What
documents do I need to invite relatives/friends from the Philippines to
Ireland?
How much
is the fee for late registration of birth? Marriage?
How long
does it take for the Report/s of Birth and Marriage to be registered with the
NSO?
Is it
possible to have a late registration of birth? Marriage?
Can I
register the birth of a child of Filipino-Irish parents at the Philippine
Embassy?
How
much do I pay for passport renewal?
How
much do I pay for a replacement of lost Philippine passport?
How
long does it take to process an application for Philippine passport?
Why is the
personal appearance of the applicant required?
What are
the requirements for first time Philippine passport applicants?
I just lost
my Philippine passport. What do I need to do to get a replacement?
When
does the Philippine Embassy issue passports with one-year validity?
Can a
married woman retain her single name?
Can a
divorced Filipino citizen remarry?
Is it
allowed to use the father’s surname if the child is illegitimate?
What are
the requirements for adopted children who want to apply for a Philippine
passport?
What
are the requirements for dual citizens who want to apply for a Philippine
passport?
What documents do I need to apply for a Philippine
visitor's visa?
How long can a visa holder stay in the Philippines?
I am an Irish citizen. Do I need a visa to travel to the
Philippines?
What is a balikbayan privilege?
Do I need any vaccination when travelling to the Philippines?
What are the visa requirements for those travelling to
the Philippines on collective passports?
I want to study in the Philippines. What visa should I apply
for?
We are both foreign nationals and we intend to get married
in the Philippines.
I am a foreign national and I intend to retire in the
Philippines. What visa should I apply for?
I am a former Filipino citizen. Do I need a visa to travel
to the Philippines?
What are the benefits and privileges of dual
citizenship?
What is the procedure for Philippine citizenship
retention/reacquisition?
Can I apply for Philippine citizenship
retention/reacquisition by post?
What are the requirements for Philippine citizenship
retention/reacquisition?
My husband is a foreign national. Can I include him in
the petition for dual citizenship?
Can I include my children in the petition for dual
citizenship?
What passport will I use when travelling to the
Philippines?
As a dual citizen, do I have to pay income tax in the
Philippines?
I am a dual citizen. Can I own properties in the
Philippines?
As a dual citizen, how long can I stay in the Philippines?
As a dual citizen, am I exempted from Philippine travel tax?
What document can I present in the absence of a
naturalization certificate?
As a dual citizen, do I have to apply for a Philippine
passport?
What are the requirements before a foreign corporation
can engage in business in the Philippines?
Is the mining industry open for foreign investments?
What is the rate of corporate income tax in the
Philippines?
Can a foreigner engage in “retail trade” in the
Philippines?
When is the best time to visit the Philippines?
What are the requirements for entry into the
Philippines?
Are there any medical requirements or health regulations?
What is the local currency in the Philippines and the
current exchange rate?
How do I get around the country?
What are the best items to buy in the Philippines?
Where are the best places to go shopping?
You should submit in
person a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) together with a photocopy of the data
page of your passport and a fee of €25. Also, bring a valid passport to enable
us to verify your identity.
If you cannot personally appear before a
consular officer, you have to get the SPA notarized by a notary public or any
commissioner of oath, and then have the signature of the notary public
authenticated by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfa.ie) before sending it to the
Philippine Embassy for legalization.
Since this concerns the issuance
of an Irish visa, the requirements for such should be inquired from the
Honorary Consulate General in Manila at the following contact details:
Honorary Consul General
Jupiter St, Bel Air 1
Makati, Metro Manila
Telephone: 00 63 2
896 4668
Fax: 00 63 2 897 8534
Email: irishcon@info.com.ph
If the petitioner is
required by the Irish Honorary Consulate General to submit an affidavit of support,
the petitioner should execute one and have it authenticated by the Philippine
Embassy. A parental travel permit should also be executed by the petitioner and
authenticated by the Philippine Embassy.
Yes, you should if you
wish to have your children's birth registered with the NSO and thereby have a
permanent repository of the proof of Filipino citizenship of your child. Report
of birth is also a requirement for your child to get a Philippine passport.
Yes, so that the
marriage would be registered at NSO and recognized in the Philippines. We shall
also require this report if you apply to amend your name in your passport to
reflect your married name.
The fee for late
registration of birth and/or marriage is €25. This is in addition to the
notarization fee of €25 that you have to pay when you report a birth or
marriage.
It usually takes about a
month or two. Upon receipt of the Report of Birth/Marriage, the Philippine
Embassy shall forward it to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila for
onward transmittal to NSO. You shall keep your copy of the Report of Birth/Marriage.
Yes. The birth of a
child/children of Filipino-Irish (or any foreign national) parentage can be
registered with the Philippine Embassy if one of the parents was still a
Filipino citizen at the time of birth of the child/children.
Yes.
Renewal of a Philippine
passport costs €50.
Replacement of a lost
Philippine passport costs €90.
Processing of passport
application takes between 4-6 weeks if the requirements submitted are complete.
The processing is completed in Manila which accounts for the extended period.
Application for a
replacement of a lost passport may take longer. After the application for
replacement is lodged, the Embassy undertakes a verification of the lost
passport. Verification of lost passport normally takes a maximum of 7 working
days, if the lost passport was issued by the Philippine Embassy in Dublin, and
21 working days if not. After the verification period, an applicant will be
called for an interview and asked to submit all the necessary documents.
Processing takes between 4-6 weeks.
Yes, but you will still
have to personally appear at a later time before Embassy officials to affix your
thumbprints and signature on a computer generated form.
The information fed into
the Embassy computer must be personally verified and confirmed by the applicant
as this information could no longer be corrected/amended
when entered into the passport database in Manila.
The application must be
submitted by the parent of the minor or the descendant of the senior citizen.
The parent or descendant shall assume the responsibility of verifying and
confirming the information fed into the Embassy computer.
Please refer to the
requirements for Passport Application for Filipino Children Born Outside the Philippines and Report of Birth.
You have to apply for a
replacement passport. Filing of application will have to be done in person.
Never. All passports received from
Manila will have a validity period of five (5) years.
Yes, if she continued
using her single name even after her marriage. If she had started using her
married name and later decide to give it up, she should present proof of
annulment or a divorce judgment obtained by a foreign husband, provided that
the divorce proceeding was initiated by the foreign spouse.
Yes, but only if the
petitioner in the divorce proceedings was the foreign spouse.
In emergency situations,
the validity of the current passport may be extended by the Embassy or another
solution adopted. Please discuss your concerns with the Embassy as soon as
possible.
Yes, it is allowed if
the father expressly recognizes the child through the record of birth appearing
in the civil registrar, or whom an admission in a public document or provide
handwritten instrument is made by the father.
Apart from the
requirements for passport application, an applicant has to present an
NSO-authenticated amended birth certificate with annotation on adoption. The
adoption must accordingly be approved by a Philippine court if approved by a
foreign court.
An applicant has to
submit proof of her change of status: marriage certificate (if newly married),
annulment/divorce paper (if marriage is dissolved), or death certificate of
deceased spouse (if widowed).
Apart from the
requirements for Passport Application, dual citizens must present their Oath of
Allegiance to Retain Philippine Citizenship and submit a photocopy of the same
with his/her application.
For foreigners applying
for a Philippine visa for tourism and/or business purposes,
please refer to the requirements for a short stay visa for
leisure/tourism/business.
Normally, a visitor with
a visa is given a 59-day stay in the Philippines. Should a visitor wish to
remain longer than his authorized initial stay of 59 days, he may request
extension of stay from the Bureau of Immigration Office
(www.immigration.gov.ph) and pay the necessary extension fees. He will also
have to pay the Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) and the corresponding
Legal Research Fee (LRF) upon his departure.
Irish passport holders do not need a
visa if their intended stay in the Philippines will not exceed 21 days.
Irish passport holders availing themselves of the 21-day no visa policy should
have a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay in the
Philippines and a plane or ship ticket valid for onward or return journey to
their country of origin or next country of destination.
Nationals from countries listed below are allowed to enter the Philippines
without visas for a stay not exceeding twenty-one (21) days, provided: (a) they
hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or next port of
destination, and (b) their passports are valid for at least six (6) months
beyond their intended stay in the Philippines:
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Kuwait
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Norway
Oman
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Romania
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
United Republic of Tanzania
United States of America
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe
The following nationals are allowed
to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days:
1. Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports.
2. Holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports.
3. Holders of Macau-Portuguese passports
4. Holders of Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports
Further inquiries may be addressed to the Philippine Embassy at:
Email: dublin.philembassy@gmail.com
Tel. No: (+353) (1) 6401946
Foreigners whose
intended stay in the Philippines will exceed 21 days have to apply for visa
before travelling to the Philippines. A temporary visitor's visa may be valid
for single or multiple entries.
The validity of an entry
visa should be differentiated from the length of stay in the Philippines. A three-month validity means that a person may enter the
Philippines within the three (3) months from the date of issuance of visa to the
date of its expiry. If a traveller is in possession of a six-month multiple
visa, this means that he may enter the Philippines any number of times provided
it is within the six-month period specified in the visa.
As a general rule, the
Philippines requires foreign nationals travelling to the Philippines to have
passports valid for at least six (6) months beyond their intended period of
stay in the country.
Irish nationals married
to Filipino/former Filipino nationals may avail themselves of the balikbayan privilege if they travel to the Philippines with
their Filipino/former Filipino spouses.
A balikbayan
privilege entitles its holder to stay in the Philippines for a maximum of one
year without visa. Spouses and unmarried children below 18 years of age of
Filipino/former Filipino nationals may avail themselves of this privilege if
they travel to the Philippines with their Filipino/former Filipino spouses or
parent/s.
Cholera and small pox
vaccinations are not required for travellers from the Ireland. If a person,
however, arrives in the Philippines from a foreign port infected with cholera,
small pox or plague, typhus or yellow fever, he will be required to present on
arrival a certificate of immunization for the said disease/s.
In case where several
persons are included in one (1) passport, a separate application and payment
must be made for each person. All persons included in the passport must be
properly identified with a photograph affixed to the passport. Lack of
photograph is sufficient ground for denial of visa.
Foreigners married to
Filipino citizens wishing to reside in the Philippines may qualify for the
non-quota immigrant visa. Those not included in this category wishing to reside
in the Philippines or stay for an indefinite period may apply for either a
quota immigrant visa or a retiree visa. Those who are sent by their companies
to work in the Philippines may apply for an employment visa.
A foreigner who wishes
to study in the Philippines should apply for a student's visa.
An Irish national
intending to marry a Filipino national in the Philippines has to secure a birth
certificate and a Certificate of No Impediment to Marry (CENOMAR) from his
local registry office. He then has to present these documents to his
Embassy/Consulate in the Philippines for him to be issued a Certificate of
Legal Capacity to Marry. The said certificate is needed for his application for
a marriage license at the registry office of the locality/church where the
marriage is to take place.
Foreign nationals
intending to get married in the Philippines should contact their respective
embassies/consulates in the Philippines for other requirements.
Foreign nationals who
wish to retire in the Philippines may apply for a retiree visa. For information
on the requirements and procedure, please visit the website of the Philippine
Retirement Authority at www.pra.gov.ph.
No. As a former Filipino
citizen, you may avail yourself of the balikbayan
privilege.
Dual citizens can enjoy
full civil and political rights in the Philippines, including the following:
a. right to vote and be elected or
appointed to any public office in the Philippines subject to existing
Philippine laws,
b. right to acquire land and other properties under his name,
c. right to engage in business in the Philippines and have 100% ownership of
the business,
d. right to reside in the Philippines without need of visa, and
e. right to practise profession in the Philippines upon application of a
license or permit to engage in such practice
Applicants for
Philippine citizenship retention/reacquisition have to submit a completed
Philippine citizenship retention/reacquisition form with all the documentary
requirements to the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy.
Applications can be
filed by post but the applicant still has to personally appear before a consul
(if abroad) or at the Bureau of Immigration (if in the Philippines) for the
oath taking ceremony.
For the requirements on
Philippine citizenship retention/reacquisition, please refer to the section on
Retention/Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship.
An Alien Certificate of
Registration (ACR) is a proof of identification as resident alien in the
Philippines issued by the Bureau of Immigration to an immigrant visa holder.
An Identification Certificate
of Registration (ICR) is issued to a person who has acquired or retained his
Philippine citizenship. A dual citizen who is previously a holder of 13(G) visa
may file a petition under oath to the Commissioner of Immigration for the
cancellation of his ACR and issuance of an ICR.
No. However, he can
apply for a non-quota immigrant visa, which will eventually give him permanent
residency in the Philippines. If he wishes to acquire Philippine citizenship,
he can later apply for naturalization.
Only unmarried children
who are below 18 years of age can be included in the petition for dual citizenship.
Dual citizens are
advised to: (a) bring both their Philippine and Irish passport when travelling
to the Philippines, (b) use their Philippine passport when entering and
transacting business in the Philippines, and (c) use their Irish passport when
entering Ireland/Europe.
Not necessarily, unless
you earn income in the Philippines.
Yes. As a dual citizen,
you can enjoy all the rights and privileges accorded to Filipino citizens.
No. Just present proof
that you are a dual citizen.
You can stay in the
Philippines for as long as you want provided that you entered the Philippines
as a Filipino/dual citizen.
Yes. As a dual citizen, you will
also enjoy the travel tax exemption accorded to Filipino citizens permanently
residing abroad and to OFWs and their dependents, provided that you permanently
reside overseas.
In lieu of
naturalization certification, you can present a certificate from the authority
that issued you your foreign citizenship or any other document that will
indicate the date when you acquired your foreign citizenship.
Application for
Philippine passport is not compulsory. However, dual citizens are strongly
encouraged to have a valid Philippine passport when entering or during their
sojourn in the Philippines. Dual citizens can always present their Certificate
of Oath of Allegiance as proof of their Philippine citizenship but the said
certificate is not valid as a travel document.
The best time to visit
the Philippines is from November to April.
a. entry visa (Note: Irish nationals
can enter the Philippines without visa if their intended stay will not exceed
21 days)
b. passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of
stay in the Philippines
c. return ticket
d. proof of financial capability to finance stay in the Philippines
e. other documents that may be
required by the Consular Officer (pls. refer to Embassy website at
www.philembassydublin.ie)
For 21 days. Beyond that, you have
to secure a visa before travelling.
A certificate of vaccination against yellow
fever is required for travellers coming from an infected area.
The local currency in the
Philippines is the Philippine peso. The current exchange rate is in the region
of Php 69 for €1.00
(as of December 2009). The current rate can be got from
Metered taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide. Metro rail
transits are also available in Metro Manila. Jeepneys
and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places.
By air, Philippine airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific provide daily
services to major cities and towns. Asian Spirit, Laoag
International Airlines and Seair service the
missionary routes. There are also scheduled chartered flights to major domestic
destinations serviced by smaller commuter planes.
By sea, inter-island ships connect Manila to major ports. Ferry services
connect the smaller islands.
By land, Philtranco connects Manila to Bicol in
Southern Luzon to Samar and Leyte in the Visayas and
Davao in Mindanao.
Light, casual clothes are recommended. Warmer
garments are needed for mountain regions. When visiting churches and temples,
propriety dictates that short and scanty clothing be avoided. Formal occasions
require dinner jackets and ties (or the Philippine barong tagalong) for men and
cocktail dresses or long gowns for women.
Visitors can choose from an exciting selection
of great buys in a country known for export-quality items at reasonable prices:
South Sea pearls, hand-woven cloths, embroidered fineries, fashionable
ready-to-wear and haute couture clothes, terra cotta, porcelain,
coral and mother-of-pearl home accessories. Artefacts, pineapple fibre shirts,
prehistoric jars, native handicrafts, and footwear are interesting items, too.
The Philippines also produces fine basketry, furniture, fresh and processed
fruits, exquisitely crafted jewellery, and gift items made of shell, wood, and
stone.
Big malls are located in Manila, Makati and
EDSA, while handicraft, antique and curio shops abound at the Ermita District in Manila.
It must first secure the necessary licenses or
registration certificates from the appropriate government agencies. Generally,
the registration process starts with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), the government agency responsible for the registration, licensing,
regulation and supervision of all corporations licensed to engage in business
or to establish a branch office in the Philippines.
If the proposed project or activity qualifies for incentives, the foreign
corporation may file its application with the appropriate government agency
depending on the project's location, as follows:
1. Board of Investments
(BOI). Website: www.boi.gov.ph. For projects outside the special economic zones
2. Philippine Economic
Zone Authority (PEZA). Website: www.peza.gov.ph. For projects in any Special
Economic Zone under PEZA
3. Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). Website: www.sbma.com. For projects in Subic Bay
Freeport
4. Clark Development
Authority (CDC). Website: www.clark.com.ph. For projects in Clark Special
Economic Zone
5. John Jay Poro Point Development Corporation. For projects in John
Hay Special Economic Zone, Poro Point Freeport and
Special Economic Zone
6. Cagayan Economic Zone
Authority. Website: www.cagayanfreeport..com. For
projects in Cagayan Special Economic Zone
7. Zamboanga Economic
Authority. Website:www.zambofreeport.com. For projects
in Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone
Foreign investments in the Philippines have
been liberalized with the enactment of the Foreign Investments Act of 1991.
Almost all sectors of business is open to 100% foreign equity and investment
except financial institutions and those included in the Foreign Investment
Negative List
provided in the Foreign Investment
Act of 1991.
Yes. Under the Philippine Mining Act of
1995, foreign
mining firms are now allowed to engage in mining activities in the Philippines
and to register with the Bureau of Investments (BOI) for incentives. The Mining
Act of 1995 also provides incentives to foreign enterprises engaged in mining
in the Philippines.
Foreign corporations are taxable on
Philippine-sourced income at the same rate as domestic corporations at the rate
of 35% starting 01 July 2005 but will be reduced to 30% with effect from 01
January 2009. A licensed foreign corporation will be treated as a
"resident foreign corporation" subject to the 35% tax on its net
Philippine-sourced income. An unlicensed foreign corporation will be treated as
a "non-resident foreign corporation,” subject to 35% tax on its gross
Philippine-sourced income.
Branches of foreign corporations are subject to
the same corporate tax rate. Branch profit remittances are subject to 15% tax,
which can be reduced subject to tax treaty agreements.
Yes. Under the Philippine Retail
Trade Liberalization Act (Republic Act No. 8762), foreigners are allowed to
engage in retail trade in the Philippines if their paid-up capital is US$2.5
million and above.