Is the 13A Marriage Visa your route to permanent residence?
If you are married to a Filipino citizen and want to live permanently in the Philippines, the 13A (immigrant status for foreign spouses) is often the most direct route. It is available when your nationality meets the reciprocity requirement, meaning your country grants comparable residence rights to Filipinos. If reciprocity is absent, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV – time-limited spouse residence) may apply instead. Unlike visitor status, the 13A does not require continuing tourist extensions. Complete, consistent civil records and the timely change from probationary to permanent status are decisive.
What do you need to know first?
- The 13A is intended for foreign spouses of Filipino citizens whose nationality meets the reciprocity requirement.
- The application is often filed in the Philippines while the foreign spouse holds a valid 9A stay (visitor status) or Balikbayan admission (one-year family entry privilege).
- The first 13A is normally granted initially as probationary status (initial provisional residence).
- You must apply for the later change to permanent status on time.
- The status includes the ACR I-Card (identity card for registered foreign nationals), the Annual Report (yearly registration with the immigration authority) and specific departure formalities.
- Your Filipino spouse takes an active part in the procedure.
Who is the 13A intended for?
For a foreign spouse of a person who currently holds Philippine citizenship, provided the foreign spouse's nationality meets the reciprocity requirement.
Who files the application?
You prepare the records together and both normally attend the personal appointments.
What delays the procedure?
Different name spellings, marriages abroad that have not been registered and missing evidence from previous marriages lead particularly often to further questions.
Which deadlines and procedural stages apply?
- Compared with the 9A: With the 13A, you do not have to apply for a tourist extension every one or two months.
- Before applying: Your current 9A or Balikbayan stay must remain valid. Resolve open overstays (stays without valid permission), unpaid charges and old cases with the Bureau of Immigration (BI – the Philippine immigration authority).
- After the first application: BI normally grants the 13A initially as probationary, or provisional, status.
- Before probationary status expires: Apply together to change it to permanent status. The change does not happen automatically.
- After approval: Keep the ACR I-Card valid and renew it before the expiry date printed on the card.
- During the first 60 days of every calendar year: Complete the Annual Report with BI.
- Before international travel: Ask BI whether you need an Emigration Clearance Certificate B (ECC-B – exit clearance for registered foreign nationals) and a Re-Entry Permit (permission to return with your status).
Which requirements must you meet?
- Valid marriage and reciprocity: Your marriage must be legally valid and must have been concluded with a person who currently holds Philippine citizenship. Your nationality must also grant Filipinos comparable permanent residence rights; if it does not, ask BI whether the TRV is the applicable marriage-based route. If your spouse is of Filipino origin but no longer holds Philippine citizenship, check whether the 13A is available.
- Complete civil records: Names, dates of birth and civil status must match across all records. Even small differences can trigger questions or requests for further evidence.
- Valid stay: Many applicants are initially in the country under 9A status or the Balikbayan Privilege. Keep this status valid until BI decides the application.
- Spouse's participation: Your Filipino spouse provides identity and citizenship records and normally attends appointments in person.
Is 13A, Balikbayan or a retirement visa the better fit?
The Balikbayan Privilege generally permits a one-year stay when you enter together. It is straightforward but remains tied to each joint entry.
The 13A, by contrast, is your own residence status. It does not depend on both of you travelling together.
The Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV – Philippine retirement visa) can be an alternative if the civil-record situation is particularly complicated or the program fits your personal circumstances better. The more suitable option depends on your travel plans, the quality of your records and the long-term security you want.
Which records belong in the application file?
Check the current BI checklist before obtaining the records. You typically need:
- passport
- current proof of lawful stay
- completed BI application form
- marriage certificate
- identity records for the Filipino spouse
- proof of Philippine citizenship
- passport photographs
- residence and address evidence
- records for accompanying children
- records concerning previous marriages, where applicable
Which Philippine civil records do you need?
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA – the Philippine civil registry authority) maintains the central civil-status registers. Philippine birth and marriage certificates are often required as current PSA copies.
What applies to a marriage concluded abroad?
If your marriage was concluded outside the Philippines, it often first has to be recorded in the Philippine registers. A Report of Marriage (registration of a marriage concluded abroad) may be required. Foreign records must be in English or accompanied by an English translation prepared in the issuing country. If the issuing country participates in the Apostille Convention, obtain an apostille (international certification of authenticity); otherwise follow the consular authentication route (verification by the responsible Philippine mission).
Delays involving marriages concluded abroad arise particularly often from:
- missing registration
- different name spellings
- incomplete records from previous marriages
- missing apostilles or consular authentication
- translations that are not accepted
- When and where? Obtain the civil-status records before applying from the PSA or the responsible civil registry or authority in the issuing country. Ask the responsible Philippine mission in which form foreign records are accepted.
- What do you bring? Arrange originals, required copies, registrations, apostilles or consular authentications, and translations in the order of the BI checklist.
- What happens? BI checks that the information is consistent and requests missing or contradictory evidence.
- What do you keep? Keep originals, authenticated versions, translations and complete copies together.
How does the 13A application proceed?
- How do you prepare the application? Check the current BI checklist and prepare every record in the original and in the required number of copies.
- Where do you file the application? Go together to a BI office authorized to process 13A applications. BI formally reviews the records and then issues the Order of Payment Slip (official payment assessment). After payment, you receive the official receipt.
- What happens during the personal interview? Both spouses attend together. BI may ask questions about the marriage, your life together and the records you submitted.
- Which data are recorded? BI records your photograph and fingerprints. At the same time, you apply for the ACR I-Card.
- What happens after approval? The visa is entered in your passport. The passport and ACR I-Card are then released.
- What do you keep? Keep the application, payment assessment, original receipt, appointment slip, approval, passport copies and collection receipt together.
A fully prepared application is usually much easier than a procedure in which records have to be submitted later.
What does the 13A cost?
The following charges for conversion to probationary 13A status are stated in Philippine pesos (PHP – the national currency) and US dollars (USD – comparison currency):
- PHP 8,620 (approximately USD 139 at USD 1 = PHP 62) for the principal applicant or a spouse as a Dependent (accompanying legally dependent person)
- PHP 8,370 (approximately USD 135 at USD 1 = PHP 62) for a child under 16
- PHP 7,870 (approximately USD 127 at USD 1 = PHP 62) for a child under 14
The ACR I-Card charge of USD 50 for one year is added.
Further costs can arise for civil records, apostilles or consular authentication, translations, travel, copies, notarization and additional appointments caused by incomplete records. The current BI payment assessment is always binding.
How do you change from probationary to permanent 13A?
The first 13A is normally granted only on a probationary, or provisional, basis. The later change to permanent status does not happen automatically. Follow the deadline in the timeline and enter the filing date in your calendar immediately after the first approval.
For the change, many records are required again in current form, for example:
- evidence that the marriage continues
- current living arrangements
- PSA records
- valid passport
- ACR I-Card
- previous receipts and approval records
- When and where? File the application before probationary status expires at a BI office authorized to process the change.
- What do you bring? Submit the updated evidence, passport, ACR I-Card and previous receipts and approvals.
- What happens? BI checks whether the marriage and requirements continue and decides on permanent status.
- What do you keep? Keep the application, payment assessment, original receipt, approval and new status records together.
Missing the deadline creates unnecessary risks for your residence status.
Which obligations apply after approval?
How do you complete the Annual Report?
Report to BI during the period stated in the timeline and keep the receipt.
What applies to the ACR I-Card?
Keep the card valid and renew it when details change or before it expires.
What do you check before international travel?
- When and where? Before departure, ask BI whether you need an ECC-B and Re-Entry Permit.
- What do you bring? Have your passport, ACR I-Card and evidence of completed Annual Reports ready.
- What happens? BI checks your status and tells you which departure and return formalities are required.
- What do you keep? Keep the permits and receipts and carry them when you depart and return.
The Re-Entry Permit preserves your residence status when you return. Outstanding Annual Reports or other unresolved obligations can make departure or readmission more difficult.
Which records should you bring from abroad?
Bring complete civil-status records from the relevant issuing country. Depending on your case, you may need:
- marriage certificate
- birth certificates
- divorce judgments
- death certificates of former spouses
- apostilles or consular authentication
- English translations prepared in the issuing country
- evidence of name changes
Prepare these records correctly before departure whenever possible. Obtaining replacements from abroad is usually more time-consuming.
What is the bottom line?
For married couples who meet the reciprocity requirement, the 13A is often the most practical long-term residence status. It offers more security than continuing tourist extensions or planning based solely on Balikbayan admission. Complete and consistent documentation of the marriage is decisive. Where reciprocity is absent, check the applicable TRV route.
Which route should you compare before applying?
Use the official sources on this page to compare 13A, Balikbayan and other possible routes. Personal English-language consultations are not currently offered on this page.
Which official sources support this information?
- Bureau of Immigration: Immigrant Visa by Marriage (13A)
- Bureau of Immigration: Change to Permanent Marriage-Based Status
- Bureau of Immigration: Questions and Answers on Registration and Departure
- Bureau of Immigration: Batangas Citizen’s Charter 2025 with Charges and Procedures
- Department of Labor and Employment: Department Order 248-25 on Employment Rules and Exemptions
- Department of Foreign Affairs: Philippine Embassies and Consulates for Document Authentication
Status: 15 July 2026. BI fees and requirements can change - always check the current position with the responsible authority before applying or extending. USD planning rate on this page: USD 1 = PHP 62; conversions are rounded from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reference rate published for 3 July 2026.