If your Philippine visa is tied to a job, school, marriage, special economic zone, government endorsement, or another specific purpose, you may need to “downgrade” it before you can legally stay as a tourist, leave the Philippines cleanly, or apply for a new visa. In Bureau of Immigration practice, downgrading usually means reverting your existing immigration status to a temporary visitor or tourist status so you do not become overstaying while you wind down your affairs or prepare the next application. The process is technical, but manageable if you understand the correct sequence: settle your current status first, keep your stay valid, then file the proper new visa application.

What Visa Downgrading Means in the Philippines

Visa downgrading is the Bureau of Immigration procedure for foreign nationals who need the reversion of their existing immigration visa to temporary visitor or tourist status so they can continue staying legally in the Philippines. The BI’s official downgrading page describes the applicant as a foreign national applying for reversion of an immigration visa to temporary visitor or tourist status to continue legal stay in the country. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

In practical terms, downgrading is commonly needed when a foreign national:

resigns or is terminated from a Philippine job while holding a 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa;
finishes, stops, or changes a course while holding a 9(f) student visa;
no longer qualifies for a visa based on marriage, employment, missionary work, investment, or special government endorsement;
holds a 47(a)(2) visa, PEZA-related visa, or other special visa that must be cancelled before the person can stay as a visitor;
missed the filing deadline for extension or renewal and now needs BI to regularize the stay;
wants to leave the Philippines after a long stay and needs the correct status and exit clearance; or
needs to apply for a different visa category, such as a new work visa, student visa, 13(a) marriage visa, TRV, or another long-term status.

Downgrading is not the same as simply extending a tourist visa. It is also not the same as being approved for a new visa. It is a transition step that cleans up the old status before the next step can be taken.

Situation	Usually needed?	Why
9(g) employee resigns and will remain in the Philippines	Yes	The work visa was tied to the old employer.
9(g) employee changes employer	Usually yes	The new employer normally needs a fresh work-authorized status.
Tourist wants to extend as tourist	No downgrade	This is a tourist visa extension, not downgrading.
Student completes school and will stay temporarily	Yes	The 9(f) basis has ended.
Foreign spouse with 13(a) or TRV separates from Filipino spouse	Often yes	The basis for the residence visa may be questioned.
Foreign national exits before visa expiry and has no need to stay	Depends	BI may still require cancellation/downgrade depending on visa type and records.

Legal Basis: Why Immigration Status Must Match Your Actual Purpose

Philippine immigration status is governed mainly by Commonwealth Act No. 613, the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, which controls and regulates the admission and stay of aliens in the Philippines. (Lawphil) The Bureau of Immigration administers and enforces immigration, citizenship, alien admission, and registration laws under the Philippine Immigration Act, as reflected in later executive issuances recognizing BI’s role. (Lawphil)

The basic principle is simple: a foreign national must remain in the Philippines under a status that matches the legal basis for the stay. If you were admitted or converted as a worker, student, treaty trader, missionary, resident spouse, or special visa holder, that status is not a blank permission to remain for any purpose.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly treated immigration status as a matter of statutory compliance. In Rosario Po v. Commissioner of Immigration, the Court emphasized that a nonimmigrant admitted temporarily cannot simply remain permanently without following the proper immigration procedure, including proper documentation and examination where required by law. (Lawphil)

That doctrine matters in downgrading cases because BI officers will look at whether your current visa basis still exists. Once the basis ends — for example, your employment contract is terminated, your school clearance is issued, or your special visa is cancelled — the foreign national should not continue relying on the old visa as if nothing changed.

When You Should Downgrade Before Applying for a New Visa

You should consider downgrading before filing a new visa application when your present visa is no longer supported by the facts.

Common examples include:

You resigned from a Philippine company. A 9(g) work visa is connected to the petitioning employer and the approved position. If you resign and a new company wants to hire you, the old employer’s visa should not be used as authority to continue working.
Your employment was terminated. The petitioning company may be asked to support the downgrade through a certificate of employment, termination letter, or company request. The old visa should be regularized before departure or before a new employer files a new application.
You finished school or stopped studying. A 9(f) student visa is tied to the approved school and course. BI has a separate checklist for downgrading a student visa, including school clearance and academic records.
Your visa expired and you missed the renewal period. BI still allows downgrading of expired visas, but the fee schedule is different depending on whether the visa is not expired, expired within 59 days, or expired for more than 59 days. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)
You are changing from work-based stay to marriage-based stay. A foreign national married to a Filipino may be eligible for a 13(a) immigrant visa if the nationality is covered by reciprocity, or a Temporary Resident Visa if there is no reciprocity agreement. The new marriage-based application should be filed from a lawful, updated status. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)
You hold a special visa or government-endorsed status. Special visas, 47(a)(2) visas, and economic zone-related visas often require cancellation documents or an endorsement from the relevant government agency before BI implements the downgrade.

Step-by-Step Process to Downgrade a Philippine Visa

The official BI procedure is short on paper: present the request and requirements, get the Order of Payment Slip, pay, submit the receipt, wait for approval, present the passport for implementation, and claim the passport with the downgraded visa stamp. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines) In real life, each step requires careful preparation.

1. Confirm the exact visa you currently hold

Check your:

passport visa implementation stamp;
latest arrival stamp or electronic admission record;
ACR I-Card, if any;
latest visa extension or renewal order;
BI official receipts;
employer, school, or agency documents supporting the visa.

Do not rely only on what your employer, school, or agent tells you. The controlling record is usually what appears in your passport and BI file.

2. Prepare the letter request addressed to the Commissioner

The standard downgrading checklist requires a letter request addressed to the Commissioner stating the reason for downgrading, such as resignation, termination, late filing of extension, or dissolution of the company. If the applicant files the request personally, the applicant’s address and contact numbers should be indicated. If a company, congregation, accredited travel agency, law office, or consultancy firm files it, the letter should be on the representative’s letterhead with address and contact details.

A practical letter should include:

full name as shown in passport;
nationality;
passport number;
current visa type;
reason for downgrading;
last day of employment, school attendance, assignment, or visa basis;
current Philippine address;
contact number and email;
intended plan after downgrade, such as departure, tourist extension, or new visa application.

3. Get supporting documents from the employer, school, spouse, or agency

The needed documents depend on the visa category.

For example:

a 9(g) employee usually needs a certificate of employment, resignation acceptance, termination letter, or company request;
a student needs school clearance and academic records;
a marriage-based visa holder may need the marriage certificate or proof relevant to the change;
a 47(a)(2) visa holder may need a DOJ indorsement and proof of notice of downgrading from DOJ;
special visa holders may need a cancellation order from the special economic zone or issuing authority.

BI may require additional documents if the file has inconsistencies, the visa has expired, the foreign national has derogatory records, or the applicant’s previous sponsor refuses to cooperate.

4. Arrange the documents exactly as required

BI checklists commonly require documents to be complete, arranged in the order listed in the Checklist of Documentary Requirements, and compiled in a legal-size folder. The BI checklist also states that Philippine civil registry documents must be original and issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority, while foreign documents must be original and authenticated by the proper Philippine Foreign Service Post or DFA, with English translation if written in another language.

For foreign documents, the practical rule is:

if the document comes from an Apostille Convention country, secure the proper apostille from the foreign competent authority;
if the document comes from a non-apostille country, use consular authentication or legalization;
if the document is issued by a foreign embassy in the Philippines, BI may require DFA authentication;
if the document is not in English, attach a certified English translation.

5. File at the proper BI office

The BI downgrading page states that downgrading is filed at the BI Main Office. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines) Some visa-related services may be processed in other BI offices, but downgrading is often treated more strictly because it involves cancellation or reversion of a previous immigration status.

For time-sensitive cases, the safest practice is to plan around filing at BI Main Office in Intramuros, Manila, unless BI has expressly confirmed that another office can handle the specific downgrading transaction.

6. Pay the assessed fees

After pre-screening, BI issues an Order of Payment Slip. Pay at the cashier and keep the Official Receipt. BI’s official process requires submission of the Official Receipt with the other downgrading documents. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

Keep photocopies or scanned copies of all receipts. You may need them later for visa implementation, exit clearance, or a new visa conversion.

7. Wait for approval and passport implementation

If approved, BI will require presentation of the passport for implementation. The passport is then stamped or marked to reflect the downgraded status. The controlling date is the validity shown in the passport or BI order.

Do not assume you automatically have 59 days unless your passport or BI order shows it. In many downgrading situations, BI reverts the foreign national to 9(a) temporary visitor status, and BI has described downgrading as allowing foreign nationals to remain legally for 59 days while winding down affairs in certain contexts. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines) Still, always follow the actual date stamped or stated in your own records.

8. Decide your next move before the downgraded stay expires

After downgrading, you usually have three possible paths:

Depart the Philippines after securing the required exit clearance, if applicable.
Extend your temporary visitor stay before the stamped validity expires.
File a new visa application while your tourist status remains valid.

BI’s FAQ says a tourist visa extension may be filed seven days before the temporary visitor visa expires. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines) Do not wait until the last day, especially if a new visa application requires updated tourist extension receipts.

Documentary Requirements for Visa Downgrading

The exact checklist should always be taken from the latest BI form for your visa category, but the following table reflects the core requirements commonly seen in BI downgrading practice.

Visa category	Common documents
Most visa downgrade applications	Letter request addressed to the Commissioner; photocopy of passport bio page; photocopy of ACR I-Card front and back, if applicable; visa implementation page; latest admission with valid authorized stay.
9(g) pre-arranged employee, commercial	Certificate of Employment, resignation/termination document, or company request from the petitioning employer.
9(g) non-commercial / missionary	Certification of missionary work or equivalent certification from the petitioning congregation or organization.
13(a) or TRV by marriage	Request from applicant and/or spouse with address and contact details; photocopy of marriage certificate or contract.
47(a)(2) visa	DOJ indorsement granting the visa and proof of notice of downgrading from DOJ.
Special visa, economic zone, or related visa	Cancellation order or clearance from the relevant special economic zone or issuing authority.
9(e) accredited foreign government official	Certificate of employment from embassy, consulate, or international organization; DFA endorsement; embassy note verbale, if applicable.
Student visa downgrade	Letter request stating reason and intended departure date; accomplished CGAF; latest transcript or certificate of grades; school clearance; passport pages showing bio page, visa implementation, latest admission, departure, and valid stay; NBI Clearance.

Fees for Downgrading a Philippine Visa

BI’s official downgrading fee schedule currently displays the following amounts, while also noting that fees were updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice. Always rely on the Order of Payment Slip issued on the day of filing. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

Status of visa at filing	Government fees shown by BI	Express fee	Total shown
Not expired	₱2,520	₱1,000	₱3,520
Expired within 59 days	₱3,520	₱1,000	₱4,520
Expired more than 59 days	₱4,030	₱1,000	₱5,030

These amounts do not include possible penalties for separate overstays, tourist extensions, ACR I-Card issues, annual report penalties, courier fees, NBI clearance fees, notarization, translation, apostille/authentication, or professional handling fees if a representative is used.

Realistic Timeline and Bottlenecks

Straightforward downgrading can move relatively quickly, but the safe planning window is usually longer than applicants expect.

Stage	Practical timing
Collecting company, school, or agency documents	A few days to several weeks, depending on cooperation
NBI Clearance, if required	Often several days; longer if there is a “hit”
BI filing and payment	Usually same filing day if documents are accepted
Evaluation and approval	Variable; can be delayed by expired stay, missing records, derogatory hits, or agency endorsements
Passport implementation	Often a separate step after approval
ECC before departure	Apply with enough buffer; BI FAQ says at least 72 hours before departure. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

The most common bottlenecks are incomplete photocopies of passport pages, missing latest admission stamp, expired tourist stay during a pending conversion, employer refusal to issue a certification, lack of NBI Clearance for student downgrade, annual report non-compliance for ACR I-Card holders, and foreign documents without proper authentication or translation.

Applying for a New Philippine Visa After Downgrading

Downgrading does not automatically approve the next visa. It only places you in a cleaner temporary status from which you can leave, extend, or apply for another immigration benefit.

Option 1: Apply for a new visa inside the Philippines

Many foreign nationals apply for a new BI conversion after downgrading. This is common for:

9(g) work visa under a new employer;
9(f) student visa under a new school;
13(a) visa by marriage to a Filipino citizen;
Temporary Resident Visa by marriage where reciprocity is not available;
13(g) visa for returning former natural-born Filipinos;
quota or special visas, if eligible.

For BI visa implementation after approval, the BI visa status page lists requirements such as a passport valid for at least six months, official receipt, updated tourist visa extension for conversion visas, re-stamping or revalidation requirements if applicable, and SPA if a representative handles the implementation. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

The key practical point is this: keep your downgraded tourist stay valid while the new visa is pending. If the new visa is not approved before the temporary visitor stay expires, you may need to file a tourist extension.

Option 2: Leave the Philippines and apply through a Philippine Embassy or Consulate

Some visa situations are cleaner or required to be handled abroad, especially where consular visa issuance is involved. The Philippine Immigration Act and case law recognize that certain changes from temporary status to permanent admission require proper documentation and examination, not informal conversion by assumption. (Lawphil)

Leaving and applying abroad may be more appropriate when:

you do not yet have complete in-country conversion documents;
the next visa is primarily issued by the DFA or a Philippine Foreign Service Post;
your Philippine status has become complicated by long overstay or derogatory records;
your employer or sponsor needs more time;
BI instructs you to depart and apply at a Philippine consulate.

Option 3: Stay temporarily as a tourist while preparing the next filing

This is common after downgrading. A foreign national may need time to finish housing matters, wait for a new employment contract, secure apostilled documents, or arrange school admission.

But tourist status has limits. A downgraded tourist generally should not work, render services to a Philippine company, enroll in a degree program requiring a student visa, or assume that pending paperwork already authorizes the activity. Work, study, and residence rights come from the new approved visa or the proper interim permit, not from the downgrade itself.

Applying for a New 9(g) Work Visa After Downgrading

A new 9(g) visa is usually needed when a foreign national will work for a Philippine-based employer in a lawful occupation for compensation. BI describes the 9(g) conversion as available to foreign nationals proceeding to the Philippines to engage in a lawful occupation for wages, salary, or other compensation. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

The usual sequence is:

Downgrade or cancel the previous visa, if the old status has ended.
Secure the new employer’s corporate and employment documents.
Coordinate the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) or applicable exemption/exclusion with DOLE.
File the 9(g) conversion with BI.
Attend hearing, if required.
Complete biometrics for ACR I-Card.
Monitor visa approval.
Submit passport for implementation.
Claim the implemented visa and ACR I-Card.

Under DOLE rules, the AEP is not by itself the exclusive authority to work; it is one requirement for issuance of a work visa, and foreign nationals who intend to engage in gainful employment must apply for the proper AEP unless exempt or excluded. (Supreme Court E-Library) As of 2026, DOLE announced centralization of AEP-related filing, processing, evaluation, approval, release, adjudication, and enforcement functions under Department Order 248-B, so employers should verify the current AEP filing channel before starting a new 9(g) case. (Department of Labor and Employment)

A foreign national changing employers should be especially careful. Starting work for the new company while still on the old company’s visa, or while only on downgraded tourist status, can create immigration and labor compliance issues for both the foreign national and the employer.

Applying for a Student Visa After Downgrading

A 9(f) student visa is for foreign nationals at least 18 years old who will take a course higher than high school at a university, seminary, or college. BI’s student visa process requires the CGAF, checklist documents, pre-screening, payment, ACR I-Card biometrics, approval checking, passport implementation, and ACR I-Card claiming. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

If you are moving from one school to another, stopping a course, or changing from work status to student status, clarify with the school’s international student office whether you need:

downgrade of the old visa;
transfer of school or admission status;
new student visa conversion;
Special Study Permit, if the program does not require a full student visa;
updated NBI Clearance;
authenticated school records from abroad.

Student files are often delayed because school records, clearances, and NBI Clearance are not ready at the same time.

Applying for a Marriage-Based Visa After Downgrading

A foreign national validly married to a Philippine citizen may apply for a 13(a) non-quota immigrant visa if the foreign national’s country grants reciprocal permanent residence rights to Filipinos. BI describes 13(a) conversion as available to a foreign national on the basis of valid marriage to a Philippine citizen. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

If there is no reciprocity agreement, the foreign spouse may instead apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). BI’s TRV page states that conversion to TRV by marriage applies to a foreign national whose country does not have an existing reciprocity agreement with the Philippines. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

Marriage-based filings commonly require:

PSA marriage certificate, if married in the Philippines;
Report of Marriage and foreign marriage certificate, if married abroad;
foreign spouse’s passport and valid stay;
Filipino spouse’s proof of citizenship and valid ID;
NBI Clearance and foreign police clearance, depending on checklist and residence history;
proof of genuine marital relationship;
appearance or hearing when required.

If you are downgrading from a work visa before filing a 13(a) or TRV, make sure the tourist stay remains valid during the marriage-based application process.

Applying for a Digital Nomad Visa or Other DFA-Issued Visa

The Philippines authorized a Digital Nomad Visa under Executive Order No. 86, series of 2025. The EO authorizes the DFA to issue Digital Nomad Visas to non-immigrant foreigners who want to enter or stay temporarily while working remotely using digital technology for employers or clients outside the Philippines. The EO requires, among others, proof of remote work, sufficient foreign-sourced income, no criminal record, valid health insurance, and no employment in the Philippines. (Lawphil)

This is important for people trying to move from a Philippine work visa to remote work. A downgraded tourist status does not automatically make remote-work residence lawful under the Digital Nomad Visa framework. If the intended basis is remote work for foreign clients, check the DFA and BI implementation rules for the correct filing route, documentary requirements, and whether the application must be lodged through a Philippine Foreign Service Post.

Exit Clearance After Downgrading

Many foreign nationals focus on the downgrade but forget the Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC). The ECC is a BI document showing that the departing foreign national has no pending immigration obligations or derogatory records for departure purposes.

BI’s FAQ states that a foreign national may apply for an ECC at least 72 hours before departure, and that the ECC is valid for one month from issuance but may be used only once. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

The type of ECC depends on the person’s status and travel plan:

ECC type	Common use
ECC-A	Often for foreign nationals leaving after a long stay, expired or downgraded status, or tourist stay of six months or more.
ECC-B	Often for immigrant or non-immigrant visa holders with valid ACR I-Cards who are temporarily leaving and intend to return.

Do not book a same-day or next-day international flight immediately after downgrade if you still need ECC. Airport denial or rebooking costs are common when the traveler assumes the downgrade stamp alone is enough.

Common Problems and How to Handle Them

The employer will not cooperate

This is common after resignation, termination, or a dispute. BI may still require proof of the employment ending. Useful documents include resignation letter, acceptance email, termination notice, final pay documents, cancelled work permit records, or a sworn explanation. If the company is the petitioner, lack of cooperation can slow the file.

The visa already expired

Expired status does not automatically prevent downgrading, but it changes the fee assessment and may require additional explanation. BI’s fee schedule separates expired within 59 days from expired more than 59 days, with higher fees for the latter. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

The passport is close to expiring

Many BI visa implementation steps require a passport valid for at least six months. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines) Renewing the passport before filing may be necessary, especially for new long-term visa applications.

The ACR I-Card annual report was missed

Registered foreign nationals and ACR I-Card holders generally must comply with the BI Annual Report requirement, except temporary visitor or tourist visa holders. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines) The 2026 advisory cited Republic Act No. 562, as amended, and reminded registered aliens to report in person within the first 60 days of the calendar year. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines) Missing annual report compliance can delay visa work, ECC-B, or other BI transactions.

The applicant has foreign documents without apostille or authentication

Foreign police clearances, marriage certificates, birth certificates, school records, and corporate documents may be rejected if not properly authenticated or translated. Build in time for apostille, consular legalization, certified translation, and courier delivery.

The applicant has dependents

Spouses and children under the principal visa should be reviewed together. When the principal visa is downgraded, dependent visas may also need downgrading, extension, or separate conversion. Children’s school status should also be checked because a child may need a student visa or Special Study Permit depending on age and school level.

The applicant wants to work while the new visa is pending

This is risky. A downgraded tourist status is not work authorization. For employment, coordinate the AEP, provisional or special work authority if applicable, and 9(g) filing before the foreign national performs work for the Philippine entity.

Practical Checklist Before You File

Before going to BI, check the following:

current passport is valid and has enough blank pages;
old visa type and validity are clear;
latest arrival/admission stamp is copied;
ACR I-Card front and back are copied, if applicable;
annual report compliance is updated, if applicable;
employer, school, spouse, or agency documents are ready;
NBI Clearance is ready if required;
foreign documents are apostilled/authenticated and translated;
all BI forms are completed in English and signed;
the request letter states the correct reason for downgrade;
dependents are included or separately planned;
departure or new visa timeline accounts for ECC and tourist validity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I downgrade my Philippine visa without leaving the Philippines?

Yes, many downgrading applications are filed inside the Philippines through the Bureau of Immigration. BI describes downgrading as a reversion of the existing immigration visa to temporary visitor or tourist status so the foreign national can continue to stay legally. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

How long can I stay in the Philippines after downgrading?

Follow the validity stamped in your passport or stated in the BI order. Many downgrades result in temporary visitor status, sometimes with a 59-day period, but your actual authorized stay depends on BI’s implementation in your case.

Can I apply for a new work visa after downgrading?

Yes, if you have a qualified Philippine employer and complete the required DOLE and BI steps. The new 9(g) process typically requires employer documents, AEP compliance or exemption/exclusion, BI filing, hearing if required, biometrics, approval, passport implementation, and ACR I-Card issuance. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

Can I work while waiting for my new 9(g) visa?

Not merely because you filed the application. A downgraded tourist status is not work authorization. Work should begin only when the proper visa or interim work authority is in place.

What if my visa expired before I filed the downgrade?

File as soon as possible. BI’s published downgrade fees distinguish between a visa that is not expired, expired within 59 days, and expired more than 59 days. Longer delay can mean higher fees, more explanations, and possible complications. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

Do I need an ECC after downgrading?

Possibly, especially if you are departing after a long stay or after a downgraded or expired visa. BI says ECC may be applied for at least 72 hours before departure and is valid for one month but single-use only. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

Can a representative file my downgrade application?

Yes, but BI checklists usually require proof of authority. The general instructions require a BI Accreditation ID Certificate or an original Special Power of Attorney for each applicant, plus a photocopy of the attorney-in-fact’s valid government-issued ID if filed by an authorized representative.

Is downgrading the same as cancelling my ACR I-Card?

No. Downgrading changes or reverts the immigration status. ACR I-Card cancellation, renewal, annual report compliance, or replacement may be separate issues depending on the visa and whether the foreign national is departing permanently or applying for another status.

Can I downgrade and then apply for a marriage visa?

Yes, if you are otherwise eligible. A foreign spouse of a Filipino may apply for a 13(a) visa if reciprocity exists, or a TRV if reciprocity does not exist. The marriage-based application should be filed while the foreign national’s stay remains valid. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

Do my spouse and children need to downgrade too?

Usually, dependents tied to the principal visa should be reviewed with the principal applicant. If their stay depends on the principal’s visa, they may also need downgrading, tourist extension, new dependent visa inclusion, or departure clearance.

Key Takeaways

Visa downgrading in the Philippines usually means reverting an existing immigration visa to temporary visitor or tourist status.
It is commonly required after resignation, termination, school completion, visa expiry, special visa cancellation, or change of visa basis.
The main BI requirements are a letter request, passport and visa copies, ACR I-Card copies if applicable, latest valid admission, and category-specific supporting documents.
Student visa downgrading has a separate checklist that includes school clearance, academic records, CGAF, passport copies, and NBI Clearance.
Keep the downgraded tourist stay valid while preparing a new visa application.
A downgraded tourist status does not authorize work, study, or residence beyond what BI has stamped or approved.
New work visa applications require proper employer sponsorship and DOLE/BI compliance.
Departing foreign nationals may still need ECC, which should be handled before the flight.
The safest sequence is: regularize the old visa, confirm the new legal basis, maintain valid stay, then file or implement the new visa.