How to Register and Book CFO Appointment Online (Step-by-Step Guide)

August 18, 2025

For those asking, what is CFO and what is it for?

The CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) is a government agency in the Philippines that helps and guides Filipinos who plan to live, work, or stay abroad for long-term. It provides seminars, counseling, and information to prepare Filipinos for migration, strengthen family relationships, and help understand the rights and responsibilities as Filipinos overseas. The CFO certificate is required by Philippine immigration, and you may be denied exit from the country if you do not have it.

I receive a lot of private messages and comments on my YouTube videos from people saying they are having a hard time registering or booking an appointment with CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas).

If you are one of them, I created this tutorial blog to guide you, along with a list of requirements you need to bring for your seminar.

Who are required to register with CFO?

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) wishes to inform the public that the following types of NON-IMMIGRANT visas are NOT REQUIRED to register with and undergo the CFO's pre-departure program:

1. Tourist/Visitor/Short-stay visa
2. Student visa
3. Work visa
3. Digital Nomad visa
4. Dependent visa
5. Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) visa for Canada-bound
6. Open Work Permit (OWP) visa for Canada-bound

Filipino spouses, fiances, and other partners of foreign nationals, former Filipino citizens or Filipino dual citizens who are holders of tourist, visitor, or short-stay visas are NO LONGER REQUIRED to register with the CFO.

Holders of working visas should register with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Only those with the following visa categories are REQUIRED to register with the CFO:

1. Permanent residence/Immigrant/Long-term visa
2. Spouse, fiance, or partner visas with direct pathways to permanent residence
3. Au Pair visa for Europe
4. J1-visa bound for US

This blog is for my fellow Filipinas who are engaged, married, or in a relationship with a foreign national, a former Filipino, or a dual citizen, and who are planning to live with their partners abroad.

HOW TO REGISTER AND RESERVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH CFO FOR GCP?

"All Filipinos going abroad as spouses, fiancé(e)s and other partners of foreign nationals, former Filipino citizens or dual citizens are required to undergo the mandatory Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) in order to secure the CFO Digital Certificate. It specifically provides a venue where they can express and discuss their particular concerns about migration and various areas in their relationships such as communication barrier, financial management, personality and cultural differences, sexual relationship, among others.

Clients are expected to make a reservation and registration online to receive a barcoded form which will indicate the appointment time, date, location of the office and other necessary information about their visit to CFO."

Step 1. Visit the CFO website - https://cfo.gov.ph/

Step 2. Determine which services from CFO you need.

A) SPOUSES & OTHER PARTNERS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS

GCP (Guidance & Counseling Program)

Registration for Filipino spouses, fiance(e)'s, and other partners of Foreign nationals, including former Filipino citizens and FIlipino dual citizens.
For first time registrants only

B) FAMILY-SPONSORED IMMIGRANTS & SPOUSES/PARTNERS OF FILIPINO CITIZENS

PDOS (Pre Departure Orientation Seminar)

Immigrant visa holders (except the Filipino spouse/fiance(e)/partner of Foreign national/former Filipino/dual citizen who have not undergone the Tele-counseling).

C) AU Pair Visa Holders

Country Familiarization Seminar (CFS)

Registration for Filipino Au Apir Program participants bound for Europe

D) J1 VISA HOLDERS

Exchange Visitor Program (EVP)

Registration for J1 visa holders participating in the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) for the US

Step 3. Register by clicking here.

https://cfo.gov.ph/cfo-registration-services

Step 4. Answer Question #1.

Select “Yes” or “No” if you hold one of the visa types on the list.

If you select “No,” then you are not required to register with CFO.

Step 5. Answer Question #2. Who is your petitioner?

Step 6. Answer Question #3.

Step 7. Scroll down and select the CFO office nearest to you.

Step 8. Click Agree and fill out the required information then click Submit

Step 9. Initial Step Successfully Completed! To proceed with your appointment, check your e-mail account inbox/spam and click the confirmation link sent to your e-mail address and continue with your registration.

Step 10. Select date of Appointment. You need to click "AM" or "PM" to select the date.

Step 11. Fill out the form, then click "SAVE AND CONTINUE".

Step 12. Click "SEND EMAIL WITH BARCODE FORM"

You will also receive a PDF confirmation in your email. Print it and bring it with you on your appointment date, along with the other requirements.

Step 13. Go an hour early before your scheduled appointment. On the day of your appointment, you must present the printed confirmation form with the appointment details that you will receive by email, along with the required documents.

What are the Requirements for GCP?

Primary Requirements:

Barcoded Confirmation form of GCP Appointment
Original valid passport and additional two (2) valid IDs;
Original valid visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence (for Canada-bound only);
Petitioner’s passport copy or one (1) valid ID; and
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Marriage certificate in security paper (if married in the Philippines);
Report of Marriage in Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) security paper (if married overseas)

Additional documents may be required in the event that the counselor / facilitator determines it to be essential to complete the guidance and counseling process. It is advised for all the GCP applicants to prepare the following documents in advance (if applicable to them):

Divorce decree/certificate of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse (if previously married)
Annulment papers of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse (if previously married)
Proof of residency/Alien Registration Card-ARC of foreign spouse
Proof of relationship (pictures together, e-mails, among others)
Death certificate of Filipino spouse or foreign spouse (if widowed)
Certificate of family relations / registration of foreign spouse
Proof of Civil status or Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)
Valid no criminal records certification/clearance or any equivalent document to indicate lack of criminal/derogatory record
Documents in foreign language must be officially translated to English

Important Notes!!

Registration and booking are free.
Avoid fixers, as they are likely scams. A lot of people got offloaded at Philippine immigration because their CFO certificates were fake and came from fixers.
Make sure to bring all required documents to avoid issues during your appointment.

FAQs About CFO Registration

Q: What if I hold a tourist or visit visa? Do I need to register for CFO?
A: No. Only long-term visa holders are required to attend the CFO seminar.

Q: Can I book a seminar without a visa?
A: No. You must have your visa first before registering with CFO.

Q: How long is the CFO certificate valid?
A: The CFO certificate does not expire. You are only required to attend the seminar once.

Q: How long will it take to get the CFO certificate?
A: You usually get your certificate right after the seminar. But if the CFO officer asks for additional documents, they may hold the certificate until everything is complete.

Q: How much should I pay?
A: CFO does not collect registration fees - GCP clients who will be processing their CFO documents will only be charged a Documentary Stamp Tax amounting to Thirty Pesos (P30.00) per registrant.

Q: I made a mistake filling out my details. How can I edit it?
A: You need to contact the CFO to have your details corrected. You can also inform them on your appointment date.

Final Tips

Once you have your visa, you can register online and attend your seminar.
Bring all required documents to your appointment.
This seminar is a requirement for Philippine immigration. If you don’t have it, you might be offloaded at the airport.

For more information and updates, please visit the CFO website at https://cfo.gov.ph/ and the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CFOGovPh.

Back to blog