Foreigners Coming to the Philippines as Volunteers from Foreign Volunteer Institutions
Pursuant to existing regulations, foreign nationals coming to the Philippines for a temporary visit to do volunteer work in the Philippines connection with their institution’s programs in partnership with a Philippine-based volunteer organization must be duly registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) — the government agency mandated to promote and coordinate volunteer programs and services in the Philippines.
The local partner organization in the Philippines must coordinate directly with the PNVSCA (http://www.pnvsca.gov.ph/). The PNVSCA will endorse the application of the foreign volunteer worker to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Philippine Embassy in Singapore will only issue a 47(a)(2) visa upon receipt of the appropriate authority from Manila, pursuant FSC 216-98.
Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV)
The Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) entitles the holder to reside in the Philippines for an indefinite period as long as the required qualifications and investments are maintained.
Interested parties can seek the assistance of the Philippine Trade and Investment Office in Singapore, or read the FAQs available on the website of the Philippine Board of Investments.
Special Retiree Resident Visa (SRRV)
The Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) is issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Republic of the Philippines under the Retirement Program of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). It entitles the holder to multiple-entry privileges with the right to stay permanently/indefinitely in the Philippines.
Interested parties can read more details from the website of the Philippine Retirement Authority.
Extension of Authorized Period of Stay in the Philippines
In case a temporary visitor visa holder’s stay in the Philippines will exceed the authorized period of stay, he/she must secure an extension of stay from the Bureau of Immigration and pay the corresponding immigration fees.
As of 10 June 2013, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) launched the Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) program. Tourists may now avail of visa extensions for a maximum of six months under a single transaction with the BI. The LSVVE allows temporary visitors to prolong their stay in the Philippines without the need to frequently visit the Bureau of Immigration to process their documents.
No LSVVE shall be issued to non-visa foreign nationals whose stay exceeds 36 months, and visa-required nationals whose stay exceeds 24 months. Conversion to other visa category is also allowed.
The implementation of the Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension program is limited to the BI Main Office in Intramuros, Manila until further notice.
Please request details on the procedure and fees from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration:
Telephone Numbers – (02) 8465-2400 / (02) 8524-3769
Website – immigration.gov.ph
Facebook – immigration.helpline.ph / officialbureauofimmigration
Twitter – immigrationPh
Instagram – immigPh
Email – immigPH@gmail.com
xinfo@immigration.gov.ph
binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph
immigration.helpline.ph@gmail.com
