ACR I-Card
The Alien Certificate of Registration I-Card is the physical identity document issued to a foreigner registered with the Bureau of Immigration. The paper certificate was replaced by the card in 2004.
The card costs US$50 plus ₱500 for a one-year validity, and US$100 or US$150 for two or three years. It is issued after the visa is approved, at the image and fingerprint capturing counter, and it is what makes you a registered alien for the annual report.
What the government charges
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| ACR I-Card, 1 year Charged in US dollars | US$50 |
| Additional fee Bureau of Immigration | ₱500 |
The card is charged in US dollars. Where a visa fee table already includes the card, do not count it twice.
Who needs this
- Foreigners granted an immigrant or non-immigrant visa who are required to register with the Bureau.
- Dependents joining a principal visa holder.
- Anyone renewing a card that is expiring, or replacing one that was lost.
Who does not
- Tourist and temporary visitor visa holders on a short stay.
- SRRV holders, who hold a PRA card instead and are exempt from the BI annual report.
How it is done
- Visa approval firstThe card is not applied for on its own. It follows the visa, and the application is prepared at the same time.
- Image and fingerprint captureAttend the Alien Registration Division counter after the hearing or approval. Bring the passport.
- Pay and collectUS$50 plus ₱500 for one year. The card is released after the capture and payment.
- Report every JanuaryHolding the card creates the annual report obligation, ₱310, from 1 January to 1 March.
Deadline and what happens if you miss it
The card carries an expiry and a renewal, and holding an expired card is the same as holding no card for most transactions. Renew it before the visa renewal, not after.
Why files get refused at the counter
- Attending the capture without the passport.
- Paying the card fee twice, once inside a package and once at the counter.
- Assuming the card replaces the visa. It does not; it registers you, the visa authorises you.
Who does what
You
Attend the capture in person and sign the application.
LPP
Prepare the card application with the visa file so both are lodged at the right moment, and track the release.
Accredited partner
Collects the card at the Bureau and hands it over with the receipt.
Have this filed without the guesswork
Send the file to us. We confirm the current fee with the agency, prepare the documents, and tell you in writing what is missing before anything is submitted.
Start this case See our feesSources
- Bureau of Immigration, ACR I-Card Issuance: https://immigration.gov.ph/acr-i-card-issuance/
Last verified against the issuing agency on 2026-10-24. If an agency changes a fee or a deadline after that date, this page is out of date and we correct it before quoting.
Related
ACR I-Card Annual Report
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9G conversion at the BI costs ₱10,130 for one year, plus US$50 for the ACR I-Card. The DOLE AEP at ₱6,000 must be issued
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