South-Eastern Asia · Immigration

Philippines

38 immigration routes

Philippines sits in South-Eastern Asia. Its immigration system runs 38 distinct routes — led by family, work and short stay & visit, each set out in official law. All 38 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
38across 15 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
38 of 38cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Family8 of the 38 routes — see them under Family below
Region
South-Eastern Asia
Capital
Manila
Population
116,786,962
Official language
English, Filipino
Currency
PHP
Time zone
UTC+08:00
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 38 routes, grouped by purpose — 38 of 38 cite an official government source directly.

Work

4 of 7 say who you can bring
7 routes

PEZA facilitates special non-immigrant visas with multiple-entry privileges for eligible foreign nationals in PEZA-registered economic-zone enterprises.

Can bring: spouse, children
Official government source: peza.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27

Foreign nationals proceeding to the Philippines to engage in a lawful occupation for wages, salary or other compensation may convert to 9G commercial employment status.

Can bring: spouse, dependants, children
Official government source: immigration.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27 · 4 sources

Investment

1 route

The SIRV is a government programme for foreign nationals who remit and invest qualifying capital in eligible Philippine economic activities.

Savings from USD 75,000
Official government source: boi.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27

Business & self-employment

2 of 2 say who you can bring
2 routes

Study

2 routes

Foreign nationals aged at least eighteen taking a course above high-school level at a university, seminary or college may convert to Student Visa status.

Official government source: immigration.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Family

6 of 8 say who you can bring
8 routes

Independent means

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

The SRRV is a special non-immigrant visa for qualifying foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to live and retire long-term in the Philippines.

Savings from USD 1,500Can bring: spouse, dependants, children
Official government source: pra.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27

Digital nomad

1 route

Residence-based status

2 routes

Nationals of reciprocal countries with Philippine diplomatic relations may convert to quota immigrant status, subject to the annual nationality quota.

Official government source: immigration.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27

The route is for a person previously granted Philippine permanent residence who returns to an unrelinquished residence after a temporary visit abroad.

Official government source: immigration.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27

Cultural, religious & volunteer

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Short stay & visit

5 routes

Humanitarian protection

1 route

Ancestry & return

1 of 2 says who you can bring
2 routes

Sports

1 route

Transit

1 route

A foreign traveller using the Philippines as a transit point en route to another final destination may apply for a 9B transit visa.

Official government source: tokyope.dfa.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27

Other & special

1 of 3 says who you can bring
3 routes

Section 47(a)(2) provides special non-immigrant status for qualifying sponsored foreign executives, specialists, consultants, programme participants, scholars, volunteers and related categories.

Can bring: spouse, dependants, children
Official government source: doj.gov.ph · checked 2026-07-27

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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