Maximum Continuous Stay using Tourist Visas?

Hi Luke, I've heard it's three years (36months), but not totally sure sorry.

Yeah, I've also heard 36 months from a few different sources. I'm just a bit worried about it, since a couple accredited visa agencies told me only 24 months.

It is definitely 36 months, I know because I will have to leave the country in August if I can't find a way around the regulation.

Thanks for the reply and the info.
I have a few more questions for you, if you don't mind.
Have you stayed for three years in the past with no problems?
Also, do you know how long you need to leave before you can come back and start the whole three year process all over again?

Thanks,
Luke

lukestevens1233 wrote:

Thanks for the reply and the info.
I have a few more questions for you, if you don't mind.
Have you stayed for three years in the past with no problems?
Also, do you know how long you need to leave before you can come back and start the whole three year process all over again?

Thanks,
Luke

I have stayed for three years in the past and then went to Hong Kong for a week. But could have left for just 24 hours or so and then came back again. You do need to have an onward airline ticket when you arrive back in the Philippines, sometimes referred to as a throw away ticket by many people. To avoid being questioned too closely about your intentions by immigration officers at the airport, it is best if the ticket is for use within the next 30 days of your arrival.

Quite often they won't even ask if you have an onward ticket, but if they do ask and you do not have they can refuse you entry to the Philippines.

Your point concerning an onward ticket is particularly important even at the point of departure. A cheap onward ticket is Kuala Lumpur

Currently, its 36 months or 3 years, for maximum stay in the Philippines with a Tourist Visa. I departed  to Singapore at 9pm on a Tuesday......walked around the Singapore airport buying souvenirs, had a couple snacks..............then I had a return flight back to the Philippines at 4am on Wednesday. Now I am starting my 3 years again on my Tourist visa.

About the "Onward" ticket..................authorities never asked me if I had an "Onward" ticket, but I did have one in my bag......a cheap flight out of the Philippines approx 12 months from now.......it can be used more than once if needed.

Gregorio2020 wrote:

About the "Onward" ticket..................authorities never asked me if I had an "Onward" ticket, but I did have one in my bag......a cheap flight out of the Philippines approx 12 months from now.......it can be used more than once if needed.

Hi, which website did you use for your onward ticket? Thanks in advance.

Air Asia had the cheapest......Cebu Pacific is ok too....

Gregorio, how are you able to return to the Philippines and get another tourist visa. I thought that the Philippines currently had a travel ban and wasn't issuing new tourist visas because of the coronavirus?

A late welcome to the forum lukestevens. I would agree with what you say that it ain't gonna happen now, but and OMO given the topic I think that all contributors are talking historically pre C-19, brave new world etc.
From what I have gleaned from your input you still have 18 months before the panic sets in, I am in the same boat with 20 months before I have to leave or pay a one off 59 day extension past the 3 years @ from memory PHP 25K (another post in the system).
24/36 month extensions. Many countries fall into the 36 month category (yours and mine) but from what I have read/seen in posts over the years some countries only get 24 months, perhaps more learned members can add/correct.
As for my 24/26 return/exit flights as a tourist, even in my case working 2 x 6 month stints 8 and 9 years ago here was never asked for a departing air ticket but always had one and it's in the system upon check in or they will ask if not. The airlines are responsible for making sure the return ticket has been booked/purchased or the won't let you on the plane. Most countries have these rules and the airline if slack and the traveller is refused entry say to the Philippines, has to arrange for accommodation and flights at their cost. No exit ticket, no entry.
My latest arrival in March 2020 with a return ticket to Oz in August 2020 for work? (Happily retired now and enjoying the fruits of 45 years in the labour force) I was fully refunded by Philippine Airlines because they had no flights to Australia,,,,,,, I now sit here on a tourist visa without an exit plan/flight and immi has never said a thing.

You and I, plenty of others have time to plan the exit and a non return until things settle. I would give it 12 months but that's OMO, by then all is good but never say never.

Cheers, Steve.

Thanks Steve.
Yeah, if it is 3 years, then I've got 18 months left, which is a big relief. I've got no problem doing a run to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Hong Kong, but it's the re-entry that I'm worried about. Hopefully 18 months from now the situation will be different.

Luke-I think its 36 months but not sure. Can probably get exact info by calling your local immigration office or going there. I was here about 3 years on a tourist visa before I got my permanent quota visa,  Had to make one out of country trip. Was gone a few day or week(24 hrs will suffice) before I returned. Then you can do it all over again after 3 years make another run. May be able to do that indefinitely but remember there are no guarantees in life accept death and taxes. Joke lang! Philippines changes and amends there laws now and then.!  When I got my drivers license it was good for 3 yrs.Now  its 5 years. Go to nearest country possible for your 3 year run to save money.Take a short vacation like I did. I think I went to Vietnam or Hong Kong. Cant remember. That was 6 years ago. Jimmy

Thanks for that info, Jimmy.

its depend what passport you have !!!
All usa Europe contry ++++++ can stay up to 3 years
other country like IRAQ lebanon+++++++++++ etc can stay up to 2 years
the full list is in immigration website

And Canada

It's definitely 3 years from the time you entered from abroad. I am sure of this because I had to petition my husband as a permanent resident before June 2018, three years after our entry in June 2015.

Thanks for that info, GinnyLarry.

Are you sure its same everywhere.   Perhaps its changed but around 2 years ago a foreigner told  the longer is only at some offices, he got refused at his office.  Or perhaps that handler there didnt know.    During the last half year we have got used with handlers who dont knpw things     as business registration and real estate related things...

Ginny I think youre right about that if they havent changed it. I had to make a visa run over 5 years ago before I got my permanent visa. No worries now. Just have to renew my ARC card every 5 years.

I don't know what you mean if it's the same everywhere? Do you mean everywhere in the Philippines? Anyway the best way to know what the current rules are is to go to the Bureau of Immigration office nearest you. We go to the Davao City Region 11 office. They have always been helpful. In my opinion, handlers are not the best source of information.

ginnylarry wrote:

I don't know what you mean if it's the same everywhere? Do you mean everywhere in the Philippines? Anyway the best way to know what the current rules are is to go to the Bureau of Immigration office nearest you. We go to the Davao City Region 11 office. They have always been helpful. In my opinion, handlers are not the best source of information.

Yes I memt in the Philippines.  Back then it seemed some things were available only at the biger offices.

In province some OTHER things they told they SEND to biger office even when it was suppoused to be handled at local mayors office!   

Visa extensions are handled right at the Regional Office. But something like Immigrant Application, ACR card stuff are sent to the main office in Manila so there is a waiting time. But in terms of the rules, and requirements, they are the same for the whole country. Also, the mayor's office doesn't handle Immigration/Visa stuff.

Thanks for clarifying what you mean. And I hope this helps. 😃

Ok, here’s a question. How can a person make a “visa run” trip during this time? All close by countries require a quarantine, and the Philippines requires a quarantine as well when returning? That’s going to run into some serious cash and time outlays, yes? Any suggestions? I’m gonna need to do one by January 2022

Ginny what do you mean by the "main office"? I applied  at the main office in Makati in May 2015 where I received my permanent immigrant visa. I thought they closed that office down.Is that the same office you are referring to and if it is when did they re-open it?JIMMY

Hi Jimmy. The main office of the Bureau of Immigration is in Intramuros, Manila. This is in the actual City of Manila, not in the general area of Metro Manila which is composed of many cities. I've never been there but I know the address from the petition letter I wrote for my husband's Immigration application. I don't know anything about an office in Makati.

Are you in the Philippines or abroad? What is the visa run that you have to do by January 2022? Is your 3 years coming up by January 2022 which means you are in the Philippines? Please clarify and maybe I can help.

Ginny-Maybe it was Intramuros .i got the location mixed up but I thought it was closed down a few

years ago indefinitely. I read that online years ago when they closed it down. Didnt they close it? If I can

post a picture I have one of me standing in front of it. How do I post a pic here?

Don't bother with the picture since I've never been there and I don't know what the building looks like. They are definitely open as it says in their website Immigration.gov.ph.

Hope this clarifies :

https://immigration.gov.ph/contact-us/main-office

BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION MAIN OFFICE DIRECTORY
Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines 1002
Direct Line: (+632) 8-524-3769, Trunk Line Number (+632) 8-465-2400
xinfo@immigration.gov.ph - immigPH@gmail.com - binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph

Hey, ginnylarry, yes, I’m presently in the Philippines, almost two and a half years on a tourist visa with extensions. The “visa run” is what I’ve seen it called when a foreigner makes an short trip outside the country and then returns to restart the three year limit for tourist visas. I’m trying to save up for an SRRV, but I’m not going to have enough before my time runs out. So, resetting my time limit is my best option. Of course, I couldn’t foresee a global pandemic, lol.

About that onward (throw away) ticket… having it in your posession isn’t so much for showing the Filipino Immigration Officer when you arrive back in the Philippines. Having it is so you can (be allowed) to board your flight to return to the Philippines. Without proof of onward travel, you will never get on your plane to begin with.

FindlayMacD wrote:

lukestevens1233 wrote:

Thanks for the reply and the info.
I have a few more questions for you, if you don't mind.
Have you stayed for three years in the past with no problems?
Also, do you know how long you need to leave before you can come back and start the whole three year process all over again?

Thanks,
Luke

I have stayed for three years in the past and then went to Hong Kong for a week. But could have left for just 24 hours or so and then came back again. You do need to have an onward airline ticket when you arrive back in the Philippines, sometimes referred to as a throw away ticket by many people. To avoid being questioned too closely about your intentions by immigration officers at the airport, it is best if the ticket is for use within the next 30 days of your arrival.

Quite often they won't even ask if you have an onward ticket, but if they do ask and you do not have they can refuse you entry to the Philippines.

The airlines will block you. Without a permanent visa, you cant board a flight to the Philippines without an onwards ticket. BTW, good luck reentering the country as a tourist. There is currently no Visa on arrival.

blacksheepjuno wrote:

Hey, ginnylarry, yes, I’m presently in the Philippines, almost two and a half years on a tourist visa with extensions. The “visa run” is what I’ve seen it called when a foreigner makes an short trip outside the country and then returns to restart the three year limit for tourist visas. I’m trying to save up for an SRRV, but I’m not going to have enough before my time runs out. So, resetting my time limit is my best option. Of course, I couldn’t foresee a global pandemic, lol.

Currently, there is no VOA, visa on arrival, so check on this before you leave. You may be left out in the cold.

Sorry for the late reply...I don't come here too much. Also, sorry I didn't mention that my travel was just before this covid mess.....................I'm not sure about the travel restrictions now.....BUT, if anyone knows whats going on now...this would be a great place to post it.

Travel restrictions? My common sense tells me to stay put here in PI until this covid mess is in check.

Too many unexpected things could happen. Better to be safe than sorry!

What is the penalty if you overstay the 3 year limit?

Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.