ACR I-Card Philippines: Fees and Annual Report

The 59-day rule

Tourists and temporary visitors who stay in the Philippines more than 59 days must get an ACR I-Card, filed together with the visa extension.

Apply only at Bureau of Immigration offices or through BI’s official e-services. Source: Bureau of Immigration: ACR I-Card issuance.

Issued by: Bureau of ImmigrationBI main or authorized offices
BI fee: US$50 + ₱500per BI schedule
Needed when: Over 59 daysor with a resident visa
Every year: Annual ReportJanuary to early March

The Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR I-Card) is a chip-based ID card the Bureau of Immigration (BI) issues to registered foreign nationals. It shows your photo, name, nationality and visa details, and it is what banks, landlords and agencies ask foreigners to present with their passport.

Which situation applies to you?

Tourist extending past 59 days

Apply for the ACR I-Card with your tourist visa extension.

Getting a work, student or resident visa

The ACR I-Card is issued as part of your visa process.

I already have an ACR I-Card

File the Annual Report every January to early March and renew before expiry.

I am leaving the Philippines

Long stays usually need an Emigration Clearance Certificate first.

Tourists extending their stay

If you entered visa-free or on a tourist visa and want to stay longer than 59 days, file the visa extension and the ACR I-Card application together at a BI office. Bring:

Your passport with a valid entry stamp.
The accomplished ACR I-Card (New) application form from BI’s website.
The documents on BI’s checklist for your visa extension.
Fees: US$50 plus ₱500 for the card, on top of the extension fees.

Work, student and resident visa holders

Foreign nationals converting to or issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, such as a work, student, marriage-based or other resident visa, are registered and issued an ACR I-Card as part of that visa process. BI also offers voluntary ACR I-Card applications, renewal, re-issuance for lost or damaged cards, and cancellation as separate services; check the checklist for your case on BI’s website.

How the application works

Download the form and checklist
Get the ACR I-Card application form and the checklist for your visa type from immigration.gov.ph.
Go to the BI main office or an authorized office
Submit your documents. BI checks your record in its database.
Pay the fees
Pay at the cashier using the Order of Payment Slip, and keep the official receipt.
Have your biometrics captured
Photo and fingerprints are taken for the card’s chip.
Claim the card
BI tells you when and where to claim the card; keep your official receipt until you have it.

The Annual Report

Who: registered foreign nationals with a valid visa and an ACR I-Card.
When: once a year. In 2026 the window was January 1 to March 1.
Where: BI offices, BI mobile services, or the Virtual Annual Report e-service for eligible visa types.
Fees: register on BI’s e-services portal first; BI issues an order of payment, which you pay the same day through Maya, GCash, credit card or Landbank. Bring last year’s Annual Report receipt.
In person or virtual: report in person at BI, or use BI’s Virtual Annual Report, available any day for qualified foreign nationals in the Philippines with valid visas.
Late? Expect fines; BI will not issue an ECC until the Annual Report is done.

Leaving the Philippines

Foreign nationals who have stayed six months or longer generally need an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before departure. BI requires a valid ACR I-Card and a completed Annual Report first. Apply at BI, or through its ECC-B e-service where eligible, before your flight date.

Example: A visitor staying four months

Let’s say you arrived visa-free on February 1 and want to stay until the end of May. Before your initial stay ends, apply for a tourist visa extension; once your total stay passes 59 days, the ACR I-Card is filed with it, adding US$50 plus ₱500. Because you are leaving before six months, an ECC is generally not needed, but keep your extension receipts for departure.

Retiring in the Philippines on an SRRV? See our PRA ID and SRRV guide. Need a Postal ID as a second card? Foreign residents may apply after six months; see the Postal ID guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do tourists need an ACR I-Card?

Only if you stay longer than 59 days. Temporary visitors who extend past 59 days apply for the ACR I-Card together with their visa extension.

How much is the ACR I-Card?

BI lists US$50 plus ₱500, as of its fee schedule updated March 6, 2014. Fees may change without notice, so check the Order of Payment Slip.

What is the Annual Report?

A yearly check-in at BI for registered foreign nationals holding an ACR I-Card. In 2026 it ran from January 1 to March 1. BI assesses the fee when you register on its e-services portal, and non-compliance can lead to fines or prosecution.

Is the ACR I-Card a valid ID?

Yes, for foreign nationals in the Philippines. Banks and agencies usually ask for it with your passport.

I am leaving the Philippines after more than six months. What do I need?

Foreign nationals who stayed six months or longer generally need an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before departure, and BI requires the Annual Report to be complete first. Ask BI which ECC type applies to you.

Do SRRV holders need an ACR I-Card?

The Philippine Retirement Authority announced in August 2022 that SRRV retiree-members do not need an ACR I-Card as long as their PRA ID card is kept updated. Confirm your situation with PRA.

Official sources and further reading

These are the BI pages and reports checked for this guide. Immigration rules depend on your visa; confirm with BI before you file.

Independent guide: PhilippineIDs.com is not affiliated with the Bureau of Immigration or any Philippine government agency. Information reviewed on October 30, 2026.

How to Get an ACR I-Card in the Philippines: Who Needs It, Fees and Annual Report