OFWs and immigration
Emigration Clearance Certificate A and B
- Tourist threshold
- Six months or more for ECC-A 1
- ECC-A
- Regular clearance for listed departing or leaving-for-good cases 1
- Earliest application guidance
- At least 72 hours before departure 1
- Validity
- One month and one use 1
- Published ECC fee component
- ₱700 age 14 and above, ₱200 below age 14 3
Who needs ECC-A
BI lists temporary visitors who stayed six months or more, holders of expired or downgraded immigrant or non-immigrant visas, valid visa holders leaving for good, Philippine-born foreign nationals departing for the first time, temporary visitors with orders to leave and certain discharged seafarers 1.
The certificate proves that the foreign national has no derogatory record and no pending government obligation at issuance 3.
A short-stay tourist below the six-month threshold is not in BI's published tourist category for ECC-A. Another listed circumstance can still apply.
ECC-A and ECC-B compared
Fees are assessed by component
The 2025 BI Citizen's Charter lists an ECC or certificate-of-exemption component of ₱700 for adults and people aged 14 to 16. It lists ₱200 for a child below 14 3.
The final Order of Payment Slip can include a legal research fee, an express-lane certification fee, annual-report arrears, overstay fines or another obligation tied to the person's record 2,34.
For that reason, ₱700 is not a reliable all-in quote for every departing foreign national. Use the amount on the BI assessment and demand an official receipt.
Timing and validity
BI's FAQ says a foreign national may apply at least 72 hours before departure. The same guidance says the certificate is valid for one month but may be used only once 1.
Apply early enough to resolve an ACR I-Card, annual-report, visa or derogatory-record problem. A flight booking does not waive an unresolved obligation.
ECC-A processing and ECC-B payment routes differ. Select the transaction that matches the visa status and purpose of departure.
Annual report and ECC-B
BI's 2026 annual-report guidelines require departing registered foreign nationals to complete annual reporting before ECC-B issuance 4.
The guidelines set the annual report at ₱300 plus a ₱10 legal research fee. Late reporting can add a motion fee and monthly fines 4.
BI's e-Services portal provides a combined ECC-B, re-entry permit or special return certificate route with annual-report compliance 2.
Before going to BI
- Check whether the stay reached six months
- Identify ECC-A or ECC-B from visa and departure purpose
- Bring the passport and current immigration documents
- Resolve annual-report or overstay obligations
- Pay only against a BI Order of Payment Slip and keep the official receipt
Common questions
Does a tourist need an ECC after six months?
Yes. BI lists a temporary visitor who stayed six months or more for ECC-A 1.
What is ECC-B?
It is the exit clearance for qualifying immigrant and non-immigrant visa holders with valid ACR I-Cards leaving temporarily 1,2.
How much is an ECC?
The 2025 charter lists a ₱700 ECC component for age 14 and above and ₱200 below age 14. Other assessed items can increase the total 3.
When should I apply?
BI says at least 72 hours before departure 1.
Can I reuse an ECC?
No. BI says it is valid for one month but for one use only 1.
Fees change. Check your e-ticket's tax lines and the official site before you travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Evidence
Sources
- 1Bureau of Immigration: Frequently asked questions on ECC-A and ECC-B (accessed 19 October 2026)↗
- 2Bureau of Immigration: e-Services portal, ECC-B transactions (accessed 19 October 2026)↗
- 3Bureau of Immigration: Citizen's Charter 2025, 1st edition↗
- 4Bureau of Immigration: 2026 Annual Report Guidelines↗
Related
- Documents Philippine Immigration asks for at departure
Official departure documents for Filipino tourists, secondary inspection, deferred departure, current rules and the suspended 2023 revision.
- Philippine travel tax for foreign residents and long stays
Permanent resident foreigners and many non-immigrants after a stay over one year pay travel tax. Short-stay visitors are normally outside it.
- The Bureau of Immigration's current border systems
What APIS, eGates, eTravel and BI screening do now, what CAISS proposes to add, and why the duplication question remains under review.
- eTravel Philippines: free arrival and departure registration
eTravel is the free Philippine arrival and departure registration at etravel.gov.ph. Who must fill it, when, and how to spot fake eTravel sites.
- Tourist visa extension fees and current BI charges
Official BI fee components for the first visa waiver and later tourist extensions, plus the 2025 express-lane increase.
- Entry requirements for foreign visitors to the Philippines
Passport, visa or visa-free eligibility, onward ticket, eTravel and special rules for minors and registered foreign residents.