2025 Philippines Online Annual Reporting Requirement Guide for Expats

This wasn’t a big deal for expats living near a BOI office, but if you lived on an island or province outside of a major city, this could mean a multi-hour ferry ride, being stuck in traffic, dealing with long lines, and cumbersome paperwork.

But starting in 2024, the BOI introduced a streamlined virtual option for your Annual Report. Let’s guide you through this convenient approach to fulfilling your obligations from the comfort of your own home.

If you’ve been living in the Philippines for a while, you might be surprised to hear that an official government paperwork process—the annual report—now has a virtual option. It’s new, so it might be reasonable to expect some headaches, but in our experience, it’s impressively simple and streamlined! As the B.I. office states:

“This virtual option aims to provide convenience while maintaining compliance through an online registration platform…This service is an end-to-end online process where foreign nationals can book, pay, and report online, from the comforts of their own homes,”
-Norman Tansingco, Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration

From our perspective, Mr. Tansingco is on point: The BOI has met its goals with this new process.

You can complete the annual review online through the Bureau of Immigration’s E-services portal.

That’s right—with a laptop, internet access, and some basic computer skills, it’s a straightforward process. Many who traversed the province sun—switching from motorbike to umbrella walk to jeepney to trike–might be relieved to know that the annual check no longer requires this long trip. Many expats report the entire process taking less than thirty minutes in total.

Registering on the new online annual reporting system is your first step towards hassle-free compliance. You’ll want to navigate to the official Bureau of Immigration (BI) website (https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph) and locate the online reporting section. Here’s what to do:

1

Create an Account:

Follow the prompts to create a new user account. You’ll typically need an active email address, which will be used for verification and communication purposes.

INSIDER TIP: Don’t Use A VPN- If you have issues accessing the website, check to see if you are connecting through a VPN (Virtual Private Network). I had problems getting the website to load until I deactivated NordVPN.

2

Complete Your Profile:

Fill in your personal information accurately to ensure smooth processing – double-check spellings and numbers to avoid any mishaps down the line.

3

Verify Your Email:

After signing up, check your email for a verification link from BI. Click on it to activate your account—make sure to check your spam folder if it doesn’t appear in your inbox.

4

Log In:

With your account verified, you can now log in. Make sure to safeguard your username and password, as you’ll need these credentials for future reports.

INSIDER TIP: Valid Email Address– This BI system doesn’t like temporary email addresses and frequently rejects @hotmail.com emails. Use a valid email address or sign up for a gmail account.

Use your username and password to log into the system.

Once you’re registered and logged into the platform, you will need to provide accurate and up-to-date information to complete your annual report. Including:

1. ACR-I Card: Complete your Alien Certificate Registration (Acr-I) Card details
2. Personal Appearance Requirement: Choose between the new Virtual Check-In Meeting or Traditional In-Person Meeting at your local BOI branch
3. Personal Details: Enter your personal information including full name, nationality, and marital status. Double-check accuracy for any typos; this form will be cross-referenced with official documents.
4. Immigration Information: Input specific immigration details, including your passport data and the type of visa you hold.
5. Residential Address: Update your current address in the Philippines, including your Barangay
6. Spousal Information: Complete if applicable
7. Review and Submit: Before submitting the information, review all the details thoroughly. Any errors could delay processing or result in having to restart the application.
8. Keep Records: Save or print the acknowledgment receipt or confirmation page for your records after submission. This serves as proof of compliance and can be helpful for future reference.

After you fill out the form, choose a date and time for your virtual appointment, then make the payment. Payments can be made through Maya, Gcash, Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard), and Landbank.

If this is your first time completing the process online, we also recommend that you give yourself a two to three-week cushion to schedule your appointment before the annual review expiration date.

Annual Reporting Costs are 310 PHP Total:

• 300.00 PHP Annual Report (A.R.) Fee for Registered Foreign Nationals
• 10.00 PHP  Legal Research Fee (LRF) for each immigration fee except Head Tax and Fines
• 500 PHP Virtual Fee/Express Lane Fee (I’ve seen both terminologies used)

*Fees are updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice.

Wait for the system to generate your Reference Number and QR code. This is your official receipt and verification that your application has been successfully submitted.

What’s this virtual appointment like? It’s just an informal gathering of other foreign nationals who are there for the same reason. It’s the famous Zoom online video call made famous during the pandemic, but you don’t have to sit through any speeches. Instead, some friendly employees of the B.I. will ask for your registration code and usher you into a “breakout room” where you’ll briefly meet with a B.I. officer.

Here, they’ll ask you for a few documents. Make sure you have the following (below) with you. We recommend emailing beforehand to ensure you have all the documents you need. With a new process, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

• original Alien Certificate of Registration I-Card (ACR I-Card)
• Valid Philippines VISA
• Original valid passport

Make sure to show up at your appointment on time. Have your appointment registration number and the required documents above ready before seeing the virtual interviewer.

If you forget to save your number or code, you can find them by navigating to the Transactions tab at the bottom on the left side of the page.

A few minutes before your appointment time, press the Google Meet logo on the “view details” page. This should redirect you to a new tab in your browser for the Google Meet call. Choose the appropriate email address from your email addresses that you want to use for the meet. Then press the button that says “ask to join.”

Once accepted into the call, the officer will give you instructions to send you Ref. number in the chat box. You can simply copy and paste the number when prompted.

You will then wait a moment until a “Join” pop up appears asking you to join a separate room. In this room you will talk with you ACR card officer. Press that pop up.

INSIDER TIP:  Late Payments and Fees- If you haven’t already paid, your interviewer will send you a payment link after the interview is completed. If you do not pay the total 810 PHP in 24 hours, you’ll need to re-do the process all over again.

Remember, failing to comply with the annual reporting requirement can have serious repercussions, including fines and issues with future visa renewals, so take this seriously and start early. It might be easy to forget this requirement when you’re in the middle of many other government-related paperwork tasks.

You may even be caught off guard if you have secured a probationary spousal visa, and imagine that your next BI-related task is not for another 12 months.

However, failure to complete the annual check can result in penalties. The virtual option should help you comply with less of a headache.

The annual filing deadline is March 1st. There is a monthly late fee of 200 PHP if you miss the deadline. A fraction of a month is fined as one full month. However, there is a maximum fine of 2000 PHP per year. 

INSIDER TIP: Past Due Amounts – The Registration Officer (RO) will require you to settle any past due annual filing late fees before making payments for the current year reporting. 

To stay on the right side of the compliance track, it’s crucial to keep a sharp eye on deadlines and to have all your documents in order. Here’s a concise checklist to guide you:

Deadlines:

• Annual Reporting Period: Typically, the first 60 days of the calendar year.
• Submission Deadline: Ensure your report is submitted before the deadline to avoid penalties or fines.

Documents Checklist:

• ACR I-Card: Make sure you have your Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card at hand.
• Passport: A valid passport, which should include your current visa stamp.
• Registration code: Bring the code that B.I. emails you. You will need to type it when you arrive at the virtual meeting. 
• Receipt of Previous Annual Report: If applicable, have a copy of last year’s report receipt.
• Other Supporting Documents: Depending on your visa type or specific circumstances, additional documentation may be required.

Online reporting systems are convenient, but sometimes they can stumble over technical glitches. If you encounter a hurdle, don’t worry—common issues often have simple fixes:

1. Login Problems: If you’re unable to log in, check that you’ve entered your credentials correctly. If you’ve forgotten your password, use the ‘Forgot Password’ feature to reset it.
2. Website Downtime: With heavy traffic, the site may sometimes be down. If this happens, wait for a while before retrying. Avoid peak hours if possible.
3. Document Uploads: Trouble uploading documents can usually be resolved by checking file size limits and accepted formats (like JPEG, PNG, PDF). For this annual check-in process, expats have reported not needing to upload documents. Instead, you physically hold up your appropriate documents so the B.I. officer can see them. 
4. Error Messages: Ensure you have javascript enabled. If you continue to receive an error message, take note of its content. Often, it will give you a hint about what’s going wrong, which you can then address.
5. System Requirements: Ensure your computer meets the website’s required specifications for optimal functionality. For best results, use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox. Avoid non-standard like Brave or outdated Internet browsers like Internet Explorer.
6. Buffering or Slow Progress: This is typically connected to your internet speed. Consider switching to a wired connection, or complete the process during off-peak internet hours.
7. Cancellations and Refunds: Active applications where no payments have been processed can be canceled directly from your user dashboard. However, any online payments completed are non-refundable

If you’ve worked through the usual troubleshooting steps without success, the platform may offer a helpdesk or contact support. Reach out to them providing clear details of the issues faced for assistance.

The digital overhaul of the Philippines’ Annual Reporting for expats was much needed. The ease and accessibility of Virtual Check-ins promise a hassle-free experience that is:

1. Convenient: Say goodbye to the inconvenience of in-person queues; the system can be used to make your appointment online from anywhere with an internet connection.
2. Time-Saving: Without the need for travel to immigration offices, you save valuable time that can be put to better use.
3. Faster Processing: Digital submissions can be processed more quickly, leading to a more efficient resolution of your immigration status.
4. Environmental Impact: No more long jeepneys or trike rides to the Immigration office. Plus online reporting significantly reduces the paper trail, contributing to a greener, more sustainable approach to administrative tasks.

Staying compliant with the immigration laws in the Philippines is crucial for a hassle-free expatriate experience. By following this guide, you can confidently navigate the 2024 annual check-in process.