🇵🇭Philippines Visa for Samoa Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

9(a-3) Temporary Visitor's Visa – Medical Treatment

For foreign nationals seeking medical treatment or health care in the Philippines, including their escorts.

Sub-category of the 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa. Issued as Philippine e-Visa. Cannot be extended or converted locally. Escorts of medical patients are included under this category.

9(a-4) Temporary Visitor's Visa – Private Yachtsmen/Sailors

For foreign nationals making a temporary visit to the Philippines on board a private yacht or sailboat without any employment relationship in the Philippines.

Sub-category of the 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa. Covers private maritime visits only; no local employment permitted.

9(a-5) Temporary Visitor's Visa – Filmmaking

For foreign nationals visiting the Philippines for movie or documentary filming purposes as an independent activity.

Sub-category of the 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa. No local compensation permitted.

9(a-6) Temporary Visitor's Visa – Journalism

For foreign nationals visiting the Philippines for news and journalism purposes without local employment arrangements.

Sub-category of the 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa. No Philippine-sourced compensation permitted.

9(a-7) Temporary Visitor's Visa – Athletic and Performing Arts

For foreign nationals visiting the Philippines for athletic competitions or performing arts engagements without receiving Philippine compensation.

Sub-category of the 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa. Covers athletes, performers, and entertainers for temporary visits without local employment.

9(a-8) Temporary Visitor's Visa – Other Purposes

For foreign nationals visiting the Philippines temporarily for purposes not covered by other 9(a) sub-categories.

Catch-all sub-category of the 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa with appropriate supporting documentation required.

9(f) Student Visa

For foreign nationals aged 18 or older who will take up a course of study higher than high school at a Philippine university, seminary, or college.

Conversion fee: PHP 9,720 (approximately USD 170 as of 2014 rates) plus USD 50 for ACR I-Card. Extension fee: PHP 4,020 plus USD 50 for ACR I-Card. Applicant must be enrolled at a Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-accredited institution. Apply at BI Main Office or authorized regional immigration offices. Duration of stay tied to program enrollment.

9(g) Pre-arranged Employment Visa

For foreign nationals who have a pre-arranged employment offer in the Philippines and will engage in lawful occupation for wages, salary, or other compensation.

Two categories: Commercial (for regular company employment) and Non-Commercial (for missionary, social, or rehabilitation work). Validity options: 1, 2, or 3 years. Fees (as of 2014): PHP 10,130 principal (commercial, non-Top 1,000 corp, 1-year) plus USD 50 ACR I-Card fee. Top 1,000 Corporation and non-commercial rates vary. Employer must provide notarized certification of foreign and Filipino employee count. Process involves pre-screening, fee payment, hearing, biometric capture, and passport submission.

9(d) Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor Visa

For nationals of the USA, Japan, and Germany to carry on trade or commerce pursuant to an existing bilateral treaty or to develop and direct operations of a business enterprise in the Philippines.

Available only to nationals of USA, Japan, and Germany under existing treaties of commerce and navigation. Validity options: 1 year (PHP 9,620 principal) or 2 years (PHP 13,650 principal) plus ACR I-Card fee of USD 50/year. No minimum investment amount specified. Renewable. Dependents (spouse, children) may be included with separate fees.

9(e) Accredited Official of Foreign Government Visa

For accredited officials of foreign governments and international organizations on assignment to the Philippines.

Issued to diplomats, consular officers, and officials of accredited international organizations. Granted in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Specific fee structure and duration tied to assignment term.

Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)

A special non-immigrant visa for foreign retirees allowing indefinite stay in the Philippines as long as the required time deposit or investment is maintained.

Issued by Bureau of Immigration through the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). Multiple sub-types: SRRV Classic (age 50+, pensioner: USD 15,000 deposit; non-pensioner: USD 30,000; age 40-49: higher thresholds), SRRV Courtesy (age 50+, pensioner: USD 1,500; lower thresholds for former Filipinos). Minimum age: 40 years. Multiple-entry, indefinite stay while investment maintained. Holders may retain original citizenship. No documented path to Philippine citizenship through SRRV. Contact: Philippine Retirement Authority, +632 8848 1412.

Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)

For qualified foreign investors remitting funds to establish or participate in a business enterprise in the Philippines under Board of Investments priority areas.

Requires remittance of at least USD 75,000 into a Peso Time Deposit at Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) or Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). Funds must remain on deposit minimum 30 days, maximum 180 days. Investment must be made within 180 days of probationary visa issuance. Probationary SIRV valid 6 months; Indefinite SIRV valid indefinitely while investment maintained. Minimum age: 21 years. Apply at BOI One-Stop SIRV Center, 2nd Floor, BOI, #385 Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

For foreign nationals married to Filipino citizens or under specific bilateral arrangements, allowing temporary residence in the Philippines.

Primarily for foreign spouses of Filipino citizens from countries without reciprocity agreements, and Indian nationals under a special arrangement. Conversion fee: PHP 8,620 per person (general), PHP 37,060 for Indian nationals. Extension fee: PHP 13,100 per person. Indian nationals may receive 5-year validity extensions. ACR I-Card required at additional USD 50/year. Passport surrendered during processing.

Immigrant Visa by Marriage (13A)

For foreign nationals married to Filipino citizens to obtain permanent immigrant residence in the Philippines.

Grants permanent resident status to foreign spouses of Filipino citizens. Requires valid marriage to a Filipino citizen. Apply at Bureau of Immigration Main Office. Initial probationary period typically required before indefinite status granted.

Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) / Returning Resident (13E/13G)

For returning former residents and former natural-born Filipino citizens who wish to re-establish permanent residence in the Philippines.

13E: Returning Resident for those who previously held Philippine permanent residency. 13G: Returning former natural-born Filipino citizens who have been naturalized abroad. Apply at Bureau of Immigration.

Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG)

For qualified foreign nationals who will establish and operate a business enterprise in the Philippines that creates employment for at least 10 Filipino workers.

Requires applicant to employ at least 10 Filipinos in a lawful and sustainable enterprise. Fee: PHP 29,330 per person (principal, spouse, and each dependent child) plus USD 250 ACR I-Card fee. Fees last updated March 2014; verify current rates with BI. Apply at Bureau of Immigration Main Office. Process involves pre-screening, payment, hearing, biometric capture, and visa implementation.

Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)

For foreign nationals who work remotely via digital technologies exclusively for overseas clients or employers and wish to reside temporarily in the Philippines.

Authorized by Executive Order No. 86, s. 2025 (signed April 24, 2025). Allows stay up to 1 year, renewable for another year. Eligibility: age 18+, works remotely for overseas clients/employers, from countries offering reciprocal digital nomad visas to Filipinos, minimum income USD 24,000/year, valid health insurance, clean criminal record. Foreign-sourced income not subject to Philippine taxation. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) by Bureau of Immigration were pending as of mid-2025; check immigration.gov.ph for current status.

Special Visa Upon Arrival (SEVUA)

For endorsed foreign investors, athletes, conference delegates, World Bank/ADB officials, and other special categories requiring expedited visa processing on arrival.

Not nationality-based; requires prior endorsement from relevant Philippine government agency (BOI, PRA, PCCI) or event organizer. Single-entry typically grants 30 days. Multiple-entry SEVUA available for multinational executives at Commissioner's discretion. Must be arranged before arrival through the endorsing government agency.

47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa

For foreign nationals employed by or assigned to enterprises registered with government investment agencies (BOI, PEZA, CEZA, SBMA) or to regional/area headquarters, admitted for a temporary period under Section 47(a)(2) of the Philippine Immigration Act.

Granted under Section 47(a)(2) of Commonwealth Act No. 613 (Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended), with authority delegated to the Department of Justice. Employer/enterprise-sponsored and company-specific; valid for the term of the contract/appointment or one year, whichever is shorter, and renewable. Commonly used by BOI/PEZA/CEZA/SBMA-registered firms and regional headquarters (RHQ/ROHQ) as an alternative to the 9(g) visa.

Special Work Permit (SWP) – Commercial

For foreign nationals holding a 9(a) visa who will engage in short-term gainful employment or a commercial assignment in the Philippines not exceeding six months.

Issued by the Bureau of Immigration to 9(a) visa holders for short-term employment/assignments of 3-6 months; renewable once. Fee approximately PHP 6,440 (about USD 115) plus USD 50 for ACR I-Card if applicable. BI fee schedule last updated 2014; verify current rates. A separate Special Work Permit exists for artists and athletes.

Provisional Work Permit (PWP)

For foreign nationals awaiting approval of a 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa who wish to begin working legally while the application is pending.

Issued by the Bureau of Immigration during the pendency of a 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa application, allowing lawful work in the interim. Requires a valid Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from DOLE. Fee approximately PHP 4,040 (about USD 72); BI fee schedule last updated 2014, verify current rates.

Special Study Permit (SSP)

For foreign nationals who do not qualify for a 9(f) Student Visa (including minors and those taking short courses) but wish to study in the Philippines.

Issued by the Bureau of Immigration to foreign students ineligible for the 9(f) Student Visa (e.g., minors below 18, and short-course or non-degree students). Fee approximately PHP 5,240 (about USD 94) plus USD 50 for ACR I-Card; BI fee schedule last updated 2014, verify current rates.

Quota Immigrant Visa (13)

For qualified foreign nationals of countries that grant reciprocal immigration privileges to Filipinos who wish to become permanent residents of the Philippines under the annual quota.

Immigrant (permanent resident) visa limited to a maximum of 50 nationals of any one nationality per calendar year, available only to nationals of countries that extend reciprocal immigration privileges to Filipinos. Fee approximately PHP 18,830 (about USD 336) plus USD 50 ACR I-Card; BI fee schedule last updated 2014, verify current rates. Apply at BI Main Office.