Formalities
Visas
Various rules and regulations have to be observed depending on the intended length of stay in the Philippines.
21 days
A valid passport is required of all travelers. Visas are not required of bona fide tourists for a stay of up to 21 days provided they possess air or ship tickets for their onward or return journey.
The privilege to be admitted to the Philippines without a visa for 21 days does not apply to those who intend to study, work or engage in business activities, to nationals of countries with which the Philippines maintains no diplomatic ties; to stateless persons; and to nationals of countries which do not extend reciprocal privileges to citizens of the Philippines.
Those tourists who have been admitted for 21 days without an entry visa, if leaving The Country within 21 days are exempt from payment of immigration fees. The stamp of admission in their passports is sufficient for departure clearance.
59 days
Visas for 59 days may be obtained from any Philippine embassy or consulate. Visitors who arrive without a visa and wish to stay longer than the authorized initial period of 21 days, may extend their visa to up to 59 days with the Commission on Immigration. The extension is called a visa waiver and costs 300 pesos plus a 10 peso research fee, as well as an annual report fee of 130 pesos if the stay extends from one calendar year to the next.
A 59 day visa obtained abroad is generally valid for six months, meaning one can enter The Country anytime during the six months after the date of issue of the visa, and can stay for 59 days, beginning with the day of entry. The visa can be for single or multiple entry.
In many cases the 59 day visa is without charge when issued abroad. Whether and how much it costs depends on The Country where the embassy is located and on the nationality of the applicant.
59 days to 6 months
Extension of the 59 day visa can be requested. Grants are always for an additional whole number of months. Several fees have to be paid for the extension. These are:
Those who paid for their 59 day stay are exempt.
Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) of 250 pesos; but those who already had an ACR issued in the same year just need a re-issue ACR, which costs only 150 pesos.
Alien Head Tax of 125 pesos; there is an exemption for children under 14 years of age who pay 50 pesos for this exemption
Extension Fee of 100 pesos per month
Legal Research Fees of 10 pesos each on Visa Fee, ACR and Head Tax.
Annual Report Fee of 130 pesos if the extension reaches from one calendar year to the next
If one stays longer than 59 days, a fee of 250 pesos is charged before departure for the Emigration Clearance Certificate. An additional 10 pesos has to be paid for legal research.
Longer than 6 Months
Those who stay longer than 6 months are classified as temporary visitors. Temporary visitors may stay in The Country for business, leisure or for reasons of health. Also classified as temporary visitors are sailors serving on vessels arriving at a port of the Philippines; accredited officials of a foreign government; students over 18 years of age with sufficient means of support who take up higher studies; those with prearranged employment.
Those staying longer than six months have to secure a Certificate of Temporary Visitor which costs 400 pesos. For every month of extension after six months, 100 pesos has to be paid.
Before leaving, payment of 250 pesos for an Emigration Clearance Certificate and 10 pesos research fee also are due. With a stay of over 6 months, one has to go through a lot of formalities before getting this Emigration Clearance Certificate. Five passport photos are required and fingerprints are taken.
Longer than 1 year
Aliens staying longer than one year have to pay Travel Tax when leaving The Country , just like any Philippine citizen who leaves. This tax is 1,620 pesos, and is generally paid together with the airline ticket.
Balikbayans
A Balikbayan (in English: Home-comer) is defined as a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of The Country for more than a year, a Philippine overseas worker, or a former Philippine citizen naturalized in another country, as well as his immediate family members.
While Philippine citizens are anyway not affected by immigration requirements, those balikbayans who hold other than Philippine passports receive some preferential treatment under immigration laws.
As was reported by the Manila Bulletin January 11, 1990, the then acting Commissioner Andrea Domingo issued new guidelines according to which non-Philippine balikbayans can stay in The Country for one year visa-free.
Continued
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/philippines/philippines_insight_formalities.htm
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