Issuing authority and coverage
- Commonwealth Act No. 613 (the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940) governs immigration services and fees for aliens seeking to enter or remain in the Philippines.
- Section 1 of Republic Act No. 1901 amends Section 42(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613 to set the applicable service fees.
Fee schedule under Section 42(a)
- Section 42(a) requires, in addition to the documentary stamp required by existing law, payment of the following fees into the Philippine Treasury for services for aliens:
- Executing application for passport visa for nonimmigrant: PHP 10.00.
- Passport visa for nonimmigrant: PHP 20.00.
- Reentry permit: PHP 20.00.
- Extension of reentry permit: PHP 20.00.
- Executing application for immigration visa: PHP 10.00.
- Immigration visa: PHP 20.00.
- Legalization of residence: PHP 50.00.
- Petition for preference quota status: PHP 40.00.
- Petition for visa for nonimmigrant coming to prearranged employment: PHP 80.00.
- Certificate of residence: PHP 50.00.
- Duplicate certificate of residence: PHP 40.00.
- Duplicate reentry permit: PHP 40.00.
- Duplicate certificate of legalization of residence: PHP 40.00.
- Sworn application for extension of reentry permit: PHP 50.00.
- Filing of notice of appeal or petition for rehearing or reconsideration: PHP 10.00.
- Petition for amendment or cancellation of alien registration or immigration documents: PHP 10.00.
- For every month of extension of temporary stay: PHP 10.00.
- For every year, or fraction thereof, of stay beyond two years as nonimmigrant student: PHP 50.00.
- Certificate of arrival or identity: PHP 10.00.
- All other certificates: PHP 5.00.
Application rules for certificates of residence
- Section 42(a) imposes a timing requirement for aliens residing in the Philippines who are:
- Fourteen (14) years of age or over, and
- Entitled to consideration as permanent residents, and
- Not already holders of certificates of legalization of residence, certificates of residence, or any other similar document issued under the Act.
- Such aliens must apply for and secure their certificates of residence:
- Within six months after the approval, or
- Within thirty days after admission for aliens admitted subsequently.
- Section 42(a) also requires that aliens admitted for temporary stay who have been staying for more than six months must, within sixty days from approval, apply for and secure their certificates of residence.
- The certificates of residence of aliens admitted for temporary stay must be surrendered to the immigration authorities prior to departure from the Philippines.
Special exemption for religious or educational work
- Section 42(a) exempts from payment of the monthly fee of PHP 10.00 for every month of extension of temporary stay:
- Aliens admitted for “prearranged employment” under Section 9(g) of the Act, and
- Who are engaged exclusively in religious or educational work.