What is a Tourist Visa?【Visa & Permit for Studying in the Philippines】

✅ What is a Tourist Visa?

The Tourist Visa is the most common visa used by foreigners entering the Philippines for short-term stays, including those who come to study at English language schools. For many nationalities, no pre-arranged visa is required—a 30-day stay is automatically granted upon arrival.

This entry condition is often referred to as a “visa-free” or “visa-on-arrival” arrangement.

✅ Visa-Exempt and Visa-Required Countries

Citizens of countries such as Japan, South Korea, the United States, and most EU nations are granted 30 days of visa-free entry. In contrast, nationals from China, India, Yemen, and certain other countries are required to apply for a Tourist Visa in advance.

Some passport holders—such as those from Brazil and Israel—receive 59 days upon arrival under special bilateral agreements.

✅ Use in Language Study Programs

In the Philippines, short-term language students typically do not use Student Visas. Instead, the standard combination for ESL (English as a Second Language) learners is:

• Tourist Visa (30 days on arrival)

• SSP (Special Study Permit), applied by the language school

• Visa Extensions, arranged periodically for longer stays

Most schools assist students by handling these procedures, including document collection and immigration submissions. In many cases, schools hold students’ passports securely and coordinate all visa-related tasks, except where personal appearance is required (e.g., for ACR-I Card biometric registration).

✅ Typical Entry Process for Language Students

A standard arrival and enrollment flow may look like this:

1. Enter the Philippines with a Tourist Visa (30-day automatic stay)

2. Apply for the SSP during the first week of enrollment

3. Extend the visa if the stay exceeds 4 weeks (facilitated by school staff)

✅ Extension and Duration Limits

The Tourist Visa can be extended multiple times for up to 36 months of continuous stay.
It is suitable for:

• Short programs (e.g., 1–8 weeks)

• Medium- and long-term courses (e.g., 6 months to 1 year)

Note that students who remain beyond 8 weeks must apply for an ACR-I карт, and those staying over 6 months may be required to obtain an Цагаачлалын зөвшөөрлийн гэрчилгээ (ECC) before departure.

✅ Чухал сануулга

• You may be asked to present a return or onward ticket within 30 days of arrival.
  A round-trip ticket and school acceptance letter are usually sufficient.
  If requested by immigration, you may book an onward ticket on the spot to meet this requirement.

• You can use your school’s address as your place of stay on immigration forms.

• Employment is strictly prohibited under a Tourist Visa, including part-time or volunteer work.

• For stays longer than 6 months, exit clearance or ECC may be required when departing the country.