How to Become a Permanent Resident in the Philippines through Marriage

The 13(a) visa gives the foreign spouse of a Filipino citizen permanent residency, with no expiry plus the right to work and own a home. Here is who qualifies, the documents you need, the step-by-step process, and the modest fees.

It isn’t hard to see why so many people want to make the Philippines their home. It’s affordable, it has a warm climate, and it’s home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.

Foreigners who want to live here legally have a few options. Many stay on a tourist visa, but those come with limitations, and renewing every two months is inconvenient. Another route is the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV), which requires a significant financial commitment.

Then there is the permanent resident visa, which lets you live in the Philippines for as long as you wish. This guide covers what it is, who can get one, the pros and cons, the documents you need, and exactly how to apply.

What Is a Permanent Resident Visa?

Permanent Resident Visas (PRV) are issued by the Bureau of Immigration. Holders are legally permitted to live in the Philippines for as long as they wish and enjoy privileges that tourist and other visa types don’t offer. Applicants must meet certain conditions to qualify, which we cover in the Requirements section below.

Advantages of a Permanent Resident Visa

A permanent resident visa comes with a range of benefits:

• No more regular trips to the immigration office to renew your tourist visa.
• The visa never expires and doesn’t need to be renewed.
• You only renew your ACR I-Card every five years.
• No requirement to buy a return ticket when entering the Philippines.
• It’s easier to secure bank loans, get insurance, and put utilities in your name.
• You can stay in the Philippines as long as you want, with unlimited entry and exit.
• You can work in the Philippines without a work visa.
• You can own a house or a condo unit, but not the land itself. The 1987 Constitution bars foreign nationals, including 13(a) permanent residents, from owning land outright.

Limitations of a Permanent Resident Visa

A PRV also comes with a few restrictions:

• PRV holders cannot vote or hold public office.
• Some professions, including medicine and law, require Filipino citizenship or a special license.
• A PRV can be revoked if the holder breaks the law.
• PRV holders cannot access certain government services, such as social welfare programs.

Types of Permanent Resident Visa

The Philippines has two broad categories of permanent resident visa: quota and non-quota.

Quota Visa

A quota visa grants permanent residency to foreigners who possess exceptional skills or are willing to invest a substantial amount of money. What counts as an exceptional skill or a substantial investment is left to the discretion of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, so it varies from case to case. Think along the lines of something that contributes to the national economy or is of national interest.

The catch is that only 50 quota visas are issued per nationality each year, which makes them hard to obtain for most applicants.

Non-Quota Visa

The Bureau of Immigration sets no limit on the number of non-quota visas it issues, and they don’t require a large financial commitment. You simply need to meet the requirements. There are seven kinds of non-quota permanent residency visa:

• 13(a): A spouse or dependent child of a Filipino citizen
• 13(b): Children of a Filipino citizen or permanent resident who are born on a temporary trip abroad
• 13(c): Children of permanent residents who are born after permanent residency is granted
• 13(d): Filipino women who gave up Filipino citizenship due to marriage to a foreign spouse in a foreign country
• 13(e): Permanent residents who return to the Philippines following a temporary visit abroad
• 13(f): Spouses and dependent children (under 21) of an alien who entered the Philippines prior to being approved for a PRV
• 13(g): Filipinos who naturalized in a foreign country and wish to return to the Philippines permanently

The rest of this guide focuses on the 13(a) Permanent Resident Visa, since it is by far the most commonly issued type.

Requirements

To qualify for a 13(a) permanent resident visa, you need to meet the following requirements. The exact conditions can vary slightly depending on the visa type, but these apply in almost all cases.

Be a Citizen of an Eligible Country

Philippine permanent resident visas are only offered to citizens of the 82 countries that also offer permanent residency to Filipinos. These countries are:

Algeria	El Salvador	Lithuania	Saudi Arabia
Argentina	Estonia	Luxembourg	Senegal
Australia	Fiji	Macau	Serbia
Austria	Finland	Malaysia	Singapore
Belgium	France	Malta	Slovak Republic
Belize	Gabon	Marshall Islands	Slovenia
Bolivia	Germany	Mexico	South Africa
Botswana	Greece	Micronesia	Spain
Bosnia & Herzegovina	Guatemala	Monaco	Suriname
Brazil	Honduras	Montenegro	Sweden
Canada	Hong Kong	New Zealand	Switzerland
Cape Verde	Iceland	Nicaragua	Thailand
Chile	Indonesia	Nigeria	Netherlands
Colombia	Iraq	Northern Mariana Island	Trinidad & Tobago
Costa Rica	Ireland	Norway	Tunisia
Croatia	Israel	Oman	Turkey
Cuba	Italy	Papua New Guinea	United Kingdom
Czech Republic	Japan	Paraguay	Uruguay
Denmark	Latvia	Peru	United States
Ecuador	Lesotho	Russia	Venezuela
Egypt	Libya

If you aren’t a citizen of one of these countries, you aren’t eligible for a Permanent Residency Visa. You can instead apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), which has very few practical differences, covered later in this guide.

Be Married to a Filipino Citizen

The Bureau of Immigration does not set a minimum length of marriage before you can apply, so you may apply as soon as you get married. That said, couples are advised to be married for at least a year before applying, as this is generally seen as a reasonable period to establish a genuine relationship.

If you and your spouse married abroad, the marriage certificate the Bureau of Immigration wants isn’t the one your local registrar gave you. Philippine law requires the Filipino spouse (or the couple together) to file a Report of Marriage with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over where the wedding took place. The embassy forwards that report to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and PSA issues a Philippine Marriage Certificate once it’s on record. That PSA-issued certificate, not the foreign one, is what you submit with your 13(a) application.

File the Report of Marriage within a year of the wedding if you can. Wait longer and you’ll also need an Affidavit of Delayed Registration explaining the gap, which is one more document and one more thing that can slow your application down. It’s best to handle this early, well before you apply for the visa itself. In short:

• File the Report of Marriage at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your wedding location.
• Wait for the embassy to forward the report to the PSA.
• Order the PSA-issued Philippine Marriage Certificate. This is the document that goes in your 13(a) application.

Hold a Valid NBI Clearance

An NBI clearance is an official document issued by the National Bureau of Investigation. It verifies your identity and certifies that you have undergone a criminal background check.

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To get one, you submit an application form and undergo biometric data capture. You can fill out the form online on the NBI’s website or at a designated NBI clearance center.

Be Free of Any Dangerous Disease

Applicants must obtain a medical certificate from the Bureau of Quarantine to prove they are not afflicted with any “loathsome, contagious, or dangerous disease.” The Bureau of Quarantine website doesn’t publish a complete list, but such diseases range from temporary illnesses like chickenpox and dengue to more permanent conditions like HIV and leprosy.

Show Financial Capability

You don’t have to be wealthy, but you do have to prove you can support yourself. There is no minimum threshold; the amount is left to the discretion of the Bureau of Immigration. The best ways to prove financial capability include:

• Bank statement: One of the most common forms of proof. It should show your average balance over the last six months or more, along with any major transactions such as large deposits or withdrawals.
• Employment contract or business permit: Proof of a stable source of income in the Philippines.
• Investment or property documents: Property titles, land ownership certificates, or investment certificates showing you have invested in the Philippines.
• Income tax return: A copy of your most recent return demonstrates financial stability.
• Affidavit of Support: A legal document signed by a Filipino citizen or permanent resident who agrees to support you financially during your stay.

Prove You Entered the Philippines Legally

You need to show that you entered and remained in the Philippines legally. This simply means providing your passport, or a copy of it, to show when you last entered the country and that your visa is up to date.

If you have never been to the Philippines, you can still apply for a PRV as long as you meet all the other criteria. In that case, you apply at the Philippine Consulate or Embassy in your home country.

Required Documents

Whether you apply in the Philippines or at a Philippine Consulate or Embassy abroad, you’ll be asked to provide the following documents:

• Original marriage certificate plus a copy (the PSA-issued certificate if you married abroad)
• Applicant’s original birth certificate plus one copy
• Filipino spouse’s original birth certificate plus one copy
• Passport with current visa
• 2 copies of the applicant’s passport
• 2 copies of the Filipino spouse’s passport
• Valid NBI clearance
• 4 cm x 4 cm colored photo with a white background
• Bank statements and any other documentation to prove financial capability

Depending on your nationality, you may have to submit additional documents. Gathering everything can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re missing one or more items, so start collecting your paperwork as early as possible, even if you’re only considering applying.

Application Steps

Assuming you are legally married to a Filipino spouse and have all the documents listed above, you can begin the application. The 13(a) process runs in two phases: first you’re issued a probationary visa valid for one year, then you apply to convert it into a full PRV. You can get the application form online or at your nearest Bureau of Immigration office.

Step 1: Complete the Checklist

Start on the Bureau of Immigration’s website and select the visa you want to apply for, in this case the 13(a) visa. You’ll find a checklist of everything you need to provide, the same items listed in the Required Documents section above. You can’t submit the application if any document is missing.

Step 2: Fill Out the Application Form

Once you have every item on the checklist, open the “Application” link to bring up the Consolidated General Application Form. You’ll be asked to provide several details, including:

• Personal details and contact information
• Passport and current visa information
• Residential address in the Philippines
• Spousal information
• Children’s information (if applicable)
• Alien Certificate of Registration Identity (ACR I-Card) details
• Character reference: someone who knows you well and can attest to your character. This can be:
  • A current or former employer familiar with your character and habits
  • A professional colleague or business associate who has worked with you
  • A community leader or religious figure who knows you and can speak to your integrity
  • A personal friend or family member who has witnessed your behavior firsthand

The person providing the character reference must be reputable and willing to speak honestly. If you have children, use the “Additional Information on Applicant’s Children” form, which asks only for the full name and birth date of each eligible child.

Step 3: Submit the Application and Pay the Fees

Once all your forms are complete, submit them in person at the Bureau of Immigration’s main office in Manila, or to a frontline worker at another BI office that provides this service. You’ll then pay the fees:

• Applicant: ₱8,620 (around US$145)
• Spouse: ₱8,620 (around US$145)
• ACR I-Card: US$50

These fees must be paid in cash. Credit cards, personal checks, and other payment methods are not accepted. Don’t leave the office without your Order of Payment Slip and Official Receipt. The receipt tells you where to go for your initial hearing and biometrics capture for your ACR I-Card.

If you apply in the Philippines, you don’t need to attend an in-person interview. If you apply at a Philippine Consulate or Embassy abroad, you and your spouse will both be required to attend one.

Step 4: Wait for Approval

Approval can take as little as a few weeks, but you should plan for at least one to two months. You can check the status on the Bureau of Immigration’s website. Visiting the immigration office for updates is possible but usually inconvenient.

Step 5: Activate Your Probationary Visa

Once approved, head to the immigration office to activate your probationary visa. Bring your passport, and it’s a good idea to bring all your paperwork as well, just in case. The staff will issue the probationary visa, and you’re good to go.

Step 6: Convert the Probationary Visa to a 13(a) PRV

The probationary visa is valid for one year. Provided you are still married to your Filipino spouse and have remained law-abiding, you can then convert it to a 13(a) Permanent Resident Visa. Be aware that you’ll pay the same fees as you did for the probationary visa.

The process is the same as the initial application. Bring your passport and all the documentation you provided the first time to the immigration office, then submit your passport, application, and supporting documents to have your visa amended. Don’t leave without a receipt, and monitor the processing status on the BI website. Once approved, return to the immigration office to activate your new 13(a) visa. You’re now a fully legal permanent resident of the Philippines.

How to Skip the Probationary Period

You can skip the probationary period entirely. Doing so speeds up the process and saves money, since you pay the application fees once instead of twice. The catch is that you and your Filipino spouse must apply in person at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your home country. The process is the same as above, except you go straight to the permanent visa phase.

Cost of Obtaining a Permanent Resident Visa

Permanent resident visas in the Philippines are relatively cheap, even after paying fees for both the probationary and permanent stages. The principal applicant pays ₱8,620 (around US$145) for the probationary permit, and the same for a dependent spouse and roughly the same for each dependent child.

If you’re the only one applying, you’re looking at about ₱17,240 (around US$290) in application fees to cover both the probationary and permanent visas. There are a few other costs too: the US$50 fee for the ACR I-Card and a small NBI clearance fee of about ₱155 (around US$2.60). You may also face minor fees if you don’t already have documents such as your original birth or marriage certificate.

Dependent children add to the total, at roughly ₱20,000 (around US$335) per child. So the cost of getting your 13(a) Permanent Resident Visa starts at around ₱20,000 (around US$335) and rises from there. Remember that you can cut the application fees in half by applying at the Philippine Embassy in your home country, which eliminates the probationary period and its fees.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Permanent Resident Visa?

In most cases, it takes one to two months for the Bureau of Immigration to process your PRV. It can take longer if you need to track down replacement documents, since you can’t submit the application while anything is missing.

In practice, recent applicants report the probationary 13(a) more often takes two to three months, with the interview focused on proving the marriage is genuine and that you can support yourself. Timelines vary a lot by BI office workload.

Documents from some countries may need translation. Several Filipino companies, including Lexcode and Orange Translations, provide this service. It’s best to ask staff at the BI office which translation provider they prefer.

Can I Do It Myself?

The process may look daunting on the surface, but it’s manageable on your own. You can hire a lawyer or representative if you prefer, but it isn’t necessary. Start with the checklist on the BI website to make sure you have the required information and documentation, and if something is missing, find it or an acceptable replacement.

Once you have everything, fill out and submit the application along with the fees, then wait for approval. Repeat the process a year later when you convert your probationary visa to a permanent one. You can always ask staff at the immigration office or check the BI website if you have questions.

What Happens If My Application Is Rejected?

The overwhelming majority of properly filed 13(a) applications are approved, but the occasional one is rejected. If the reason is something simple, such as being filed incorrectly or containing incorrect information, it should be easy to fix.

More serious issues include a medical condition, an inability to prove you can support your spouse or family, no longer being together as a couple, or a run-in with the authorities.

If you’re denied over something simple and fixable, you can correct it yourself or with a knowledgeable representative. For more serious problems, it’s worth seeking professional advice. Fortunately, lawyer fees in the Philippines are very affordable.

Keeping Your PRV Active

Maintaining a permanent resident visa is far easier and cheaper than maintaining a tourist visa. Tourists renew every two months, but permanent residents never renew their visa. You only complete an online annual report on the BI website once a year, and you renew your ACR I-Card once every five years instead of annually.

The key to keeping your PRV active is staying married, remaining law-abiding, and meeting all of the BI’s requirements, such as renewing your ACR I-Card every five years.

What Happens to Your 13(a) Visa If You Divorce or Your Spouse Dies

The 13(a) visa exists because of your marriage, so the Bureau of Immigration treats the end of that marriage as a reason to cancel it. Under BI’s own guidelines (Immigration Memorandum Circular No. SBM-2014-009), a declaration of nullity, an annulment, a legal separation, or even living apart from your spouse can trigger revocation of your 13(a) or Temporary Resident Visa status.

There’s one notable exception. If your Filipino spouse passes away and you have a surviving child from the marriage, the visa isn’t automatically pulled. You (in your own capacity) or your child can petition to keep or adjust your immigrant status.

A foreign divorce works the same way once a Philippine court recognizes it. The Philippines still doesn’t grant divorce domestically, but once a foreign divorce is recognized here, the marriage is considered legally dissolved and the basis for your 13(a) visa is gone. Report any change in your marital status to BI directly rather than letting them find out when you file your annual report or apply for an ECC.

• Divorce, annulment, nullity, or legal separation with no children together means the visa can be revoked.
• If your spouse dies and you have surviving children from the marriage, the visa may be preserved through a petition.
• A foreign divorce recognized by a Philippine court is treated the same as a local dissolution.

Canceling Your PRV

If you want to leave the Philippines for good and cancel your 13(a) Permanent Resident Visa, go to your nearest BI branch. Depending on your planned departure date, staff will downgrade the visa to the appropriate type and issue an exit visa. You must sort out the visa before you can cancel your ACR I-Card.

The Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC): What You Need Before You Fly Out

Every foreign national registered with the Bureau of Immigration needs an Emigration Clearance Certificate before leaving the Philippines, and 13(a) holders aren’t exempt. Which version you need depends on whether you’re coming back.

• ECC-B: for a routine trip abroad when you’re keeping your visa and returning
• ECC-A: for tourists who’ve overstayed six months or more, anyone whose visa has expired or been downgraded, and permanent residents leaving the Philippines for good

File your ECC application at least 72 hours before your flight. The certificate is valid for only one month from the date it’s issued, and you can use it only once, so don’t apply too far ahead of your travel date. BI also requires your current year’s Annual Report to be settled before it will issue an ECC-B, so don’t leave that until the week you fly out.

What Is an ACR I-Card?

Every foreigner who stays in the country for more than 59 days is required to have an ACR I-Card, whether on a tourist visa or a permanent residency visa. It’s an identification card that uses microchip technology to store your personal details and biometrics.

If you’re extending your tourist visa beyond 59 days, the Bureau of Immigration will require you to get the card. You pay for it in advance when you settle your tourist visa extension fees, and you’ll receive a receipt and instructions on where to provide your biometrics.

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At that location, the BI will photograph you, take your fingerprints, and do a quick, painless eye scan. It takes only a couple of minutes. You can expect to wait about two weeks for the card to be ready for pick-up.

If you’re applying for a Permanent Resident Visa, there’s a good chance you’ve been in the country a while and already have an ACR I-Card. On a tourist or temporary resident visa, you renew it every year. Once you have your 13(a) Permanent Resident Visa, you only renew it once every five years, one of the many perks of a PRV.

Alternatives to a PRV

Here are some visa options you can consider if you aren’t eligible for a PRV.

Temporary Resident Visa

As noted earlier, a PRV requires you to be a citizen of one of the 82 countries that offer permanent residency to Filipinos. If you don’t meet that condition, you can still apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV). Like the PRV, it requires you to be legally married to a Filipino citizen.

The benefits of a TRV are almost identical to those of a PRV. The main difference is that a TRV must be renewed every five years, while a PRV never has to be. That shouldn’t be a problem as long as you remain married to your Filipino spouse and stay out of trouble with the authorities.

Special Visas

Marriage to a Filipino citizen is a requirement for a permanent resident visa, which raises the question of what options exist for those who aren’t married or don’t want to be. There are a few.

Special Resident Retiree’s Visa

Those who are at least 40 can apply for a Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV). While SRRVs aren’t permanent resident visas as such, they come with most of the same perks, including indefinite stay and the ability to buy a house.

Following a September 2025 restructure, the SRRV now has two main tracks, Classic and Courtesy (the older Smile and Human Touch options were discontinued and the minimum age raised to 40). Deposit requirements vary by age and whether you have a qualifying pension. None of the SRRV options requires you to be married to a Filipino citizen.

Other Special Visas

Besides PRVs, TRVs, and SRRVs, the Philippines offers a few other special visas. These are issued under special circumstances and mainly apply to investors and companies, so we’ll just mention them here. To learn more, check the Bureau of Immigration’s website.

• Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV)
• Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG)
• Special Non-Immigrant Visa (SNIV)
• Special Employment Visa for Offshore Banking Unit (SEVOBU)

Now, On To You

The Philippines has a lot to offer, which is why so many foreigners now call it home. Living here permanently is relatively easy and very affordable. The most popular route is to marry a Filipino citizen and apply for a 13(a) Permanent Resident Visa, but there are other alternatives that don’t involve marriage.

Even if you don’t come from a country with a reciprocity agreement, you can still stay indefinitely on a Temporary Resident Visa, which gives you the same benefits as a PRV except that it must be renewed every five years.

If you’re considering making the Philippines your permanent home, get your paperwork in order and fill out the visa application. Then it’s a matter of waiting for the BI to process it. Once approved, you can enjoy everything that comes with a PRV: unlimited stay, home ownership, no more visa runs, world-class beaches, and a low cost of living.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 13(a) visa holder legally own land in the Philippines?

No. The 1987 Philippine Constitution reserves land ownership for Filipino citizens, and a 13(a) permanent resident visa doesn’t override that. As a foreign spouse you can co-own a condominium unit (foreign ownership in a single project is capped at 40 percent) or own a house or other structure built on land, but you cannot hold title to the land itself, even as a permanent resident.

Can same-sex or unmarried partners of a Filipino citizen get a 13(a) visa?

No. The Philippines doesn’t legally recognize same-sex marriage, and the 13(a) visa is granted specifically on the basis of a valid marriage to a Filipino citizen. Unmarried partners, regardless of gender, don’t qualify under this category; a tourist visa or, once it’s fully operational, a digital nomad visa are the realistic options for a partner who isn’t married to a Filipino citizen.

What happens to my 13(a) visa if I get divorced or my spouse passes away?

Divorce, annulment, or legal separation gives the Bureau of Immigration grounds to revoke the visa, since it’s tied to the marriage. The one exception is if your spouse dies and you have children together; the visa may be preserved through a petition rather than cancelled automatically.

Do I need an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) every time I leave the Philippines?

Yes, but for a routine trip where you’re returning on the same 13(a) visa, it’s the simpler ECC-B, applied for at least 72 hours before you fly and settled alongside your current Annual Report. The ECC-A is for people leaving for good or whose visa status has lapsed.

Can a 13(a) visa holder eventually become a Filipino citizen?

Marriage to a Filipino citizen doesn’t grant citizenship automatically. You’d need to apply for naturalization under a separate process through the regular courts, which generally asks for several years of continuous Philippine residence plus other requirements around language, character, and lawful source of income. This is a distinct legal process from the 13(a) visa itself, so talk to a Philippine immigration lawyer if citizenship is the goal.

What if my probationary visa expires before my conversion to permanent status is approved?

If you filed your conversion application before the one-year probationary period ended and it’s still processing, BI has an interim extension (grace period) for exactly this situation. It lets you stay, and even travel out and back, without your status lapsing while the permanent conversion is pending. File the conversion application before the probationary visa expires, not after, to qualify.

Sources Cited

• Bureau of Immigration: 13(a) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage
• Bureau of Immigration: FAQs (ECC-A / ECC-B requirements)
• Bureau of Immigration: Annual Report (A.R.) service page
• Bureau of Immigration: Immigration Memorandum Circular No. SBM-2014-009 (revocation guidelines for Section 13(a)/TRV)
• Bureau of Immigration: Interim Extension (Grace Period) service page
• Department of Foreign Affairs: Report of Marriage