GUIDELINES ON THE ENTRY AND STAY OF FOREIGN STUDENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSE

WHEREAS, an increasing number of foreigners
have expressed their desire to enter and study in the Philippines, and graduate
from Philippine schools, colleges and universities;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the
government to promote the Philippines as a center for education in the region
by (i) encouraging foreign students to study in the Philippines, (ii)
developing awareness of the Philippine educational system by neighboring
countries, and (iii) allowing duly accepted foreign students to avail of the
facilities of the Philippine educational system; and

WHEREAS, the current procedure and
guidelines governing the entry and stay of foreign students in the Philippines
need to be updated and simplified, in support of this policy.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS,
President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested
upon me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. Basic Policies and Procedures.
The following policies and procedure shall be observed by all entities
concerned:

A. Acceptance of Foreign Students.

(1) Any Philippine school whose programs are
recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) is
authorized to accept foreign students. The individual Philippine school may
launch information campaigns to solicit and receive applications directly from
prospective foreign students. For this purpose, the school may seek the
assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Tourism.

(2) Once the applicant is accepted for admission,
the school may forward to the applicant the appropriate Notice of Acceptance to
the course of study applied for. However, the school may be required to obtain
in advance an appropriate Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) from
the DECS for certain courses of study, such as in medicine and in nursing, where
restrictions may exist on the enrollment of foreign students due to a shortage
of facilities. Once issued, the CEA shall remain valid for the duration of the
course of study, provided the student attends his classes and continues to
receive satisfactory grades.

(3) The DECS, in consultation with the Commission
on Higher Education, shall determine what courses of study require the issuance
of a CEA and shall draw up a list for this purpose not later than sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Executive Order. Said list may be updated by
the DECS from time to time as may be necessary.

(4) The DECS shall provide all schools with
comparative equivalences for the major foreign educational systems, and should
any question concerning equivalences arise, the school concerned shall secure
the comments of the DECS before accepting a foreign student for enrollment.

(5) Enrollment in any level shall require
completion of the lower particular level, for example, an applicant for the
tertiary or collegiate level should be a graduate of high school or its
equivalent.

(6) Elementary, secondary and tertiary enrolment in
Philippine schools by the spouses and children of the following categories will
be treated on the same basis as Philippine nationals: (a) permanent foreign
residents, (b) aliens with valid working permits, (c) foreign diplomat
personnel, and (d) personnel from duly accredited international organizations
residing in the Philippines, and (e) holders of Special Investor’s Resident
Visa (SIRV) and Special Retiree’s Resident Visa (SRRV).

B. Issuance of Visas.

(7) The procedure and documentation for the
issuance of visas shall be kept to a minimum. The applicants for student visa
shall submit the following documents to the Philippine Foreign Service
Establishments (PFSE) located in the country of their residence:

(a) A copy of the Notice of Acceptance from a
Philippine school and where applicable, a copy of the CEA;

(b) Documentary proof of support to cover expenses
incidental to their studies, such as board and lodging as well as return air
tickets;

(c) Authenticated scholastic records;

(d) Authenticated Police Clearance Certificate from
the applicant’s country of origin or residence;

(e) Results of medical examinations conducted by an
authorized physician; and

(f) Other documents that may be required in the
individual case by the Consular Officer, provided that it shall not be the task
of the PFSE to determine the applicants scholastic fitness for the program
applied for. If all documentary requirements are in order, the PFSE concerned
shall issue a student visa.

C. Arrival and Stay in the Philippines.

(8) The process for duly authorized foreign
students to enter and stay in the Philippines, including the issuance of the
Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR), shall be facilitated. The student’s
authorized period of stay shall be consistent with the length of the course of
study to which he has been accepted by a Philippine School.

(9) It shall be the responsibility of the
individual school in which the foreign student is enrolled to report promptly
at the close of each enrolment period, to the Bureau of Immigration, those
foreign students who have been accepted by the school but who failed to
register, either for the first time or for subsequent terms. Similarly, the
individual school shall also report promptly after the end of each term, those
students who were absent from the final examinations for the term. The
reporting herein required shall be strictly complied with by the individual
school.

(10) Appropriate arrangements shall be made by the
agencies concerned for foreigners who are already in the Philippines under
other valid visa arrangements, to facilitate their conversion into student
visas, provided all the relevant prerequisites listed herein are complied with.

D. Security Matters.

(11) The appropriate authorities may check whenever
necessary the activities of foreign students brought to its attention, whose
activities appear to be inimical to the security of the state. They shall be
responsible for the apprehension of foreign students not complying with
Philippine Immigration laws and regulations. For instance, a report that a
foreign student is under employment shall be immediately forwarded to the
Bureau of Immigration as basis for the cancellation of the foreign student’s
entry permit and for initiation of deportation proceedings.

(12) Those agencies charged with the maintenance of
internal security shall undertake steps necessary to safeguard national
security interests, without in any way further encumbering the process of
application, visa issuance, and entry authorization of foreign students in the
Philippines.

Section 2. Establishment and Composition of
the Committee on Foreign Students. There is hereby created an
Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students herein referred to as the Committee,
which shall have the following membership:

Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities of the
Committee. The Committee shall have the following duties and
responsibilities:

(1) Promulgate simplified procedures and
implementing guidelines governing the entry and stay of foreign students in the
Philippines in accordance with the provisions of this Executive Order within
sixty (60) days from the effectivity thereof;

(2) Monitor and coordinate the implementation of
this Executive Order by the departments and agencies concerned;

(3) Meet regularly to assess the progress of the
whole program, to ensure that the promotion of the Philippines as a center for
education in the region is effectively encouraged and undertaken; and

(4) Request representatives from other agencies
and/or the private sector to attend its meetings, when it deems necessary and
proper.

Section 4. Repealing Provision. This
Executive Order repeals Executive Order No. 104, dated 4 December 1967 and all
other executive issuances, regulations, or any parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order.

Section 5. Effectivity. This
Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 13th day
of July, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Four.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the
President:

(Sgd.) TEOFISTO
T. GUINGONA, JR.
Executive Secretary

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