Long Term Stay / Perpetual Tourism

[Dave Hounddriver]

As of this moment, I have been a perpetual tourist  in Philippines for 8 years. Every so often the rules change as to how long you can stay without leaving the country but for the last 3 years they have allowed tourists to stay for up to 3 years with no more requirements than a visit to Bureau of Immigration every once in a while.

 

The important part of that is "every so often the rules change" so always have a back up plan.  To be fair, there is no indication that the rules on perpetual tourists will change any time soon but there is an election coming up in 5 months.

[Huggybearman]

Just a further question on this topic. Are you required to show suitable for the ongoing visa?  It appears not from the posts?

Not quite sure what you meant to ask, but if it is a requirement to show suitable income for the extension of stay, then the answer is no. Unlike Thailand you don't need to show proof of income, or have a sizeable bank deposit at time of renewal. But the costs are considerably more in Phils.

Ken

[Jollygoodfellow]

 Are you required to show suitable for the ongoing visa?  It appears not from the posts?

 

 

Suit not required but clean underpants are.   :mocking:

[GregZ]

Does anybody know if the 59 day tourist visa is still an option and if so where is it obtained from, is it before you go through immigration on arrival in Manila? Also, what is the cost?

Thanks in advance.

:cheersty:

You can get the 59 days easier at the airport upon arrival. Ask for it in the office before getting the 30 days stamp at Manila OR Cebu. Cost is 3030 PHP. They will likely escort you to the money changer if needed. They didn't even escort me at Cebu, just held my passport. It saves a bothersome trip to BI later and took 10 minutes.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[Huggybearman]

Does anybody know if the 59 day tourist visa is still an option and if so where is it obtained from, is it before you go through immigration on arrival in Manila? Also, what is the cost?

Thanks in advance.

:cheersty:

You can get the 59 days easier at the airport upon arrival. Ask for it in the office before getting the 30 days stamp at Manila OR Cebu. Cost is 3030 PHP. They will likely escort you to the money changer if needed. They didn't even escort me at Cebu, just held my passport. It saves a bothersome trip to BI later and took 10 minutes.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

I have heard that you can get the 29 day extension at the airport, but on both my last two arrivals at MNL terminal 3, when I asked at immigration if I can get the extension I was told it was not possible and had to go to my local office to extend. I guess I was just being fobbed off both times. Do you seek out the BI office before hitting the immigration desk? I did try looking for it but it didn't seem very obvious.

Ken

[raymond]

 I am from Australia  planning to visit Cebu mid-Feb. I have a couple of questions for you guys out there: 1) Can  I apply for extensions at the Cebu Immigration Office?.  (2) Can the application for SSRV (long term Retirement) Visa be made at the Cebu Office?   (3) Can I travel on a 1 way ticket to get 1 and 2.  My Plans are to set up an NGO helping the street kids as well as victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Anybody out there with a similar passion is welcome to  join me. Thanks Mate! Raymond

[Huggybearman]

I am from Australia  planning to visit Cebu mid-Feb. I have a couple of questions for you guys out there: 1) Can  I apply for extensions at the Cebu Immigration Office?.  (2) Can the application for SSRV (long term Retirement) Visa be made at the Cebu Office?   (3) Can I travel on a 1 way ticket to get 1 and 2.  My Plans are to set up an NGO helping the street kids as well as victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Anybody out there with a similar passion is welcome to  join me. Thanks Mate! Raymond

(1) I guess you would need to get the usual tourist visa on arrival which gives you 30 days and extend once you are here. Unless there is a category of visa which specifically caters for your intended purpose of stay. I would clarify with the embassy in Australia first because if you arrive and then start to set up your NGO you are technically working which would be in contravention of the conditions of your visa. I don't know if you can change the category of your visa after you arrive. I would think probably not. Best to check first.

(2) No idea. Others will know.

(3) I am pretty certain the answer is no. You would have to convince the airline of the reasons you are wishing to travel on a one way ticket. They are held liable if you contravene the requirement for an onward ticket and can pay a heavy fine. Most people get a cheap throwaway onward ticket. That ticket does not need to be within 30 days of your arrival but you may have some difficulty convincing the check-in agent who usually assumes it should be within 30 days. If it's a throwaway ticket then just do it within 30 days. It can save a lot of grief!

Ken

[Jack Peterson]

(3) Can I travel on a 1 way ticket to get 1 and 2.

 

 

 If you are coming into the PI on your passport and Extend to a 9a Tourist then in  a Word NO!  I have put a link up for you to Read, Hopefully it will explain things for you.  

 

 

http://www.philippineflightnetwork.com/2015/01/philippine-onward-ticket-rules.html

 

Raymond, it won't take you long to realize that Nothing, is easy here. it is great once you get your Head around things But........... :1 (103):

 

Jack  :)

[Tukaram (Tim)]

(2) Can the application for SSRV (long term Retirement) Visa be made at the Cebu Office?

From my understanding - no.  The SSRV is through the Dept of Tourism, not Immigration. 

 

~Edit~ here is a link to the PRA (Philippines Retirement Authority)

http://www.pra.gov.ph/main/srrv_program?page=1

Edited January 15, 2016 by Tukaram (Tim)

[manofthecoldland]

 

(3) Can I travel on a 1 way ticket to get 1 and 2.

 

 

 If you are coming into the PI on your passport and Extend to a 9a Tourist then in  a Word NO!  I have put a link up for you to Read, Hopefully it will explain things for you.  

 

 

http://www.philippineflightnetwork.com/2015/01/philippine-onward-ticket-rules.html

 

Raymond, it won't take you long to realize that Nothing, is easy here. it is great once you get your Head around things But........... :1 (103):

 

Jack  :)

 

$5 cost for acceptable proof of onward ticket (via another website) is the pearl buried in the end of his clam's comment section by Jim England.