Permanent residency
Long-term residency for as long as your marriage is valid, without tourist visa extensions.
Visas & immigration
Immigrant Visa by Marriage (13A)
The 13A Non-Quota Immigrant Visa, often called the spousal visa, gives permanent residency to foreign nationals who are married to Filipino citizens. It lets you live in the Philippines for as long as the marriage remains valid, with no deposit and no investment.
4.9 across 100+ Google reviews Offices in Cebu and Manila
Manila Cebu Work with us from anywhere
1,500+ happy clients since 2019
- Who it is for
- Spouses of Filipino citizens
- Deposit
- None
- Processing time
- 3 to 4 months
- Validity
- 1 year probationary, then permanent
About the visa
Key Benefits of the 13A Marriage Visa
The 13A is a two-stage process. The first application grants a probationary 13A visa valid for one year. From three months before it expires you can apply for the permanent 13A, after which only your ACR I-Card needs renewing every five years.
No deposit or investment
Unlike retirement and investor visas, the 13A is based on your marriage rather than your finances.
Work without a work permit
13A holders are exempt from the Alien Employment Permit, so you can take up employment or run a business.
Multiple entry
Travel in and out of the Philippines as a resident rather than a visitor.
Dependents included
Your unmarried children under 21 can be included in the application.
A stable status
Once permanent, the visa itself does not need renewing. Only the ACR I-Card is renewed every five years.
Who can apply
13A Visa Eligibility Criteria
You can apply for a 13A visa if you meet these conditions.
-
You are legally married to a Filipino citizen, and the marriage is recognized under Philippine law.
-
Your Filipino spouse joins the application as petitioner and attends the interview with you.
-
You are in the Philippines with a valid authorized stay when you file.
-
You have no derogatory record with the Bureau of Immigration.
-
You can show proof of income or financial capacity to support yourself and your family.
-
If you married abroad, the marriage has been reported and registered with the Philippine authorities so that a PSA marriage certificate can be issued.
How it works
13A Visa Application Process
The exact requirements and timing depend on your circumstances, but most applications follow these stages.
-
Consultation and document review
We confirm eligibility and check your marriage and civil registry documents before anything is filed. -
Clearances
You secure an NBI clearance if you are filing six months or more after your first arrival, and both spouses obtain barangay clearances. -
Preparing the application
We prepare the joint letter request, the application forms and the separate ACR I-Card application for signing. -
Filing at the Bureau of Immigration
The application is submitted at BI Cebu or BI Manila, evaluated for derogatory records and the government fees are paid. -
Interview and biometrics
You and your spouse attend a short interview, usually within days of filing, followed by biometrics and photo capture for the ACR I-Card. -
Probationary visa
On approval you receive the one-year probationary 13A and your ACR I-Card. -
Conversion to permanent
From three months before the probationary visa expires we file the permanent 13A, which follows the same steps with a joint affidavit of continuous cohabitation.
What the C&G 13A Service Includes
Since 2019 we have helped more than 1,500 clients secure their Philippine visas. Our service fee covers everything below, from the first document to the final approval.
- Civil documents requested for youWe help you request your NBI clearance and your spouse's PSA birth and marriage certificates.
- Documents prepared and notarizedWe prepare every document your application needs, and our in-house attorneys notarize them.
- With you at government officesOur staff assist you on site at your government appointments, so you never face an agency alone.
- We deal with the agenciesWe coordinate with the agencies, follow up on your application and keep you updated at every step.
- Accredited with PRA, DOLE and BIC&G is accredited with the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration.
- An experienced teamOur team, including two attorneys, has more than 10 years of experience in immigration and business consulting.
- No hidden feesYour quote shows our service cost and the government fees separately, so you know the full cost before we begin.
- Manila, Cebu or remoteMeet us at our Manila or Cebu office, or work with us remotely from anywhere.
In detail
13A document checklist
Probationary 13A
Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner, signed by you and your Filipino spouse
Completed Consolidated General Application Form with 2x2 photographs on a white background
PSA-issued marriage certificate
PSA-issued birth certificate of your Filipino spouse, or a BI identification certificate as a Filipino citizen
Photocopies of your passport bio-page and latest admission stamp showing a valid authorized stay
NBI clearance, if you are filing six months or more after your first arrival in the Philippines
BI clearance certificate
Your spouse's passport or other government-issued photo ID
Barangay clearance for both spouses
Wedding photographs
Proof of income
Bureau of Quarantine medical clearance, only for nationals of certain countries listed by the Bureau of Immigration
Permanent 13A
The permanent application uses the same documents, plus:
Joint affidavit of continuous cohabitation
Copy of the BI order approving your probationary visa
Your current ACR I-Card
Each dependent child
Completed application form with photographs
Passport bio-page and latest admission stamp
PSA-issued proof of relationship to the petitioner
NBI clearance for dependents aged 15 or over, if filing six months or more after first arrival
BI clearance certificate
In detail
13A Visa fees and processing time
Government fees
Probationary 13A: about PHP 14,000 to PHP 15,000
Permanent 13A: about PHP 13,000 to PHP 14,000
ACR I-Card renewal: $50 every five years
The Bureau of Immigration assesses the exact amount when you file, and fees can change without notice. Our service fee is separate and is quoted during your consultation.
How long it takes
A 13A application typically takes three to four months from filing.
Where to file
We file 13A applications at the Bureau of Immigration in Cebu and in Manila. Both spouses need to attend the interview in person.
In detail
Is the 13A the right visa for you?
If you are married to a Filipino citizen, the 13A is usually the strongest route: no deposit, the right to work and a path to permanent residency within a year.
If you are not married to a Filipino, or want a status that does not depend on your marriage, compare the SRRV retirement visa, the 9G working visa or the SIRV investor visa. Our visa quiz will point you to the options you qualify for in about two minutes.
FAQs
13A Visa Frequently Asked Questions
The 13A needs no deposit and exempts you from the Alien Employment Permit, but it depends on your marriage. The SRRV is open from age 40, needs a deposit and does not depend on your marriage.
Yes. You can apply for a 13A through a Philippine embassy, or in the Philippines once your marriage has been registered through the Department of Foreign Affairs so that a PSA marriage certificate is available.
No. The Philippines does not currently recognize same-sex marriage, so it cannot be used as the basis for a 13A visa. Other resident visas may be open to you.
Yes. Children can be included in a 13A application as dependents, each with their own application form and proof of filiation with the petitioning spouse. A dependent aged 15 or over needs an NBI clearance if the application is filed six months or more after first arriving in the Philippines.
A 13A application typically takes three to four months from filing.
Government fees for a 13A are about PHP 14,000 to PHP 15,000 for the probationary visa and PHP 13,000 to PHP 14,000 for the permanent visa. The Bureau of Immigration assesses the exact amount when you file.
A 13A is filed at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila or Cebu. We prepare the application and file it at either office.
You need a valid authorized stay to apply for a 13A. In practice your tourist visa extension should have at least two months left when the application is filed.
For the probationary 13A, only if you apply six months or more after first arriving in the Philippines. For the permanent 13A, a valid NBI clearance is always required.
Usually not. It is not a 13A requirement, and the NBI clearance is normally enough. The Bureau of Immigration can still ask for one.
Because a police clearance from your country of origin is not a 13A requirement, a denial based on past legal history is rare, unless the Philippine authorities have already been informed of it.
Yes. Proof of income is part of the 13A checklist, along with barangay clearances for both spouses and wedding photos.
Yes. After a 13A is filed, the Bureau of Immigration schedules an interview, which both spouses attend in person, followed by biometrics and a photograph for your ACR I-Card.
Yes. 13A holders are exempt from the Alien Employment Permit.
Not while the application is being processed. Once your probationary 13A has been issued, you are free to travel.
You can apply for the permanent 13A from three months before your one-year probationary visa expires.
The permanent 13A itself does not need renewing, but your ACR I-Card is renewed every five years for $50.
A 13A does not change the rules on foreign ownership. You can own a condominium unit within the foreign ownership limit, but foreigners cannot own land outright.
The 13A visa is tied to your marriage. If the marriage no longer exists, the visa loses its basis and you will need to move to another visa. Speak to us early so there is no gap in your status.
Written and reviewed by the C&G immigration team. Last updated . Government requirements and fees change, so confirm the details for your case before filing.
★★★★★
4.9 across 100+ Google reviews.
Read what clients say about working with our Cebu and Manila teams.
You may also need
Related services
Ready to get started?
The Philippines Made Easy
Get clear advice on visas, business setup, and your next steps in the Philippines.