13a Non-Quota Immigrant Visa Application in the Philippines

A Foreign National married to a Filipino citizen seeking an indefinite stay in the Philippines must acquire a Marriage visa.

A conversion to a non-quota immigrant visa by marriage ​​is granted to a foreign national based on their valid marriage to a Philippine citizen. Under Foreign Service Circular No.21-10, Section 13(a) of the Commonwealth Act No. 613, this visa is available to citizens of a country that grants permanent residence and immigration privileges to Philippine citizens.

Conversion to Non-Quota Immigrant Visa Eligibility

Prior to your visa application, there are certain criteria such as the following that must be met by a foreign national in order to apply for a marriage visa: 

• Valid marriage with a Philippine citizen
• The marriage is recognized as valid under existing Philippine laws
• There is no record of any derogatory information against the spouse in any local or foreign law enforcement agency
• The spouse is not afflicted with any dangerous, contagious, or loathsome disease
• The spouse has the sufficient financial capacity to support a family and will not become a public burden
• The spouse was allowed entry into the Philippines and was authorized by Immigration authorities to stay

After ensuring that you meet the criteria above, the next thing you have to do is to complete the following general requirements in order to prepare for your visa application.

General Requirements for 13a Non-Quota Immigrant Visa

You may be required to meet different requirements upon application. Although, there are general requirements that must be completed before applying for a marriage visa: 

1. Application Form
2. Joint letter Request addressed to the Commissioner of BI. 
3. Passport of the applicant (valid at least one year at the time of filing)
4. Passport of the petitioning Filipino spouse (valid at least one year at the time of filing)
5. Four Passport-size ID photos 
6. Birth Certificate of the Filipino spouse 
7. Marriage Certificate
8. Two accomplished medical examination forms signed by any doctor in the country of residence
9. Proof of sufficient financial capacity
10. Police clearance
11. Payment fees 

The documents of the foreign national must be in English and apostillized by a competent authority in the issuing country.

How to Apply for a Marriage Visa

Once the documentary requirements have been completed and finalized, you may now continue with the application. Below are the following steps:

1. Submit a report of marriage if arranged outside the Philippines
2. Submit two copies of the duly accomplished application form
3. Submit the original copy and two photocopies of your valid passport 
4. Submit four “2 x 2″ size photos with the applicant’s signature on the front side of the picture and must be taken within the last six months. 
5. Submit a medical certificate signed by a physician with three copies of the following medical lab tests: 

• Chest x-ray plate in CD
• Stool (ova/parasite and occult blood)
• Urinalysis
• Complete blood test (blood serology and chemistry).

6. Submit the original and one photocopy of apostilled Local State Police clearance acquired within the last six months
7. Submit proof of financial stability such as: 

• The latest printout showing statements of credit card accounts
• Latest print-out of bank account statements
• Ownership of real estate properties
• Other documents supporting the financial capacity of the applicant

Note that you may need to present more than one proof of the financial capacity

8. Personal appearance of the applicant for the interview conducted by a consular officer
9. Payment of Immigrant Visa Fee of USD$150.00 cashier’s check if in person (if by mail cashier’s check or US Postal Money Order)
10. Proof of Philippine citizenship of Filipino spouse 
11. Submit original and two photocopies of the applicant’s apostilled Birth Certificate
12. Submit original and photocopy of a notarized letter from the Filipino spouse requesting the issuance of an immigrant visa to their non-citizen spouse.
13. Submit original and photocopy of the proof of Filipino Spouse’s Philippine citizenship

Once you finish the following steps, wait for the confirmation about your application. Take note that the visa officer can request additional documents in order to determine whether or not the applicant can be issued a visa.

Acquire a Marriage Visa and Live with Your Spouse in the Philippines

Living with your spouse is one of the most important decisions to make after your wedding. If you’re a foreign national who seeks to live in the Philippines after getting married to a Filipino, applying for a marriage visa is essential when it comes to residing in the country legally. If you find the marriage visa application exhausting, you may seek help from visa processing firms to help you through the application process.

Marriage Visa (13a Non-Immigrant) Services in the Philippines FAQs

Who can obtain 13a Non-Quota Immigrant Visa/Marriage Visa in the Philippines?

What are the requirements for 13a Non-Quota Immigrant Visa/Marriage Visa in the Philippines?

How to obtain 13a Non-Quota Immigrant Visa/Marriage Visa in the Philippines?

Disclaimer: Immigration laws in the Philippines may change without prior notice. New updates on eligibility for visa application, documentary requirements, processing timelines, length of validity of visa, and other information related to your visa application may arise any time. We recommend that you consult with our Immigration and Visa Specialists to stay up-to-date.