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Obtaining a 13A visa

Written byahyneron 05 October 2009

As my wife is Filipino I applied for a 13A non-quota immigration visa while we were living in the UK. I submitted my application form together with all the supporting documents to the Philippines Consulate in London. It was quite a fat file of papers as in addition to the application form itself you are required to provide in triplicate a report of the results of a list of medical tests including chest x-ray together with a certificate of good moral character, proof of financial capacity, marriage certificate, proof of dissolution of previous marriage (if applicable), a copy of my Filipino spouse's passport (or birth certificate), original of my own passport and original and photocopies of my son's birth certificate. I would strongly advise checking the latest requirements via the Philippine Consulate's website in case they have altered. The checklist of requirements is on most consulate websites. Several passport photos are also required for the main application for



Most of that list is straightforward, it just takes time to pull it all together. My GP advised me to get a number of the tests done privately including the chest x-ray so I arranged these through a local private hospital. My GP then reviewed all the test results, carried out a physical examination and completed and signed the front sheet of the medical report. I almost forgot that the other piece of information I had to provide was proof that my GP was duly registered to practice medicine in the UK. The General Medical Council now have a website with a complete register of all doctors so I simply located and printed off the details relating to my own GP together with other details I found on the Internet to prove that he worked in that particular practice.

For the certificate of good moral character I approached Father Jim at our local church and he was happy to provide me with a simple letter. A similar letter from your employer is also acceptable.

Financial capacity is clearly a matter of assembling bank statements, payslips, pension details or whatever. If you have a house or are arranging to start receiving a pension, include whatever offical documents seem most relevant to substantiate your future financial capacity.

I delivered the file of papers one morning to the Philippine Consulate in London. They operate a ticket number system for the waiting process so we pulled our ticket and went away to have lunch. On our return they received the papers and fixed an appointment later in the week with the Consul General. The interview itself, with my wife and son in attendance, was very relaxed. I was asked a few simple questions about our plans for settling in the Philippines and the Consul General then explained the process I needed to go through when we arrived in Manila. This involved visiting both the Bureau of Quarantine for my medical report to be approved and the Bureau of Immigration where I had to apply for my Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card. In fact the arrival process itself is worthy of a separate guide blog. Then we sat in the waiting room for a short time until my passport with the 13A visa now entered and some other papers were brought down. Special import duty and tax dispensation is granted to 13A visa holders relating to the bringing into the Philippines of their household and personal effects but there are strict conditions attached with which 13A holders should familiarise themselves.

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Comments

  • Ruebendurfee
    Ruebendurfee2 months ago

    I'm 23 planning to move to the Philippines in April 2024 and be married by September 2024. So far I have been to the Philippines for 3 visits on a 9a visa. My fiance is 19 and I've gotten the parents consent to marry. Should I do all the stuff you did here in the USA. I'm planning to live there for a little 4-5 months on a tourist visa with my fiance in the place we got built with her parents. Can I complete the medical checks in the Philippines and such after we get married to get my 13a visa. Also what kind of financial income are they looking for? I plan to have 20k in saving/investments before moving and I am receiving 338 / month from pension. Along with having Healthcare.


    I am completely prepared to work in the Philippines to support me and my fiance and well if need and she also works and attends college. We have a plan to raise and sell pigs for income down the line and possibly open shops.


    I figure I can live strictly on my pension till we are married atleast but do you have any advice for someone as young as I. Thanks for advance

  • DMS53
    DMS536 years ago(Modified)
    i live in philippines with 13/a/non quota immigrant resident visa,have ACR,ICR,for 6 years,live and work,since i left philippines and did not back for couple yars,all this papers permit,etc,expire,i ask the philippine embassy in my home country,about this papers,they told me you are now geniue tourist,you need reaplay again,and pay more for papers if you want to back again there,to live and work,.in any country in the world when you get once immigrant resident visa,it stay forever,nomore reaplaying again,and paying again,over and over,.
  • phil ash
    phil ash10 years ago(Modified)
    I'm so happy reading informative procedures for thi gs what going to do in the future..fir now I'm praying that my partner will be granted to be a British citizen so we can plan to have a child and get a British citizenship for my child before we moved in Philippines..
  • Okieboy
    Okieboy11 years ago(Modified)
    I just went thru the 13A after being BB for years it has changed a lot, if you need info i can help, all documents must be in the correct format or they will not accept in Davao you also need police clearance from your home state, hard to do if your not there i can help, and the immigration web site is way outdated
  • ukjeprox
    ukjeprox11 years ago(Modified)
    I applied for a 13A visa while living in the Philippines but with non of this medical stuff and character reports. Handed over about P14.000 and got my 1 year probationary visa all in about 4 hours. Will have to get full residents visa at the end of the year.
  • MichaelALee
    MichaelALee11 years ago(Modified)
    I am married to a Philippine lady and will retire in about a year and we will move to the Philippines with her. Mike
  • steph21
    steph2112 years ago(Modified)
    hi, and in your first arrival in the airport was it hard to get through the emigration or just need to show your visa and you got stamped thats all? no interview? thank you
  • Okieboy
    Okieboy12 years ago(Modified)
    this is all BS there is no problem if your in the Phil paper work and a little time wait untill your here to do this
  • singapinay
    singapinay13 years ago(Modified)
    A very convenient alternative would be to get the SRRVisa (Special Resident Retiree's Visa). It grants permanent resident status, indefinite stay and multiple entry privileges, and a WHOLE LOT of other benefits. Its a permanent visa - apply once, never renew. Processing fee is US$1,500, minimal requirements, and only 2-3 weeks processing. My husband works with the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) the agency that processes this, so if you need help with this or want more info, you're welcome to call me. And don't worry about the "Retiree" part - age requirement is at least 35 years old to qualify....
  • Rix
    Rix14 years ago(Modified)
    well,, i did my 13a here in the phil.5 years ago,,and the requirements where a lot simpler than you discipe here i think its time for a update!!!!

See also

All of the Philippines's guide articles