If you go on to a course above high school, such as a university degree, you use a student visa (9(f)) rather than the SSP used for language study. From the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and CHED official pages, we set out the student visa conditions, accredited schools and the documents for conversion. Checked on 31 October 2026.
In short
According to BI, a student visa is needed by foreign nationals aged 18 and above who take a course higher than high school. Only schools accredited by BI may accept them. The SSP is a permit for people under 18 or on non-degree courses, not a visa. BI’s conversion checklist has 10 items.
How the student visa (9(f)) differs from the SSP
According to BI’s FAQ, a student visa is needed by a foreign national aged 18 and above who intends to take a course higher than high school in the Philippines. The applicant must also have sufficient means of support for education.
BI describes the SSP as “a permit, not a visa”. It is issued to people under 18 or on non-degree courses, under the Temporary Visitor’s Visa. For the SSP in language study, see the SSP and ACR I-Card article, and for the whole process, our guide to studying English in the Philippines.
Only accredited schools may accept student visa holders
BI says that only schools accredited by BI may accept and enroll foreign students. Only then may the foreign student apply for a student visa.
BI’s Student Visa page did not include a list of accredited schools. Ask the school, or BI, whether a school you are interested in is accredited.
Documents for conversion to a student visa
BI’s Student Visa page covers two procedures: conversion and extension. The conversion checklist (V-NI-005) has 10 items, and the school supplies many of them.
- A joint letter request to the Commissioner from the school and the applicant, on school letterhead with a dry seal
- The application form (CGAF) for the Student Visa and Special Study Permit
- A photocopy of the passport pages with the bio-page, latest admission and Bureau of Quarantine stamp
- The school’s Notice of Acceptance, with its official dry seal
- An endorsement for the conversion, signed by the school registrar
- For Medicine or Dentistry, a CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Admission
- For a transfer or a change of course, a CHED endorsement
- An NBI Clearance, if you apply six months or more after first arriving in the Philippines
- A photocopy of the BI school accreditation ID of the registrar or school representative
- A BI Clearance Certificate
Documents issued abroad
The checklist’s notes say that foreign documents must be originals, authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post with jurisdiction over the place of issue. Documents not in English need an English translation.
The office and the steps depend on the country that issued the document, so ask BI or your school how your own documents are handled.
Fees and extension
BI’s Student Visa page lists a total of 9,720 pesos for conversion and 4,020 pesos for extension. A separate additional fee of USD 50 applies for the ACR I-Card.
The page says the fees were updated as of 6 March 2014 and may change without prior notice. Before you apply, confirm the current amounts with BI or the school.
The validity period of a student visa and how extensions work are set by BI, so check the current rules with BI and the university’s office.
According to CHED’s Citizen’s Charter (2025 edition), for a transfer, a change of program, an additional program or further study at another university, the accepting university obtains a CHED endorsement to BI. There is no fee, and processing takes 2.5 working days.
What university admission pages tell you
The University of the Philippines Diliman’s foreign admission page says that applying early leaves time to secure a student visa. Applicants submit transcripts from each school attended, with authenticated copies. Official TOEFL or IELTS results are required if English was not the medium of instruction.
At De La Salle University, the International Center handles non-academic matters and visa services. Admission conditions and fees differ by university, so open the International Students page of the university you are interested in.
What BLOOM ABROAD covers
BLOOM ABROAD focuses on comparing language schools and does not list university degree programs. What it lists includes language centers such as Enderun Colleges Language Center, and in BI’s explanation, non-degree courses fall under the SSP.
This article does not cover how degrees or credits are recognized.
Next step: look at visas and entry as a whole
Start with visas and entry for the Philippines to check the 30-day stay and extensions as a whole. The overall flow is in our guide to studying English in the Philippines.
Sources
Government and public bodies
- Bureau of Immigration (BI): Frequently asked questions (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- Bureau of Immigration (BI): Student Visa (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- Bureau of Immigration (BI): Checklist for conversion to Student Visa (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- Bureau of Immigration (BI): Special Study Permit (SSP) (checked 31 Oct 2026)
