Core Service
Family & Spousal Visas
Keep your family together in the Philippines, with the immigration pathway that fits your circumstances.
Marriage to a Filipino citizen, or family ties to someone already living in the Philippines, may support a long-term immigration pathway, depending on your circumstances. Family immigration can involve more than one person, connected documentation, and requirements that vary by relationship and situation. Foreign Immigration Services assesses your family's circumstances and helps you identify the appropriate pathway.
Your Family's Immigration Should Be Planned Together
Family immigration can involve more than one person's circumstances, different supporting documents, and requirements that depend on the relationship and immigration situation involved. FIS looks at your family's circumstances as a whole, identifies the immigration pathway or connected requirements that may apply, and coordinates the process so you do not have to manage each part separately.
How We Can Assist
- Reviewing your family's circumstances and immigration objectives
- Identifying the pathway or connected immigration requirements that may apply
- Mapping the requirements for the relevant family members
- Reviewing civil-status documentation relevant to your relationship, such as marriage or birth certificates
- Helping you prepare and organise the required application documentation
- Identifying apparent documentation gaps before submission
- Coordinating with the relevant immigration authority, where applicable and permitted
- Submitting or lodging the application, where applicable and permitted
- Following up on the matter and keeping you informed
- Advising on ongoing immigration obligations associated with your family's status, where applicable
Common Situations We Handle
- Marriage to a Filipino citizen
- A foreign spouse planning to establish longer-term status in the Philippines
- A mixed-nationality family relocating to the Philippines together
- A spouse and children with connected immigration or documentation needs
- Family circumstances that may interact with the Balikbayan privilege
- An existing family immigration arrangement that needs review or next-step planning
Marriage to a Filipino Citizen
If your long-term plans in the Philippines are based on marriage to a Filipino citizen, a marriage-based immigration pathway may be available, depending on your circumstances and the applicable requirements. FIS can assess the appropriate route, prepare and organise the supporting documentation, coordinate the application process and assist with the relevant next steps.
One pathway that may be relevant is the 13(a) Immigrant Visa by Marriage, subject to eligibility and the applicable requirements.
Your Children's Immigration Circumstances
Where your family's plans involve a spouse and children, FIS can consider the connected immigration and documentation requirements together, rather than treating each family member's situation as a separate, isolated matter. The pathway that may apply to a child depends on the specific circumstances, which we assess as part of the broader family review.
Where the Balikbayan Privilege May Be Relevant
In qualifying circumstances, a non-Filipino spouse and children travelling to the Philippines with an eligible Filipino or former Filipino family member may be able to avail themselves of the Balikbayan Privilege, which can allow a visa-free stay of up to one year. Eligibility and entry requirements depend on the circumstances, including nationality and travelling together. The Balikbayan Privilege is not itself a long-term immigration status, so FIS can help you understand how it may fit into your family's broader immigration plans.
How the Process Works
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Tell Us About Your Family
Tell us about your family's circumstances, immigration objectives and the relevant details for each family member involved.
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Pathway Assessment
We assess your family's circumstances and identify the pathway or connected requirements that may apply, based on the information available.
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Documentation & Preparation
We map the applicable requirements and help you prepare and organise the required documentation, including relevant civil documents.
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Application Coordination
Where applicable and permitted, we coordinate and submit the application on your behalf.
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Follow-Up & Next Steps
We follow up on the matter and keep you informed. You can track the progress of your transaction through the FIS Client Portal, and we help organise any relevant next steps.
What We May Need From You
- Passport and identity documents for the relevant family members
- Civil-status documentation relevant to your relationship, such as marriage or birth certificates, where applicable
- Information about your Filipino spouse or relevant family member, where applicable
- Details of your family's current immigration status and intended circumstances in the Philippines
The specific documents required depend on your family's circumstances and the pathway that applies. We will confirm exactly what applies once we understand your situation.
Need More Hands-On Support? Depending on your circumstances, FIS can provide additional support alongside your family or spousal visa matter, including priority internal document preparation for time-sensitive matters, document collection and delivery, translation and certification coordination, and in-person assistance where available. Tell us what level of support you need when you enquire. Government processing times remain subject to the relevant authority.
Planning a Future Together in the Philippines?
Tell us about your family's circumstances. FIS can assess your situation, identify the pathway that may be appropriate, and discuss how we can coordinate the process for you.
Can FIS help us determine which pathway applies to our family?
Yes. Family immigration can depend on several factors, including the relationship involved and each family member's circumstances. Tell us about your situation and we will assess which pathway or connected requirements may apply.
Does marriage to a Filipino citizen guarantee a long-term visa?
No. Marriage may support eligibility for a long-term immigration pathway, but the relevant authority makes the final determination based on your specific circumstances. FIS can assess whether this pathway may be appropriate and coordinate the application on your behalf.
Can FIS assist if children are also involved?
Yes. Where your family's plans involve children as well as a spouse, we can consider the connected immigration and documentation requirements together as part of the broader review.