Category: Immigration Rules & Regs

As I mentioned in previous articles respect is paramount in The Philippines. As a foreigner, if you disrespect the wrong person you could end up being declared a persona non grata (Latin: unwanted person) and blacklisted by the Bureau of Immigration. This means you are no longer welcome in The Philippines. The worst part of…

A common question I see in expat forums is ‘How long can I stay in the Philippines if I am married to a Filipina?’. Guys, just getting hitched to a Filipina doesn’t mean jack when it comes to immigration! I’ve seen overstayers try to get hitched to avoid deportation and they still end up on…

This page is all about Philippine Visas. It is my hope that I can answer as many of the most common queries as I can. So, without further ado let’s get this party started. Do I need a visa to travel to The Philippines? Residents of most countries do not require a visa to travel…

After spending 6 months here I decided that I wanted The Philippines to be my permanent home. Then I discovered that while it’s super easy to get here as a tourist obtaining permanent residency is easy/hard. There are a few ways to gain permanent residency in The Philippines.   Keep extending your tourist visa  Marry a…

Are you looking to stay in The Philippines permanently? There are many options available to foreign nationals including the Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG). The purpose of the visa is to create jobs for Filipinos. The fundamental requirement is that you hire at least 10 Filipinos in a meaningful capacity. SVEG Benefits This visa…

So you want to come to The Philippines? Good news! The English speaking enclave of Southeast Asia has one of the most lenient visa policies in the world for UK nationals. Most Brits come and stay here on a 9A Tourist Visa. All immigration matters are handled by the Bureau of Immigration which is a…

Sometimes expats come here and can’t handle the fact that they went from being a pauper or commoner to a rich celebrity with the touchdown of an airplane. Many of us realize after we’ve been cheated a few times that smiling friendly faces mean nothing. There are some hard headed fellows, though, that don’t get…

You’ve been living in The Philippines for a year and you’ve decided that the beautiful people, warm weather, and cheap cost of living overrules all of the downsides to living here and therefore want to stay! Great! The Philippines is one of the easiest countries for expats to immigrate into. It’s important to note that…