I will be moving permanently to the Philippines on January the 23rd I need advice

[rikstick4493]

Hello,

As mentioned, I will be moving to the Philippines and I plan on marrying my fiance who lives in Cebu. I want to know what the procedure is to stay there because I know that I can't become a citizen and so my plane ticket says I'll be returning like in 29 days but I will not be returning in 29 days so who do I contact and how much does it cost to extend my stay? I've heard that you can stay for up to 6 months but I don't know where to go what to do or whatever to initiate this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

 

James

[GeoffH]

You can extend your tourist visa at BI or online. 1 month extension initially.  And you can stay for up to 3 years if you keep extending.

[Gator]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
 

Once you’re married you can apply for a 13a permanent residency spousal visa (permanent as long as you stay married). There’s plenty of info about both tourist and 13a visas on the forum - use the search feature. 

 

[Mike J]

Welcome to the forum.  As mentioned above you can extend up to three years as a tourist.  During that, following your marriage, you could apply for a 13A permanent resident visa.  There are also two additional options the SRRV visa or the Balikbayan privilege.  Balikbayan privilege would apply only after your marriage.  You and your wife would exit the country, then return.  On return you would be allowed a one year stay, then you would repeat the process.  The SRRV is a permanent resident visa, the fees are dependent on age, military service, etc.  You can google SRRV Philippines and/or Balikbayan privilege for additional info if desired.

You will have your hands full just getting married here, it can be a rather time consuming process.  The least stressful option would be extending the tourist visa until after your marriage.  Wishing you the best in your move and your marriage.

[hk blues]

5 hours ago, Mike J said:

The least stressful option would be extending the tourist visa until after your marriage.  

The least stressful option would be extending the tourist visa and forgetting the marriage! 

[Snowy79]

Tourist visa is the way ahead for now which you can extend for up to 36 months, don't be in a rush to get married until you get your head around the culture. 

I'm guessing you're too young for a retirement visa and if you get married the 13A is the way ahead but it is tied to you and your wife remaining married. If she dies, runs off etc you must revert to a tourist visa. 

Thinking long term ensure you have the finances to fund your existence here long term or enough to get yourself home, if you wish to take your wife with you the new requirements are going to be an income of £18,700 (1.3m  peso roughly ). Average Filipino wage is about 190k per year. 

Personally I'd come as a tourist and live with your partner long term to see if you can fund your lifestyle without any additional burdens, divorce isn't available here, only annulment which can take years and many expats find the Philippines isn't for them or their partner turns out to be way different than her personality online or on short holidays. I won't even go into the extended family pressures. 

Good luck on whatever route you choose. 

[jimeve]

22 minutes ago, Snowy79 said:

. If she dies, runs off etc you must revert to a tourist visa. 

Depends if you have kids with her, if she dies you can still live here with your kids. So get a move on.

[hk blues]

2 hours ago, jimeve said:

Depends if you have kids with her, if she dies you can still live here with your kids. So get a move on.

Isn't that only as long as they are in full-time education? 

[jimeve]

5 hours ago, hk blues said:

Isn't that only as long as they are in full-time education? 

Don't know for sure, wouldn't that be so wrong when the kids finished full time education, then having to get a tourist visa or leave your kids behind.

I doubt it.

[GeoffH]

22 hours ago, jimeve said:

I doubt it.

I've read about the 13A (for kids extension) lapsing when they're adults as well.

Can't find the reference (and can't be arsed searching too hard) 😆

Edited December 17, 2023 by GeoffH