United States
Canada
Australia
Netherlands
Ireland
Japan
Cyprus
Student visa for the Philippines, for students from Colombia
As a citizen of Colombia you will normally need a student visa or residence permit for the Philippines before your course starts. Some nationalities may enter the Philippines without a visa and apply for the residence permit there instead; check the official page below for the rule that applies to your passport.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- No fixed national figure
- Visa fee
- Set by each Philippine embassy: US$250 at the Los Angeles consulate
- Work while you study
- No general right to work. Any job needs an employer-sponsored work permit
- Stay after you graduate
- No post-study work visa
You must show 'sufficient means' for your education and support. The consulate or your university decides what counts.
Philippine Consulate General, Los Angeles, checked 2026-09-24
Converting to a student visa inside the Philippines costs PHP 9,720 at the Bureau of Immigration, on a schedule the Bureau dates to March 2014 and says may change.
Philippine Consulate General, Los Angeles / Bureau of Immigration, checked 2026-09-24
An Alien Employment Permit from the labour department for long-term work, or a Special Work Permit for up to six months.
Department of Labor and Employment, checked 2026-09-24
To stay and work you need an employer to sponsor a work visa and permit.
Bureau of Immigration / Department of Labor and Employment, checked 2026-09-24
The visa
Who needs what. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) requires a 9(f) student visa for any foreign national aged 18 or over taking a course higher than high school. Students who do not qualify for a 9(f), including those under 18 and those on short or non-degree courses, use a Special Study Permit (SSP) instead. Only BI-accredited schools may enrol foreign students.
Applying from abroad. Most students apply at a Philippine embassy or consulate in their country of origin or residence. The Los Angeles consulate charges US$250 and asks for:
- the visa application form and a personal history statement
- the Notice of Acceptance from your school, and a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission where required
- a notarised medical health certificate with laboratory reports (urinalysis, stool and blood tests) and a chest x-ray
- a police clearance certificate
- a passport valid for at least six months and six recent photos
Fees and document lists vary by post, so use your own embassy's page.
The money. The Philippines sets no fixed national amount. The rule is that you must have "sufficient means for [your] education and support". Your school or the consulate decides what evidence is enough, typically bank statements or a notarised affidavit of support from a sponsor.
Converting inside the Philippines. The BI also processes conversion to a 9(f) at its main office and authorised offices. Its published fees are PHP 9,720 for the initial conversion, which includes your ACR I-Card, and PHP 4,020 for each extension. The BI's own page says these fees are "updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice", so confirm the current amount at the office before you go. The SSP costs PHP 5,240 plus US$50 for the I-Card on the same dated schedule.
The ACR I-Card and the Annual Report. Registered foreign nationals, including students, hold an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card and must report to the BI within the first 60 days of each calendar year: for 2026, the window was 1 January to 1 March. Failing to report can lead to fines or prosecution, and you must settle outstanding Annual Report obligations before you can get the clearance needed to leave the country.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of the Philippines that covers Colombia, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: losangelespcg.org · immigration.gov.ph · car.dole.gov.ph · immigration.gov.ph · immigration.gov.ph · immigration.gov.ph. Checked 2026-09-24. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
Questions students ask
Do students from Colombia need a visa to study in the Philippines?
As a citizen of Colombia you will normally need a student visa or residence permit for the Philippines before your course starts. Some nationalities may enter the Philippines without a visa and apply for the residence permit there instead; check the official page below for the rule that applies to your passport.
How much money do I need to show for a Philippines student visa?
No fixed national figure. You must show 'sufficient means' for your education and support. The consulate or your university decides what counts. (source: Philippine Consulate General, Los Angeles, checked 2026-09-24).
Can I work while I study in the Philippines?
No general right to work. Any job needs an employer-sponsored work permit.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.