Study in the Philippines from Nepal and India

Philippines student visa at a glance

Visa fee

PHP 9,720

Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

No fixed amount

Work in term

See guide

Stay after study

See guide

Short answer: To study in the Philippines you apply for the Student Visa (9F). The main visa fee is PHP 9,720. No fixed funds amount is published; you show enough to cover your study and living costs.

How much does it cost to study in the Philippines?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the Philippines student visa?

Who qualifies

Foreign nationals aged at least 18 taking a course higher than high school at a university, seminary or college. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Where to apply

Conversion to a student visa is filed at the Bureau of Immigration main office or another authorised immigration office in the Philippines. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Documents for conversion

Joint letter from the school and student, application form (CGAF), passport with valid stay, notice of acceptance, school endorsement, BI clearance and, if filed 6+ months after first arrival, an NBI clearance. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Medicine applicants

Medicine and dentistry students must add a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Foreign documents

Foreign documents must be originals authenticated by the Philippine foreign service post covering the place of issue, with an English translation if needed. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Biometrics

Photo and fingerprints are taken at the BI Alien Registration Division for the ACR I-Card. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Accredited schools only

A school needs Bureau of Immigration accreditation to accept foreign students. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Special Study Permit

Foreign nationals who do not qualify for a student visa may apply for a Special Study Permit at the BI main office. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

Medical school entry

The MD course needs a prior bachelor's degree and a pass in the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT); check CHED's site for recognised medical colleges. Source: eoimanila.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in the Philippines?

Can I stay and work after graduating?

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in the Philippines?

Compare universities across countries

What do Nepali and Indian students study in the Philippines?

The most-studied fields, from official enrolment statistics.

What has changed recently?

1. 9 Oct 2026

   Bureau of Immigration proposed Annual Report fees for registered foreign nationals (PHP 500 plus PHP 10 legal research fee; express lane PHP 1,000 in person or PHP 1,500 virtual), open for comment for 30 days. Source: immigration.gov.ph (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 17 Jun 2026

   Indian Embassy, Manila advisory: cites House of Representatives Resolution No. 73 (11 Mar 2026) on NMC compliance, but says Indian reciprocity guidance needed for the licensure exam is still awaited. Source: eoimanila.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

3. 8 May 2025

   CHED letter (cited by the Indian Embassy) states MD degrees from CHED-recognised schools meet India's FMGL requirements. Source: eoimanila.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

4. 29 Jul 2025

   Nepal Medical Council asked students to confirm a foreign university is accredited by NMC Nepal before going abroad to study medicine. Source: Nepal Medical Council (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Whether a 9(f) visa can be issued before travel, the embassy visa fee, and which Philippine embassy serves Nepal — ask the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi.
• Whether your medical school is recognised by CHED, and the Certificate of Eligibility process and fee — check ched.gov.ph.
• Whether Nepali nationals can sit the Philippine physician licensure exam (reciprocity) — needed to judge licence eligibility in the country of study.
• Whether 9(f) students may work, and any post-study stay — not stated on BI pages.
• Validity period and processing time of the student visa; whether the 2014 BI fee schedule is still the one applied.
• Tuition and living costs — no official figures found.
• Nepal Medical Education Commission eligibility certificate and Ministry of Education No Objection Certificate steps.
• Which Philippine medical schools are on NMC Nepal's scheduled or accredited list.

Official sources for Philippines

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1Bureau of Immigration (BI)immigration_authority · Visas and permits for foreign nationals
2. 2BI – Student Visa (9F)student_visa · Conversion and extension: who, how, fees
3. 3BI – Checklist V-NI-005 (conversion to student visa)student_visa · Documents incl. CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Medicine
4. 4BI – Special Study Permitstudent_visa · SSP for those not qualifying for 9F; PHP 5,240
5. 5BI – School accreditationaccreditation · Schools need BI accreditation to accept foreign students
6. 6BI – Proposed schedule of fees (Annual Report), 9 Oct 2026changes · Proposed Annual Report fees, 30-day comment period
7. 7Embassy of India Manila – Advisory on medical education (17 Jun 2026)regulator_india · CHED letter 8 May 2025; House Res. 73; PLE reciprocity awaited
8. 8Embassy of India Manila – Education in Philippines (advisories for Indian medical students)regulator_india · Archive of advisories; NMAT; pay fees to college
9. 9Embassy of India Manila – Advisory 26 May 2023 (PRC reciprocity)regulator_india · PRC: Indians not eligible for licensure exam without reciprocity
10. 10Embassy of India Manila – Advisory on Medical Act of 1959 (4 Jun 2024)regulator_india · No official amendment of Medical Act communicated
11. 11NMC – Public notice 7 Dec 2023 (FMG issues incl. BS course)regulator_india · One-time exemption for students in Philippine BS course on 18.11.2021
12. 12NMC – FMGL Regulations 2021 (gazette)regulator_india · 54 months + 12-month internship at same institution, English, licence in country of study, 10-year limit
13. 13NMC – FMGL FAQ dated 8 Jun 2026regulator_india · Online-study compensation; FMG exam within 10 years of admission
14. 14NMC – Rules & regulations listregulator_india · Index of FMGL, FAQs and screening-test regulations
15. 15NMC – For students to study abroadregulator_india · NEET requirement (valid 3 years); NMC endorses no list
16. 16NMC – Equivalence of foreign medical qualificationregulator_india · FMG exam (NBEMS) then SMC provisional registration and CRMI
17. 17NMC – e-Compendium 2024 (public notice Nov 2024)regulator_india · Advisory: any variation in duration/medium/internship may disqualify
18. 18NMC – What's New (notices)regulator_india · Watch for FMG / foreign-study notices
19. 19Nepal Medical Council – latest noticesregulator_nepal · Notice index (JavaScript site)
20. 20Nepal Medical Council – accreditation of foreign medical colleges (20 Nov 2024)regulator_nepal · Only listed/accredited foreign degrees may sit licensing exam
21. 21Nepal Medical Council – accreditation notice (2082 Shrawan 13 / 29 Jul 2025)regulator_nepal · Check NMC accreditation before going abroad
22. 22Nepal Medical Council – registration & special exam procedure 2077regulator_nepal · Licensing-exam documents: study consent letter, internship, equivalence certificate
23. 23Nepal Medical Council – registration certificate requirements (2077/10/12)regulator_nepal · Foreign graduates: eligibility certificate, MoE No Objection Letter, passport/visa
24. 24Nepal Medical Council – online study limit (23 Dec 2022)regulator_nepal · Max 6 months online in UG; none in internship
25. 25Nepal Medical Council – regulation & recognition of courses (5 May 2022)regulator_nepal · In-person attendance; internship certification; original degree certificate
26. 26Nepal Medical Council – licensing exam results by country (2083 Jestha 19 / 3 Jun 2026)regulator_nepal · Pass rates by country of study (May 2026 exam)