South African citizens do not need a visa if they are visiting the Philippines for a short-term stay of up to 30 days. However, if you wish to immigrate to Philippines from South Africa for long-term purposes, you need to obtain a visa. Permanent residency is accessible to individuals married to a Filipino citizen, holders of the SRRV (Philippines Retirement Visa), or nationals of countries with special diplomatic relations with the Philippines. This includes South African citizens as well. Our team can help you immigrate to Philipines and we also assist in obtaining citizenship.
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Types of visas in Philippines
Depending on the purpose of your immigration to Philippines from South Africa, you need to apply for the following visa types:
- Student Visa (9F) – if you are studying at an educational institution in the Philippines higher than high school level;
- Pre-arranged Employment Visa (9G) – if you are relocating to Philippines from South Africa for work purposes;
- Returning Resident Visa (13E) – for those who previously held permanent residence in the Philippines and who wish to re-apply for a temporary residence permit;
- Immigrant Visa by Marriage (13A) – if you are moving to Philippines from South Africa to marry a Filipino citizen;
- Child Born Abroad of Immigrant Mother – this visa is for children of Filipino mothers who were out of the country at the time of birth;
- Child Born Subsequent to the Issuance of Immigrant Visa of the Accompanying Parent (13C) – this visa is for children born after their parent(s) received an immigrant visa.
Those interested in opening a company in Philippines can apply for the Special Visa for Employment Generation. However, you must demonstrate that your company plans to employ at least ten Filipino workers in a legal and viable business, trade, or industry. In this context, our team can help you with company formation in Philippines.
Permanent residency in Philippines
If you wish to immigrate from South Africa to Philippines and gain permanent residency, there are a few options available.
The Immigrant Visa by Marriage is granted to foreigners who are legally married to a Filipino citizen under Philippine law. The Filipino spouse must initiate the visa application. The application process generally takes 2-3 months. During the processing period, you can remain in the Philippines on a tourist visa and extend it as necessary. If approved, you can move to the Philippines indefinitely, as long as the marriage is valid. Please note that initially you are given a 1-year probationary visa, after which your eligibility for permanent residency is re-evaluated. This visa also gives you the right to legally work in Philippines, without needing to obtain an alien employment permit (AEP).
Another way to obtain permanent residence while relocating to Philippines from South Africa is by applying for the Quota Visa. However, the number of applicants who benefit from this visa is relatively low. Only 50 Quota Visas are available each year.
Additionally, the SRRV (Philippines Retirement Visa) also grants permanent residency to retirees, under certain conditions. Our team can detail this program if you are planning to move to Philippines from South Africa for retirement.
Statistics about immigration in Philippines
If you are interested in immigrating to the Philippines, here are a few interesting statistics about the immigration trends in 2023:
- Over 6 million foreigners traveled to Phillippines;
- 19 Special Visas for Employment Generation were issued, allowing entrepreneurs to start a business in Philippines;
- Over 70,000 Pre-arranged Employment Visas were issued, for commercial work only;
- 3,495 Immigrant Visas by Marriage were issued.
In addition to our immigration services, we also assist with company formation in Philippines.
Do not hesitate to contact our team for full support and guidance in immigrating from South Africa to Philippines.