Philippines · Work
Philippines Offshore banking visa
Special Employment Visa for Offshore Banking Unit (PD 1034)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Offshore banking visa is a work route for Philippines. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- ₱5,530 ≈ $88 · +2 more
Cost, time and long term
Government fees₱5,530 ≈ $88 · +2 more
- PHP 5,530 (≈ $88)Principal applicant fee on conversion to the offshore banking unit visa, as listed by the Bureau of Immigration.
- PHP 4,530 (≈ $72)Principal applicant fee for each extension.
- $50Additional ACR I-Card fee for a 1-year validity (USD 100 for 2 years, USD 150 for 3 years).
RenewalRenewable
Existing holders can apply for extensions at the Bureau of Immigration Main Office.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 10 years of residence
Naturalization needs continuous residence in the Philippines of at least 10 years, reduced to 5 years for some petitioners, such as those who held government office or established a new industry or useful invention.
Where to applyWhere to apply
Applications and extensions are filed at the Bureau of Immigration Main Office.
Presence rulesStay rule
All registered foreigners must report in person to the Bureau of Immigration within the first 60 days of every calendar year.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Philippines
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The visa is for a foreign national assigned by a foreign bank to work in its offshore banking unit in the Philippines.
- Existing visa holders who continue the employment can apply for an extension.
What you must show2
- The principal applicant fee is PHP 5,530 (≈ $88) on conversion and PHP 4,530 (≈ $72) for each extension.
- An ACR I-Card fee of USD 50 is added for 1 year of validity (USD 100 for 2 years, USD 150 for 3 years).
Documents2
- A checklist with the complete documentary requirements and an application form are submitted.
- Additional information on the applicant's children is submitted if needed.
Steps3
- Applications and extensions are filed at the Bureau of Immigration Main Office.
- Documents go to the Central Receiving Unit for pre-screening, then fees are paid against an order of payment slip.
- After approval the passport is submitted for visa implementation.
What happens at day 180
How Philippines decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 180 days in a calendar yearA non-resident alien who stays in the Philippines for an aggregate of more than 180 days during a calendar year is deemed to be doing business in the Philippines and is taxed at the graduated rates instead of the flat 25%.
- Foreign-source income
Territorial (non-residents)
All tax rules for Philippines Tax records checked
Full official text
Non-immigrant visa for a foreign national assigned by a foreign bank to work in its offshore banking unit in the Philippines. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of PHP 5,530 (≈ $88) · Principal applicant fee on conversion to the offshore banking unit visa, as listed by the Bureau of Immigration. 1
- A fee of PHP 4,530 (≈ $72) · Principal applicant fee for each extension. 1
- A fee of $50 · Additional ACR I-Card fee for a 1-year validity (USD 100 for 2 years, USD 150 for 3 years). 1
Requirements
- The visa is for a foreign national assigned by a foreign bank to work in its offshore banking unit in the Philippines. 1
- Existing visa holders who continue the employment can apply for an extension. 1
- The principal applicant fee is PHP 5,530 (≈ $88) on conversion and PHP 4,530 (≈ $72) for each extension. 1
- An ACR I-Card fee of USD 50 is added for 1 year of validity (USD 100 for 2 years, USD 150 for 3 years). 1
- A checklist with the complete documentary requirements and an application form are submitted. 1
- Additional information on the applicant's children is submitted if needed. 1
- Applications and extensions are filed at the Bureau of Immigration Main Office. 1
- Documents go to the Central Receiving Unit for pre-screening, then fees are paid against an order of payment slip. 1
- After approval the passport is submitted for visa implementation. 1
Stay
- Validity is set at issue; existing holders may apply for extensions.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
No nationality list.
Work
Employment with the offshore banking unit.
Family
Spouse can be included as a dependant. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in the Philippines.
Fine print
The Bureau of Immigration page says its fees are "updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice", so the peso amounts shown here are indicative.
Official sources
- Special Employment Visa for Offshore Banking Unit · Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines · checked 2026-10-10
- Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442), Title II: Employment of Nonresident Aliens · Supreme Court E-Library · checked 2026-10-12
- Frequently Asked Questions · Bureau of Immigration, Philippines · checked 2026-10-12
- Commonwealth Act No. 473 (Revised Naturalization Law) · Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines · checked 2026-10-11
Offshore banking visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore banking visa | – | – | – |
| Work visa (9G) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Regional HQ staff visa | – | – | – |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Offshore banking visa?
A fee of PHP 5,530 (≈ $88). Principal applicant fee on conversion to the offshore banking unit visa, as listed by the Bureau of Immigration. A fee of PHP 4,530 (≈ $72). Principal applicant fee for each extension. A fee of $50. Additional ACR I-Card fee for a 1-year validity (USD 100 for 2 years, USD 150 for 3 years).
How long can I stay on the Offshore banking visa?
Validity is set at issue; existing holders may apply for extensions.
Can I work on the Offshore banking visa?
Employment with the offshore banking unit.
Can I bring my family on the Offshore banking visa?
Spouse can be included as a dependant.
How are Offshore banking visa holders taxed in Philippines?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Offshore banking visa. The standard rules apply: Non-resident aliens are taxed only on income from sources within the Philippines (NIRC section 23). A non-resident alien who stays more than 180 days in a calendar year is treated as doing business in the Philippines and pays the same graduated rates as residents on that income; one who is not engaged in trade or business pays a flat 25% on gross Philippine-source income (section 25).
More in Philippines
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Special Employment Visa for Offshore Banking Unit · Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines · checked 2026-10-10
- Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442), Title II: Employment of Nonresident Aliens · Supreme Court E-Library · checked 2026-10-12
- Frequently Asked Questions · Bureau of Immigration, Philippines · checked 2026-10-12
- Commonwealth Act No. 473 (Revised Naturalization Law) · Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.