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Updated March 2024

The Republic of the Philippines is a Southeast Asian country and is considered the world’s largest archipelago nation. It offers a diverse mix of cultures and traditions, with beautiful lush islands waiting to be explored.

The only way to learn more is to embark on your journey and discover the Philippines for yourself. Here’s all that you need to know about applying for a tourist visa to the Philippines.

What is the Philippines tourist/visitor visa?

The Philippines visitor/tourist visa is a travel permit granted to a foreign passport holder by a consular officer at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate. A tourist visa holder can travel to the Philippines for legitimate, non-immigrant purposes such as sightseeing, sports, health, visiting family, training, etc.

The visa issued does not guarantee that the holder will be automatically admitted into the country because the admission of foreign nationals into the Philippines is up to the immigration officers at the border. A traveler visa for the Philippines will be issued after the visa application has been adequately examined.

Do I need a tourist visa to enter the Philippines?

Countries that need to apply for a tourist visa

The following nationalities are not eligible for visa-free entry or the visa on arrival and, therefore, will need to obtain a Philippine tourist visa through the embassy in their country.

  • Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Nauru, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Ukraine, and Yemen.

You can check if your nationality requires a tourist visa to visit the Philippines here.

Countries eligible for visa-free entry

Nationals from several countries traveling to the Philippines for tourism purposes are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa.

However, different nationalities are allowed different durations of visa-free stays. You must provide outbound flight tickets demonstrating that you’ll leave the country within that duration.

Your passports should also be valid for at least six months beyond the contemplated period of stay.

Nationals of all the following countries who wish to stay in the Philippines for up to 59 days can also get a visa on arrival (for a fee).

Visa-free stay for 59 days

Nationalities of the following countries do not require a Philippines visa for stays of up to 59 days:

  • Brazil
  • Israel

Visa-free stay for 30 days

Nationalities of the following countries do not require a Philippines visa for stays of up to 30 days:

  • Europe­: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vatican City.
  • Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
  • Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE.
  • North & Central America: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America.
  • South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela.
  • Asia and Oceania: Australia, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

Visa-free stay for 14 days

Nationalities of the following countries do not require a Philippines visa for stays of up to 14 days:

  • Hong Kong SAR.
  • Macau SAR.

Under the Foreign Service Circular (FSC) No. 36-12, Indian nationals may also be granted a visa-free entry for a stay of maximum 14 days, provided they possess:

  • valid or unexpired Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore, UK, or US visa or permanent residence permit
  • a national passport valid at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated stay
  • return or onward ticket to the next country of destination
  • no derogatory record with the Bureau of Immigration, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and the International Police (Interpol)

Visa-free for 7 days

Under Foreign Service Circular (FSC) No. 112-11, the following categories of visitors may be granted visa-free entry for a stay of a maximum of 7 days, provided they possess a return or onward ticket.

  • holders of Hong Kong British passports
  • Mainland Chinese for tourism with a valid or unexpired Australian, Japanese, Canadian, Schengen or US visa

Online/eTA visa application

Taiwanese visitors can apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) for the Philippines. The eTA for the Philippines can be easily obtained by completing an online form with the applicant’s personal details and passport information.

How do I apply for the Philippines tourist visa?

What are the required documents?

To successfully apply for a temporary Philippines Tourist Visa, applicants must submit the following documentation:

  • passport/travel document Valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines
  • duly accomplished visa application forms
  • passport photos (2 pieces)
  • proof of bona fide status as a tourist or businessman
  • confirmed tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination
  • payment of visa Fees

If an applicant is not a restricted national under Philippine Visa Policy, then the applicant may choose instead to submit a duly signed application notarized by a local notary public along with the other requirements above.

For visas on arrival, the officer may request additional documents to determine whether the applicant can be issued a permit.

What is the application process?

If you need a visa for the Philippines, you can apply for one at the Philippines embassy or consulate in your country or the one responsible for your jurisdiction.

Submissions of the Philippines visa application and the required documents should be made in person. Parents or legal guardians can make submissions on behalf of minors (under 18 years).

You can apply for a Philippines visa in one of the following ways:

  • at an embassy or consulate of the Philippines in your jurisdiction (if you are not eligible for visa-free entry),
  • on arrival at an international airport in the Philippines. (if you are eligible for visa-free entry or visa and arrival).
  • online, through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office website (for Taiwanese visitors only).

What is the processing time?

A Philippines visa application is processed in about 5 working days. The time it takes depends on the specific embassy or consulate you apply to.

Whether you have all your documents in order or not also affects the processing time of your application. However, you should always apply well in advance of the time you intend to travel.

Is the Philippines visa extendable?

Yes, it is extendable. The authorized maximum period of stay granted by the Philippine consulate to all temporary visitor visa applicants is 59 days.

If you want to extend your stay, you will have to submit the application for a Philippines visa extension (extension of stay) at an office of the Immigration Bureau in the Philippines and pay the corresponding immigration fees.

  • if the initial number of days you were allowed to stay was 30 days, and you want to extend your stay for another 29 days, then you can apply for a visa waiver from the Philippines Immigration Bureau at least one week before your visit ends. If you enter under a visa waiver, you can extend your stay for up to 36 months
  • if you enter with a Philippines visa, you can extend your stay for up to 24 months
  • if you have already been in the Philippines for 59 days and want to stay longer, you must apply for an Extension of Stay from the Immigration Bureau

You can apply for an extension of one month, two months, and six months.

Note that for Indian nationals applying under the Foreign Service Circular (FSC) No. 36-12 provision, the 14-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional 7 days for a maximum of 21 days.

Similarly, for those applying under the Foreign Service Circular (FSC) No. 112-11, the 7-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional 14 days to complete a maximum of 21 days.

What is the fee for the Philippines tourist visa?

The price for a Philippines tourist visa varies depending on the type of visa, the duration of stay, and the applicant’s nationality.

According to some sources, the prices of Philippines tourist visas are as follows.

  • single-entry Philippines Tourist visa with a validity is 3 months: 30 USD
  • multiple-entry Philippines Tourist visa with a validity of 6 months: 60 USD
  • multiple-entry Philippines Tourist visa with a validity of 12 months: 90 USD

However, these prices may change depending on the official sources and policies of the Philippines government.

 

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