ACR I-Card for Foreigners in the Philippines: Who Needs One

If you stay in the Philippines for more than 59 days, or you hold a resident visa, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) expects you to have an ACR I-Card. It's a chip-based ID card that shows you're a registered foreigner. It also comes with upkeep: renewals, replacements and, for residents, a yearly Annual Report. This guide covers who needs one, how to apply, BI's posted fees and what the card helps with day to day. I checked the fees and rules below against BI's pages in October 2026.

Quick answer

BI says foreign nationals who stay more than 59 days need an ACR I-Card. Tourists apply together with the extension that takes them past day 59. Resident-visa holders get theirs as part of the visa process. BI's posted fee table is dated March 2014, so the amount on your Order of Payment Slip is what counts.

Who needs an ACR I-Card

BI's FAQs describe the ACR I-Card as a "microchip based, credit card-sized, identification card issued to all registered aliens whose stay in the Philippines has exceeded fifty-nine (59) days." ACR stands for Alien Certificate of Registration, and most people just call it the ACR card.

BI's FAQ defines who has to apply broadly: "All foreign nationals under immigrant and non-immigrant visas including holders of Temporary Visitor's Visa, who have stayed for more than fifty nine (59) days in the Philippines." That covers residents, and it also covers tourists who keep extending.

The day-59 rule

A 2024 BI notice says visa-free nationals get an initial stay of 30 days, which they can extend at BI offices or online. The next step, which BI's Citizen's Charter calls the visa-waiver extension, takes you to 59 days. The extension that takes you past day 59 is the one that comes with the ACR I-Card.

BI's wording is about staying more than 59 days. If you leave before that, the card doesn't come into it. If you want to stay longer, plan for the card alongside the extension.

I cover tourist visa extension fees and the OAPS online extension on a separate page. If you're still deciding how to stay, my guide to visa runs vs extensions vs residency lays out the options.

Tourist card vs resident card

BI issues the card in different categories, and each has its own colour. BI's FAQ lists ten. These are the four most readers will meet:

The bigger difference is how you get the card. A tourist card comes with an extension. A resident card comes with the visa, and then the Annual Report becomes part of your year.

If you're on an SRRV, the PRA says you're exempt from BI's ACR I-Card and Annual Report; you carry a PRA-issued ID instead. BI lists SRRV under its red "Voluntary Registrant" card for those who choose to register, and its 2026 Annual Report guidelines include SRRV voluntary registrants. If you take a card voluntarily, ask BI or the PRA whether the Annual Report then applies to you.

How to apply

On a tourist visa

BI's ACR I-Card Issuance page covers temporary visitor's and tourist visa holders who have stayed more than 59 days. Its key line: "ACR I-Card application must be submitted together with the application for visa." In plain terms, you apply for the card with the extension that takes you past day 59.

BI's page lists where to go and what to bring:

• Where: the BI Main Office, or another immigration office on BI's list.
• What to bring: BI's checklist with the complete documentary requirements, and the application form.

BI doesn't publish a processing time for the tourist card on that page. Ask when you file, and don't plan a tight departure around it.

On a resident visa

If you're getting a resident visa, the card is part of the visa process. BI's Citizen's Charter lists new card issuance for approved visas including 9(g), TRV, 13(a) probationary, 13(a) amendment to permanent and several other section 13 categories. That includes the 13(a) marriage visa.

The charter lists these papers: the CGAF form, copies of your passport bio-page, visa implementation and latest admission, and the official receipt for your payment.

After your visa is approved, BI's 2026 Citizen's Charter lists about five working days to issue the card for 13(a) spouse and 13(g) former-Filipino visas (two to review and approve, three to print and release). Other visa types can differ. Treat that as BI's stated standard, not a promise. To claim the card, you present the visa implemented in your passport and your claim stub.

Fees

Every fee table on BI's service pages has the same footnote: fees are "updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice." So treat every figure below as BI's posted fee from a table dated 6 March 2014. The amount on your Order of Payment Slip is what you actually pay.

BI's posted fees (table dated 6 March 2014), checked October 2026:

In June 2025, BI raised the express lane fee from ₱500 to ₱1,000 under Immigration Memorandum Circular 2025-004, effective 15 days after newspaper publication. BI's 2026 Annual Report guidelines also charge the ₱1,000 express lane fee. BI's service pages still show ₱500 (checked October 2026), so expect ₱1,000 and let your Order of Payment Slip confirm it.

BI's Citizen's Charter lists the dollar fees at the BSP forex rate.

Renewal and replacement

Renewal

BI's renewal page lists four grounds for renewing:

• "Expiration of the one (1) year validity of the card"
• re-registration when you reach age 14
• a change of visa status
• replacement of the ACR as required under the Alien Registration Act of 1950, as amended

BI's 2026 Citizen's Charter says permanent residents get a card valid for five years, and tourists get one valid for one year from the date they apply. Other visa types can differ. Check the expiry printed on your card.

BI's steps go like this. You file the form and documents, and BI checks for derogatory records. You get an Order of Payment Slip, pay, and submit a copy of the official receipt. BI prints the card after approval, and you claim it with your claim stub and an ID. The posted fee is USD 50 plus the express fee (see the 2025 increase above).

Renewing early or late? The Citizen's Charter lists a letter request for early renewal, or a letter explaining why you're renewing late.

Lost, damaged or changed details

BI's re-issuance page covers a lost card, a damaged card, amendments such as a new address, name, nationality or civil status, and a card rejected through the applicant's fault.

For a lost card, the charter lists:

• a letter request
• an affidavit of loss
• a police report
• fingerprint capture

For an address change, the charter lists a Certificate of Residence from your barangay or LGU and an affidavit of change of address. It also lists an amendment fee of ₱1,010 per item.

The Annual Report

The Annual Report is a yearly check-in for registered foreigners. It comes from the Alien Registration Act of 1950 (RA 562).

Who has to file

BI's Annual Report page says the report covers "All registered aliens and ACR I-Card holders except Temporary Visitor's Visa holders or Tourist Visa holders." BI's 2026 guidelines (Operations Order No. 2025-007) don't single out tourists either way. They cover registered foreign nationals holding an ACR I-Card "with valid visa", and their list of visa types for the virtual Annual Report includes no tourist category. BI's yearly advisories just say "all registered aliens." If you hold a tourist ACR I-Card, BI's own service page says you're excluded, but confirm with BI before you leave if you've stayed a long time.

When and how

BI's 2026 Annual Report Advisory quotes Section 10 of RA 562 as amended, which sets the report within the first 60 days of every calendar year. For 2026 that window ran from 1 January to 1 March. Check BI's advisory for each year's exact dates.

The steps, per BI's AR page and its January 2026 reminder:

1. Register online through BI's e-services portal and get a reference number.
2. Go to a participating BI office with the reference number, your ACR I-Card (or original paper ACR), your passport and the previous year's AR receipt.
3. Get your Order of Payment Slip, pay, and keep the official receipt.

Under BI's 2026 Annual Report guidelines (Operations Order No. 2025-007), you don't have to appear in person if you're under 14, 60 or older, have a PWD ID, or are pregnant or have a medical condition with a doctor's or hospital certificate. A representative can file for you with proof of the exemption, plus a Special Power of Attorney if they aren't family.

BI also ran a virtual Annual Report for 2026. It was open 24/7 for qualified foreign nationals who are physically present in the Philippines and hold valid visas. You pay through e-services by Maya, GCash, credit card or Landbank. BI's 2026 guidelines add a ₱1,000 express lane fee for the virtual Annual Report, on top of the ₱310.

Fee and late fines

BI's posted AR fee is ₱300 plus a ₱10 Legal Research Fee, and that page has the same 6 March 2014 footnote. BI's page says the fee is assessed once your arrival falls on or before 2 November of the preceding year.

Filing late adds up. BI's page lists a fine of ₱200 a month, counted from 2 March and capped at ₱2,000 a year. BI counts any part of a month as a full month. On top of that comes a ₱1,510 Motion for Reconsideration fee. Section 5 of BI's Operations Order No. 2025-007 sets out these fines and fees. BI's January 2026 notice also says non-compliance "may subject the concerned foreign national to administrative fines or prosecution."

What the card unlocks

The ACR I-Card is a Philippine government-issued ID that shows your registration status. That's what makes it useful day to day.

Banks

BPI's account opening requirements say you can open a deposit account "with just 1 valid ID." Its list for foreign nationals includes the "Alien Certificate of Registration issued by the Bureau of Immigration." The same list also has a foreign passport and, for resident aliens, the PhilID. Other banks set their own rules, and branches decide. My banking guide covers which IDs Philippine banks accept.

GCash

GCash Help's accepted IDs list includes the ACR for foreigners living in the Philippines with a PH SIM. GTourist, for foreigners visiting for 30 days, uses a foreign passport. The ID has to be valid, not expired, and the physical card. More in my guide to GCash verification for foreigners.

PhilHealth

PhilHealth's Circular 2017-0003 puts foreigners working and/or residing in the Philippines under the Informal Economy, as long as they hold valid working permits and/or ACRs. I cover enrolment in PhilHealth for ACR holders.

Leases and Meralco

Landlords and building admins set their own ID requirements. Most ask for your passport with your current visa, as I explain in renting in the Philippines. In my view the ACR I-Card still helps: it's a Philippine-issued ID that shows your registration status, which can make those conversations easier.

Meralco's accepted-ID list includes foreign government-issued IDs with picture and signature. Bring your passport, and your ACR I-Card if you have one. More in setting up Meralco and other utilities.

Leaving the Philippines

• ECC-B: BI's FAQ says it "is issued to departing holders of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visas with valid ACR I-Cards and are leaving the country temporarily." BI's FAQ says you can apply at least 72 hours before departure.
• Tourists: BI's Citizen's Charter lists an ECC for temporary visitors who have stayed six months or more.
• Annual Report: BI's January 2026 notice says departing registered foreign nationals "are required to settle their Annual Report obligations prior to the issuance of an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC-B)."
• Proof of Annual Report at the airport: Section 7 of BI's Operations Order No. 2025-007 says registered foreigners who can't show proof of 2026 Annual Report compliance will be offloaded at the airport.

If you have to leave in an emergency while your card is still pending, BI offers an ACR I-Card waiver. BI describes it as "a remedy for emergency departures of foreign nationals from the Philippines pending release of their ACR I-Cards." BI's page says to file it at least 48 hours before your flight. The posted fee is in the table above.

The full process is in my guide to exit clearance (ECC-A and ECC-B).

Frank's take

Treat day 59 as a decision point. By then you know whether you like it here. You can extend and take the card, do a run, or start planning residency. Each path costs something different, so choose on purpose. Don't just drift into the next extension.

If you hold a card, put two things on your calendar: the expiry date printed on it, and the Annual Report window in the first 60 days of the year. Both are easy to forget, and the AR fines add up.

Don't anchor on the fee table. It's dated 2014, the express fee went up in 2025, and the dollar fees follow the exchange rate. Bring some extra cash and let the Order of Payment Slip tell you the number.

In my view, the card's biggest everyday value is as a Philippine-issued ID. It won't open every door. But it makes dealing with banks, GCash and landlords easier than a passport alone.

FAQ

What is an ACR card in the Philippines?

It's the ACR I-Card, a microchip-based, credit-card-sized ID that BI issues to registered foreigners whose stay has passed 59 days. Residents get one with their visa. Long-stay tourists get one with the extension that takes them past day 59.

Do I need an ACR I-Card if I leave before 59 days?

BI's rule covers foreign nationals who stay more than 59 days, so a shorter stay doesn't trigger it. The card comes with the extension past day 59. If you extend, expect the card to come with it.

How much is an ACR I-Card?

BI's posted fee for a tourist card is USD 50 plus the express fee, from a table dated March 2014. See the 2025 express-fee increase above. The amount on your Order of Payment Slip is what counts.

How long does it take?

For 13(a) spouse and 13(g) former-Filipino visas, BI's 2026 Citizen's Charter lists about five working days after you file your card application. Other visa types can differ. These are BI's targets. For tourist cards I found no BI figure, so ask when you file.

How long is an ACR I-Card valid?

BI's 2026 Citizen's Charter says permanent residents get a card valid for five years, and tourists get one valid for one year from the date they apply. Other visa types can differ. Check the expiry printed on your card.

Do tourists file the Annual Report?

BI's Annual Report page excludes Temporary Visitor's and Tourist Visa holders, and BI's 2026 guidelines don't list tourists among the visa types that report. BI's yearly notices use broader "all registered aliens" wording, so if you hold a tourist ACR I-Card and aren't sure, ask BI.

What if I lose my card?

Apply for re-issuance. BI's Citizen's Charter lists a letter request, an affidavit of loss, a police report and fingerprint capture. The posted fee is USD 20 plus the express fee; see the 2025 increase above.