Student visas are usually not required for ESL Academy programs in the Philippines. Instead, students must apply for an SSP (Special Study Permit) at the Immigration Bureau within 1–2 weeks after arrival.
The SSP is valid for five (5) months and must be applied for together with an SSP I-Card.
Note:
Foreign students studying in elementary school, high school, or university are required to have a student visa.
The Philippines allows visa-free entry for citizens of 160 countries.
The length of the visa-free stay depends on your nationality and may be 59 days, 30 days, or 14 days.
If you are not a citizen of a country eligible for the Philippines visa-free program, you must get a visa from the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your home country. This applies to citizens of 41 countries, including China, Sudan, Yemen, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as Taiwanese and Indonesian nationals staying more than 14 days.
Yes. Taiwanese and Indonesian citizens can enter the Philippines without a visa for up to 14 days. However, they cannot extend their stay beyond 14 days. If you plan to stay in the Philippines for more than 14 days, you must get a visa before entering.
Yes. An SSP (Special Study Permit) proves that a foreign national is studying at a specific school. It is not only a document for the individual, but also for the school. Therefore, if you transfer from another school, the immigration office will require you to reapply for an SSP.
As a traveler, a short trip abroad is generally not a problem. However, if you are a foreign student enrolled at a specific school, you will need to reapply for your SSP under Philippine Immigration regulations.
If it is only a brief departure, Immigration will likely not have any issues. The school will also notify Immigration to ensure that your short trip does not cause any problems in the future.
If you are a Philippine citizen, you do not need to apply for an SSP or an SSP I-Card.