Philippines sits in South-Eastern Asia. Its immigration system runs 37 distinct routes — led by family, work and short stays and visits, each set out in official law. All 37 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
1 further route is recorded for Philippines but not shown here — its details are still under review.
All 37 routes, grouped by purpose — 37 of 37 cite an official government source directly.
PEZA facilitates special non-immigrant visas with multiple-entry privileges for eligible foreign nationals in PEZA-registered economic-zone enterprises.
Foreign nationals proceeding to the Philippines to engage in a lawful occupation for wages, salary or other compensation may convert to 9G commercial employment status.
A Provisional Work Permit is issued while an application for a pre-arranged employment visa is pending.
A foreign seafarer employed aboard a vessel arriving at a Philippine port may obtain 9C status solely to fulfil that duty or join the vessel.
A foreign national assigned by a foreign bank to work in its Philippine offshore banking unit may convert to this non-immigrant visa.
Foreign personnel or executives of regional or area headquarters and regional operating headquarters of multinational companies may convert to this special visa.
A foreign national engaging in gainful employment for three to six months may apply for a Special Work Permit.
The SIRV is a government programme for foreign nationals who remit and invest qualifying capital in eligible Philippine economic activities.
A qualifying non-immigrant foreigner who actually employs at least ten Filipinos in a lawful and sustainable enterprise may apply for SVEG.
Eligible US, Japanese or German nationals may carry on treaty trade or develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in the Philippines.
Foreign nationals who do not qualify for a Student Visa may use a Special Study Permit.
Foreign nationals aged at least eighteen taking a course above high-school level at a university, seminary or college may convert to Student Visa status.
A foreign national may convert to a probationary non-quota immigrant visa on the basis of a valid marriage to a Philippine citizen.
Conversion is available to a child born outside the Philippines during the temporary visit of the immigrant mother.
The Bureau of Immigration inventory identifies a route for a child born subsequent to issuance of the accompanying parent's immigrant visa.
Eligible Filipino World War II veterans who acquired US citizenship, their spouses, and unmarried children may obtain permanent resident status.
A Chinese national married to a Filipino citizen may convert to the probationary Permanent Resident Visa under MCL-07-021.
A foreign national with an existing one-year probationary non-quota immigrant visa may apply to amend it to permanent resident status.
An Indian national married to a Philippine citizen, and their children, may convert to a one-year Temporary Resident Visa.
A foreign national whose country does not have an immigration reciprocity agreement with the Philippines may convert to a Temporary Resident Visa by marriage.
The SRRV is a special non-immigrant visa for qualifying foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to live and retire long-term in the Philippines.
Nationals of reciprocal countries with Philippine diplomatic relations may convert to quota immigrant status, subject to the annual nationality quota.
The route is for a person previously granted Philippine permanent residence who returns to an unrelinquished residence after a temporary visit abroad.
Foreign nationals engaged in missionary, social, rehabilitation or similar non-commercial activity may convert to 9G non-commercial status.
A foreign national whose stay will exceed fifty-nine days must secure extensions of stay from the Bureau of Immigration.
Non-visa-required tourists initially admitted for thirty days may request an initial extension of twenty-nine days.
The Bureau of Immigration lists Temporary Visitor Visa (9A) as a non-immigrant visa.
Nationals of the listed countries travelling for business or tourism may enter without a visa for a stay not exceeding thirty days.
Nationals of Israel and Brazil are visa-free for a period of stay not exceeding fifty-nine days under bilateral agreements.
The Department of Justice Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit leads the national refugee and stateless status determination procedure.
For an overseas Filipino or former Filipino citizen, and for a foreign spouse or unmarried child travelling together with them.
For a former natural-born Filipino citizen who has become a naturalised citizen of a foreign country and intends to return to the Philippines permanently.
Temporary visitors engaging as athletes, artists, entertainers or performers for less than six months may apply for this Special Work Permit.
A foreign traveller using the Philippines as a transit point en route to another final destination may apply for a 9B transit visa.
An accredited official of a foreign government recognised by the Philippine Government, and specified accompanying persons, may upgrade to 9E status.
Section 47(a)(2) provides special non-immigrant status for qualifying sponsored foreign executives, specialists, consultants, programme participants, scholars, volunteers and related categories.
SEVUA is available to specified endorsed investors, business people, athletes, conference participants, officials and other listed special visitors.
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