Bureau of Immigration - Office of the Philippines

Foreign students are those belonging or owing allegiance to a country other than the Philippines and studying in any educational institution recognized or owned by the government of the Philippines.

A bonafide foreign student is one who is at least eighteen years of age at the time of enrollment, has sufficient means for his/her education and support and who seeks to enter the Philippines for temporary stay with the purpose of taking up a course of study higher than high school at a university, college or school authorized to accept foreign students.

The entry and stay for foreign students in the country is covered by Executive Order (EO) 285 dated September 4, 2000, which amended the provisions of EO 423 of 1997 Re: Guideline Governing the Entry and Stay of Foreign Students in the Philippines and the Establishment of an Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students for the Purpose. The implementing guidelines of this EO are specified in IACF Memorandum No. 1, s. 2000.

Director General, National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA)

A prospective foreign student-applicant for the tertiary or college level should be a high school/secondary school, graduate or its equivalent.

Only HEIs with programmes accredited by agencies under the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or with equivalent accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), either as Centers of Excellence (COEs), Centers of Development (CODs) or STCW-Compliant Maritime schools and by Bureau of Immigration (BI) are authorized to admit foreign students.

1. Only schools with programmes accredited by agencies under the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or with equivalent accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education and by Bureau of Immigration shall be authorized to admit foreign students.
2. Authorization for the conversion from tourist visa category to student visa or issuance of Special Study Permit.
3. Establishment of a Bureau of Immigration Foreign Student Desk

Student-applicant communicates with any Philippine HEI authorized to Accept foreign students and complies with the following required documents:

• Five (5) copies of the Student's Personal History Statement (PHS) from the accepting school dully signed by him, both in English and his national alphabet accompanied by his personal seal if any, containing among others, his left and right thumb-prints and a 2 x 2 inch photograph on plain white background taken not more than six months prior to submission;
• Transcript of Records/Scholastic Records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP) located in the student-applicant's country of origin or legal residence;
• A notarized Affidavit of Support including bank statements or notarized grant for institutional scholars, to cover expenses for the student's accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and other incidental expenses, and
• Photocopy of the student's passport showing data and place of birth and birth certificate or its equivalent duly authenticated by the PFSP.

Upon compliance of the required documents and subject to entrance requirements of the accepting school. HEI issues Notice of Acceptance (NOA).

Yes. EO 285 provides the authority for conversion of tourist visa category to student visa. The concerned foreign student shall be issued a Student Visa or Special Study Permit subject to compliance with BI requirements.

1. Scholastic records signed by the College/University Registrar and stamped with the school seal; the diploma/certificate of graduation from the course).
2. Birth Certificate/passport
3. Notice of Acceptance from the admitting school
4. For Medicine only Diploma or Certificate of Graduation from an allied collegiate course; and
5. NMAT for Medicine only

• Written endorsement from the school for the change conversion of admission status of the alien to that of a student
• Original copy of the Notice of Acceptance (NOA) containing a clear impression of the school's official dry seal;
• Certified true copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by the Commission on Higher Education in the case of students in Medicine and Dentistry;
• Proof of adequate financial support to cover expenses for the student's accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and incidental expenses;
• Scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP) located in the student's country of origin or legal residence;
• Police clearance certificate issued by the National Police Authorities in the student's country of origin or residence duly authenticated by the PFSP having consular jurisdiction over the place, for students who resided in the Philippines for less than 59 days at the admission status, shall also be required to submit a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance.
• Quarantine Medical Examination by the National Quarantine Office.
• Copy of the student's Personal History Statement (PHS) signed by him/her with a 2 x 2 inch photograph recently taken; and
• Xerox copy of the photo, data and stamp of the latest arrival pages of the student's passport. The passport itself shall be represented to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for verification.

The student's authorized period of stay shall be consistent with the length of the course to which has been accepted by a Philippine school. The initial period is one year and then renewed/extended by the BI Student Desk every semester.

• Written endorsement from the school from the extension of the student visa of the alien;
• Application form duly accomplished by the student
• Two (2) 2 x 2 photographs
• Xerox copy of the photo, data and stamp of the latest arrival, pages of the passport of the students or Certificate of Identity;
• Transcript of Records signed by the Dean or Registrar with its seal for 1st extension only. No need for the same on 2nd or succeeding extensions;
• Xerox copy of the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR), Certificate of Residence for Temporary Students (CRTS) and 9(f) visa stamp on the passport for 1st extension only;
• Explanation by the student and confirmed by the School Registrar or Dean in the case of one who took less than the required normal/regular full load per semester as follows&58;
  • Undergraduate at least 15 units
  • Graduate Student (MA) at least 12 units
• Explanation by a student in case of failures, incomplete grades, dropped or withdrawals of (2) or more subjects equivalent to (6) or more units as confirmed by the School Registrar or Dean of the School;
• Notice of Acceptance / registration card for the incoming semester; and
• Approval of the admitting school in cases of school transfer, course shifting or enrollment in a masters or doctorate studies related to the student:s bachelor degree.

For enrollment in tertiary schools, student visa and BI special Study Permit shall not be required of the spouses and unmarried dependent children below 21 years old of aliens under the following categories:

1. Permanent foreign residents;
2. Aliens with valid working permits under section 9(d), 9(g) and 47 (a) (2) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended;
3. Personnel of foreign diplomatic and consular missions residing in the Philippines and their dependents;
4. Personnel of duly accredited international organizations residing in the Philippines and their dependents;
5. Holders of Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) and Special Retiree’s Resident Visa (SRRV); and
6. Foreign students coming to the Philippines with 47(a) (2) visas issued pursuant to existing laws, e.g., PD 2021

• Foreign students coming to the Philippines with 47(a) (2) visas issued pursuant to existing laws, e.g., PD 2021
• Current foreign students enrolled in these HEIs shall be allowed to finish the courses/programmes they are enrolled in.

These HEIs will have to show tha tintial steps towards accreditation are being done, through a certification issues by CHED.

CHED shall monitor these HEIs to find out if indeed compliance is being undertaken.

The authority to accept foreign students by these HEIs shall be withdrawn.

Yes, provided that said HEIs have prior authority to accept foreign students granted by BI, and provided further that said students comply with BI requirements.

Spot inspection visits shall be jointly conducted by CHED and BI

Spot visits shall be done only once in an HEI to verify authenticity of documentary and other requirements. No inspection of facilities shall be undertaken. Only in the event of problems like visa requirement/violations and upon invitation as resource person/speaker in seminars/workshops, shall extra visits be done.

HEIs' applications for inclusion in the BI listings shall be held pending. However, those with applications for accreditation with FAAP upon recommendation of CHED shall be issued provisional authority to accept foreign students by BI.

The foreign student concerned shall be charged a fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P 20,000.00) and subsequent deportation.

• The concerned HEIs authority to accept foreign students shall be cancelled/revoked and/or pay a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00).
• And air out the needs, interests and challenges of the students to the PWU administration office
• Facilitate different activities during International Students' Day, i.e., on February 18.