QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 423)
EO 423 covers only aliens who seek to stay temporarily in the Philippines solely to take a course higher than high school at a duly authorized school, and who are at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment with sufficient means for education and support.
CHED authorizes schools to accept foreign students, prepares the updated list of such schools, and issues the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission when needed; Bureau of Immigration receives and uses these lists and monitors compliance alongside other agencies.
Schools must establish a foreign students unit and religiously submit (1) an acceptance/enrollment report one month after each enrollment period end and (2) monthly status reports to the Bureau of Immigration, copy CHED and NICA, with emphasis on students missing, transferred, or dropped; noncompliance is a ground for cancellation by CHED.
A CEA is issued by CHED only when restrictions exist on enrollment of foreign students due to shortage of facilities (e.g., medicine and dentistry). Once issued, it remains valid for the duration of the course, provided the student attends classes and maintains satisfactory grades.
No. Conversion from other visa category to a student visa is not permitted.
They must secure their visas from the Philippine Foreign Service Post in their country of origin or legal residence, regardless of where they are at the time of application.
The foreign student must submit: (1) the original Notice of Acceptance (NOA) with the school’s dry seal impression, (2) the original CEA if the course has restricted quota, (3) police clearance authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post with consular jurisdiction, and (4) a medical health certificate including a standard-size chest x-ray.
No. The consular office shall not assume the task of determining scholastic fitness for the program applied for; it issues the visa once requirements are accomplished.
The school assists the student in obtaining the necessary Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Certificate of Residence for Temporary Student (CRTS) from the Bureau of Immigration.
It must be consistent with the length of the course of study to which the student has been accepted by the Philippine school.
Within a month after the close of the enrollment period, schools must report to BI/CHED/NICA foreign students accepted but failed to enroll; schools must submit monthly status reports as deemed necessary; at term end, they must report those who dropped out or failed final examinations and those who completed courses. Noncompliance is a ground for cancellation of their authority.
NICA and NBI check activities that appear inimical to State security. Criminal complaints against foreign students are referred to NBI for investigation and appropriate action.
BI may investigate, apprehend, and prosecute if necessary; violation is a ground for cancellation of the student visa and deportation.
Exempt are spouses and unmarried dependent children below 21 of certain alien categories (permanent foreign residents; aliens with valid working permits under specific provisions; personnel of foreign diplomatic/consular missions; personnel of accredited international organizations; holders of SIRV and SRRV; and foreign students entering with 47(a)(2) visas), and this privilege extends to principals who wish to take advantage of educational facilities.
Yes. EO 423 allows them to finish their studies without needing a student visa and BI special study permit if their principals remain in the country under any of the mentioned admission categories.
Yes. If their principals lose their admission category as Foreign Government Official under the specified provision, spouses and children who desire to remain to enroll for first time or finish studies may convert to the student visa category in accordance with applicable procedure.
EO 423 creates an Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students to implement, monitor, and coordinate entry and stay policies. It is composed of CHED (Chairman), DFA (Co-Chairman), and members from DECS, BI, NBI, and NICA.
Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of EO 423.