Republic of the Philippines visas
The Bureau of Immigration, under the Department of Justice, administers most visas in the Philippines, while the Philippine Retirement Authority runs the well-known Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV). Headline routes include the 9G pre-arranged employment visa (paired with a Department of Labor and Employment work permit), the 13A non-quota immigrant visa by marriage, the SRRV and investor routes (SIRV, SVEG), and a Digital Nomad Visa established by Executive Order in 2025.
8 routes · 6 without a sponsor · 5 lead to settlement
Official portal
Regulators of immigration advice
- Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) — Mandatory national organisation of lawyers in the Philippines. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; expatriate work is additionally gated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Visa routes (8)
9(G) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa
The main employer-sponsored work visa for foreign nationals taking up pre-arranged employment in the Philippines.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
13(A) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage
Permanent-residence immigrant visa for a foreign national married to a Filipino citizen.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
Special resident visa for retirees, administered by the Philippine Retirement Authority, offering indefinite multiple-entry stay.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)
Resident visa for foreign investors who place qualifying capital in an eligible Philippine enterprise, endorsed by the Board of Investments.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG)
Special resident visa for foreign nationals who run a sustainable enterprise that employs a qualifying number of Filipino workers.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Digital Nomad Visa
Visa for foreign remote workers earning from foreign employers or clients, established by Executive Order in 2025.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
9(A) Temporary Visitor Visa
Short-term non-immigrant visa for tourism, business meetings or short visits to the Philippines.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Quota Immigrant Visa (Section 13)
The Philippines' numerically limited immigrant visa, capped per nationality each year, for applicants who can contribute to the country.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Republic of the Philippines have?+
We cover 8 Republic of the Philippines visa routes in these categories: sponsored work, family, general residence, investor, digital nomad, and visitor and short business. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Republic of the Philippines visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
6 of the 8 Republic of the Philippines routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 2 are employer-sponsored.
Which Republic of the Philippines visas lead to permanent residence?+
5 of the 8 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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