Philippines' 'Witching Time' After 6 Months In-Country
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2988153]Agree, but apparently people do it. Its possible that scammers get your phone number or email, then send you a (bad) link reminding you to process your eTravel. You click on their link and end up with trouble.[/QUOTE]They fool search engines into prioritising over genuine, government sites. People are lazy and dumb; they send millions to fake, Nigerian princes, LOL! And allow themselves to be injected with untested viral remedies, without any evidence of viruses even existing.
Foreign nationals who have stayed in the Philippines for six months or more may need to obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before departing the country. However, the requirement for a police clearance specifically after six months of stay is not explicitly mentioned in the provided context. The ECC is required for certain categories of foreign nationals, including those who have stayed in the Philippines for six months or more and are holders of a Temporary Visitor Visa.
Foreigners staying in the Philippines for more than six months must obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before leaving the country. This requirement applies to tourists who have stayed for six months or more and those with expired or downgraded visas. The ECC is necessary to ensure that the individual has complied with visa extensions and other immigration regulations. Tourists staying more than six months must submit the proper form along with three passport-sized photographs and the visa fees. The processing time for the ECC is typically 4-5 business days, with an expedite option available for an additional fee. It is important to note that the ECC and travel tax are separate requirements. If you are a permanent resident temporarily leaving the country, you must apply for a re-entry permit with the Bureau of Immigration (BI). However, this information is specifically for permanent residents and not tourists.
Tax Clearance Philippines: When leaving the Philippines after staying for more than six months, foreigners are required to obtain an Exit Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Bureau of Immigration. This is necessary to ensure that all visa extensions and other formalities are in order. For foreigners, the ECC is required if they have stayed over six months on a tourist visa and must be acquired during the 72 hours before departure. The ECC can be obtained at the airport, but it is advisable to bring enough cash as the fee can exceed 1,200 pesos. It is important to note that the ECC and travel tax are separate payments. The ECC is a formal procedure to ensure compliance with immigration laws, while the travel tax is a departure tax for Filipino citizens. Exit Clearance Certificate (ECC): Required for foreigners who have stayed in the Philippines for more than six months and must be obtained before departure.
SRRV (Special Resident Retirees Visa) holders in the Philippines are generally exempt from obtaining re-entry permits. They can travel in and out of the country without the need for reapplication for entry visas and are exempt from Exit Clearance and Re-entry Permits (presumably including Police/Tax clearance -- but check with your SRRV handler). Additionally, SRRV holders are also exempt from the Annual Registration requirement and do not need to apply for an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card as required by the Bureau of Immigration. This exemption allows SRRV holders to enjoy special express lanes at the Immigration Area, which speeds up immigration procedures. The SRRV requires a deposit of either $10,000 or $20,000, depending on the applicant's age and health status ($1,500 for veterans). For healthy and active principal retirees who want to use their visa deposit towards renting an apartment or buying a condominium unit, the deposit is $20,000 if they are ages 50 and higher, and $50,000 for those aged 35 to 49. For ailing retirees who need medical or clinical services, the deposit is $10,000, along with a monthly pension of at least $1,500 and health coverage that is acceptable in the Philippines. The deposit is held in a designated bank account and can be used for specific purposes, such as purchasing real estate, but it cannot be withdrawn for personal use while the retiree remains in the Philippines.
