13A marriage visa

📌 Check your passport first: 13A is only for nationals of countries with reciprocity

If you hold a mainland China passport and are married to a Filipino citizen, you apply for an MCL visa, not a 13A. Whether your nationality qualifies for 13A depends on the Bureau of Immigration's current rules — confirm with a Yixing advisor before you file.

The 13A checklist is the easy part — these three things are where it actually gets stuck

The document list below is not complicated. What holds up a 13A is three things the list does not tell you: how recently your PSA documents were issued (a marriage certificate or a spouse’s birth certificate that is too old gets bounced), how proof of financial capacity is judged (who provides it, what it needs to show, and in what form), and the couple’s questionnaire and interview (answers that do not match between spouses are a common reason for refusal). One more thing: the 13A comes in two stages, probationary first and permanent second. If the second stage is not filed before the first expires, your status lapses.

Requirements and how it works

Required materials:

1. Passport + Visa (most recent entry stamp)

2. Four 2-inch photos with a white background.

3. Application form/application letter

4. Marriage Certificate (PSA)

5. Spouse's (Filipino) Birth Certificate (PSA)

6. NBI Criminal Record Check (Applicant)

7. Couple's answer sheet (signature)

8. Wedding photos (at least 3)

9. Proof of residence (Barangay Certificate)

10. Proof of financial capacity

11. Spouse government ID (with signature)

Materials required if there are children:

1. Application Form

2. Passport + recent entry stamp (photocopy)

3. Birth certificate or proof of relationship

4. No criminal record with the NBI (e.g., child over 15 years old)

Where do-it-yourself applications go wrong

Getting the document dates wrong — PSA documents must be issued within the Bureau’s required window; pull them too early and they are useless by the time you file
Proof of funds in the wrong form — having money is not enough; it has to be presented in a form the Bureau recognises
Missing the probationary-to-permanent deadline — the conversion must be filed before the first stage expires, and no one will remind you
A change in the marriage — divorce, separation and the death of your spouse each affect the visa differently, and the rules are not the same

Have Yixing handle it — you only prepare your identity documents

We have handled this route since 2016. Document pre-check, help with notarisation and authentication, filing, accompaniment to the interview, and release of the visa — all handled end to end. We tell you in advance which steps require you in person, so you never make a wasted trip to the Bureau.

YIXING TRAVEL CONSULTANCY INC. · Makati, Philippines · English / Chinese / Filipino team
SEC Registration No. CS202009551 | Bureau of Immigration Accreditation No. CA-202624381-1 (valid until 30 June 2027) | DOLE-accredited · PRA-accredited

👇 Want to know how your case would go, how long it takes and what it involves? Message a Yixing advisor for a one-to-one assessment
🟢 WhatsApp / Viber +63 917 723 5555 · 💬 WeChat +63 915 709 1463 · ✈️ Telegram @visaph09

Yixing provides document guidance and filing assistance. Approval rests entirely with the Philippine government agencies concerned (Bureau of Immigration / DOLE); Yixing is a private consultancy with no government affiliation and does not promise outcomes. Government fees and service fees are quoted case by case by an advisor.

Frequently asked questions

Can a mainland China passport holder get a 13A visa?

No. The 13A is only available to nationals of countries that have reciprocity with the Philippines. A mainland China passport holder married to a Filipino citizen applies for an MCL visa instead. For other nationalities, the Bureau of Immigration's current rules apply — confirm with an advisor before filing.

Is the 13A visa permanent?

Not at first. The 13A is granted in two stages: a one-year probationary residence first, then conversion to permanent residence once that period ends and you still qualify. The conversion has to be filed before the probationary stage expires — letting it lapse puts your status at risk.

Does marrying a Filipino give me Philippine citizenship?

No. Marriage to a Filipino citizen qualifies you for 13A residence, which is a visa, not nationality. Naturalisation is a completely separate process with its own requirements, and holding a 13A does not shortcut it.

Is my 13A still valid after a divorce, or if my spouse dies?

A change in your marriage affects whether the 13A continues. Divorce, annulment or nullity, the death of your spouse, and separation are each treated differently. Have your situation checked and dealt with promptly — do not wait until renewal time to find out.

I already hold a 9G work visa. Do I have to switch to a 13A after marrying a Filipino?

No, it is not compulsory. The two visas carry different obligations and different freedoms — a 9G is tied to your employer, a 13A to your marriage. Whether converting makes sense depends on your work arrangements and long-term plans, so get a status assessment before deciding.

Can I file the 13A application myself?

Yes, you can. But refusals cluster in the same three places — document issue dates, the form of your proof of funds, and the couple’s questionnaire. What Yixing does is clear those before anything is filed, so the application does not bounce back and forth.

Philippines 13A marriage visa: check reciprocity first (Chinese mainland passports use the MCL route)