IN THE KNOW: SPOUSAL VISAS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Based on the latest date released by the Philippine Statistics Authority last year, a total of 4,500 Filipino women married male foreign nationals. Majority of these marriages were with Americans (24.%), Japanese (7.3%), Canadian (6.9%), Chinese (6.6%), and Indian (5.5%) men, and the rest vary in nationalities.
If you’re married to a bright and clever Filipino woman with strong family values, chances are you’re thinking about moving to the Philippines to be with your spouse and her growing family.
The next question you may have is “how?”
How can you get a permanent resident visa as a foreign national married to a Filipina?
In this article, we want you to be in the know so we’re breaking down some vital information for you to get started on this journey towards residing here in the Philippines permanently. It’s easy for foreigners married to Filipino women to reside in the Philippines but it all begins with knowing exactly the type of visa you should be applying for, answering the application form for a permanent resident visa, and the completeness of the requirements to be prepared by the male foreign national.
Depending on your country of origin, you can apply for a 13A visa or Immigrant Visa by Marriage. This is a type of spousal visa you can apply for here in the Philippines if you are a foreign national married to a Filipino woman.
Requirements of 13A Visa or Immigrant Visa by Marriage
Below are the requirements you will need to start on your journey towards getting your permanent resident visa:
- Completed application form
- Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the applicant and the petitioning Filipino spouse
- Duly accomplished CGAF (BI Form CGAF-001-Rev 2)
- Marriage Certificate or Marriage Contract
- Birth Certificate or certified true copy of the BI-issued Identification Certificate as Filipino citizen of the Filipino spouse
- Photocopy of passport bio page and latest admission with valid authorized stay
- Valid National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance, if application is filed six (6) months or more from the date of first arrival in the Philippines
- BI Clearance Certificate
- Original or certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance
Compared to the 2019 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority that was released in 2021, as of today there has been a sudden rise in the number of Filipino women getting married to Chinese nationals. The MCL Visa or Permanent Resident Visa of a Chinese National Married to a Filipino Citizen is a type of spousal visa you can apply for here in the Philippines if you are a Chinese national who has an existing Probationary Non Quota Immigrant Visa status that is valid for one (1) year.
Requirements of MCL Visa or Permanent Resident Visa of a Chinese National Married to a Filipino Citizen
Below are the requirements you will need to start on your journey towards getting your permanent resident visa:
- Completed application form
- Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the applicant and the petitioning Filipino spouse
- Duly accomplished CGAF (BI Form CGAF-001-Rev 2)
- Photocopy of passport bio page and latest admission with valid authorized stay
- Valid National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance, if application is filed six (6) months or more from the date of first arrival in the Philippines
- Join affidavit of continuous cohabitation of applicant and petitioning spouse
- BI Clearance Certificate
- Original or certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance
To know more about the rest of process, you may visit the Philippine Bureau of Immigration website but if you have more questions and concerns, M and J Solutions Provider Inc. can help you with the application process for any of these visas so you wouldn’t have to worry about the who, where, when, what, and how’s of attaining your permanent resident visa as a foreign national married to a Filipino woman. With the guidance of our experienced team, you can rest assured that all you need will be prepared and processed completely and efficiently, in full accordance to the requirements and processes of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration.
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We’re here to give you more reasons to stay and live here in the Philippines! Want to know more about our visa processing services and where to begin? Talk to us today by sending us a message or email us at admin@mandjspi.com. We’d love to hear from you!