Philippines Student Visa 2026: 9(f) Requirements, Fees
The Philippines has two documents for foreign students, and which one you need depends on your age and your course. The Student Visa, known as the 9(f), is for people aged 18 and over on a course above high school level. The Special Study Permit covers those who do not qualify for the 9(f), including students on short non-degree courses. Both are handled by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). This guide sets out who qualifies, the documents on the Bureau's checklist, the steps and the published fees, from the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as read on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer
The 9(f) Student Visa is for foreign nationals who are at least 18 years old and will take a course higher than high school at a university, seminary or college. The Bureau of Immigration lists the conversion to a student visa at PHP 9,720.00, plus $50 for the ACR I-Card, and an extension at PHP 4,020.00. Students who do not qualify can apply for a Special Study Permit, listed at PHP 5,240.00 plus USD 50.00 for the card. You need a Notice of Acceptance from a school accredited by the Bureau to accept foreign students.
Which document you need
| Student Visa, 9(f) | Special Study Permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Foreign nationals who are at least 18 years old and shall take up a course of study higher than high school at a university, seminary or college | Foreign nationals who do not qualify for a Student Visa |
| Where to apply | BI Main Office and other authorised immigration offices | BI Main Office |
| Published fee | PHP 9,720.00 in total for conversion | PHP 5,240.00 in total |
| ACR I-Card | $50 added | USD 50.00 added |
Short non-degree courses
The Department of Foreign Affairs says foreign students who wish to take a short-term non-degree course, such as language and computer courses, must apply for a temporary visitor's visa. After arriving and being accepted by a school authorised by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students, they apply for a Special Study Permit at the Bureau's Student Desk. The DFA's definition of a temporary visitor covers study only where it excludes enrolment in schools for the purpose of obtaining a title or degree.
Documents for the 9(f) Student Visa
The Bureau's checklist for conversion to a student visa lists ten items:
- A joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the authorised representative of the petitioning school and the applicant, on the school letterhead with dry seal
- The Consolidated General Application Form for Student Visa and Special Study Permit
- A photocopy of the passport pages showing the bio-page, the latest admission with valid authorised stay and the Bureau of Quarantine stamp
- The Notice of Acceptance, bearing a clear impression of the school's official dry seal
- An endorsement from the school for the conversion of your status, signed by the School Registrar
- A Certificate of Eligibility for Admission from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in the case of Medicine or Dentistry
- A CHED endorsement for transfer and shifting of course, if applicable
- A National Bureau of Investigation clearance, if the application is filed six (6) months or more from the date of first arrival in the Philippines
- A photocopy of the BI school accreditation ID of the registrar or school representative
- A BI Clearance Certificate
The checklist's general instructions add three rules worth noting. All foreign documents must be original and authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post with jurisdiction over the place of issuance, with an English translation if written in another language. All sworn statements must be original and notarized. And the form is completed in two original copies, the second for the ACR I-Card application.
How to apply, step by step
- Get accepted by a school and obtain the Notice of Acceptance and the school's endorsement.
- Get the application form from the Public Information and Assistance Unit at the BI Main Office or from the Bureau's website.
- Submit the documents for pre-screening to the Central Receiving Unit, or to the frontline officer at another immigration office able to process the transaction.
- Pay the required fees and submit a copy of the official receipt.
- Have your image and fingerprints captured at the Alien Registration Division, and submit the requirements for the ACR I-Card.
- Check the Bureau's website to see whether the visa application is approved.
- Submit your passport for visa implementation once approved, and claim the ACR I-Card when it is approved.
The Bureau's page describes this as a conversion to a student visa, and the checklist asks for a passport copy showing your latest admission with a valid authorised stay.
What it costs
| Conversion to Student Visa | Amount (PHP) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | 2,000.00 |
| Implementation fee | 1,000.00 |
| Service fee | 1,000.00 |
| Certificate fee | 500.00 |
| Visa fee | 1,000.00 |
| ICR, CRTV, CRTS, CRTT, CRPE | 1,400.00 |
| Legal research fee | 70.00 |
| Alien Certificate of Registration | 1,000.00 |
| Head tax | 250.00 |
| Express fees: certification, filing and I-Card processing | 500.00 each |
| Total | 9,720.00 |
| Other transactions | Published total |
|---|---|
| Extension of Student Visa | PHP 4,020.00, plus $50 for the ACR I-Card |
| Special Study Permit | PHP 5,240.00, plus USD 50.00 for the I-Card |
The Bureau's pages state that these fees are updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice. Treat them as the published schedule and confirm the amount on your order of payment.
Extending the visa
Holders of an existing Student Visa who wish to continue studying apply for an extension, at the BI Main Office or another authorised office. The steps are the same as for conversion, with a hearing added. The biometric data captured at conversion is reused to print the renewed ACR I-Card. Applicants aged eleven (11) and above have their image and fingerprints captured again every five (5) years.
Entering the Philippines first
The DFA says the Philippines grants visa-free entry to passport holders of certain countries while requiring a visa for others, and provides a country selector to check. Where visa-free entry applies it is for business or tourism, for a stay of thirty (30) days or less, or fifty-nine (59) days or less for some passports, with a passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the stay and a return or onward ticket. Other passport holders are told that a visa is required and to inquire at the nearest Philippine Foreign Service Post. Check your own passport in the selector before you book.
Working while you study
Work has its own permit. The Department of Labor and Employment says foreign nationals intending to work with a Philippines-based employer shall secure an Alien Employment Permit, unless they fall under a category of exemption or exclusion. Our Philippines work visa guide explains that permit.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a Philippine student visa?
Foreign nationals who are at least 18 years old and shall take up a course of study higher than high school at a university, seminary or college.
How much is a student visa in the Philippines?
The Bureau of Immigration lists the conversion to a Student Visa at PHP 9,720.00 in total, plus $50 for the ACR I-Card. An extension is listed at PHP 4,020.00. The Bureau notes the fees may change without prior notice.
What documents do I need for a Philippine student visa?
The checklist includes a joint letter request from the school and applicant, the application form, passport copies, the Notice of Acceptance, the school's endorsement signed by the Registrar, and a BI Clearance Certificate. Medicine and Dentistry students also need a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission from CHED.
What if I am under 18 or on a short course?
Foreign nationals who do not qualify for a Student Visa may apply for a Special Study Permit. The DFA says students on short-term non-degree courses enter on a temporary visitor's visa and then apply for the permit at the Bureau's Student Desk.
Do Indian students need a visa to enter the Philippines?
The DFA's country selector tells you whether a passport is visa-free or requires a visa, and directs those who need one to the nearest Philippine Foreign Service Post. Check the selector for your passport, because the page does not publish the result as a list.
Do I need an NBI clearance?
Only if the application is filed six (6) months or more from the date of your first arrival in the Philippines, according to the Bureau's checklist.
Can any school sponsor a student visa?
The checklist requires a photocopy of the BI school accreditation ID of the registrar or school representative, and the DFA refers to schools accredited by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students.
Official sources
- Bureau of Immigration — Student Visa (9F)
- Bureau of Immigration — Checklist of documentary requirements for conversion to student visa
- Bureau of Immigration — Special Study Permit
- Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Consular Affairs — Visa general information
- Department of Labor and Employment — Alien Employment Permit FAQs (as of 15 June 2026)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 14 October 2026. The Bureau of Immigration marks its fee tables as updated in 2014 and subject to change, and it may require additional supporting documents. Tuition fees are not covered here. Information, not legal advice.