Many veterans in the Philippines are married to Filipinos, and for them there are two tools worth knowing well. The Balikbayan privilege can give you up to a year of visa-free stay when you arrive with your spouse. The 13(a) non-quota immigrant visa is the long-term residence route based on marriage. Used together, they let many couples settle in without the endless cycle of tourist extensions.
This guide explains both, based on what Philippine government posts and the U.S. Embassy publish. Philippine immigration rules change, and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has the final word, so treat this as your map, not your permit. If you are not married to a Filipino citizen, our guide to the SRRV retirement visa is the better starting point.
The starting point: arriving as a U.S. tourist
The Philippine Consulate General in New York says U.S. citizens need no visa for a stay of up to 30 days, with a return or onward ticket and a passport valid at least six months beyond the stay. Longer stays as a tourist mean extensions through the BI. The U.S. Embassy in Manila notes that extensions are granted on an ad hoc basis and that the final decision on approval and length rests with the BI official.
That 30-day starting point is why the Balikbayan privilege matters so much.
The Balikbayan privilege
Who counts as a balikbayan
According to the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the privilege is available to:
- A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for at least one year
- A Filipino overseas worker (OFW)
- A former Filipino citizen who was naturalized in another country and holds a foreign passport
What it does for you, the foreign spouse
The consulate says foreign-passport-holding spouses and children of a balikbayan, from countries covered by Executive Order 408 (the visa-free list, which includes the U.S.), are entitled to visa-free entry for a maximum stay of one year from the date of arrival. The key condition:
"They shall be admitted as Balikbayans on condition that they (i) travel with a Balikbayan" (Philippine Consulate General, New York)
In plain terms, you and your spouse must arrive together, on the same trip, and go through immigration together. If you fly in a week later, you get the ordinary tourist entry.
What to carry to the airport
- Passports valid at least six months beyond the intended stay
- Your spouse's proof of Philippine citizenship or former citizenship, such as an old Philippine passport or a PSA-issued birth certificate. The consulate notes that a foreign passport showing "Philippines" as place of birth is not sufficient.
- Proof of your relationship, such as your marriage certificate
- Your return or onward ticket
Carry originals and copies in your hand luggage, not in the checked bag.
Gotchas
- Your spouse must qualify. If your Filipino-citizen spouse has been living in the Philippines with you and just took a short trip abroad, they may not meet the "out of the country at least one year" test. A former Filipino naturalized abroad, such as a U.S. citizen spouse born in the Philippines, has a different route into the category.
- It is per entry, and it is a visitor status. Do not plan your whole retirement around it. Ask BI how it applies to repeat entries.
- Extensions. The U.S. Embassy lists former Philippine citizens on one-year Balikbayan status among those who can apply to BI to extend their stay. Extensions are discretionary.
The 13(a) non-quota immigrant visa
The 13(a) is the Philippines' immigrant visa for the foreign spouse of a Philippine citizen. The New York consulate describes it as being for foreign nationals with a valid marriage to a Filipino citizen, with the Filipino spouse as the petitioner. It is a residence visa, not a visitor status, and it is generally the long-term route for married veterans who want to live in the Philippines.
BI processes include an "amendment from probationary to permanent resident," as the U.S. Embassy's list of BI applications shows. In practice that means the 13(a) is first issued on a probationary basis and later converted to permanent. Ask BI or the consulate how long the probationary period is and when to file the amendment, since you will need to apply on time.
Two ways to get it
- Apply at a Philippine embassy or consulate before you move. You arrive already holding the immigrant visa.
- Convert in the Philippines. Enter as a visitor (or under Balikbayan), then apply to BI for a change of status by marriage. The U.S. Embassy's BI page lists this as a standard BI application.
Which is better depends on where you are now and how much time you have. Consulate processing happens before you go; conversion means dealing with BI after you arrive.
Step by step: applying at a consulate in the U.S.
This follows the New York consulate's published process. Other Philippine posts use similar lists, but each one sets its own details, so use the checklist from the post with jurisdiction over where you live.
- Report your marriage if needed. If you married outside the Philippines, your Filipino spouse's marriage should be on file with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) through a Report of Marriage. You will need the PSA copy.
- Gather the documents. The New York consulate lists:
- PSA marriage certificate or PSA Report of Marriage
- Your spouse's PSA birth certificate and valid Philippine passport
- Your spouse's U.S. residence papers or proof of Philippine citizenship reacquisition or retention
- A notarized petition letter from your Filipino spouse
- Your U.S. passport, valid at least one year beyond the authorized stay
- Notarized FA Form No. 3 (visa application)
- Four 2x2 photos on a plain white background
- A notarized DFA Form No. 11 medical certificate with chest X-ray (on CD) and lab reports, issued within six months of filing
- A police clearance issued within six months of filing
- Proof of financial capacity, such as bank or investment certificates, a property title, or a notarized affidavit of support from a relative in the Philippines
- Prepare two sets. The consulate asks for one set with all originals and a second set with the original FA Form No. 3 and copies of everything else.
- Pay the fee. New York lists USD 150 for 13(a) to 13(g) visas, paid by money order to "Philippine Consulate General." Check the current amount at your post.
- Attend the joint interview. The consulate emails both spouses an interview schedule.
- Time it right. New York asks applicants to lodge applications at least a month and a half before intended travel.
For your financial capacity, a VA benefit summary letter from VA.gov and your DFAS retiree statement are natural documents to offer. Ask the consulate whether it wants them notarized or apostilled.
Example (hypothetical): A retired Marine and his Filipino-American wife, a former Filipino who reacquired Philippine citizenship, live in New Jersey and plan to move to Batangas. Two months before the move, they gather the PSA documents, his medical and police clearance, and his VA and DFAS letters, submit both sets at the New York consulate, and attend the joint interview together. He arrives holding the immigrant visa instead of starting from a tourist entry.
Life after the 13(a)
Expect ongoing BI obligations as a foreign resident. One clue: the Philippine Retirement Authority lists exemption from the BI annual report and the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card as a benefit of the SRRV. Other foreign residents, including 13(a) holders, should plan on both unless BI tells you otherwise. Confirm the current annual report window, ACR I-Card rules, and any re-entry or exit paperwork directly with the Bureau of Immigration, because these details change.
Also keep in mind:
- The 13(a) is tied to your marriage. If the marriage ends, your status is affected. The SRRV, by contrast, stands on its own.
- Your U.S. benefits do not depend on your Philippine visa. VA compensation, military retired pay and Social Security follow you. See VA benefits paid abroad.
- Family matters. Our spouses and family page covers survivor benefits, ID cards and other issues for mixed-nationality families.
Balikbayan, 13(a) or SRRV?
| Balikbayan | 13(a) | SRRV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basis | Traveling with a qualifying balikbayan spouse | Valid marriage to a Filipino citizen | Age 40+ and funds |
| Status | Visa-free visitor, up to one year per entry | Immigrant (resident) | Special resident retiree |
| Money up front | No visa fee to enter | Visa fee (USD 150 at the New York consulate) | Deposit plus fees to PRA |
| Depends on marriage | Yes | Yes | No |
One route some couples consider is to arrive under Balikbayan, then convert to 13(a) inside the country. Whether that works for you depends on your spouse's status and BI's current rules, so check before you book.
Where to confirm
- Bureau of Immigration (immigration.gov.ph) for conversion, extensions, annual report and ACR I-Card rules
- The Philippine embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over where you live, for consular 13(a) applications
- A licensed Philippine immigration lawyer if your situation is unusual: prior marriages, annulments, dual citizenship questions or past overstays
OCONUS Veterans is not affiliated with the Philippine government, VA or DoD. This is general information, not immigration or legal advice.
Common questions
Can I get a year visa-free in the Philippines as the American spouse of a Filipino?
Under the Balikbayan privilege, a foreign spouse from a visa-free country who travels together with a qualifying balikbayan spouse can be admitted for up to one year. Your spouse must qualify, and you must arrive together.
Does my Filipino spouse qualify as a balikbayan?
The Philippine Consulate in New York lists Filipino citizens continuously out of the Philippines at least one year, OFWs, and former Filipinos naturalized abroad. Bring proof such as an old Philippine passport or PSA birth certificate.
How much does a 13(a) visa cost at a consulate?
The Philippine Consulate General in New York lists USD 150 for 13(a) to 13(g) visas. Other posts may differ, so check yours.
Can I convert to a 13(a) inside the Philippines?
Yes, the Bureau of Immigration handles change of status by marriage for foreigners already in the country. Confirm the current checklist with BI before filing.
Do 13(a) holders need an ACR I-Card and annual report?
Plan on it. PRA lists exemption from both as an SRRV benefit, which suggests other foreign residents are covered by them. Confirm current rules with the Bureau of Immigration.
Ask vets who have done it
Post your question in the free community. Members in your country have usually been through it.
Published July 27, 2026. Information only, not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice. Confirm with the official sources.
