Most Tourists to the Philippines are allowed to stay for 30 days before needing to apply for a Visa.
If staying longer than that, the visitor is supposed to get a Visa Extension.
The first Tourist Visa extension is the initial extension of twenty-nine (29) days, taking the visit up to 59 days. These extensions can then continue for a total of 24 or 36 months, if required.
Some people do not bother with a visa extension, and find they have a problem when they want to leave the Philippines.
Most people who have stayed for 6 months, or more, will need to get an Exit Clearance Certificate [ECC] before they are permitted to leave. This can only be provided to someone with up to date visas.
Consequently, any 'overstayers' without visa extensions, then find that they need to pay ALL previously unpaid visa fees, plus a penalty.
The cost might only be 4,310 pesos for a one day to one Month Overstay, or..
It might reach 13,000 pesos for up to a Three Month Overstay.
Some long term overstayers have been known to pay 80,000 pesos for a 19 months overstay.
or
Nearly half a million pesos for an overstay of about 15 years.
Yes, some people do overstay that long.
The figures are approximate costs. Immigration will determine the exact cost when you visit their office.
A reasonable ‘estimate’ can be made by calculating 3,000 pesos for every month of overstay. Or about 30,000 pesos for each year.
Other problems with overstaying a Visa can include:
- Being banned from returning to the Philippines.
- Being detained at the Immigration Detention Center, Bicutan, Taguig City, Manila.
Being detained at the Bureau of Immigration detention center is not that pleasant, when one considers that it is designed to accommodate 140 detainees, but sometimes houses 1,500.
Oct 10, 2019 news report: Wednesday’s arrests bring the number of arrested foreign workers to nearly 1,500, causing overcrowding at the Bureau of Immigration’s detention center, which could only accommodate 140 detainees.
