Jim Sibbick first visited the Philippines in September 1994 and immediately fell in love with the culture and the people. He lives in Cebu City for part of the year and Australia for part of the year. While traveling to various areas of the Philippines, he shoots videos to bring a bit of the Philippines to those who have never visited or seen this wonderful country. He has more than 100 short videos of the Philippines currently hosted on two websites and available for you to download for free. Follow this site as he discusses his thoughts on the Philippines, new videos available for download and how some of the videos came into being.
Emigration Clearance Certificate (update February 2009)
For those of you who are unaware,
if you have been in the Philippines for more than 6 months on a tourist visa, you need permission to leave the Philippines.
I arranged my Emigration Clearance Certificate today and following is my experience at the Bureau of Immigration (B.O.I.) in Mandaue City.
I was given 3 pages to complete, in advance, by JJ Petrea. The first page is an application to leave the Philippines and the other two pages are 2 copies of the Emigration Clearance Certificate. One copy of the Emigration Clearance Certificate stays with Bureau of Immigration and when all is complete one copy of the Emigration Clearance Certificate is for you to keep until you depart.
Along with the application, you need 3 2″x2″ passport style photographs, passport and your left and right thumbs. There is also a fee UPDATE FEBRUARY 2009 It was P500 but is now P1,010.
I filled out all 3 pages in advance. A photo has to be attached to each page. I didn’t attach the photos in advance because JJ had been told by a previous person that B.O.I. didn’t want the photos attached in advance.
When I entered B.O.I., I saw they had a numbering system so I thought I had to get a number first. Apparently that was not necessary but there was no obvious window to use and the helpfull guard pointed me to the window marked Visa Extensions.
At the visa extension window, they told me I should have already attached the photos so they pointed to where someone else was using glue to attach photos and told me to do the same. I attached the photos and went back to the window. They then told me I shouldn’t have filled out the Emigration Clearance Certificates as it was their job and asked me to transfer my newly glued photos from the old forms to new blank forms. I had extra photos, just in case, so I just glued them on instead. I then had to sign every where it asked for my signature.
Now that everything was apparently in order, they took my passport, exit application and blank emigration clearance certificates and gave me a number for their numbering system and told me to wait until I was called. Apparently I still didn’t need the number because all the people who were there for Emigration Clearance get called up by name. Less than 10 minutes later, I was called up to the cashier window. At this point I was asked for my P500 then told to wait to give my thumbrints.
After about 5 minutes, I was called to give thumbprints then after the thumbprints, I was sent upstairs.
There was a lady whose job it was to type up the Emigration Clearance Certificates. She typed mine plus the person before me and two people following me, all at the same time, then took them into an official for checking. After about 10 minutes, she went in to see the official and came out with all the passports and paperwork together. Everyone had to sign a book, they were given their passport and Emigration Clearance Certificate and the process was complete.
Total time from first walking in the door at B.O.I. to walking out the door at B.O.I. was less than 50 minutes.
Before I went to B.O.I., I was told that there was a person there who you could pay to make the process go quicker. I believe that 2 people following after me had paid for assistance as they were led everywhere by one of the staff but they took just as long as I did. 
Here is a reduced size copy of what I had to hand to the immigration officer at passport control, when leaving the Philippines.
14 Responses to 'Emigration Clearance Certificate (update February 2009)'
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on May 7th, 2006 at 3:45 am
Was it fun?
Back in 1991 I was detained by Her Majestic’s Immigration in Glasgow Pestwick Airport for a hour or so before I was told I am deny to enter U.K. Because of European Union Labour Law, any of non E.U. citizens cannot work anywhere in E.U. member countries unless they are 23 or over.
For coming and living in the Philippines, it will be fun challenging moments for me, and you got to love it.
on May 7th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Hello PHmaestoso
I would not say it is fun at Bureau of immigration but it was interesting. In 12 years, it was the only time I have been inside myself as someone else has always taken care of everything for me. Unfortunately, a personal appearance is required for the emigration clearance certificate.
Regards: Jim Sibbick
on June 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Hi Jim,
it may be worth mentioning tha I have appied for an ACR card which takes about 4 months but I have to leave temporarily before the 4 months is up fo some more travel. I went in to BI the other day and had to pay PHP2920 to get clearance cert and a permission to reenter even though I had the 13a Visa which covered me till 4 months after my intended return date. A bit too much I think, after all the costs getting medical done in UK and applying for 13a in Philippine Embassy, London. Oh well less money to spend when I come back here anyway.
Cheers
Pete
on April 9th, 2009 at 7:08 am
it is more of a querry than a comment here if you do not mind. My Filipina mother became a US Immigrant 7 years ago and still couldn’t decide to file for US Citizenship. She travels to Philippines every year and stays no longer than 6 months. Are you aware if the exit clearance also applies to her to be able to stay longer than 6 months? I have searched the web to find answer to this and find a form necessary but your website is the closest I have found. I am surprise by the limited information out on the web on this kind of matter. I would apprecaite any help or direction you can provide my way.
on April 9th, 2009 at 10:33 am
It sounds as if she is travelling on a Philippines passport.
If that is the case, the Emigration Clearance Certificate will not apply as the main purpose of the Emigration Clearance Certificate is to confirm that a foreigner is not wanted by the police.
It will not even apply if she becomes a US citizen as she will then enter the Philippines as a Balikbayan. Former Filipino citizens are allowed to enter and stay in the the Philippines, without a visa, for a year. At the end of the 12 months, Balibayans are not required to have an Emigration Clearance Certificate. This has been confirmed for me by Balikbayans who have stayed longer than 6 months.
Regards: Jim Sibbick
on April 16th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
query! i am irish (male) with a philippine partner, living in ireland. we are not married but do have a 1 yo baby girl. i am thinking of moving to philippines for an indefinate period to write, bringing our daughter with me. Is it possible for me to get a visa to stay in philippines? what advice. Billw
on April 17th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Once you are married, you can enter the Philippines together and stay in the Philippines for a year without a visa. You can use the year to arrange a 13a visa which is a visa for the spouse of a Filipino and will allow you to stay in the Philippines indefinitely. As a 13a visa holder, you will also be able to own your own business.
Until you are married, you can only enter the Philippines as a tourist, unless you arrange some other type of visa such as a retirement visa.
As a tourist, you can’t arrange in advance to stay longer than 59 days. Once in the Philippines, you can extend your stay every 2 months until you have been in the Philippines for 16 months. At the end of the 16 months, you can go for a shopping trip to Hong Kong then go back to the Philippines and start your 16 months all over again.
Read more here:
http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/visas.htm
Regards: Jim Sibbick
on April 18th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Hello, i’m having problems upon reading your blog. Because before I thought I can just pay the emigration clearance certificate upon my departure here in NAIA. Can I still do that now? Because I’ll be leaving in 6 days and I just learned about the new procedure. If I process my ECC will I have it on one day? Can you please help me, thank you. btw if ever i’ll be processing my ECC here in Intramuros, Manila.
Thank you and I hope you can answer and guide me, hoefully ASAP.
on April 21st, 2009 at 9:28 am
Sorry, I have not heard of anyone arranging an ECC at the airport. What I have heard of is people being denied boarding and missing their flight.
At the airport is not the time to discover you still have paperwork to be completed.
My suggestion is that you get to the nearest Bureau of Immigration as soon as possible. Make sure you take your passport and 3 passport style photos.
Regards: Jim Sibbick
on May 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I’ve been here since 2001 and travelled out of the country a few times, I’ve never been to the BOI to get a ECC. I just ask the travel agent and they do it for me for a small fee. You can also pay at the airport, there is a counter where you pay before going to the Immigration Officer counter, but I prefer to get it before hand in case there is a problem - it is also one less step at the airport and as a nervous traveller it suits me to not have that worry.
The best place to ask is at a reputable travel agency - they will know what the requirements are - if they don’t, they are not a good agency to use.
on May 17th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Thankyou, I have had one item of your article clarified.
That is, if you are a tourist, you definitely still have to obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate from the Bureau of Immigration.
ACR-I card holders can arrange theirs at the airport, no photos required. I presume as a long term resident, you are an ACR-I card holder. That is why you personally don’t have to go to the Bureau of Immigration.
I am still concerned about the agents who will arrange an Emigration Clearance Certificate with out a personal appearance at the Bureau of Immigration. I have no doubt that some are doing it. However, I am not sure what they are doing is legal.
Regards; Jim Sibbick
on October 13th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Just wanted to share my experience last year. I had been living in the Phils for about 10 months (tourist VISA). Heading home (USA) to see my family for the holidays. The lady that reviewed my passport for departure asked about some stamp I knew nothing about (call me Newbie). I guess it was the ECC. She called over another guy and he informed me I was supposed to get something from BI office. It was late at night and few people were there. He asked for P1,200 or P1,500 fee don’t recall exactly, stamped my passport and sent me through. Color me Lucky, I could tell from his reaction that it was outside normal procedure, but either his kindness of heart, or pity on me got me by. This time out I will have all the paperwork in hand. Don’t you just love these people! Thanks for all the great information!
on November 10th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
HI, I just obtained my 13aPerm visa a week ago. I will be leaving next week for travel. I am an ACR-i card holder. Do I have to get the ECC before going to the airport of can i get it their..
thanks
Kyle
on November 10th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
If you need it at all, you will have to get it at the Bureau of Immigration. However, I don’t believe you will need it. I believe one of the uses of the ACR-i card is to avoid stuff like Emigration Clearance Certificate.
Please contact the Bureau of Immigration and report back here what they tell you!
Regards; Jim