Essential Steps to Get Your Section 13 Quota Visa in 2026
After the 2025 Suspension
- Asia Relocation Blog
Quota Visa 13 Suspension Overview
The Quota Visa (Section 13) processing was temporarily halted earlier in 2025 by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to review and reassess eligibility criteria, amid rumors of stricter financial thresholds like a $150k investment minimum—though BI never officially confirmed such figures.
The 2025 Suspension: What Happened?
Reasons for Suspension
BI paused applications to evaluate standards, likely due to concerns over applicant qualifications, economic contributions, and preventing misuse, as quota visas require proof of skills, investments, or other benefits to the Philippines.
Reinstatement Details
Processing resumed in May 2025 with updated administrative guidelines to ensure higher quality applicants. While the core 50-per-nationality annual cap and reciprocity requirements remain, new thresholds for age and financial capacity have been implemented.
By late 2025, the official BI site and operations signaled a full return to normal operations under these revised standards.
Current Status and “The Big Questions”
As of late 2025 and into 2026, the Quota Visa is active. However, due to high demand and the competitive nature of the 50-slot limit, here is what you need to know:
1. How many slots are available?
There is a strict limit of 50 visas per nationality each calendar year. These do not carry over, so once the 50 slots for your country are exhausted, you must wait until the following January.
2. Who is actually eligible?
Age Requirement: Applicants must now be at least 30 years old.
Proof of Stay: You must demonstrate at least 180 days of stay in the Philippines prior to application.
Reciprocity: Your home country must have diplomatic relations with the Philippines and grant similar privileges to Filipinos.
Contribution: You must show a benefit to the country through specialized skills or investments.
Financial Proof: You now need a Bank Certificate showing an inward remittance of at least $100,000.00.
3. What is the process now?
The BI follows the “Visa Issuance Made Simple” (VIMS) program:
Pre-screening: Submit your documents (NBI, Medical, and $100k proof) for initial review.
Hearing: You must attend a scheduled interview and image capturing at the BI Main Office.
Approval: Once approved, your passport is stamped and you receive your ACR I-Card.
Tip: Because of the 50-person cap, it is highly recommended to file your application as early as possible—ideally in January or February.
Your Quota Visa Checklist
To apply for the Section 13 Quota Visa following its 2025/26 reinstatement, you must follow the Visa Issuance Made Simple (VIMS) procedure. Because there is a strict limit of 50 slots per nationality annually, it is critical to have all documents ready for early filing.
Phase 1: Personal & Legal Documents
[ ] Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF): Two (2) original copies.
[ ] Valid Passport: Bio-page and latest admission stamp showing a valid stay.
[ ] NBI Clearance: Required if stayed in the Philippines for 6 months or more.
[ ] Police Clearance: From your home country if in the Philippines for less than 6 months.
[ ] Photographs: 2″x2″ color photos with a white background.
Phase 2: Qualification & Financials
[ ] Letter of Intent/Petition: Notarized request stating your qualifications and benefits to the country.
[ ] Proof of Financial Capacity: Bank Certificate showing an inward remittance of $100,000.00.
[ ] Proof of Reciprocity: Document showing your country grants residency to Filipinos.
Phase 3: Clearances & Processing
[ ] Medical Clearance: From an accredited clinic or the Bureau of Quarantine.
[ ] BI Clearance Certificate: Verification of no derogatory records.
[ ] Payment Receipts: Official receipts for all BI filing fees.
Final Steps
Pre-screening: Submit the checklist for initial review at the BI Main Office.
Hearing/Interview: You must attend a scheduled interview with a hearing officer.
Approval & Stamping: Once approved by the Board of Commissioners, your passport will be stamped and you will be issued an ACR I-Card.
Common Expat Questions About Quota visa (Section 13) in the Philippines
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Section 13 Quota Visa suspended in early 2025?
To review eligibility criteria and ensure economic contributions.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) temporarily halted the processing of Quota Visas to conduct a comprehensive review of eligibility standards and internal protocols. This pause was intended to ensure that applicants truly possessed the “specialized qualifications” or “investments” required by law, and to address concerns regarding the potential misuse of the 50-slots-per-nationality limit.
Was the rumored $150,000 investment requirement ever officially implemented?
No. During the 2025 suspension, rumors circulated on social media and immigration forums suggesting the financial threshold would triple to $150,000.
However, when the BI resumed processing in May 2025, they maintained the existing guidelines, and the official requirement was adjusted to $100,000. inward remittance level.
Has the "50 per nationality" annual limit ever changed since the visa's creation?
No, this is a fixed statutory limit per calendar year.
The numerical cap of 50 visas per nationality per calendar year is a statutory requirement established by the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. While the BI has updated its administrative procedures (such as the “Visa Issuance Made Simple” or VIMS program) to handle applications more efficiently, the 50-person limit remains a fixed legal ceiling that resets every January 1st.
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