Philippines - Obtain an Immigrant Visa

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Procedure

Apply Online

1. To obtain an Immigrant Visa, the applicant has to make the application online via the following link
2. The applicant has to select the country of citizenship and click the “Submit” button.
3. Check the required documents that need to upload and click the “Apply for Individual visa”
4. Select the type of application and click the “Next” button.
5. Select the types of visas, country, embassy and enter the email address and then click the “Next” button.
6. Now, the applicant has to enter the registration details in the application form.
7. Followed by the applicant has to all the necessary documents which are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
8. The applicant has to click the “Next” button.
9. Pay the required amount of fee in online and click the “Successful” button.
10. Once completed, the applicant has to click the “Submit” button.
11. The concerned authority will check the submitted application and document set. If all are in place, the application will be accepted.
12. Once the process gets completed, the applicant gets a call from the office regarding the application.
13. The applicant will get the visa through the post.
14. This entire process can be completed within 30 days or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

Apply In Person

1. To obtain an Immigrant Visa, the applicant has to approach the department of foreign affairs embassies consulates link

   Note: The applicant has to select the country from the drop-down menu.

2. An application form will be provided to the applicant by the concerned officer.
3. The applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the application form. (Incomplete applications are not accepted)
4. Make sure that the applicant has attached all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
5. The applicant has to attach photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting it.
6. Submit all the documents with the completed form to the concerned officer.
7. The fee for this procedure is mentioned in the “Fees” section of this page.
8. After receiving the application, the concerned authority will check the submitted application and document set. If all are in place, the application will be accepted.
9. An acknowledgment receipt will be provided. Please save it for future reference.
10. Then the application will be processed further. All the updates on the application status will be sent via SMS to the applicant’s mobile number.
11. Once the process gets completed, the applicant gets a visa through the post.
12. This entire process can be completed within 30 days or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

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Required Documents

• letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the applicant stating that he/she: is in possession of a valid passport (or equivalent document) with a valid visa at the time of filing the application; Completed form CGAF (BI Form CGAF-001-Rev 2)
• Photocopy of passport bio-page and latest admission that indicates valid authorized stay.
• Proof of applicant’s special qualifications such as academic degrees, awards, certificates of recognition, and other documents attesting to the applicant special qualifications, skills or knowledge, or proof of financial capacity or investment
• Valid National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance, if application is filed six (6) months or more from the date of first arrival in the Philippines.
• Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate.
• Proof of filiation with the applicant.
• Stamp issued by the Bureau of Quarantine appearing in applicant’s passport or travel document, if required, and a certification from a government health institution that the applicant is physically and mentally fit.
• Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate.
• Official birth certificate or baptismal certificate
• Police Clearance
• Documentary proofs of his/her former Philippine citizenship and his present foreign citizenship for returning natural-born Filipinos who were naturalized as citizens of foreign countries.

Office Locations & Contacts

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Address:
2330 Roxas Boulevard,
Pasay City, Philippines
Telephone: (632) 8 834-4000, (632) 8 834-3000
Contact details link
Embassies and consulates link

Note: The applicant has to select the country from the drop-down menu.

BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION
Main Office
Magallanes Dr, Intramuros,
Manila, 1002 Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel (011-63-2)8524-3769.
Fax No. (632) 338-4538
Website link

CEBU
BI Regional Office
P Burgos Street, Tribunal, Mandaue City, Cebue.
Tel (011-63-32)345-6442/6443/6444.

DAVAO
BI Regional Office – Davao. BI Building, JP Laurel Ave., Bajada, Davao City,
Tel (011-63-82)300-7258.
Contact details link
Bureau of Immigration Other Offices link

Eligibility

• Any foreign nationals who intend to live permanently in the Philippines are eligible to make this application..

Fees

• The fee for this procedure has to be paid as per the authority’s request. Fee may vary for countries and it will be determined by the visa officers.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• This entire process can be completed within 30 days or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• Applicants must complete the application form before submitting it. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants must provide genuine information while applying for this procedure.
• Applying for a Philippine visa will require that the applicant’s passport be valid for six (6) months beyond the applicant’s date of departure from the Philippines.
• The Philippine Embassies/Consulates will only accept electronic passports and machine-readable passports for visa applications.
• Non-machine-readable passports or hand-scripted passports will not be accepted for visa applications. The Visa Officer has the right to ask for any additional documents that may be deemed necessary.

Required Information

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Gender
• Civil status
• Citizenship
• Marital status
• Telephone/mobile number
• Signature
• Detail of parents

Need for the Document

• Foreign nationals who wish to settle in the Philippines may consider applying for an immigrant visa. These types of visa are granted to non-citizens whose country grants permanent residence and immigration privileges to Filipinos.

Information which might help

Classification of admission category of immigrant

• Economic immigrant.
• Immigrant sponsored by family.
• Refugee.
• Other immigrant.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Place some external links which might help.

Others

Please note that the visa issued is not a guarantee that the holder will be automatically admitted to the country. The admission of foreign nationals into the Philippines is a function of the immigration authorities at the Post of entry. Philippine immigration authorities will not allow entry into Philippine airports and seaports the following foreign nationals:

• Those holding non-machine-readable passports (e.g. hand scripted passports); or
• Those previously deported from the Philippines or included in the “blacklist order” of the Department of Foreign Affairs or Bureau of Immigration; or
• Those with incomplete documentation; or
• Those with circumstances that would render them inadmissible for entry, even with a valid passport and visa issued by a Philippine Consulate.