Is it easy to get a long-stay visa for the Philippines?

[ASEAN NOW News]

If you are a foreigner and would like to move to the Philippines, apart from checking out if the country and culture suits your lifestyle, you will also need to go through the procedure to see if you are a suitable candidate to get approval from immigration.

 

Citizens of 143 countries can quickly move to the Philippines for up to 30 days without a visa and extend the visa for up to 3-years.

 

If you have done all your research and can afford to buy or rent somewhere to stay, then you are ready to take the next step.

 

Firstly, you can apply for a Philippines Long-Stay Visa in one of two ways:

1.     At an Embassy or Consulate of the Philippines abroad; or.

2.     At the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines, in which case you must enter with a regular Tourist Visa and then convert it at the BI into the type of visa you need.

 

How can a foreigner get residency in the Philippines?

 

If you wish to settle in The Philippines and you are at least 35 years old, you may apply for a Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV).

 

The SRRV is granted by the Philippines Retirement Authority (PRA), and you may reside indefinitely in the Philippines with free entry and exit.

 

Can a US citizen live in the Philippines?

 

The maximum stay for a US citizen without a permanent residence visa is for 3-years.

 

However, US citizens have visa options to stay in the Philippines permanently.

 

Americans married to Filipinos can apply for a 13a, while US citizens over fifty can apply for the SRRV retirement visa.

 

There are also permanent Resident Visa for the following too:

 

1.     Amendment to Permanent Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage.

2.     Chinese National Married to Filipino Citizen.

3.   Filipino Veterans and Dependents –Filipino veterans of WW2 who acquired Americana citizenship; includes their spouses, single children who are American Citizens and residing abroad.

What happens if you overstay in Philippines?

 

You are considered to have overstayed if you have exceeded the maximum number of days your visa allows. In the worst-case scenario, offenders will be deported and never allowed back into the country again.

 

The standard fine is P500 per month overstayed.

 

How long can I stay in the Philippines without a visa?

 

No visa required for a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days. Traveller must hold valid ticket for return journey to country of origin or next country of destination and a passport valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the stay in the Philippines. No visa required for a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days.

 

Retirement Cost of Living in the Philippines

The Philippine government makes it quite easy to retire there with their Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV).

 

This visa allows multiple entries into the country which means you can travel as much as you'd like.

 

According to International Living https://internationalliving.com/countries/philippines/retire-in-the-philippines/

 

The cost of living is relatively low compared to other Asian countries.

 

country home 

 

Living in the country a couple can live comfortably on US$1,140 a month while this can double if you need to live in a big city.

 

Luckily researching before you go is a lot easier as most of the information is available online.

 

Naturally with the Covid pandemic and the Russian/Ukraine conflict immigration regulations can alter so the best bet is to check the Philippines' official websites before you start your application.

 

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