Foreign applicants submit the same requirements with the addition of immigration requirements for student visa.

Foreign applicants can come to the Philippines on a STUDENT VISA or TEMPORARY VISITOR'S VISA (TOURIST VISA).

Those arriving on a tourist visa then applies for a SPECIAL STUDY PERMIT (for courses taken in less than six months) or a CONVERSION to STUDENT VISA.

Note: Most information on visas and study permit were lifted from the sites of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID). Please visit their respective websites for more details.

STUDENT VISA
Procedural Guidelines in the Issuance of a Student Visa Abroad
Student communicates with the HEI authorized to accept foreign enrollees and complies with the following required documents:

1. Five (5) copies of the Student's Personal History Statement (PHS) duly signed by him, both in English and in his national alphabet accompanied by his personal seal, if any, and containing, among others, his left and right thumb-prints and a 2 x 2 inch photograph or plain white background taken not more than six months prior to submission
   • Transcript of Records/Scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the student applicant's country of origin or legal residence.
   • A notarized Affidavit of Support including bank statements or notarized notice of grant for institutional scholars to cover expenses for the students accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and other incidental expenses.
   • Photocopy of data page of the student's passport showing date and place of birth, and birth certificate or its equivalent duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post.
2. Upon compliance of the required documents, HEI issues Notice of Acceptance (NOA).
3. For those desiring to enroll in Medicine and Dentistry, their documents shall be submitted to the Office of Student Services (OSS), CHED for evaluation and if found in order, a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) is issued to concerned foreign student.
4. He then submits documents including the certified true copy of the CEA of those enrolling in Medicine and Dentistry to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
5. DFA indorses the documents to the Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP) in the student's country of origin or legal residence for the issuance of the corresponding visa.
6. PFSP notifies student-applicant with instruction that he appear in person before the Consular Officer for interview and submission of required documents, as follows:
   • Original copy of the School's Notice of Acceptance (NOA) containing a clear impression of the school's dry seal
   • Original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by CHED if enrolling in Medicine and Dentistry.
   • Police Clearance issued by the national police authorities of the student's country of origin or legal residence duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post having consular jurisdiction over the place.
   • Medical Health Certificate issued by an authorized physician including but not limited to standard-size chest x-ray, HIV, hepatitis B clearance. The Consular Office shall not assume the task of determining the student's scholastic fitness for the program applied for and shall issue the student visa as soon as all the requirements are accomplished.
7. Foreign student reports to the BI Student desk for registration and to the accepting HEI and shall enroll in the school which issued his NOA upon arrival in the Philippines. Accepting HEI assists foreign student desk to obtain Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Certificate of Residence for Temporary Student (CRTS) from the Bureau of Immigration (BI). DFA sends notice to accepting HEI on the issuance of the student visa to applicant, copy furnished CHED, BI, NICA and NBI. OSS keeps on file submitted data on foreign students.

TEMPORARY VISITOR'S VISA (TOURIST VISA)
STANDARD PROCEDURE/MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING A TEMPORARY VISITOR'S VISA (TOURIST VISA)
Application for a temporary visitor's visa must be made in person. In the case of a minor under eighteen (18) years of age, the application may be made for him by a person who, in the opinion of the consular officer, is responsible for his/her welfare. The minor, not an infant in arms, shall be required to appear at the Consulate for interview, together with the person making the application for him/her.

Applicants for temporary visitor's visa should normally apply at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. While some visa applicants may apply at any Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad, others are only allowed to apply his/her visa at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in his country of origin or legal residence.

The following are the minimum requirements for applying a temporary visitor's visa:

1. Passport/Travel Document Valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines
2. Duly Accomplished Visa application forms
3. Passport Photos (2 pieces)
4. Proof of bona fide status as tourist or businessman
5. Confirmed tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination
6. Payment of Visa Fees

SPECIAL STUDY PERMIT
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL STUDY PERMIT
Foreign students who wish to take up a short-term non-degree course like language and computer courses must apply for a temporary visitor's visa. Upon arrival in the Philippines and acceptance by the school/institution authorized by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students, he/she should apply for a Special Study Permit at the Bureau's Student Desk. The requirements are:

1. 18 years old & above - for non degree course of less than one (1) year:
   • Letter request
   • Certificate of acceptance from the school and the same must be accredited by the Bureau to accept foreign students.
   • Photocopy of passport reflecting application's valid stay
   • Affidavit of support and the proof thereof
   • Birth certificate
2. Dependent/s of former Filipino citizen below 18 years of age:
   • Letter request
   • Certificate of acceptance from the school and the same must be accredited by the Bureau to accept foreign students
   • Photocopy of passport reflecting application's valid stay
   • Photocopy of parent's passport
   • Affidavit of support
   • Birth certificate of the applicant
3. Dependents of a visa holder under Philippine Immigration Act of 1946, as amended, EXCEPT under Section 9(a) of the same Act, AFTER reaching the age of 2 years old for purpose of completing the course:
   • Letter request
   • Certificate of acceptance from the school and the same must be accredited by the Bureau to accept foreign students
   • Photocopy of passport reflecting application's valid stay
   • Affidavit of support and proof thereof
   • Birth certificate
   • Photocopy of parent's passport/s reflecting stamped visa
4. Minor dependents to those principals who have pending application for the CHANGE of admission status. In the event that the same application is denied, SSP granted to the said minor dependent will be automatically cancel:
   • Letter request
   • Certificate of acceptance from the school and the same must be accredited by the Bureau to accept foreign students
   • Photocopy of passport reflecting application's valid stay
   • Affidavit of support
   • Birth certificate of the applicant
   • Photocopy of parent's passport/s reflecting stamped visa
   • Proof of filing of the principal's application for change of status
5. Minor under guardianship:
   • Letter request from duly appointed guardian
   • Certificate of acceptance from the school and the same must be accredited by the Bureau to accept foreign students
   • Photocopy of passport reflecting application's valid stay
   • Affidavit of support and proof thereof
   • Birth certificate
   • Affidavit executed by the parents appointing said guardian to take custody and care over the minor applicant (if executed outside the Philippines , the same must be duly authenticated)

Photocopy of guardian's passport reflecting authorized stay, if guardian is an alien and he must not be a mere 9(a)-visa (tourist) holder.

TOURIST VISA CONVERSION TO STUDENT VISA
REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURIST VISA CONVERSION TO STUDENT VISA
An alien admitted into the Philippines under any visa category may apply in the Bureau of Immigration for the change/conversion of his admission status to that of a student under Section 9(f) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended pursuant to E.O. No. 285 subject to the following guidelines:

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
The student shall submit the documentary requirements stated hereunder to the Student Desk of the Bureau of Immigration through the designated school's Liaison Officer who will hand-carry them under a letter cover typewritten on the school's official stationary signed by the school's Registrar and stamped with the school's official dry seal;

1. Written endorsement from the school for the change/conversion of the admission status of the alien to that of a student enclosing the Original copy of the Notice of Acceptance (NOA) containing a clear impression of the school's official dry seal.
2. Proof of adequate financial support to cover expenses for the student's accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and other incidental expenses.
3. Scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the student's country of origin or legal residence.
4. Police Clearance Certificate issued by the National Police Authorities in the student's country of origin or residence duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post having consular jurisdiction over the place for student who resided in the Philippines for less than 59 days;
   However, for a student residing in the Philippines for more than 59 days at the time he applies for the said change/conversion of his admission status to that of a student, he shall also be required to submit the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance.
5. Quarantine Medical Examination by the National Quarantine Office.
6. Copy of the student's Personal History Statement signed by the student with a 2 x 2 - inch photograph recently taken.
7. Xerox copy of the photo, data and stamp of the latest arrival pages of the passport of the student. The passport itself shall be presented to this Office for verification.

Organizations:
HEI - Higher Educational Institutions
CHED - Commission on Higher Education
NBI - National Bureau of Investigation