Tourist Visa 6M Tourist Visa

Just noticed this from another website and thought some might Like ?? If it ever happens ? At what cost ? I might guess 12K P ?

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - BI Launches Long-Stay Visa

Main page I noticed more news..

http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=1&Itemid=78

Take care all..

 

A 6 month visa, if it is done right, is definitely a step in the right direction. It will be interesting to see how much it costs though.

 

Firefly, good timing, I was just going to post something about this myself! In a nutshell, looks like visas can be extended 6 months at a time, up to a total of 24 or 36 months (depending on whether you are from a country that can come into the Philippines without a tourist visa to begin with).

Here are some links to the actual enabling orders:

RADJR-2013-007 Alternate link: RADJR-2013-007

RADJR-2013-002

I am somewhat amazed that BI has Facebook and Twitter accounts that are relatively up-to-date!

Edit:
BTW, for anyone interested, I first ran across the new visa yesterday in this link on SRRV and other Philippines retirement stuff, the speaker kind of spilled the beans on "the forthcoming Long Stay Visitor Visa (LSVV)" in April.

3rd Retirement and Healthcare Summit.pdf

 

In 6 months the stickers will be "Sorry Sir, no stock!"

 

When they announced, last year, the 30-day visa on first arrival in to the country, that was seen as a good idea too. It would have brought the Philippines in line with other S.E. nations. As usual, it was announced with a fanfare, and almost immediately died a beurocratic death. Joined up thinking between departments here is a wished for, but non-existent, luxury.

 

Stickers.. From August 2011..

The Bureau of Immigration, Philippines Official Website - BI to implement tamper-proof visa sticker scheme

Looking through the BI News pages this article stuck out Ha..

 

That website is a shame, just like the Notice Board in the waiting room from BI Dumaguete...

 

Sham or Shame? That is the official BI website.. Some interesting deportations amongst the 20+ pages within the NEWS heading..

No mention within that News of a 30 Day Visa.. Sir Broadside, No offence intended.. Take care, out there..

 

There are numerous articles on it, here is one from Department of Tourism;



A March 21, 2012 press release from the Department of Tourism

Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. announced that visa reforms, which will be implemented soon, will boost the competitiveness of the Philippines as a tourism destination.

The new visa policies were agreed upon by Secretary Jimenez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, and Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Ricardo A. David Jr. It now includes the increase in the visa-free privilege for 166 countries/territories from 21 to 30 days, granting of a 30-day visa-free stay to Chinese nationals travelling to the Philippines as part of a tour group handled by a Department of Tourism-accredited Philippine tour operator, and a 14-day visa-free stay for Indian nationals who have a valid American, Japan, Australian, Canadian, Shengen, Singapore, or United Kingdom visa.

The implementation of these new policies is part of the Aquino Administration’s efforts to attract more foreign tourists and spread the benefits of tourism to the countryside by simplifying entry requirement procedures and processes and allowing them more time to experience what the Philippines has to offer.

“We need to address the perception abroad that it is difficult to enter the Philippines. With these visa reforms, we will be at par with the entry policies of our neighbours in the region and, for some markets, more liberal. This will definitely help in achieving our target of 10 million foreign visitors by 2016,” said Secretary Jimenez.

Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia allow entry of nationals of most countries without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Tourists entering Cambodia are issued visas upon arrival valid for one month, except for nationals of ASEAN countries who are allowed to enter visa-free.

Other policy reforms are currently being reviewed by a working group composed of representatives from the Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Bureau of Immigration, including a special long-stay visa for active retirees.

tourism.gov.ph


http://www.gov.ph/2012/03/21/visa-reforms-to-boost-phl-competitiveness-spur-arrivals/



There were a few that got it, but since it has been swept under the rug.

Larry