FAQ - Philippines

Who are considered foreign students?

Foreign students are those belonging or owing allegiance to a country other than the Philippines and studying in any educational institution recognized or owned by the government of the Philippines.

What is a bonafide foreign student?

A bonafide foreign student is one who is at least eighteen years of age at the time of enrollment, has sufficient means for his/her education and support and who seeks to enter the Philippines for temporary stay with the purpose of taking up a course of study higher than high school at a university, college or school authorized to accept foreign students.

What is the legal basis for the entry and stay of foreign students in the Philippines?

The entry and stay of foreign students in the country is covered by Executive Order (EO) 285 dated September 4, 2000, which amended the provisions of EO 423 of 1997 Re: Guidelines Governing the Entry and Stay of Foreign Students in the Philippines and the Establishment of an Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students for the Purpose. The implementing guidelines of this EO are specified in IACFS Memorandum No.1, s. 2000.

What is the pre-requisite for enrollment of a foreign student at the tertiary or college level?

A prospective foreign student-applicant for the tertiary or college level should be a high school/secondary school graduate or its equivalent.

What Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) are authorized to accept foreign students?

Only HEIs with programs accredited by agencies under the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or with equivalent accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), either as Centers of Excellence (COEs), Centers of Development (CODs) or STCW-compliant Maritime schools and by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), are authorized to admit foreign students

What are the salient provisions of EO 285?

Only schools with programs accredited by agencies under the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or with equivalent accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education and by the Bureau of Immigration shall be authorized to admit foreign students.
Authorization for the conversion from tourist visa category to student visa or issuance of Special Study Permit.
Establishment of a Bureau of Immigration Foreign Student Desk.

What are the procedural guidelines to be observed and documentary requirements to be complied with in the issuance of Student Visa for applicant still abroad?

Student- applicant submits the following to any Philippine HEI authorized to accept foreign students:
- Five (5) copies of the Student's Personal History Statement (PHS) as required by the accepting school duly signed by him, both in English and in his national alphabet accompanied by his personal seal if any, containing among others, his left and right thumb-prints and a 2 x 2 inch photograph on plain white background taken not more than six months prior to submission;
- Transcript of Records/Scholastic Records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP) located in the student-applicant's country of origin or legal residence;
- A notarized Affidavit of Support including bank statements or notarized grant for institutional scholars, to cover expenses for the student's accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and other incidental expenses; and
- Photocopy of the student's passport showing date and place of birth and birth certificate or its equivalent duly authenticated by the PFSP.
Upon compliance of the required documents and subject to entrance requirements of the accepting school, HEI issues Notice of Acceptance (NOA).
For those desiring to enroll in Medicine and Dentistry, their documents shall be submitted to the Office of Student Services (OSS), CHED for evaluation and if found in order, a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) is issued. HEI submits the documents, including the certified true copy of the CEA of those enrolling in Medicine and Dentistry to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
DFA endorses the documents to the PFSP in the student's country of origin or legal residence for the issuance of the corresponding visa.
PFSP notifies the student-applicant with instruction that he appear in person before the Consular Officer for interview and submission of required documents, as follows:
- Original copy of the school's Notice of Acceptance (NOA) containing a clear impression of the school's dry seal;
- Original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by CHED if enrolling in Medicine and Dentistry;
- Police clearance issued by the national police authorities in the student's country of origin or legal residence, duly authenticated by the PFSP having consular jurisdiction over the place; and;
- Medical Health Certificate issued by an authorized physician including but not limited to standard-size chest x-ray, HIV, Hepatitis-B clearance. The Consular Office shall not assume the task of determining the student's scholastic fitness for the program applied for and shall issue the student visa as soon as all the requirements are accomplished.
Foreign student reports to the Bureau of Immigration Student Desk for registration and to the accepting HEI and shall enroll in the school which issued his NOA upon arrival in the Philippines;
Accepting HEI shall assist foreign student to obtain Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Certificate of Residence for Temporary Student (CRTS) from the Bureau of Immigration (BI); and
DFA sends notice to accepting HEI on the issuance of student visa to the applicant, copy furnished CHED, BI, NICA and NBI.

What is a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to a Medical/Dental Course?

Admission to a Medical Course (CEM)/Dental Course (CED), is issued to a foreign student by the CHED Office of Student Services (OSS), upon compliance of the documentary requirements.

What are the documentary requirements for the issuance of CEM/CED?

Scholastic records signed by the College/University Registrar and stamped with the school seal; (the diploma/certificate of graduation maybe required if the scholastic records do not indicate graduation from the course).
Birth Certificate/passport;
Notice of Acceptance from the admitting school;
(For Medicine only) Diploma or Certificate of Graduation from an allied collegiate course; and
NMAT (for Medicine only).

Can foreign students already in the Philippines be allowed to apply for student visa?

Yes. EO 285 provides the authority for conversion of tourist visa category to student visa. The concerned foreign student shall be issued a Student Visa or Special Study Permit subject to compliance with BI requirements.

What are the documentary requirements to be complied with for the change/conversion of admission status of an alien to that of a student?

An alien admitted into the Philippines under any visa category may apply at the Bureau of immigration (BI) Student Desk for the change/conversion of his admission status to that of a student, subject to the following requirements:
Written endorsement from the school for the change/conversion of admission status of the alien to that of a student;
Original copy of the Notice of Acceptance (NOA) containing a clear impression of the school's official dry seal;
Certified true copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by the Commission on Higher Education in the case of students in Medicine and Dentistry;
Proof of adequate financial support to cover expenses for the student's accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and incidental expenses;
Scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP) located in the student's country of origin or legal residence;
Police Clearance Certificate issued by the National Police Authorities in the student's country of origin or residence duly authenticated by the PFSP having consular jurisdiction over the place, for the student who resided in the Philippines for less than 59 days. However, those who resided in the Philippines for more than 59 days at the time he applies for the said change/conversion of admission status, shall also be required to submit a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance.
Quarantine Medical Examination by the National Quarantine Office;
Copy of the student's Personal History Statement (PHS) signed by him/her with a 2 x 2 inch photograph recently taken; and
Xerox copy of the photo, data and stamp of the latest arrival pages of the student's passport. The passport itself shall be presented to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for verification.

How long is the student's authorized period of stay in the Philippines?

The student's authorized period of stay shall be consistent with the length of the course to which he has been accepted by a Philippine school. The initial period is one year and then renewed/extended by the BI Student Desk every semester.