Philippines tourist visa: Requirements and application procedure

Philippines tourist visa requirements are fairly clear and easy to understand. Most nationalities are visa-exempt for stays up to 30 days.

There are a handful of countries that require a pre-approved visa from the consulate. The visa rules for these countries are quite strict. Visa can only be applied in the country of passport or legal residence. Financial proof or bank statements are mandatory.

India and China passport holders can enter the Philippines for 7-14 days with a valid visa from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Schengen, Japan or Singapore.

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PHILIPPINES VISA REQUIREMENTS BY NATIONALITY

Minimum passport validity required to enter the Philippines

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entering the Philippines

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Visa EXEMPT nationalities

59 day entry

1. Brazil
2. Israel

30-day entry

1. Andorra
2. Angola
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Argentina
5. Australia
6. Austria
7. Bahrain
8. Barbados
9. Belgium
10. Belize
11. Benin
12. Bhutan
13. Bolivia
14. Botswana
15. Brunei
16. Bulgaria
17. Burkina Faso
18. Burundi
19. Cambodia
20. Cameroon
21. Canada
22. Cape Verde
23. Central African Republic
24. Chad
25. Chile
26. Colombia
27. Comoros
28. Congo, Dem. Rep. of
29. Congo, Rep. of
30. Costa Rica
31. Croatia
32. Cyprus
33. Czech Republic
34. Denmark
35. Djibouti
36. Dominica
37. Dominican Republic
38. Ecuador
39. El Salvador
40. Equatorial Guinea
41. Eritrea
42. Estonia
43. Eswatini
44. Ethiopia
45. Fiji
46. Finland
47. France
48. Gabon
49. Gambia
50. Germany
51. Ghana
52. Greece
53. Grenada
54. Guatemala
55. Guinea
56. Guinea Bissau
57. Guyana
58. Haiti
59. Honduras
60. Hungary
61. Iceland
62. Indonesia
63. Ireland
64. Italy
65. Jamaica
66. Japan
67. Kazakhstan
68. Kenya
69. Kiribati
70. Kuwait
71. Kyrgyzstan
72. Laos
73. Latvia
74. Lesotho
75. Liberia
76. Liechtenstein
77. Lithuania
78. Luxembourg
79. Madagascar
80. Malawi
81. Malaysia
82. Maldives
83. Mali
84. Malta
85. Marshall Islands
86. Mauritania
87. Mauritius
88. Mexico
89. Micronesia
90. Monaco
91. Mongolia
92. Morocco
93. Mozambique
94. Myanmar
95. Namibia
96. Nepal
97. Netherlands
98. New Zealand
99. Nicaragua
100. Niger
101. Norway
102. Oman
103. Palau
104. Panama
105. Papua New Guinea
106. Paraguay
107. Peru
108. Poland
109. Portugal
110. Qatar
111. Romania
112. Russia
113. Rwanda
114. Saint Kitts and Nevis
115. Saint Lucia
116. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
117. Samoa
118. San Marino
119. Sao Tome and Principe
120. Saudi Arabia
121. Senegal
122. Seychelles
123. Singapore
124. Slovakia
125. Slovenia
126. Solomon Islands
127. South Africa
128. South Korea
129. Spain
130. Suriname
131. Sweden
132. Switzerland
133. Tajikistan
134. Thailand
135. Togo
136. Trinidad and Tobago
137. Tunisia
138. Turkey
139. Turkmenistan
140. Tuvalu
141. Uganda
142. United Arab Emirates
143. United Kingdom
144. United States of America
145. Uruguay
146. Uzbekistan
147. Vanuatu
148. Vatican
149. Venezuela
150. Vietnam
151. Zambia
152. Zimbabwe

14-day entry

1. Hong Kong
2. Macau

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Visa REQUIRED nationalities

59-day entry

• Single entry visas are valid for 3 months
• Multiple entry visas are valid for 6 months

1. Afghanistan
2. Albania
3. Algeria
4. Armenia
5. Azerbaijan
6. Bangladesh
7. Belarus
8. Bahamas
9. Bosnia and Herzegovina
10. China
11. Cote d’Ivoire
12. Cuba
13. Egypt
14. Georgia
15. India
16. Iran
17. Iraq
18. Jordan
19. Lebanon
20. Libya
21. Moldova
22. Montenegro
23. Nauru
24. Nigeria
25. North Korea
26. North Macedonia
27. Pakistan
28. Serbia
29. Sierra Leone
30. Somalia
31. South Sudan
32. Sri Lanka
33. Sudan
34. Syria
35. Tanzania
36. Timor-Leste
37. Tonga
38. Ukraine
39. Yemen

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Visa EXEMPT with visa from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Schengen, Japan or Singapore

14 day entry

• Must hold a valid used/unused multiple-entry visa (tourist/work) or permanent residence from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Schengen, Japan or Singapore
• The visa must be valid for the entire duration of stay

1. India

7 day entry

• Must hold a valid used/unused multiple-entry visa (tourist/work) or permanent residence from the US, Canada, Australia, Schengen or Japan
• The visa must be valid for the entire duration of stay

1. China

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PHILIPPINES TOURIST VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

Application

Philippines tourist visa can only be applied in the country of passport or legal residence. Philippines visa cannot be applied in a third country while traveling.

Philippines tourist visa can only be applied in person. Check your nearest consulate website to see if you need to schedule an appointment first. You can request to return the approved visa and passport via mail. You may need to attach a self-addressed envelope with your application. Check with your nearest consulate for more details.

Single-entry tourist visas are valid for 3 months. But you can only stay a maximum of 59 days on it.

Multiple-entry tourist visas are valid for 6 months. Each entry, you are allowed to stay for a maximum of 59 days.

Visa EXEMPT passport holders can also apply for a pre-approved visa at the consulate for stays more than 30 days and less than 59 days.

For stays beyond 59 days, an application of extension must be made at the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The head office of the Bureau of Immigration is in Manila.

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Documents required

The following documents are required.

• Filled and signed application form (you can find one on your nearest consulate website)
• Original passport
• Copy of your passport Id page
• Visa or residence permit (if applying in a country that is not your country of passport)
• Roundtrip airline tickets
• Hotel bookings
• Bank statements
• Employment proofs
• One recent passport photo (refer to your nearest consulate website for exact photo requirements)

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Visa fee

Visa fee depends on the application and the country where you are applying.

Single entry tourist visas: $30-40 USD
Multiple entry tourist visas: $40-60 USD

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Processing time

Philippines visa processing time is usually 2 – 10 working days. For some specific countries, applications are sent to Manila for verification. It might take longer to process such applications.

No refunds are allowed if the visa is not approved before the departure date. Make sure to apply for the visa at least 3 months in advance to avoid interruptions to your travel plans.

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PHILIPPINES TOURIST VISA EXTENSION

Visa EXEMPT passport holders are initially allowed to stay for 30 days. After these initial 30 days, you can extend your stay for additional 29 days. The fee for 29-day extension is currently PHP 3,030. Check the Bureau of Immigration (BI) website for detailed procedure on how to extend your visa for additional 29 days.

After those 29 days of extension, you can extend your visa for 1 or 2 months continuously up to 36 months. The fee depends on minor or adult, visa REQUIRED or EXEMPT, within the first 6 months or not. Refer to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) website for detailed procedure and fee requirements to extend your stay beyond the 59 days.

Visa REQUIRED passport holders with a pre-approved visa from the consulate can request a 59-day entry at the port of entry. You can extend your stay for 1 or 2 months continuously up to 24 months. Refer to Bureau of Immigration (BI) website for more information.

Visa REQUIRED India and China passport holders who have entered the Philippines with a valid visa/PR from the US, UK (applicable to India passports only), Canada, Australia, Schengen, Japan or Singapore can apply for a “one time only” 7-day extension at the BI office. The fee for the 7-day extension is PHP 1,430 plus PHP 1,000 express lane fee.

Procedure for the visa extension at the BI main office in Manila

• The Bureau of Immigration (BI) main office is on Magallanes Dr, Intramuros in Manila
• The best way to get there is by Uber / Grab or ride LRT to Carriedo station
• When you enter the main building, head over to the information desk
• Say that you want to extend your visa and handover the completed Application Form (TVS-CGAF-VE-2016) and Checklist (TVS-C-VE-2016)
• Your documents will be verified and will be given a ticket number
• Head over to counters 23-25 and watch the screens for your ticket number
• Your ticket number and its corresponding counter number will be displayed
• Head over to the counter, hand over the documents (application form and checklist) and passport
• You will be given a clearance certificate, a slip for visa extension fee and a slip for express lane fee
• Head over to counters 26-27, handover the fee slips and cash
• You will be given a receipt for the fee paid
• You can pick up your passport after one hour from the time of payment
• You can go to the Starbucks in front of the building to use the restrooms and get a coffee
• Careful with your belongings, wallet and cell phone when walking outside the building
• Return back to the main office in one hour
• Wait near counter 30 and watch the screen for your name
• When your name is displayed, head over to counter 30, hand over your clearance certificate and fee receipts to pick up your passport
• Check for the extension sticker in your passport and verify all the details are correct before exiting the building

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ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE AIRPORT

Entering the Philippines

Immigration is quite fast at international airports in the Philippines. There are counters specific to Filipinos, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and foreign passport holders.

Make sure to fill the arrival card before heading to the immigration. If the airline staff hasn’t provided you with an arrival card, you can grab one from the immigration area at the airport.

If you are a visa REQUIRED passport holder, you will be asked if you have a visa. The officer will verify the visa, stamps your passport and marks an exit date. You must exit the Philippines within the exit date.

The immigration officers usually do not ask for return or onward ticket. But it’s a good practice to carry a copy of your return ticket and accommodation booking. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, make sure to have proof of onward ticket.

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Exiting the Philippines

You will go through passport control on exit. Exit formalities are fairly quick as there a specific counters for the Philippines, ASEAN, and foreign passport holders.

Make sure to grab and fill the departure card before heading to the immigration. You can find departure cards at airline check-in counters and near the immigration area.

You will not be asked any questions unless you have overstayed your visa.

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SUMMARY

Philippines visa requirements are clear and easy to understand. The Philippines has a liberal visa exemption and extension policy. And hence a favorable place for travelers and expats alike.

A handful of countries require a pre-approved visa from the consulate. Visa rules for these countries are quite strict. Employment and financial proofs are mandatory. Visa can only be applied in the country of passport or legal residence. If you follow all the rules thoroughly, securing a visa for the Philippines is quite simple.

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