GENERAL INFORMATION ON VISA ISSUANCE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO WISH TO STUDY
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Foreign student is defined as those belonging or owing allegiance to a country other
than the Philippines and studying in any educational institution recognized or owned by
the government of the Philippines.
A bona fide foreign student should be at least eighteen years of age at the time of
enrollment, has sufficient means for his/her education and support and who seeks to
enter the Philippines for temporary stay with the purpose of taking up a course of study
higher than high school at a university, college or school authorized to accept foreign
students.
A prospective foreign student applicant for the tertiary or college level should be a high
school/secondary school graduate or its equivalent.
Only schools with programs accredited by agencies under the Federation of Accrediting
Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or with equivalent accreditation by the Commission
on Higher Education and by the Bureau of Immigration shall be authorized to accept
foreign students.
I. Procedures and requirements for student visa applications when applicant is still abroad:
1. Student applicant communicates with any Philippine School authorized to accept
foreign students and complies with the following required documents:
a) Five (5) copies of the Student's Personal History Statement (PHS) (copy
attached) from the accepting school duly signed by him, both English and
in his national alphabet accompanied by his personal seal if any,
containing among others, his left and right thumb prints a 2x2 inch
photograph on plain white background taken not more than six months
prior to submission;
b) Transcript of Records/Scholastic Records duly authenticated by the
Philippine Embassy/Consulate located in the student-applicant's
country of origin or place of legal residence;
c) A notarized Affidavit of Support including bank statements or notarized
grant for institutional scholars, to cover expenses for the student's
accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and other
incidental expenses; and
d) Photocopy of the student's passport showing date and place of birth and
birth certificate or its equivalent duly authenticated by the Philippine
Embassy.
2. The School will issue a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) upon compliance of the required
documents and subject to entrance requirements of the same.
 For those desiring to enroll in Medicine and Dentistry, their documents
shall be submitted to the Office of Student Services of the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) for evaluation and if found in order, a
Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) is issued.
3. School then submits the documents to the Department of Foreign Affairs, including
the certified true copy of the CEA of those enrolling in Medicine and Dentistry.
4. DFA endorses the documents to the Philippine Embassy for the issuance of the
corresponding visa.
5. The Philippine Embassy notifies the student-applicant with instruction that he appear in person before
the Consular Officer for interview and submission of required documents, as follows:
a) Original copy of the school's Notice of Acceptance (NOA) containing a clear impression
of the school's dry seal;
b) Original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by CHED if
enrolling in Medicine and Dentistry;
c) Police clearance issued by the national police authorities in the student's country of
origin or legal residence, duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate
having consular jurisdiction over the place; and
d) Medical Health Certificate issued by an authorized physician including but not limited to
standard-size chest X-ray, HIV, Hepatitis-B clearance. The consular Office shall not
assume the task of determining the scholastic fitness for the program applied for and
shall issue the student visa as soon as all the requirements are accomplished.
e) Upon arrival in the Philippines, the foreign student reports to the Student Desk of the
Bureau of Immigration for registration and to the accepting school for enrollment.
f) Accepting school shall assist foreign student in obtaining the Alien Certificate of
Registration (ACR) and the Certificate of Residence for Temporary Students (CRTS)
from the Bureau of Immigration.
II. Procedures and requirements for student visa applications when applicant is already in the
Philippines:
(from tourist visa (9a) changed to student visa( 9f))
An alien admitted into the Philippines under any visa category may apply at the Bureau of Immigration for
the change/conversion of his admission status to that of a student under Section 9(f) of the Philippine
Immigration Act of 1940 as amended pursuant to E.O. No. 285 subject to the following guidelines:
1. Documentary requirements- The student shall submit the documentary requirements stated hereunder
to the Student Desk of the Bureau of Immigration through the school's designated Liaison Officer who will
hand carry them under a letter cover typewritten on the school's official stationary signed by the school's
Registrar and stamped with the school's official dry seal:
a. Written endorsement from the school for the change/conversion of the admission status of the alien to
that of a student enclosing the following supporting documents:
1) Original copy of the school's Notice of Acceptance (NOA) containing a clear impression
of the school's dry seal;
2) Original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by CHED if
enrolling in Medicine and Dentistry;
3) Proof of adequate financial support to cover expenses for the student's accommodation
and subsistence, as well as school dues and other incidental expenses. (to be
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
notarized by a lawyer in your country of residence ) and to be authenticated by the
Philippine Embassy)
Scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate located
in the student's country of origin or place of legal residence.
Police clearance issued by the national police authorities in the student's country of
origin or legal residence, duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate
having consular jurisdiction over the place, for students who resided in the Philippines
for less than fifty-nine (59) days, students who resided in the Philippines for more than
59 days at the time of the application for change/conversion shall also be required to
submit a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation.
Quarantine Medical Examination by the National Quarantine Office.
Copy of the student's Personal History Statement signed by the student with a 2x2 inch
photograph recently taken.
Photocopy of the data page on the student's passport (i.e. photo, date and place of birth,
stamp of the latest arrival in the Philippines. The passport itself shall be presented to
the Bureau of Immigration for verification.
REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTENSION OF STAY AS STUDENT
The student's authorized period of stay should be consistent with the length of the
course study to which he has been accepted by a Philippine school. The initial period is
one year, then, is renewed by the Bureau of Immigration Student Desk every semester
and for cause maybe approved for one year, subject to the following conditions and
requirements:
1. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS- The student shall likewise submit the
documentary requirements stated hereunder to this Office through the school's
designated liaison officer who will hand carry them under a letter cover type written on
the school's official stationary signed by the school's Registrar and stamped with the
school's official dry seal:
a. Written endorsement from the school for the extension of the student visa of the
alien enclosing the following supporting documents:
1) Application form duly accomplished by the student.
2) Two (2) 2 x 2 photographs.
3) Xerox copy of the photo, data and stamp of the latest arrival pages of the
passport of the student
4) Transcript of Records signed by the Dean or Registrar with its seal (for 1st
extension only)
5) Grades for the previous semester both for the 1st and succeeding
extensions.
6) Xerox copy of the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR), Certificate of
Residence for Temporary
7) Students (CRTS) and 9(f) visa stamp on the passport (for 1st extension only)
8) Explanation by the student and confirmed by the school Registrar or Dean in
case the student took less than the required normal/regular full load per
semester as follows:
Undergraduate- at least 15 units
Graduate Student (M.A.) – at least 12 units
9) However, graduating students and those enrolled in the College of Medicine
may have less than the aforesaid number of units.
10) Explanation by the student in case of failures, incomplete dropped or
withdrawals of two (2) or more subjects equivalent to six (6) or more units
confirmed by the school Registrar or Dean of the school.
11) Notice of acceptance/registration card for the coming semester.
12) In cases of school transfer, course shifting or enrollment in a masters or
doctorate studies related to the student's bachelor degree, the approval of
the admitting school is required.
FOREIGN STUDENTS EXEMPTED FROM SECURING STUDENT VISA/SPECIAL
STUDY PERMIT- The Principals, spouses and unmarried dependent children below 21
years old (who are also holders of a valid same visa as a dependent of the principal) of
the following categories of aliens shall not be required to secure student visa and
special study permit:
1. A permanent foreign resident;
2. Aliens with valid working permits under Section 9(d), 9(g) and 47(a)(2) of
the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended;
3. Personnel of foreign diplomatic and consular missions residing in the
Philippines;
4. Personnel of duly accredited international organizations residing in the
Philippines;
5. Holders of Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) and Special Retirees
Resident Visa (SRRV); and
6. Foreign students coming to the Philippines with 47(a)(2) visas issued pursuant to
existing laws.
AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT
I, _______________________of legal age, ________, citizen of ___________________,
presently residing in_____________________with postal address at
__________________________________________after having been duly sworn to in
accordance with law, hereby depose and say:
1) That __________________________________is my
____________________________who is travelling to the Philippines to process
her/his enrolment in the Philippine university regarding her/his schooling;
2) That I am employed by _________________________________and in a financial
position to support her during her travel and stay in the Philippines;
3) That I hereto attach copy of my statement from my bank______________
4) That this affidavit is executed for the purpose of issuance of appropriate visa to
her/him.
Further affiant sayeth none.
_______________________
Affiant
SUB SCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this___day of the _______at the
_________________________________, South Africa exhibiting to me his
__________________issued on __________________at ______________
NOTARY PUBLIC/
Commissioner of Oaths
Sample Form
FA FORM NO. 11
FOREIGN SERVICE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Philippine Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa
MEDICAL EXAMINATION FOR VISA APPLICANTS
At the request of the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General, I certify that on the
________ day of __________________, 200__ at _____________________________ I
examined
(Name)
(Middle Name)
(Family Name)
________________(Age) _________________(Sex) and that under the Philippine
Immigration Regulations, the applicant should be classified as follows (check the
appropriate class);
A Person who had been insane, persons afflicted with epilepsy or loathsome or dangerous
contagious disease as: tuberculosis, venereal disease, trachoma, ringworm of scalp, nail or
beared, actinomycosis, favus blastomycosis mycetoma, leprosy, yaws, amebiasis,
leishmaniasis, filiarisis, schistosomiasis, parago nomiasis.
B. If not Class A: Persons having diseases or defects that will impair their ability to
earn a living as to make them likely to be a public charge,
C. Persons having diseases or defects that do not come under Class A or B.
D. Not physically or mentally defective or disease.
MEDICAL RECORD
1. Pertinent Health Information (History):
2. Significant findings on physical examination:
3. Laboratory examinations (ATTACH LABORATORY REPORTS):
A. Stool
B. Urine
C. C. Blood Khan
D. Other Examination Indicated
4. CHEST X-RAY REPORT
5. REMARKS
(NAME OF EXAMINER)
(HOSPITAL)
PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT
To be accomplished completely and submitted by the applicant foreign student in six (6)
original copies to the college or university that he/she is seeking admission to.
1.0 PERSONAL DATA
1.1 Name: __________________________________________________
(Last Name)
(First Name)
(Middle Name)
1.2 Name in Native Language Character: __________________________
1.3 For Married Applicants:
Woman, state Maiden Name: ____________________________
Man, state Name of Spouse: _____________________________
1.4 Address (permanent): ______________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Address (Philippines): ______________________________________
_________________________________________
1.5 Age: ____ 1.6 Date of Birth: __________ 1.7 Place of Birth: _______
1.8 Citizenship: ________________ 1.9 Religion: ___________________
2.0 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
2.1 Sex (M/F): ____ 2.2 Height (m): __________ 2.3 Weight (kg): _____
2.4 Eye colour: ________ 2.5 Hair colour: _______ 2.6 Complexion: ___
2.7 Build: _____________ 2.8 Other Distinguishing Features: _________
2.9 Physical Handicap or Disability (if any): ________________________
3.0 FAMILY DATA
3.1 Name of Father: __________________________________________
3.2 Name of Mother: __________________________________________
3.3 Address: ________________________________________________
3.4 Telephone/Contact Number (include country and area code): _______
4.0 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Name of School
Date (Year)
Attended
Course
Finished
4.1 Elementary
4.2 High School
4.3 College
4.4
Graduate
Post-
5.0 GENERAL QUALIFICATION
5.1
Language
Grade Proficiency (Oral or
Written)
5.2 Hobbies: _____________________ 5.3 Sports: _________________
6.0 COURSE APPLIED FOR: ________________________________________
Semester:
[ ] First
[ ] Second
School Year: _____________________
Trimester:
[ ] First
[ ] Second[
School Year: _____________________
]
Third
“I certify that the foregoing answers are true and correct to the best of my knowledge
and belief.”
Signed
at
___________________________________________
_________________.
Signature of Applicant
Signed
photograph
of applicant
to be affixed
here
Left Thumbprint
Right Thumbprint
on
(date)