Philippines Spousal Visa (13A) -- 2026 Edition

expats 02-02-2026

If you’re married to a Filipino citizen and planning to live in the Philippines long-term, the 13A Non-Quota Immigrant Visa (commonly called the spousal visa) is the path that turns you from “perpetual tourist” into a legal resident.

On paper, the process looks straightforward. In reality, it’s a sequence of Bureau of Immigration (BI) steps, document traps, and waiting periods that catch a lot of couples off guard.

This guide walks you through how the 13A actually works in practice.

What the 13A Visa Gives You

Once completed, the 13A allows you to:

Live in the Philippines indefinitely
Stop doing tourist visa extensions
Receive an ACR I-Card as a resident
Open bank accounts more easily
Register utilities, leases, and services in your name
Enter and exit the Philippines without constantly worrying about visa status

It is residency, not citizenship. You remain a foreign national.

Two Stages: Probationary → Permanent

The 13A is not granted as permanent residency immediately.

You go through:

13A Probationary (1 year)
13A Permanent (after the first year)

Most people don’t realize this until they’re halfway through the process.

Where You Apply

You apply at a Bureau of Immigration office in the Philippines.

You must usually be in valid tourist status when you start.

Core Requirements

While BI can ask for additional documents at any time, the standard set includes:

From the Foreigner
- Passport (valid)
- Current tourist visa status
- Entry stamp and latest visa extension
- NBI Clearance (Philippines)
- Police clearance from home country (sometimes required)
- Medical exam (BI-accredited clinic)
From the Filipino Spouse
- PSA Marriage Certificate
- PSA Birth Certificate
- Valid government ID
Joint Requirements
- Proof the marriage is genuine (photos, joint address, etc., sometimes requested)
- Completed BI forms
- Notarized letter of petition from the Filipino spouse

If your marriage happened outside the Philippines, it must be reported to the PSA (Report of Marriage) before BI will accept it.

This is a common delay point.

Marriage In The Philippines

The documentation requirements for getting married in PH as a foreigner are:

Legal Capacity to Marry certificate from the US Embassy in Manila. The US Embassy will require.
- Your appointment confirmation printout.
- All divorce decrees (Certified Copy from the US Courthouse or Vital Statistics Office) or death certificates that show the U.S. citizen is free to marry, if applicable.
- Original marriage certificate, if applicable.
- Valid, unexpired U.S. passport.
- Possibly a second form of acceptable identification such as a US drivers license (not expired).
- $50 in cash (or Philippine Peso equivalent) or credit card.
Your valid passport.
Your birth certificate.

The process for marrying a Filipino Citizen in PH is:

Obtain a Legal Capacity to Marry at the US Embassy in Manila (or the US Consulate in Cebu). Anything involving the US Embassy (even for US citizens) is by appointment only.
A license to marry must be acquired.
- Philippine law requires a ten-day waiting period from the time of filing the application to the issuance of the marriage license.
- These ten (10) days are business days, not counting weekends or holidays.
- The license is valid for 120 days and may be used anywhere in the Philippines.
Get married. Might need a church, priest, friends & family. Congratulations.
Register the marriage with the PH government and acquire a Philippines Statistic Authority (PSA) Marriage Certificate.

Most couples handle this part themselves.

The documentation requirements are (based on official government websites and previous experience):

Applicant’s birth certificate.
Applicant’s passport (valid for at least six months and have valid entry stamp, if applying within the Philippines).
Applicant’s background check (clearance) from home country law enforcement. This can be obtained from the FBI and / or local police department.
Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the applicant and the petitioning Filipino spouse.
Completed application form CGAF (BI Form CGAF-001-Rev 2)..
Marriage Certificate or Marriage Contract.
Birth Certificate or certified true copy of 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; and
Original or certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance
Bank account statements showing proof of financial capacity.

All foreign documents must be in English and apostilled by the Filipino Consulate in the US.

It will take some time to assemble all of this documents.

Government fees associated with visas change occasionally.

The above list may vary slightly due to changes in policy.

For us to help you, you must be physically present in the Philippines to start this process. It is possible to apply for this visa from outside the Philippines, but we aren’t setup to do that.

The application process for the Spousal Visa is:

Apply for National bureau of Investigation Clearance (NBI). - If you are new to the Philippines, might require policy clearance from your home country.
Visit the BI Office to get the process started. * Schedule an appointment.
Apply for your marriage license at the BI office. * You’ll need the 13A application, requirments for ACR/I-Card application, and other documentation.
Wait 3 days; go back for biometrics scans.
Wait for processing and release. * 1 - 2 months typically.
You will return to the same BI office to handover your passport for temporary visa processing.
Receive passport, visa, and ARC/I-card.
Upgrade to a permanent visa (one year later).

Typical Timeline (Realistic)

Stage	Time
Document gathering	2–4 weeks
Filing to probationary approval	2–6 months
Probationary period	12 months
Permanent approval	1–3 months

Costs (Approximate, changes often)

Expect total government costs in the range of ₱25,000–₱40,000+ across both stages, depending on:

Express lane fees
ACR card fees
Clearances
Notarization
Medical exam

This does not include travel, copies, photos, and other small expenses that add up.

Common Mistakes That Cause Delays

Marriage not registered with PSA (if married abroad)
Letting tourist status expire while waiting
Incorrect or incomplete NBI clearance
Name mismatches across documents
Assuming BI timelines are predictable
Not keeping copies of every receipt and paper

What Changes After You Get the 13A

You must:

Do Annual Reporting at BI every January–March
Keep your ACR card valid
Update BI if you change address
Apply for an ECC when leaving the Philippines for extended periods

What If the Marriage Ends?

If the Filipino spouse dies, the 13A can usually be retained.

If the marriage ends in divorce or annulment, your status can be revoked.

This is rarely discussed but very important to understand.

Do You Need an Attorney or Visa Service?

Legally, no.

Practically, many couples choose assistance because:

BI requirements shift without notice
Documents get rejected for technical reasons
Multiple trips to BI are common
Mistakes mean starting over

The process is very doable yourself — if you have time, patience, and tolerance for bureaucracy.

##Final Thoughts

The 13A is the cleanest, most stable way for a foreign spouse to live in the Philippines. It removes the constant stress of tourist extensions and gives you real resident status.

But it’s not a one-visit, one-form process. It’s a staged procedure with paperwork, waiting, and follow-ups.

Go in knowing that, and it becomes manageable.

Go in thinking it’s simple, and it becomes frustrating fast.

Thinking of Moving to the Philippines? Get Reliable Guidance

Online communities are helpful for general questions. For anything important, you still need accurate, professional, and updated information. E636 Expat Services helps foreigners with: