Studying in the Philippines is a unique and rewarding experience for international students in many ways; the cultural heritage, quality education, higher number of English-taught degree programs, and outstanding landscapes are only a few of the reasons why many international students choose to study a degree program in The Philippines, and furthermore, many universities encourage overseas students to enroll in a variety of available degree programs with low tuition fees and scholarship options.
Let’s say you have made your decision and been accepted into a degree program in the country. The next step is to find out how to get a student visa in the Philippines. In this article, you will learn about the most important steps to apply for a study permit in the Philippines; read more and be ready to take notes!
What Documents Do You Need When Applying for a Student Visa?
It’s of great importance to bring all materials required for the student visa application; the absence of any necessary materials will cause incomplete or rejected applications. Therefore, the first thing you should do is to have a checklist of the mandatory items and start preparing them as soon as possible. The types of documents can vary depending on the nationality of the applicant, as well, so it’s best to advise the embassy of the Philippines in your home country of the items you are to bring with you for your student visa application.
General documentation requirements for obtaining a student visa in the Philippines include a student visa (9F) application form, valid passport, Medical Health Certificate, original copy of the Notice of Acceptance (NOA) given by the Philippines university, original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA), police clearance, and so on.
Can International Students Work Part-time During their Studies in the Philippines?
Yes, international students holding a student visa are allowed to work in part-time jobs on the condition that they receive an official permit from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. However, it’s crucial to follow the working hour limit requirements, which is 20 hours per week, and make sure your part-time work doesn’t interfere with your studies, as your degree program must be your utmost priority.
There are a few job options for working part-time as an international student in the Philippines, such as customer service assistant, English language teacher, receptionist, translator, barista, and many more. The salary expectation varies heavily depending on the workload and job provider, so it’s best to negotiate the offer with managers in detail.
How Much is the Entry Visa Fee for a Philippine Student Visa?
According to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, visa fees include several service fees, and all applicants are required to pay the necessary fees to complete their visa application.
International students need to obtain a Philippines Student Visa (9F) and/or Temporary Visitor Visa (9A), depending on their method of getting a study permit in the Philippines. A temporary visitor visa costs PHP 3,030.00 (USD 53), and a student visa costs PHP 9,720.00 (USD 172) with all fees and taxes included.
Steps on Applying for a Philippine Student Visa
Below, we explain the necessary steps to take when applying for a Philippines student visa.
Step 1. Choose your application method
There are two ways to obtain a study permit in the Philippines: first, the Philippines-based university applies on behalf of the student for a Philippines Student Visa (9F), and second, the student obtains a Temporary Visitor Visa (9A) and converts it to a student visa once arriving in the country. Hence, the application procedures differ greatly for each option, and you should make sure about where to apply, what to bring, and how to apply.
Step 2. Provide your documents with your university in the Philippines (OPTION 1)
You can use this option to get your student visa before arriving in the Philippines. Provide your admitted university in the Philippines with the necessary documents, payment of the visa fee, and details about your home address. Once the university applies for the student visa on your behalf, with your information, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila will issue your student visa and submit it via the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in your country of residence.
Step 2. Prepare your documents and fill out the visa application form (OPTION 2)
You can use this option to get a temporary visitor visa first and then a student visa once you arrive in the Philippines. Required documents for the temporary visitor visa (9A) are as follows: a passport valid for at least six months, a visa application form, proof of bona fide status as a tourist or businessperson, and proof of confirmed tickets to the Philippines.
Step 3. Pay the visa application fee
Once you have prepared the documents and filled out the application form, you are required to pay for the fees of the visa type you applied for and submit a copy of the receipt.
For the temporary visitor visa, you’re required to attach a receipt for the visa application fee payment to the application form and submit all the documents to the receiving officer at the same time.
For the student visa, the receipt of the visa application fee should be submitted after the required documents are submitted for pre-screening to the Central Receiving Unit (CRU) or the immigration office.
Step 4. Track your application and claim your visa
For the temporary visitor visa, once you submit all the documents and complete your application, you are to claim your passport with the date and duration of your stay in the Philippines.
For the student visa, you need to check the website to track your application, and once your application is approved, you need to submit your passport for the implementation of the student visa.
At this stage, you can look for temporary or permanent accommodation for your stay in the Philippines by contacting your university in the country for on-campus accommodation options or by looking for rental apartments in the region.
The visa application process can be complicated as it includes several bureaucratic steps that need serious attention from the applicant. Our advice, therefore, is to make sure you’re aware of the visa application requirements and methods as early as possible before you actually start your application to have a smooth process.
We hope that this article on how to apply for a Philippines student visa was helpful. If you’re interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students and the Philippines Page to explore your study options.
