The Philippines 13(a) marriage visa: permanent residence for Americans married to Filipinos
Your Filipino spouse petitions, you spend a year on probation, then the status becomes permanent. No investment or deposit required.
The Bureau of Immigration charges ₱8,620 (about $140 as of September 2026) at each stage, plus $50 for your ACR I-Card. Applicants report two to three months for the probationary visa.
Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage 13(a)
Permanent residence for foreigners legally married to a Filipino citizen, with the Filipino spouse as petitioner. It is first issued on a one-year probationary basis, then converted to permanent status once the marriage is shown to be ongoing. No deposit or investment is required.
- Government cost
- $196
- Timeline
- 1-year probationary visa, then amended to permanent resident status
- Difficulty
- Easy
Key requirements
- Valid marriage to a Filipino citizen, recognized under Philippine law (PSA marriage certificate or apostilled foreign certificate)
- Joint letter request with the Filipino spouse as petitioner and completed CGAF form
- PSA birth certificate of the Filipino spouse
- Police clearance from home country, or NBI clearance if you have stayed 6+ months in the Philippines
- Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate and valid authorized stay
- File with the Bureau of Immigration main office or an authorized regional office
What it costs (September 2026)
₱8,620
BI fee, filing in the Philippines
about $140, paid again at conversion
$150
Fee at a Philippine consulate in the U.S.
Los Angeles and New York
$50
ACR I-Card, your alien ID
on top of the BI fee
2-3 months
Probationary visa, start to stamp
what applicants report
How to apply
From a U.S. consulate or in the Philippines
You can apply before you fly or file with the Bureau of Immigration once you're there. Either way, your Filipino spouse is the petitioner.
- At a U.S. consulate: an apostilled police clearance from the last six months, a medical with chest X-ray and lab tests, proof you can support yourselves, and a notarized request letter from your spouse.
- In the Philippines: you need a valid stay when you file, and you both attend a hearing. Bring photos, joint bills and anything showing you live together.
- BI takes cash only for its fees.
Three things that end an application early
Same-sex marriages don't qualify: the Family Code defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. A U.S. marriage certificate needs an apostille. And the visa depends on the marriage continuing, so annulment, legal separation or divorce can get it canceled.
Living on a 13(a)
Working
DOLE's 2015 rules didn't require a work permit for Section 13 residents. Its 2025 rules appear to require a certificate of exemption, so check with DOLE before your first job.
Travel
You can leave and come back without a new visa. Long absences can raise questions about whether you've given up your residence, and there's no published day limit.
Annual Report
Every registered foreigner reports to BI in the first 60 days of the year. Late filers pay ₱1,510 plus ₱200 a month, capped at ₱2,000 a year.
Healthcare
Permanent residents can join PhilHealth for about ₱17,000 (about $270) a year. It pays fixed case rates, so many expats add private coverage.
Taxes
As a resident alien, the Philippines taxes you only on income from Philippine sources.
Property
You can't own land, even if your money paid for it. You can own a condo unit within a building's 40% foreign cap, or lease land for up to 50 years, renewable for 25.
Not ready for the 13(a) yet?
Visiting first? Fly with your Filipino spouse and ask for balikbayan entry at the airport: up to one year visa-free per arrival, though you can't work on it.
Not married, or your income is the deciding factor? The Philippines also has a retiree visa, an investor visa and an employer-sponsored work visa.
Where files usually stall
Applicants and lawyers point to the same few problems: a foreign marriage certificate without an apostille or translation, the wrong police or NBI clearance, names that don't match across documents, and thin proof of support. Fix those before you file.
People who can help
Legalize That Doc
Document Preparation
Gets U.S. birth and marriage certificates and FBI background checks, then apostilles and legalizes them for use abroad.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living outside the country.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
Healthcare coach for people planning how they'll get medical care abroad.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
Global health insurance for people living outside their home country.
13(a) questions
Can I apply for the 13(a) at a Philippine consulate in the U.S.?
Yes. The Philippine consulates in Los Angeles and New York list a $150 fee for it. Los Angeles asks for an apostilled police clearance from the last six months, a medical certificate with chest X-ray and lab tests, proof of financial capacity, a passport valid at least a year beyond your stay, and a notarized letter from your Filipino spouse requesting the visa.
Can I become a Philippine citizen through the 13(a)?
Not automatically. Naturalization normally requires 10 years of continuous residence, cut to five for a man married to a Filipino woman, and you must speak and write English or Spanish plus one principal Philippine language. Under the naturalization law, a foreign woman married to a Filipino who could herself be naturalized is deemed a Philippine citizen.
Can a foreigner married to a Filipino buy property in the Philippines?
Not land. A foreign spouse can't own land, even with a 13(a) and even if their money paid for it. You can own a condominium unit as long as foreign ownership of the building stays at or under 40%, or lease private land for up to 50 years, renewable for 25.
How long is the 13(a) probationary period?
One year. Filed in the Philippines, the 13(a) is first granted on a one-year probationary basis, then converted to permanent residence. Plan to file the conversion at least 90 days before the probationary visa expires, with a joint affidavit that you still live together. Once permanent, the status doesn't expire; you renew the ACR I-Card every five years.
What happens to a 13(a) if the marriage ends or my spouse dies?
The visa rests on an ongoing marriage, so annulment, legal separation or divorce can trigger cancellation. If your Filipino spouse dies, the Bureau of Immigration may consider humanitarian grounds for letting you keep your status. Get legal advice quickly in either case.
How much does the Philippines 13(a) visa cost?
Filing in the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration charges ₱8,620 (about $140 as of September 2026) for the principal applicant, plus $50 for the ACR I-Card. You pay the visa fee for the probationary visa and again for the conversion to permanent. BI's published fee table dates from March 2014 and can change without notice. A Philippine consulate in the U.S. charges $150.
Can I work in the Philippines on a 13(a) visa?
Yes, but sort out the labor paperwork first. Under the Department of Labor and Employment's 2015 rules, Section 13 residents didn't need an Alien Employment Permit. The 2025 rules (Department Order 248) appear to require a certificate of exemption from DOLE. Confirm with your DOLE regional office before you start a job.
Does the Philippines recognize same-sex marriage for the 13(a)?
No. The Philippine Family Code defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, so a same-sex marriage performed in the U.S. doesn't support a 13(a) application.
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