Requirements for an ECC – Exit Clearance Certificate

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Requirements for an ECC

The Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI) has stated that the following are needed to get an ECC – Exit Clearance Certificate (also called Emigration Clearance Certificate)


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  • Completed application forms. (They supply numerous forms for you to fill in !!)
  • 6 pcs. colored photo (size 2×2 ) white background. (NOTE: SIX were needed, not the FIVE that web sites say.
  • Photocopy of passport (3 Pages: biopage, latest arrival stamp and last visa extension stamp).
  • Photo of both sides of Alien Certificate of Registration ACR card. (Must be Current NOT Expired)
  • Photocopy AND Original of the Receipt for payment of last visa extension fees. (To be issued with an ECC, you need up to date valid visas)
  • Current ACR-I card
  • A personal appearance is required for fingerprinting, both electronic scanning and manual ink, and photograph.

There are various forms available for download at: http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php/downloads/application-forms but… not for the Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) as it is now called.

Philippines BI Forms

More Information on the Exit Clearance Certificate

Who needs an ECC Emigration Clearance Certificate or Exit Clearance Certificate

An Emigration Clearance Certificate [ECC] is needed when Foreign Passport Holders are leaving the Philippines after a stay of 6 months or more.

Your passport may be stamped like this, when you get a visa renewal that takes you past 6 months after entry.

Notice of ECC after 6 months

Any child, born in the Philippines, but travelling on a Foreign passport, NEEDS an ECC to leave the Philippines. A notice to this effect is on display at a Bureau of Immigration office.

Requirements for an Emigration Clearance Certificate [ECC]

To be issued with an ECC, you need up to date valid visas, and an ACR-I card.

Cost of an ECC Emigration Clearance Certificate or Exit Clearance Certificate

Cost of ECC-A

The cost for an ECC-A in 2014 was 500 pesos.  There has been some recent talk about it being free, by some people, but two recent comments shown below, show that there is still a charge being made.

  1. ken hogan on January 17, 2018 at 12:52 pm
    i just got my ECC today 17/1/ 2018 at J Mall Mandaue 500 php total
  2. Edward on November 2, 2017 at 5:15 pm
    I just got my ECC and the total cost was 710 pesos at the J centre mall on the second floor in mandaue

Cost of ECC-B

The cost for an ECC-B in 2015 was mentioned by one person at 2,850 pesos. The cost was mentioned again in October 2018.

  1. Friendly Citizen on October 30, 2018  at 5:37 am
    I paid 2,860 + 500 (express fee) = 3,360.

ECC-A for Visitor Visa Holders

The ECC-A may be secured at the BI Main Office or in select District Offices, Satellite Offices, Field Offices, One-Stop-Shops.
ECC-A is issued to departing holders of Tourist Visas who have stayed for 6 months or more. A valid ACR-i card is required for this when the Visitor visa holder has been in the country for over 2 months.
ECC-A is issued to departing holders of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visas with valid ACR I-Cards and are leaving the country permanently.

ECC-B for other Than Visitor Visa Holders

The ECC-B may be secured at the BI Main Office or in the airport upon departure.
ECC-B is issued to departing holders of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visas with valid ACR I-Cards and are leaving the country temporarily.

Update:

Confusion between ECC-A and ECC-B for Tourist Visa Holders

There is confusion on whether a Tourist Visa holder, leaving the country temporarily, and holding an ACR-I card, requires the ECC-A or the ECC-B.

Tourist Visa in the country over 6 months: ECC-A with no confusion. (ECC-A is issued to departing holders of Tourist Visas who have stayed for 6 months or more)

Tourist Visa in the country under 6 months: This is where the confusion arises, as the Tourist Visa holder must also have an ACR-I card (after 2 months) and the rules state: ECC-B is issued to departing holders of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visas with valid ACR I-Cards and are leaving the country temporarily

However, even if the Tourist Visa holder is only leaving temporarily, their visa will normally expire on leaving, meaning it is a permanent exit on that visa, and they will return on a new visa, automatically given for most nationals, for a 30 day period, with the same conditions applying for a new temporary visa entry.

If the Immigrant or Non-Immigrant visa can be used for re-entry, then it could be classed as ‘leaving the country temporarily’, and selecting the ECC-B.

It is possible that some Tourist Visas may be able to be used for re-entry under those circumstances.

 

When the ECC was enforced in 2013, the reason for this certificate was given as follows:

Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said that the ECC is being issued to departing foreigner nationals to prove that they have no derogatory records in the country or any accountability with other government agencies.

There are two types of ECC:

The ECC-A is being issued to foreigners who have tourist visas extending for more than six months. (A tourist visa holder in the country for over two months will also have a tourist ACR-i card)

The ECC-B, on the other hand, is given to holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas with valid alien certificate registration I-Cards.

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Hey sir… Sir i already apply for the ECC. They give me a one receipt and tell come here for bring tha ECC on 28 may 2017. So what’s the documents that i have to bring with me when i going to take it.?

Sir i applied and submitted all but they didn’t ask for acr. I living here as a tourist visa wih special study permit when i came i have 2 months visa. Then i extansion for 2 months after they expired i again extansion for 6 months. In this two visas they not ask to. Me for acr i-card. In SSP may be my collage got my acr card but i didn’t received yet, i have my flight on 29th may and ECC department didn’t ask foe my acr and i have no acr yet… So when I’m going to take my ECC they direct give me or they ask for acr? If they give directlyECC when i give receipt of ECC so is there any problems in airport.. In airport i have to submit only acr? Airport immigration ask for my acr or. Not

Sir im totally confused because i have no acr card yet. I didn’t receive it. i have ssp here. So airport will ask for only ECC or wuth also acr?

Sir i applied already I’ll get on 28th may but i didn’t pay yet where i have to pay??? When im going to take there i have to pay fee for ECC?

Sir ACR i-card is need when im taming my ECC and need also in the airport?

Sir ACR i-card is need when im taking my ECC and need also in the airport?

Without tourist acr i can go? Because i have no acr yet so that’s why im in confused

hi i have a 6 month old son born in the philippines but later applied for US citizenship since his father is american. he received his US passport today. can you please help me about the requirements needed for ECC? the problem is im not in the philippines im already in the US bec my visa’s
expiration date is already due thats why i went ahead of him.

Hi, my son was born in the philippines and they had british passport. Do they need the exit clearance before leaving the country?? What are the requirements?

Sir /madame
Good day.I just want to ask about how to apply ECC?Do I need to do a online appointment or application first?or what?how much it cost?what documents and steps we need to do?My son has US passport already. Hopefully I get response here because I’ve been trying to reach ur office through phone calls and emails but response. Have a good day.thank u

Where he is born is of no importance at all. Either he is or he is not a philippine citizen. That is only determined by blood. Was either parent a philippine citizen when he was born? And was the kid not naturalized to being british? Then he still is a philippine citizen.

So, if applicable, get him a philippine passport.

My two daughters were born in the Philippines and both have both a dutch passport and a philippine passport. The philippine passport is to show that they are _not_ foreigners and _thus_ do not need ECC. The dutch passport is to show that they do _not_ need visa to get into the EU.

Yes, this works and yes this is how it is supposed to be. Show both passports at the border and both are stamped. The foreign passport (i.e. the dutch passport in our case) got a stamp with ‘pp’ written in it.

If the border people say ‘you have foreign passport so you must have ecc’ then they are wrong. ECC is for foreigners only, not for holders of a philippine passport including dual citizens.

According to xinfo@immigration.gov.ph a certificate of dual citizenship should also be enough, as opposed to a philippine passport. I have no experience with that, it just seemed more easy to get the kids a passport.

No need to post this to the site; please contact me off list. You have my email address. I can share an anonymized version of that statement for publication and I can show you the conversation upto and including that point.

Hi, my mum and my 8year old sister will be visiting here in australia as a tourist they have Granted a tourist Visa. They have a philippine passport.. do they need any exit clearances or cert. ?

Thank you so much for your reply… Much appreciated☺

Hi. I have a valid balikbayan visa and same time probationary 1 year ACR I-card. Do i need to pay ECC each time i go out of the country? If yes, how much is it if paid at the airport during the first time i go out? And the succeeding trips out of Philippines? Thank you.

Hi, did you apply ECC when you left the country? I have a valid Balikbayan visa, and I will be 2 days short 5 months and 28 days) of the minimum 6 months and up of stay in the Philippines. I don’t have valid ACR-I CARD too ( it expired last November 2017 ).

You need to update your acr-i card before you can leave, and by the time you go to buy your plane ticket it will be over the six month period. And yes you will need an ECC to leave the country cz if you dont get one your not leaving the Philippines. As far as the cost i did not pay anything

Just go to your local bi office since you need to go there anyway and they will let you know exactly what you need cz that is what i did and it took 2 weeks to get mine and there was no cost for it.

hi, im an american citizen living in baguio, i lost my acr card and needs renewal, my flight is 4 days away and its an emergency, what should i do?

I am not sure if this is the correct forum to post this? Anyway, my friend of four years, has recently been issued her Philippines Passport. We will be traveling to Hong Kong for a vacation of one week. I have heard from friends that she will need to get a Emigration Clearance Certificate, in order to travel. How does she make an appoinment to take the class? How often are the classes given? Is there a phone number to call to make an appointment?

Thanks,
Bing

Please be advised: ECC is not needed for Philippine nationals, provided that you can prove this by either a Philippine passport or by a dual citizen’s certificate. If the immigration officer says otherwise, he/she is not doing his/her job properly. My two children, holders of a Philippine passport and a foreign passport, were allowed to travel without the ECC, as should be. ECC is needed for foreigners, not for Philippine citizens.

Holders of a Philippine passport are not foreign nationals. They are Philippine citizens, who may also happen to have another nationality and passport. Any attempt from Bureau of Immigration to treat you as a foreigner is not just frustrating, it is unconstitutional.

But beware. In at least some of the reported cases, the child (or already adult) is not a Philippine citizen.

Being born in the Philippines does not make you a Philippine citizen. Being born of at least one Philippine parent, does. The parent(s) need to be (a) Philippine citizen when the child is born. A former Philippine citizen, such as the wife of an American soldier, that wife being a nationalized American citizen, will produce an American child, not a Philippine child.

Not Philippine citizens are those who are born in the Philippines from foreign parents (e.g. 2 Koreans, or one American soldier and his nationalized American wife).

Philippine citizens are those who were born from at least one Philippine parent and who did not lose their citizenship by, for instance, being nationalized to another country.

Border staff seems to operate on much more simplified instructions “if foreign passport then must have ecc”. This is not true, it is only valid if there is ONLY a foreign passport.

I reported these problems to the presidential action center ( https://op-proper.gov.ph/presidential-action-center/ ) and they forwarded my letter to bureau of immigration. No surprise: it is there that the communication stalls again.

I am just one. If many more people inform PACE about this problem, they will understand that BI is doing wrong and should be corrected.

Anyway, my children passed the border, showing both their foreign passport and their Philippine passport. I will never know if my complaint to PACE has helped.

Hi,my 14 year old nephew has a japanese passport,he will travel alone to japan this vacation,does he need to get an exit visa,what are the requirements? Thanks

Only a Japanese passport? And also no certificate of dual citizenship? Then yes, he must have ECC. Depending on the exact circumstances this may also involve paying for 14 years of visa, penalties, et cetera…
Is he also a Philippine citizen? He should get a Philippine passport then. Philippine citizens do not need visa, and no ECC.

Hi, i will travel with my 5y/o daughter who have a dutch and philippine passport to europe next month. This is not her first time to travel overseas and during the first time we travelled, I secured her an ECC but that was because before she doesn’t have a Phil. passport yet. Now my question is, do you think we still need to secure an ECC this time? Even she has a Phil passport and not her first time to travel. Thanks

i have a 13a visa good for 5 years do i need the ecc to go to thailand and return with my filipina wife it says i do I think but not sure thanks for info alvis holder

Hi, great article. I had a question.
I recently stayed in the Philippines on a tourist visa for 5 months and then left the country for a week.
I am now on my 2nd visit for 2 months and will be departing philippines in 2 weeks. So my current trip is 2 months but my total trips together have been 7 months.
When I left 2 months ago, did I “reset” my 6 months or will I need an ECC?

Thank you so much

How long it takes to get ECC? Can be done by one day ? Because I have to leave the country Tuesday and I am here in palawan I will fly sunday so I can get process the ECC on monday, can be done on the same day I process?

can we get the ECC at the BI naga branch?

hi admin, my daughter almost over stay for almost 1 year and she is studying in bicol in getting the ECC is she require for the personal appearance since she is minor (8 years old)

Hi i came in business visa around december 26th 2016 and i am travelling back on feb 22nd.Do i require ECC to be filled here.

Hi I came in business visa on 26th of dec, 2017 and i will be travelling now on 22nd Feb 2017, do i have to still do ECC and al

Hi Sir,

I arrived in the Philippines on the 20th of August 2016, and will leave on the 19th of February, when my last extended tourist visa expires. (Valid until: 19 Feb 2017)

That is one day short of 6 calendar months.

Will I need an ECC or not?

Thank you,

Hallow my daugther has dual citizinship…she born her in phlilppines she is 1 two months year old… and we plan nxt month to travel in germany…she need a travel exit??

My adult son was born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and I am an American. He is 32 years old and he and I jumped threw all of the hoops and he was finally declared an American and just received his U.S passport. He was stop at the airport in Manila and was allowed to board the plane to the U.S. He was told he need an ECC and had to pay $1600 before he could leave. They said this money is for a fine and that he must renounce in citizenship of the Philippines. He plans to live with me and my wife while he saves money to send for his Filipino wife and 3 small sons. This fine sounds strange to me. Could you provide many information? My son said they ( IM ) advised him of a new law about “foreign nationals” leaving the PHIL for the first time.

Hi I’m studying in the Philippines and I’m planing on leaving 22Dec due to my grandma that is sick. I have left the country before,to visit but it was a very easy process in Baguio. How can I do now in Manila?

I will be returning to the US in March with valid visa extensions permanently. Which EEC need I apply for, and while I will be leaving prior to expiration of visa, is it necessary for me to renew my ACR as well since I have no intent to return?

Thank you…

Hello.My ECC is valid till Nov 17 2016. I am on 9A and my SWP is valid till Nov 20 2016.But due to some reasons I would like to extend my stay here in philippines. Should i cancel my ECC ? What is the option i have in order to stay back here in phililippines?

Hi!i arrive here to the philippinw in 9 octobre 2016 with my wife filipina i get balikbayan visa after expire one year i convert balikbayan visa to tourist visa extend one month so i want to exit from the philippine before my visa will expire in 9 november do i need ECC??

Goodday Sir, i just want to ask about the ECC of my daughter, she is a Filipino-Japanese born here in Phil.I am planning to fetch her a few months from now to live with us here in Japan.I got her Japanese passport and adviced by the Embassy of Japan Manila to secure an ECC frm BI. She do not have a Philippine passport yet and we are set to travel using only her Japanese passport. it is also her 1st time to travel abroad.She is now 6months old so since we as parents cannot attend to process the ECC for her can i ask my brother as her guardian to process it for me? what are the required papers to be shown at the BI in order for the gaurdians to get the ECC? We are originally from Bacolod city, do the the Immigration Field-Bacolod provides ECC?

I arrived last month in Cebu City with a month Visa and will need an extension for two months. Visa is still good for two weeks. Can I go to Mactan office for Visa Extension? How many 2 x 2 pictures do I need? Do I need to make photo copies of some pages in my U.S. passport? How much is the cost of two months extension?
Thanks.

Good evening.

I arrived in the Philippines on the 24th of May, and will leave on the 23rd of November, when my 6-month tourist visa expires.

That is one day short of 6 calendar months.

Will I need an ECC or not?

Thank you,

Christopher Johnson

may i know if i need to visit your main office in manila to secure for an ECC for my son who is a 10 month old or can i visit your branch here in cagayan de oro city instead..

You have to get the ECC for the 10month old baby at the Main Office in Manila. That is what the Sta. Rosa Laguna BI Office told us.

Hi. The last stamp in my passport is balikbayan good for one year stay back in year 2000. The only document I have is my order of recognition dated 1994. Will I be able to get ECC using that document only and eventually travel back to the US? I only have a US passport.

The order of recognition is a document which states that they recognize me as a filipino citizen wherein I should be issued an Identification Card and also an ECC if I will depart from the PH using a foreign passport. I’ve been going back and forth to the BoI office, all they have done was to pass my inquiry from different floors to different windows.

Hi i have been in the philippnes since march 22. 2017 i had ectended until january 20. 2018 i will be leaving the country from mactan airport on november 7 2017 do i need anything else besides my ECC?

Hi Myself Paul a valid work visa holder valid till July 2018, I came in Philippines this June 2016 so if I want to leave philippines temporarily on a vacation do I need ECC and do I need a return ticket also as a proof that I will return back. Kindly assist.

Hi Admin, I had a Alien Certificate of Registration(Yellow Card) under Temporary Visitor, which expired on 08 Oct 2016. I arrived in Philippines on 29 June 2016, and going to leave by this week. Do I need to apply for ECC? Hope to get the reply as soon as possible as I’m gonna buy a flight ticket.

Hi Admin, thanks for the reply so soon!
But actually I got downgraded my CEZA during the current visit. Do I fall under the circumstances below?
1- Holders of expired or downgraded Immigrant or Non-Immigrant Visas;
2- Holders of valid Immigrant or Non-Immigrant Visas but are leaving for good;

And another question, can I do the ECC in MAKATI IMMIGRATION EXTENSION OFFICE, instead of the head office?

Many thanks for your reply!

I hope someone can give me some advice. I have a 9G work visa (granted in March; prior to that I had a tourist visa stamped December 2015) – do I need an Emigration Clearance Certificate to travel out of the Philippines?

Hi, i just want to know if i need ecc for my baby 9mos old travelling to korea with phil passport and korean passport. What is more convenient to make for our travel please neef your advice

good day there in phil.i just wanted to ask if how much the ECC cost for the 9 months old baby bcoz i was trying to let my half sister and my mom to get him a phil.passport but the DFA say that they cant as in his live birth im still single…and our marriage certificate wasnt recognized there in the phil.bcoz my husband,the father of my son dnt want that we will report our marriage there in the phil.embassy here in US.thank for answering my question and have a nice day and God bless

Hello and good day, does a balikbayan holder (visa) needed to obtain a Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) prior to leaving the Philippines after staying in the country for 6 months or more? Thank you.

good day,……if I have student visa, it is that no need for me to get Photocopy AND Original of the Receipt for payment of last visa extension fees?
I’m confused if I have student visa I will show that when filling foe ECC. which is which?
please,help me.

if I have student visa, it is that no need for me to get Photocopy AND Original of the Receipt for payment of last visa extension fees?
I’m confused if I have student visa I will show that when filling foe ECC. which is which?
please,help me.

Hi….
I want to ask. Im already working here about 3 years. My last holiday at March 2014, after that never going out from phillipines for 2,5 years (but while working im holding AEC).
Now im already resign, and want get out from phillipines. May i know do i have charge for the penatly? If yes, for how much?

Hello Admin I’m here overstay for 6 months now and I want to travel out of the country what should i do and how much it will cost btw i live in metro manila and my flight July 1st 2016 so what should I do and how much it will cost please reply asap, Thanks

I just want to share my recent experience of applying for ECC at the Main office, Intramuros, Manila, this June 9, 2016. As for the Main office they now ask that you apply for your ECC AT LEAST FIFTEEN DAYS (yes, 15 days) prior to your departure. They also have a notice that even you have a plane ticket it will not ensure it to be done faster. This information is NOT found at the BI website, this is just posted on printed/xeroxes at the ECC windows and nowhere else inside the service sections of the building. This is quite a far cry from the message of the website that says that departing travellers should secure the ECC at least 72 hours before departure. Also, regularly now, they will NOT give you the ECC the same day you apply. They need THREE working days to finish it, so you will be asked to come back in a few days to pick same up. Added to this they have added an additional REQUIREMENT. You must fill up an ARP (Alien Registration Program) form to apply for the ECC. The form ask you the same information that they ask in the ECC form and that they already know about you. Oddly,the ARP is free of charge. Obviously the ECC is now low priority for BI. Having been on and off to Philippines for the last 11 years I have always found it annoying and aged. Why not make a simple and FAST procedure where they just check the records of you, get the fingerprints digitally and have an authorized signing officer there to have it signed properly and then – done. Should not take more than 1 hour max. Add an express fee if you like and then have it all at a flat rate 0f 1000 pesos. Make things convinient for all. Not easy here, I know. My two cents anyway.

Hey there Santiago. Are you holding an immigrant or non immigrant visa or just tourist visa?

Hi Mev, its just a tourist visa. Maybe faster if once has a non-immigrant or 13A?

How much all cost you till you get your ECC

Hi, on your site it says you need a valid ACR-i card. Mine has just run out. it ran out after did my last visa renewal..

I asked the lady at the immigration desk and she said it would be ok.. have you heard anything on this topic? as even if i tried to get a new one as im leaving in under 3 weeks and don’t live on Luzon I wouldn’t get it on time?

how about this: i have a daughter in philipines and she have a fphilipine passport, and soon have european union passport. if she is leaving with philipine passport to hong kong (hong kong traveling is ok without visa with philipine passport) and use european union passport from hong kong to europe. she dont need to pay trvel tax or doesnt need ecc clearance, right? then coming back to philippines with philipine passport and then she have entrance stamp ? right?

My Son in law is overstaying for more than a year , we will go to pay in Manila immigration this month, we will also request an ECC, since it need 72 hours minimum to proceed do we have to wait on site or can it be sent back to our address in Negros ? because his fly will departure from Cebu airport

Good day,Sir/Madam,
I have 2 children leaving in the Phils next month to join their father in the US. They have both Phil passport and US passport. They are require to get ECC ?

i just want to make sure if i still need the ECC as we immigate in the US.my daughter has a dual citizenship and she already has ameriacan and philippine passport,do i still need an ECC for her?

Hi, i just want to know if need airticket to get a ECC

What is the purpose of ECC? I do not see any benefit of this. Its only a hassle and money making business. If people want to exit the country let them be. Arrival is the priority here. Arriving passengers at airports are more scrutinised.How come rich, politicians csn escape the country after a crime? While a tourist needs ECC. For God’s sake these tourist has spent money in your country and helped your economy. Why can you not make life easier for them once.

Beth…
I have been living in the Philppines now for one year and have it up to the gills in the way they treat foreigners, potential foreign investors, tourists etc.
I just can’t wait to get back to civilisation.
But I now need an ECC to get out of here.
This effectively means that I have to travel 8 hours on the bus to get to the nearest city to have this processed.
It also means an overnight stay.
It’s all money, money and more money here.
Totally disorganised and opportunist does not even describe this lot.
And they say it is more fun in the Philippines…Goodbye Rip-Off Republic.

Thank you so much for the quick reply.

Good Day! My son has dual citizenship. He’s staying with me here in the Philippines since 2009. We are leaving for US next month since my petition has been approved. Do I have to get him an exit clearance?

Alright, thanks so much for your concern and reply.
Much appreciate…

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

Currently im working in Philippines and have work permit, i want to bring my 6yo son out of the country for two days which that my son has been staying in here for almost a year with tourist visa. My questions are, what ECC that he has to apply? A or B? And does he need return ticket when he return to Philippines after two days out? Thank you very much and look forward for your reply.

Yes, tourist visa for current visa (extended).

Im from Indonesia, as i have work permit i dont need return ticket if i go out to other country and back to Philippines.

What im afraid is, my son will need return ticket as he’s only holding tourist visa. But, if his return ticket need guardian as well and those ticket will be wasted.

Thanks so much for your quick reply.

Good day Sir/Madam I am a US Citizen naturally born Filipino, Living here in the Philippines for more than 30yrs. I acquired my citizenship through my father who is a US Army during World War II. I am paying my ACR (paper-based) every year and updated my passport. My last visit in the US was last 1985. I decided to get back in the States this month. Do I need ECC? Thank You Very Much.

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