Philippines Student Visa Guide

Who Needs a Philippines Student Visa?

Candidates who wish to pursue medical education in the Philippines will have to acquire a student visa before migrating to the country and starting their education. Currently, the valid student visa that international students need to acquire to study in the Philippines is (9f). Only those universities or colleges in the Philippines that are accredited by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) - Philippines can accept and enrol foreign students. Once the students have been enrolled, they can apply for the relevant student visa.

Prospective international students can enter the Philippines only if they have a valid student visa granted by the Philippines Embassy in India. It is highly recommended that the students receive their visa at the home country for a hassle-free process. The embassy also does not recommend students to enter the Philippines on a tourist visa and then apply for visa conversion into a student visa.

Know all the details about the Philippines Student Visa like the application process, rules and regulations, document requirements, etc. here.

Philippines Student Visa Rules And Regulations

Foreign students applying for a student visa in the Philippines must abide by the rules and regulations of the country. The Philippines Student Visa rules and regulations can also be found below:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply for the student visa.

• Students must have the sufficient funds to pursue education and support to stay in the Philippines.

• Students must have an offer letter to study at one of the higher educational institutions in the Philippines.

• Students must be an approved foreign student by the Commissioner of Immigration.

• Students must comply with the University’s School Institutional requirements.

• The institution in which a student is enrolled must send the application to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), for approval. 

• Once the student’s application is approved by CHED, it is endorsed by CHED to the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) and finally forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). 

• Finally, the DFA informs the Philippines Embassy of the student visa issuance. The notification about the approval of the student visa is sent to the student by the Philippines Embassy.

Requirements for the Philippines Student Visa

The requirements for the (9f) Student Visa in the Philippines is as follows:

• Personal appearance

• Student Visa Application Form

• Original Passport valid for at least six months

• Two passport-sized photographs

• Photocopy of Birth Certificate, verified by the Embassy of the Philippines

• Photocopy of affidavit of support by students parents/ guardians to be authenticated at the Embassy of the Philippines.

• Two photocopies of parent/guardian’s passport pages

• Original and photocopy of transcript authenticated at the Embassy of the Philippines

• Original and  photocopy of Character Certificate authenticated at the Embassy of the Philippines

• Original and  photocopy of police certificate authenticated at the Embassy of the Philippines

• Original and  photocopy of  medical examination reports including X-ray authenticated at the Embassy of the Philippines

• Personal History Statement forms from the School

• List of possible contacts of the student in the Philippines

• Diploma certificate for a student applying for graduate studies

• Payment receipt of Rs. 16,000 in Demand Draft payable to the Embassy of the Philippines.

Philippines Student Visa Application Process

Students aspiring to pursue higher education in the Philippines must follow the student visa application process, which can be found below.

• All Philippines Student Visa applicants will have to fill the visa application form legibly in English and submit it to be considered for approval. Applicants will have to make a personal appearance while applying for a student visa at the Embassy of the Philippines in their home country. In India, the Embassy of the Philippines is located in New Delhi, with Philippines consulates located in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

• Candidates will have to submit the original letter of acceptance issued by the school comprising a dry seal along with the visa application.

• Authenticated Regional Passport Police Clearance and payment for the same are also important to apply for a Philippines Student visa.

• For all medical and dental courses, applicants will have to show the Original Certificate of Eligibility for Admission issued by the Philippines Commission on Higher Education.

• Candidates will also be required to submit a passport-size photograph not older than 6 months (photographs must not be scanned), bank statements of the past six months along with the signature and stamp of the bank officer.

• Candidates will also pay the visa application fee as per the schedule. The visa-processing fee will have to be paid in the form of a demand draft issued by any bank in India that has a branch in New Delhi payable to the "Embassy of the Philippines". Cash payments are not accepted to attain the Philippines student visas.

• Applicants who are planning to pursue courses offered by universities in the Philippines must ensure that they have submitted the visa application and documents at least two weeks before the scheduled departure to the Philippines.

• Once the applicant has applied for the visa, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs processes the applicant’s form and documents. If everything is in order, the department grants the authority to issue a student visa to the Philippine Embassy.

Note: Foreign nationals below 18 years of age or those who are taking non-degree courses will not be issued student visas in the Philippines. Instead, they will be given a Special Study Permit (SSP) that is classified as a temporary visitor’s visa.

How to Get an Extension for the Philippines Student Visa

International students who are holders of an existing Student Visa and wish to continue, therein, person-person study in the Philippines must apply for an extension for a Philippines Student Visa.

The extension of the Student Visa can be applied at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Office, Philippines. To apply, the candidate must fill in the Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) for the student visa and the special study permit which can be downloaded from the official website of the Bureau of Immigration, Republic of Philippines.
 

List of Documents Required to Apply for Extension for the Philippines Student Visa

Here is the list of the documents needed while applying for an extension of the student visa in the Philippines:

• A joint letter request by the applicant and an authorized representative of the college to the Commissioner stating that the applicant qualifies for the extension of the visa.

• A duly accomplished CGAF for the Student Visa and Special Study Permit.

• A photocopy of the passport, visa implementation page and admission letter with a valid authorized stay in the Philippines.

• A copy of the latest transcript, i.e. previous semesters certificate.

• A certificate of Transfer from the previous school.

• A CHED endorsement, in case of a transfer to another school.

• A photocopy of the BI school accreditation ID of the registrar or the school representative.

• BI Clearance Certificate

Philippines Student Visa Fees & Visa Processing Time For Indian Students

The following table shows the cost of applying for a student visa extension in the Philippines:

Where to Apply for the Philippines Student Visa In India?

Students in India, aspiring to begin their courses in the Philippines, can apply for the Philippines Student Visa in their home country in two ways:

• In-person
• Through a Travel Agency or Consultancy

In-person: Indian students who wish to apply for the Philippines Student Visa in India can apply in- person by visiting the authorities present at the consular section of the Philippines Embassy in New Delhi or the Philippines Consulates located in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

The authorities will guide the student through the entire visa process as well as the procedures that need to be followed to complete the Philippines Student Visa application process.

Travel Agency / Consultancy: The Philippines student visa can also be applied through a trustable Agency or Consultancy. For this, students must download the visa application form, fill it and provide the required documents to the concerned person of an agency or consultancy and pay the fees.

The application is then forwarded by the agency or consultancy to the Philippine Embassy located in New Delhi.