Australian Embassy
The Philippines

Consular Services

 

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If you require consular assistance please email your enquiry to [email protected].

The Consular Section is open from 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday except for public holidays.

For after-hours emergencies please call +63 2 7757 8100 and follow the prompts to transfer (toll free) to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after hours Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra or call direct on +61 2 6261 3305.

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Visas and Citizenship Enquiries

If you require Consular Assistance, please contact the Australian Embassy Manila on +632 7757 8100 or send us an email to [email protected]  

Consular Services

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) sets out the standard of service you can expect to receive in its Consular Services Charter.

Consular functions are, however, governed by international agreements and there are limits to the extent we can intervene on your behalf with foreign governments or authorities. You are subject to the laws and regulations of the country in which you are travelling.


Retiring Overseas

Thinking of retiring overseas? Be sure to read our detailed Smartraveller advisory on Retiring Overseas

Departing the Philippines, Philippine visas and travel within the Philippines

Ensure your visa is updated at all times. Failure to do so may result in overstay fees/fines or detention and a lengthy deportation process.

For the latest advisories see the Bureau of Immigration Philippines website.

Below provides some general guidance on the most common enquires received by the Australia embassy. However, you should contact the Bureau of Immigration Philippines directly for advice. Their website lists phone numbers and their Facebook account as well as a list of Other Offices | Bureau of Immigration should you need to visit in person.

To renew your visa

To renew your visa, please contact the Bureau of Immigration Philippines directly for advice to correct any outstanding visa issues. 

Tourist visas may be extended online. Please contact Bureau of Immigration Philippines if you have any questions.

Overstaying your visa

Foreign visitors in the Philippines are given thirty (30) days tourist visa waiver. Visitors can extend their visas up to 36 months. At the end of 36 months, they must leave the country. The penalty fees for overstaying tourist visa are approximately PHP4,000 per month. If you wish to obtain the exact amount of your overstay fees and fines, you may contact the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) office on +632 8465 2400 to obtain this information. To get the accurate amount, you will need to provide your entry date to the Philippines (found in your passport).

For further information, you may contact the nearest BI office. For a list of BI offices, see: https://immigration.gov.ph/contacts

Overstaying less than 6 months

Visit the nearest BI office and settle your overstay fees and fines. Once you have settled your fines, you may book your flight to Australia. If you do not have a valid passport, please contact the Australian Embassy and lodge your passport application.

Overstaying more than 6 months

Visit the nearest BI office and settle your overstay fees and fines. Once you have settled your fines, you will need to obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the BI office. Visit the following website for more information: ECC – Tourist (More than six months) (immigration.gov.ph)

Once you obtain the ECC, you may book your flight to Australia. If you do not have a valid passport, please contact the Australian Embassy and lodge your passport application.

The fee for ECC is less than PHP2,000.

You may apply for an ECC at least 72 hours prior to your departure from the Philippines and this will be valid for one (1) month. You will need to visit a BI office in person to undertake biometrics.

Overstaying more than 12 months

You are required to obtain a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance before you can pay the overstay fees and fines. You can do this by visiting the NBI office.

United Nations Ave, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines https://nbi.gov.ph/

The fee for NBI clearance is approximately PHP130.

The processing of NBI clearance may take up to three (3) days. Once you have obtained your NBI clearance you may proceed to the BI office with your NBI clearance, pay your overstay fees and fines and obtain the ECC. You may then book your flight back to Australia. If you do not have a valid passport, please contact the Australian Embassy and lodge your passport application.

For those who have overstayed for 3 years or more, BI will issue an “order to leave” and a timeframe to depart the Philippines.

If your NBI clearance returned with a “hit” record, you will need to sort this out before you are able to exit the Philippines. You may wish to seek the assistance of lawyer in this situation. 

For further information, please contact BI directly (https://immigration.gov.ph/contact-us/main-office

To apply for a Travel Pass to leave the Philippines for certain visa types

Depending on your Philippine visa type (such as those issued by the Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ), the Philippine Board of Investments (BoI), the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) or the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), you may need to obtain a Travel Pass from the Department that issued your visa in order to leave the Philippines. If you hold an ECC issued by the Bureau of Immigration you may be exempt from this requirement.

Airport departure tax

Travel or Departure Tax

All foreign nationals who have stayed in the Philippines for one year or more are required to pay travel or departure tax. This can be paid on departure at the airport or when booking your travel ticket either online or directly through the airline or a travel agent.  For further information please visit: https://tieza.gov.ph/travel-tax/

 Passenger Terminal Fee

The Passenger Terminal Fee is generally incorporated in airline tickets.

​Travel to the Philippines – arrival procedures

Please see our Smartraveller page for more information.

All travellers must register your travel to the Philippines on the eArrival Card online portal in order to receive a QR code to use for arrival formalities. Please see entry guidelines for more information.

Transiting through the Philippines

Transit restrictions may be in place. You should discuss options for transit with your airline or travel agent.

Services and Information Provided by Other Agencies – please contact these agencies directly

• Australian Police clearances
• Australian Citizenship
• Birth, marriage and death certificates
• Australian Government Benefits, Payments and Services
• Centrelink - Department of Human Services (DHS) International Services

Voting While Overseas

• Check your enrolment online
• How to vote while overseas and Going overseas
• State and Territory Electoral Authorities 

Privacy

• Consular privacy collection statement
• Your consent is required before we can disclosure your personal information to selected individuals/organisations. 

Consular Section Contact Details

Consular Section
Australian Embassy
Level 23  Tower 2, RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200, Metro Manila, The Philippines

Telephone: +63 2 7757 8100
Facsimile: +63 2 7757 8344

Email: [email protected]

List of Embassy Holidays