Must-Read Before Departure ⑦ | Philippine Visa Summary

Hello, this is Awork Academy.

When studying a language in the Philippines, the procedures you need depend on your length of stay and study purpose.

Broadly speaking, there are four main types:

• Tourist Visa (Visa Extension)

• SSP (Special Study Permit)

• SSP I-Card (Student ACR I-Card)

• ACR I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration)

Let's go over each one in detail.

< Philippine Tourist Visa >

■ For Japanese Nationals

If you hold Japanese nationality,

you can stay for 30 days without a visa (visa-free stay).

■ If Staying Longer Than 30 Days

If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you will need to apply for a visa extension.

• Short-term study of 30 days or less: no extension needed

• Stay of 31 days or more: extension application required

If you fail to apply for an extension, a penalty will apply. In the worst case, you could even be restricted from entering the country in the future, so please be careful.

■ Number and Length of Visa Extensions

• 1st extension: up to 29 days

• 2nd extension: up to 30 days

Further extensions are possible in stages after that (up to about 5 times)

*In principle, extensions must be applied for each month.

■ Approximate Extension Cost

• 1st extension: around mid-3,000 pesos

*Costs vary depending on local conditions and the language school.

< What Is the SSP (Special Study Permit)? >

The SSP is a special permit required to study in the Philippines.

If you enter on a tourist visa and attend a language school, you must obtain this regardless of your length of stay.

■ Key Points About the SSP

• Applied for through the language school

• Issued per school (with a unique number)

• Validity period: 6 months

You will need to reapply in the following cases.

• If you change schools

• If you leave the country and re-enter

< What Is the SSP I-Card (Student ACR I-Card)? >

Due to a recent regulatory change, language students are now required to apply for the SSP I-Card at the same time as the SSP. (This applies to everyone who obtains an SSP.)

■ Features of the SSP I-Card

• Required for all students applying for an SSP (regardless of length of stay)

• Officially called the "ACR I-Card (Student Category)," an alien registration card

• Validity period: 1 year (treated separately from the SSP validity period)

• Remains valid even if you change schools (no need to reapply within 1 year)

• The school typically handles the application on your behalf (you only need to submit your passport)

→ The SSP I-Card is a card-type permit required in addition to the traditional paper SSP.

< What Is the ACR I-Card? >

The ACR I-Card is
an alien registration card required for foreigners staying 59 days or more.

It is used as a form of identification in the Philippines.

■ Key Points About the ACR I-Card

• Required if staying 59 days or more

• Can be applied for at the time of your 2nd visa extension

• Validity period: usually 1 year

• No need to reissue if you change schools

→ The ACR I-Card is often confused with the SSP I-Card, but they are different (the requirements differ depending on your length of stay).

■ Approximate Cost

Roughly 70,000 to 80,000 yen equivalent

While staying in the Philippines, this becomes an important form of identification, much like a My Number Card or passport in Japan.

Please be very careful not to lose it.

Length of Stay and Required Procedures

For language study in the Philippines,

• Length of stay

• Whether you change schools

• Whether you re-enter the country

will change the procedures you need.

Understanding this correctly in advance will let you start your study abroad life with peace of mind.

Awork Academy's official website clearly organizes information about working holidays and language study by country.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime.