GOVPH

Special Non-Immigrant
47(a)(2) Visa                                                                   

The following persons are eligible to apply for 47(a)(2) Visas:

Those employed as executives, supervisors, specialists, consultants, contractors or personal staff at enterprises registered with Export/Special Economic Processing Zones, Philippine Economic zone authority (PEZA), Board of Investments (BOI), or Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB);

Those employed in enterprises that have existing agreement/s with the government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries, for the completion of a project;

Exchange professors, scholars, trainees, participants, students, fellows and social workers under sponsorship of locally or internationally recognized educational, scientific, cultural, relief and charitable organizations, institutions, agencies or foundations, including representatives of non-recognized foreign governments to any of the aforementioned organizations, institutions, agencies or foundations;

Volunteers who are registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), including foreign personnel of international rescue/aid organizations providing assistance on occasion of natural disasters and major emergencies;

Dependents of foreign nationals covered under any of the foregoing categories;

Those who, upon application, were approved by the President or by the Department of Justice to be eligible to apply for 47(a)(2) visas.

Requirements:

Valid Passport (at least 6 months from date of departure from the US) – Original and two photocopies

Personal Appearance

Accomplished two (2) non-immigrant visa application Form No. 2-A

Four (4) colored photographs, 2”x2” against white plain background taken within last six months and signed on the front left side.

Confirmed Plane ticket (two photocopies and present original)

Proof of Financial Support, present original & two photocopies of one of the following:

Bank Statement

Letter from Employer

Income Tax Return of Previous Year

Letter of financial guarantee from sponsoring institution

Two photocopies of LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE from sponsoring institution or organization (present original) stating that the applicant is connected with such program which is approved by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs .

Medical Examination Form No. 11 duly accomplished in duplicate and signed by the doctor. Submit also the following laboratory tests taken no longer than six months until applicant’s actual arrival in the Philippines:

Urinalysis

Stool (Ova/parasites and occult blood)

Blood serology and chemistry – not required for 14 yrs. old and below

Chest X-ray film/CD and 2 copies of results – not required for three yrs. old and below

Original and one (1) photocopy of Police clearance taken not more than six (6) months prior to the date of filing of visa application.

Generally, no visa fee; however, for certain sponsoring institutions, payment of immigration fees will be necessary at the port of entry

Reminders:

With exception of PNVSCA volunteers, the 47(a)(2) visa shall be single-entry only.

Bearers of this visa have to report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) within seven (7) days from arrival for visa extension and determination of their authorized stay.

For more information, kindly visit the Department of Justice’s website at https://www.doj.gov.ph/visa_application.html

9(G) Pre-Arranged Employees

Foreign national proceeding to the Philippines to engage in any lawful occupation with compensation and has a bona fide employer-employee relationship such as payment of salary, selection process, and the power of dismissal are required to apply for 9(G) visa.

The spouse and unmarried minor children under twenty-one (21) years of age of a qualified 9(g) visa holder may also be issued 9(g) visas, if they will accompany or join the qualified applicant within a period of six (6) months from the date of the applicant’s admission into the Philippines as a non-immigrant.

Religious missionaries may also be issued visas under the 9(g) category.

Procedures in the Issuance of 9(g) Visa:

Step 1. The applicant’s employer or sponsor in the Philippines should file with the Bureau of Immigration a petition for the issuance of a 9(g) visa to the applicant.

Step 2. The Consulate General will only issue a 9(g) visa upon prior authorization from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila. Upon notice of interview, the applicant shall submit in person at the Philippine Consulate the requirements listed below.

Basic Requirements:

Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond authorized period of stay in the Philippines.

Non-immigrant visa application FA Form No. 2A to be accomplished in duplicate. Forms must be duly notarized.

Two (2) identical photos (2” x 2” inches) taken during the last six (6) months.

Medical Certification (DFA Form No. 11) duly accomplished by any physician whose signature must be notarized by a notary public. Must be submitted together with a life-size chest x-ray film or CD and laboratory reports (original and two copies). Medical report must be valid for at least six (6) months prior to date of filing of application.

Police Clearance Certificate duly notarized by a notary public and authenticated by the Consulate General. The certificate must be taken not more than six (6) months prior to date of filing of visa application.

Payment of fees

Additional Requirements for Spouse/Child of Principal:

Legal proof of relationship to principal, i.e. marriage certificate, birth certificate

Additional Requirements for Religious Missionaries only:

Proof that applicant is a bona fide member of a religious organization as certified by a duly authorized representative of the petitioning organization.

Police clearance from the country of origin or place of legal residence

Sponsorship / endorsement letter from religious organization in country of origin.

Guarantee letter from the inviting entity in the Philippines. (sample format of Inviting Entity Form)

Certificate of accreditation of sending religious organization

Proof of exemption from filing of annual income tax return.

Letter of the petitioning organization to the BI and to the Philippine Consulate General stating the following:

The applicant is a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit, religious organization in the Philippines;

Purpose is for carrying on a vocation of a minister (or as a religious worker) of that religious organization; and

The applicant shall be coming to the Philippines in order to work for the organization at the request of the organization in a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation

Note:

Processing and evaluation of visa application of foreign missionary filed at the Philippine Consulate General shall take at least one (1) month from the date of application. The Philippine Consulate General shall await authority and security clearance from the DFA before issuing the visa.

9(F) Student Visa                                                        

The applicant must be a student 18 years of age at the time of enrollment, has sufficient means for his education and support, and seeks to enter the Philippines temporarily solely for the purpose of taking up a course of study higher than high school at a university, academy, college or school in the Philippines accredited by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Procedures and Requirements in the Issuance of a Student Visa

Step 1 – Foreign student who is at least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment communicates directly with his choice of any Philippine Higher Education Institution (HEI) authorized to admit foreign students and complies with the school’s institutional requirements.

Step 2 – The HEI, satisfied with the student’s compliance with its requirements, issues a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) to the student. The HEI’s designated Liaison Officer submits the following requirements in two sets (one original and one photocopy) to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA):

Letter of Endorsement from the college/university registrar requesting issuance of student visa to the applicant, and addressed to: The Director, Visa Division, Office of Consular Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs.

Notice of Acceptance (NOA) from the college or university addressed to the student, containing a clear impression of the college/university’s official dry seal

Five (5) original copies of the 1998 revised Personal History Statement (PHS), duly accomplished and signed by the student in English and in their national alphabet, accompanied by personal seal, if any, and with original left and right thumb prints, signature and photo

Transcript of Records containing Apostille Certificate in the student’s country of origin or legal residence. 

Notarized Affidavit of Support with proof of adequate financial support stating the means to cover expenses, duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate in the student’s country of origin or legal residence. For scholars: Certificate of Scholarship from the Institution concerned.

Photocopy of passport data page (page containing student’s full name, date and place of birth, passport number and photo)

For students accepted in Dentistry or Medicine programs: Certified true copy of Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) from the Commission on Higher Education.

Step 3 – The DFA endorses the documents to the Philippine Consulate General (or embassy as the case may be) located in the student’s country of origin or residence for the issuance of the student visa. Request for issuance of the student Visa in places other than the student’s country of origin shall not be entertained.

Step 4 – The Philippine Consulate General notifies the student of the receipt of the documents and requests him to appear in person before a consular officer for interview and compliance with consular requirements. In addition to the documents transmitted to the post by the DFA, students must submit the following requirements to the Philippine Consulate in triplicate:

Duly accomplished Visa Application Form (FA Form No. 2-A)

Certified true copy of Personal History Statement

Certified true copy of Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and CEA where necessary (to be duly noted by Consular Officer)

Medical Certificate (FA Form No. 11), duly notarized, together with laboratory reports of urine (urinalysis), stool (ova/parasites and occult blood) and blood (routine), and chest x-ray film or CD.

Police Clearance issued by the national police authority in student’s country of origin or legal residence, duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate. The Police Clearance should be taken not more than six (6) months prior to date of filing of visa application.

Passport (minimum validity of 6 months)

Six (6) 2” x 2” photos, taken within the last 6 months.

Payment of Visa Fee, according to the schedule of fee (non-refundable), payable in cash or money order made payable to the “Philippine Consulate General, New York.” Personal checks and debit/credit cards are not accepted.

Step 5 – Upon arrival in the Philippines, the student shall report immediately to the accepting HEI which shall assist him to obtain the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Certificate of Residence for Temporary Students (CRTS) from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Step 6 – The DFA notifies the HEI, copy furnished CHED, BI, NICA and NBI, of the issuance of a student visa to the student as soon as it receives a report to this effect from the issuing post

A foreigner wishing to study in the Philippines may also lodge a student visa application if he/she is already in the Philippines. The application may be made at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila. A prospective student must ensure that all the required documents or scholastic records issued by foreign schools must contain an Apostille Certificate from the of the country where the school is located.

Spouses and unmarried dependent children below 21 years old of aliens who are permanent foreign residents, holders of valid working permits under Section 9(d), 9(g) and 47(a) (2) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, personnel of foreign diplomat and consular missions residing in the Philippines, personnel of duly accredited international organizations residing in the Philippines, holders of Special Investor;’s Resident Visa (SIRV) and Special Retiree’s Resident Visa (SRRV) and foreign students coming to the Philippines with 47 (a) (2) visas issued pursuant to existing laws, e.g. P.D. 2021 are exempted from securing student visa and Bureau of Immigration Special Study Permit.