Student Visa Procedures

Step 1

A foreign student who is at least 18 years of age at the time of enrolment communicates directly with his choice of any Philippine Higher Education Institution (PHEI) authorized to admit foreign students, and complies with the school's institutional requirements, including submission of the following documents:

1. 1Original copy of the student's Personal History Statement duly signed by the applicant in English and in the national alphabet, with original left and right hand thumbprints and original photos.
2. 2Transcript of scholastic records (original and photocopy), duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the applicant's country of origin or legal residence.
3. 3Documentary proof of adequate financial support to cover the student's accommodation and subsistence, as well as school dues and other incidental expenses.
4. 4Passport pages where name, photo, birth date and birthplace appear.
5. 5Original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by CHED (required only for quota courses of study such as Medicine and Dentistry).

Step 2

The HEI, satisfied with the student's compliance with its requirements, issues a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) to the student and submits the original and photocopy to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), together with all the documents, hand-carried to the DFA by the HEI's designated Liaison Officer.

Step 3

The DFA endorses the documents to the Philippine Embassy (or the Philippine Consulate General, as the case may be) located in the student's country of origin.

Step 4

The Embassy or Consulate awaits the personal appearance of the applicant before a consular officer for interview and compliance with consular requirements. In addition to the documents transmitted to the post by the DFA, students must submit the required documents to the Philippine Consulate in triplicate.

Step 5

The DFA notifies the HEI — copy furnished to CHED, BI, NICA and NBI — of the issuance of a student visa to the student as soon as it receives a report to this effect from the issuing post.

Step 6

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the student shall report immediately to the accepting HEI, which shall assist in obtaining the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Certificate of Residence for Temporary Students (CRTS) from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).