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); and
2. Overseas Filipinos who are immigrants or under a visa category allowing them legal stay abroad and have resided therein continuously for at least seven (7) years, prior to their application for enrolment in the Program and should not have stayed a maximum total of sixty (60) days in a year in the Philippines.
3. All foreign nationals below 50 and at least 35 years of age are required to deposit the amount of US75,000.00 dollars with any PRA short-listed bank. Those aged 50 and above are required to deposit the amount of US 50,000 dollars. Former Filipinos who are now holders of foreign passports are required to deposit US 1,500.00 dollars; the deposit amount of US50,000.00 shall be required from an applicant who is at least 35 years of age and belongs to any of the following:

• Retired military personnel of governments recognized by the Philippines; or
• Former members of foreign diplomatic corps who have served for at least three (3) years in their respective posts, or
• Retired officer and employees of international organizations such as the United Nations and its affiliate agencies, the World Health Organization, World Bank, International Labor Organization and other similar organizations.

What are the benefits with SSRV?

1. Permanent non-immigrant status with multiple-entry privileges through the Special Resident Retiree's Visa;
2. Exemption from customs duties and taxes for the importation of personal effects;
3. Exemption from Exit Clearance and Re-entry Permits;
4. Exemption from payment of travel tax provided the retiree has not stayed in the Philippines for more than one year from date of his last entry into the country;
5. Conversion of the requisite deposit into active investments, including purchase of condominium unit;
6. Interest on the foreign currency deposit is tax-free and payable to retiree in Philippine Pesos;
7. Foreign currency time deposit can be converted into Philippine Pesos deposit, but interest is subject to withholding tax;
8. Pension, annuities remitted to the Philippines are tax-free; and
9. Guaranteed repatriation of the requisites deposit including invested profits, capital gains and dividends accrued from investments, upon compliance with Bangko Sentral rules and regulations.

Requirements for SRRV

1. Completed Philippine Retirement Authority application form;
2. Valid passport;
3. DFA Medical Examination Form No. 11 accomplished by a licensed physician from the applicant's place of origin, including AIDS Test, duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate posted there or PRA Medical Certificate (RSSC Form No. 002) accomplished by a licensed physician in the Philippines;
4. Certification by PRA shortlisted bank of the requisite deposit amount of US$50,000.00 dollar or US 75,000.00 dollars, whichever is applicable;
5. Police Clearance, duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate, issued abroad or National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance, issued in the Philippines;
6. Photographs, 2.4 cms and 5 cms. six (6) pieces each;
7. If the spouse is joining the applicant, Marriage Certificate or Marriage Contract if the applicant's marriage was solemnized in the Philippines or Marriage Certificate duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate nearest the applicant's residence abroad if the marriage was contracted abroad (under PRA rules, should the resident retiree suffer an untimely demise, the surviving spouse who is a holder of SRRV has the option to become the principal retiree using the original principal dollar deposit as his/her qualifying deposit. If he/she chooses not to, the law on succession shall apply);
8. If dependent/s is/are joining the applicant, Birth Certificate/s of dependent/s born in the Philippines or Birth Certificate/s or Household Register duly authenticated by the Philippine/Consulate nearest the applicant's residence abroad; and
9. Payment (3,160 NOK)

Student Visa

The applicant for student visa, having means sufficient for education and support in the Philippines, must be at least eighteen (18) years old and seeks to enter the Philippines temporarily and solely for the purpose of taking up a course of study higher than high school at a university, seminary, academy, college or school, approved for foreign students by the Commissioner of Immigration

The student applicant must first communicate with the school concerned and comply with the school’s institutional requirements.

Said school shall forward the application package to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for approval. Once approved, the application package shall be endorsed by CHED to the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID), if approved, it will be forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The DFA will inform the Philippine Embassy for issuance of the student visa. The Philippine Embassy shall then notify the student accordingly.

Requirements for Student Visa

1. Personal appearance;
2. Two originals of duly accomplished application form;
3. Original passport valid not less than six months beyond intended period of stay in the Philippines;
4. Two (2) photographs;
5. Original and one (1) photocopy of birth certificate, verified and authenticated at the Philippine Embassy;
6. Original and one (1) photocopy of affidavit of support executed by parent/s or legal guardian to be authenticated in the Philippine Embassy;
7. Two (2) photocopies of parent/guardian’s passport data page;
8. Original and one (1) photocopy of transcript of records authenticated at the Philippine Embassy;
9. Original and one (1) photocopy of certificate of good moral character authenticated at the Philippine Embassy;
10. Original and one (1) photocopy of police certificate authenticated by the Philippine Embassy;
11. Original and one (1) photocopy of medical examination reports, including X-ray film contained in an envelope authenticated at the Philippine Embassy;
12. Duly accomplished Personal History Statement forms from the school concerned;
13. Original and one (1) photocopy of comprehensive list of student’s possible contact persons in the Philippines;
14. Diploma is required for student applicant who will pursue graduate studies (authenticated at the Philippine Embassy); and
15. Payment (1,975 NOK)

Visa for Foreign Nationals on Board Privately-Owned Yachts or Sailboats

A temporary visitor’s visa is required for foreign nationals who are traveling to the Philippines on board privately-owned yachts and sailboats. When applying the visa, the applicants will be required to provide the following particulars of the yacht/sailboat and its crewmembers:

1. Crewlist;
2. Nationality/Citizenship;
3. Passport details of the crew;
4. Vessel to be used for entry: type, name, registration, call sign, and other particulars;
5. Estimated date of entry into the Philippine territory;
6. Port/Area of entry (Philippine waters);
7. Estimated period of stay in the Philippines;
8. Character reference/shipping agent in the Philippines (if any); and
9. Purpose of visit

Visa for Returning Natural-Born Filipinos who were Naturalized as Citizens of Foreign Countries

A natural born citizen of the Philippines, who has been naturalized in foreign country, and is returning to the Philippines for permanent residence, including his spouse and minor children shall be considered a non-quota immigrant for purposes of entering the Philippines. [As amended by Republic Act No. 4376]

Below are the list of requirements and application form.