How Long Can I Stay in Manila?

[Arturo]

I have met a lady online, she is in Manila.
I have read a lot of threads here - some seem contradictory and some confuse me!!

I gather I can enter Manila on a 60 day max tourist visa.

I saw in one post that it appears possible to apply in Manila for an extension to the tourist visa.
However, this post was from a guy who had already married in Manila.

Q1. Is this option actually available to any tourist visa holder.

Q2. What ( if any) would be maximum stay in Manila allowed.

Any help, advice or suggestion will be welcome.

TIA

Arturo

[PeterB]

First of all, it would be useful to know where you live and what your nationality is.

However, assuming that you are British/from the UK, you can visit Philippines for up to 21 days (inclusive of arrival and departure days) without a visa.

If you apply to the Philippine Embassy in London, you can obtain a visa (valid for one year) which will allow you to stay for up to 59 days in any one visit.

In either case, you can apply to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, once you are here, to extend the duration of your visit, two months at a time, up to a maximum of two years.

Officially, I believe that you should hold a flight ticket to exit Philippines at the time that you arrive, which complicates matters if you extend your visit - however, I have never been asked for this at Davao airport.

I arrived here at the beginning of December, on a standard 59 day visa, and without a return flight ticket. My visa has since expired, but I have been extending the duration of my visit every two months.

[Arturo]

First of all, it would be useful to know where you live and what your nationality is.

Hi,

I Assumed "...UK Forum" would indicate I was in fact in the UK....should have known better - sorry.

I am UK born and bred and still here!

Thanks for your reply it has helped a lot and removed a lot of doubts and concerns.

Hope I can stick around here and learn more.

Thanks Guys

[A_flyer]

I Assumed "...UK Forum" would indicate I was in fact in the UK....should have known better - sorry.

It's not at all automatic... this forum is accessible worldwide.

And visa stories are directly linked to Citizenship and country of residence, that's why it's important to know to be able to give you an accurate answer.

[Toneec]

First of all, it would be useful to know where you live and what your nationality is.

However, assuming that you are British/from the UK, you can visit Philippines for up to 21 days (inclusive of arrival and departure days) without a visa.

If you apply to the Philippine Embassy in London, you can obtain a visa (valid for one year) which will allow you to stay for up to 59 days in any one visit.

In either case, you can apply to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, once you are here, to extend the duration of your visit, two months at a time, up to a maximum of two years.

Officially, I believe that you should hold a flight ticket to exit Philippines at the time that you arrive, which complicates matters if you extend your visit - however, I have never been asked for this at Davao airport.

I arrived here at the beginning of December, on a standard 59 day visa, and without a return flight ticket. My visa has since expired, but I have been extending the duration of my visit every two months.

I plan to do this next trip, which is in a few weeks .
I just returned from Philippines, I had return ticket, but nobody asked or checked it at Manila.

I also hope to extend my visit by two months at a time.
Has anybody had any problems doing this or can offer any additional advise ?

Regards Toneec

[an08]

First of all, it would be useful to know where you live and what your nationality is.

However, assuming that you are British/from the UK, you can visit Philippines for up to 21 days (inclusive of arrival and departure days) without a visa.

If you apply to the Philippine Embassy in London, you can obtain a visa (valid for one year) which will allow you to stay for up to 59 days in any one visit.

In either case, you can apply to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, once you are here, to extend the duration of your visit, two months at a time, up to a maximum of two years.

Officially, I believe that you should hold a flight ticket to exit Philippines at the time that you arrive, which complicates matters if you extend your visit - however, I have never been asked for this at Davao airport.

I arrived here at the beginning of December, on a standard 59 day visa, and without a return flight ticket. My visa has since expired, but I have been extending the duration of my visit every two months.

hi all

i have an urgent question
my friend is coming in the phils with no visa
just the 21 days standard visit
but he plans to stay here for 59 days

is it possible that he just applies here in the phils for an extension
in addition to his standard 21 days visit with no visa?
so he could stay here for 59 days

also would u know if personal appearance is needed to extend
and what other tips do u have, re payments process etc
can we just ask a travel agent to process it for us
when hes already here

the reason why he isnt getting a phil visa fr uk is coz hes far
from phil embassy in london coz hes from belfast

thanks

[LadyJ]

hi all

i have an urgent question
my friend is coming in the phils with no visa
just the 21 days standard visit
but he plans to stay here for 59 days

is it possible that he just applies here in the phils for an extension
in addition to his standard 21 days visit with no visa?
so he could stay here for 59 days

also would u know if personal appearance is needed to extend
and what other tips do u have, re payments process etc
can we just ask a travel agent to process it for us
when hes already here

the reason why he isnt getting a phil visa fr uk is coz hes far
from phil embassy in london coz hes from belfast

thanks

Yes he can extend his visa before 21 days of stay is over. Personal appearance might be required but you should plan well ahead before leaving the UK so less hassle. Visit the Phils EMbassy website for more information.

[scottishbride]

hi all

i have an urgent question
my friend is coming in the phils with no visa
just the 21 days standard visit
but he plans to stay here for 59 days

is it possible that he just applies here in the phils for an extension
in addition to his standard 21 days visit with no visa?
so he could stay here for 59 days

also would u know if personal appearance is needed to extend
and what other tips do u have, re payments process etc
can we just ask a travel agent to process it for us
when hes already here

the reason why he isnt getting a phil visa fr uk is coz hes far
from phil embassy in london coz hes from belfast

thanks

You can use a local travel agents to extend your stay in the Phils, so not need to go to immigration, normally costs an additional 500 pesos!

[flomike]

what if i am british passport holder already does it mean me and hubby can only stay in the Phils for 21 days? Or they have special thing for expat like me and how about my husband married to expat? we're planning to stay in Phils for 4 weeks hopefully this year.

[Alan]

Correct me if I have misunderstood the question in this thread.

I have been here in the Philippines for 13 months now, renewing my visa every 2 months.

I am now allowed to stay here on a tourist visa for 2 years, after which time I must leave the country for an international destination - say, Hong Kong for example, and then I can come back here and stay for another 2 years etc..etc..

I hope I have not misinterpreted the original brief as I am now pretty high on Emperador because Oldham won yesterday!!!!!

Al.

[charlwill]

what if i am british passport holder already does it mean me and hubby can only stay in the Phils for 21 days? Or they have special thing for expat like me and how about my husband married to expat? we're planning to stay in Phils for 4 weeks hopefully this year.

As an expat you are allowed to stay in the country for 1 year as a Balikbayan, same as your husband he can stay there for 1 year as a spouse of balikbayan.

[Arturo]

First of all, it would be useful to know where you live and what your nationality is.

However, assuming that you are British/from the UK, you can visit Philippines for up to 21 days (inclusive of arrival and departure days) without a visa.

If you apply to the Philippine Embassy in London, you can obtain a visa (valid for one year) which will allow you to stay for up to 59 days in any one visit.

In either case, you can apply to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, once you are here, to extend the duration of your visit, two months at a time, up to a maximum of two years.

Officially, I believe that you should hold a flight ticket to exit Philippines at the time that you arrive, which complicates matters if you extend your visit - however, I have never been asked for this at Davao airport.

I arrived here at the beginning of December, on a standard 59 day visa, and without a return flight ticket. My visa has since expired, but I have been extending the duration of my visit every two months.

Thanks for that info and sorry for a delay in a reply.
I think i got too many suggestion which did not really give the answer I looked for and in truth I went off looking on other forums and other posting on here.

The blurb on the PI immigration site... states that a return ticket is required,
which seemed a problem. Your experience seems the path I need.
Were there any questions at manila airport customs/immigration?

I really would appreciate any info no matter how small or meaningless it seems.

I hope to go back to Manila ASAP (I had two weeks and got back to Aussie 4 weeks ago) and join my lady in Quezon City. I had hoped for at least a year, but two years should allow me to stay and clear up all my "baggage" both in Aus and the UK.

Did you make any particular application or simply buy a one way ticket and re-new the visa every 59 days.

I dont know if it will get through, but I have a dump email address.
steambird505@hotmail.com if you can email details and info.. I will be really grateful. if you do can use PI NOT JUNK for the subject.

TIA

Arthur

[Arturo]

First of all, it would be useful to know where you live and what your nationality is.

However, assuming that you are British/from the UK, you can visit Philippines for up to 21 days (inclusive of arrival and departure days) without a visa.

If you apply to the Philippine Embassy in London, you can obtain a visa (valid for one year) which will allow you to stay for up to 59 days in any one visit.

In either case, you can apply to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, once you are here, to extend the duration of your visit, two months at a time, up to a maximum of two years.

Officially, I believe that you should hold a flight ticket to exit Philippines at the time that you arrive, which complicates matters if you extend your visit - however, I have never been asked for this at Davao airport.

I arrived here at the beginning of December, on a standard 59 day visa, and without a return flight ticket. My visa has since expired, but I have been extending the duration of my visit every two months.

I just noticed the date on my post... nearly 12 months ago!
I thought i was returning to a post I made a few days ago!!

BUT, if you have just gone 12 months re-newing every 59 days and no problems..it looks like an option I can use.

Thanks again and sorry for any confusion!


Arthur

[cyprusboy]

Hi all. I hope that someone can help?
We got married on the 4th May at Quezon City Hall. We got married there because we would receive the marriage contract earlier than the provinces.
At this time, I went home to Cyprus while Vicky arranged to have the paperwork completed.
After a week, she went to the NSO to submit the m/c for the necessary red ribbon and was told to come back in 3 weeks with the transmittal from the Quezon City registry office. When going back to the NSO, she was given a date of the 9th July.
I came back on the 8th July, with a return date of the 15th August, giving enough time to get her passport and also visa from the Cyprus Consulate.
When going back on the 9th July, she was informed that it was not ready and they needed another copy of the m/c. We went back the following day and was given another date 30th July being 3 weeks later. While at the NSO, she was informed by others, that if she new someone who worked there, it would have been done quicker.
It does appear now, that we will not be able to return to Cyprus on the 15th August and even changing the return date, it can not be guaranteed.
Has anybody had the same problems or knows anyway that this process can be done quicker?

[Sophie]

While at the NSO, she was informed by others, that if she new someone who worked there, it would have been done quicker.
It does appear now, that we will not be able to return to Cyprus on the 15th August and even changing the return date, it can not be guaranteed.
Has anybody had the same problems or knows anyway that this process can be done quicker?

Yes, you can have it processed quicker, you just have to pay extra for "express processing" as they call it...
but that's more like an under the table transaction and you don't necessarily need to know the person in charge,
just tell them discreetly how soon you want your papers done and they will arrange it for you,
unfortunately, this is how it works in most government agencies there...
anything is possible with the right price....i did, when i filed mine, i paid extra and i got it in less than a week...

[cyprusboy]

Many thanks Sophie

[keithAngel]

Spot on but Davao is domestic or can you enter there from abroad?

[A_flyer]

Spot on but Davao is domestic or can you enter there from abroad?

Davao is an international airport. I think there are flights to Singapore (stopping in Cebu with Cebu Pacific, but not sure you go out of the plane), SilkAir to Singapore (direct), and surely others (like Malaysia, Indonesia and may be Australia).

[PeterB]

Davao is an international airport. I think there are flights to Singapore (stopping in Cebu with Cebu Pacific, but not sure you go out of the plane), SilkAir to Singapore (direct), and surely others (like Malaysia, Indonesia and may be Australia).

Davao is an International airport, but with very limited number of international flights. SilkAir flights use a triangular route (SIN/CEB/DVO, or SIN/DVO/CEB, depending on the day of the week.) You do have to leave the aircraft at the stopover, but don't pass through immigration. Thus, even if you fly via Cebu, you still perform all the immigration procedures at Davao.

[kaitlynisabelle]

First you say where do you stay currently which citizenship you have... Better you you could have a good suggestions from any tourist agency...

[PeterB]

There should be no problem ... just make sure that you apply for your extension before (at least seven days, if possible) your current permission expires.

The only difficulty will be if you are asked for your return ticket on arrival ... but, as with most processes here, I'm sure that a little 'ex-gratia' payment would remove any difficulty.

Oh, another point ... if you do have a visit visa, allowing you an initial stay of 59 days, make sure that the immigration stamp in your passport is marked up accordingly. I have heard of one person who arrived with a visa, but was only stamped for a 21 day stay - he had to pay a penalty when he went to extend close to the 59th day.

I should point out that I did, eventually, receive my 13a (permanent residence) visa on October 2, 2008. This means that I was here for ten months on a repeatedly extended visit.

[LadyJ]

Can I also add, he will need a valid return ticket to show at immigration airport in Phils.

[PeterB]

I have never been asked to show a return ticket when arriving at Davao.

Yes, you can extend your stay - I believe that you can even do it at the airport as you arrive.

However, I have only known of extensions applied for at the Bureau of Immigration office. You can apply for a 38 day extension, taking your initial 21 days up to 59. The cost is 3,020 pesos.

Thereafter you can apply for two month extensions up to 18 months or even two years.

[scott&ligaya]

If you are not stayaing in Manila there are several field offices around the country which will save you the hike to Manila, even Puerto Princessa in Palawan has one and we get a same day service there without hardly any waiting around, in fact they txt me when to come back, very good service,

wow 3020pesos my last one was 2400pesos in 2007.

[fred]

I should point out that I did, eventually, receive my 13a (permanent residence) visa on October 2, 2008. This means that I was here for ten months on a repeatedly extended visit.

A word to the wise.. When you report in the first 60 days of this year,MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR PAYMENT RECIEPT..You will need it next year.
I cant find mine and now I may have to pay a year of fines. Not sure yet.

[PeterB]

Thanks Fred - I'm aware of that. What folks may not be aware of - the annual reporting requirement does not apply only to those on resident visas, but anyone who has been in Phils since November 1, and has not left by March 1, is required to report, whether on a resident visa or a visitor visa.

At least you are only charged 310 pesos for the annual report.

[cyprusboy]

Thanks John. I have sent you an email.