A Philippines tourist visa is required only for a select few nationalities. These nationalities are highly scrutinized and must submit a long list of documents.
You can apply for a Philippines tourist visa only in the country where you are a legal resident by nationality or otherwise. If there is no Philippine embassy or consulate, you must apply at the nearest one with jurisdiction over your country. You cannot apply while traveling and in a different country.
QUICK SUMMARY:
- Who requires it: 39 countries
- Validity: 3 months (single-entry) or 6 months (multiple-entry)
- Allowed stay: 59 days
- Visa fee: 40 USD (single-entry) or 80 USD (multiple-entry)
- Processing time: 1 to 4 weeks
- Extensions: Allowed up to 36 months of stay in total
Read the Philippines Visa Guide to learn more about different visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Philippines Tourist Visa
Tourist visa validity
The Philippines tourist visa validity depends on whether it’s a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.
| Visa Type | Validity |
| Single-entry Tourist Visa | 3 months |
| Multiple-entry Tourist Visa | 6 months |
NOTE: Multiple-entry visas may be granted only to foreign nationals affiliated with a Filipino citizen, or if you have family in the Philippines.
Duration of stay
Regardless of the visa type, the maximum allowed duration of stay in the Philippines is 59 days.
The day you enter is considered Day 0. The length of stay is calculated from the next day after the day of arrival. Technically, you will get 60 days of total stay.
If you want to stay longer than the allowed 59 days stay, you will have to extend your stay at the nearest Bureau of Immigration office.
Allowed number of entries
The single-entry tourist visa allows only one entry, whereas the multiple-entry visa allows unlimited entries into the Philippines during its validity.
Allowed ports of entry
You can enter the Philippines through any international airport or seaport.
When to apply
The processing times depend on the reviewing embassy and your individual circumstances. Usually, it’s around 1 to 4 weeks. Multiple entry visas take even longer to process. It’s wise to apply at least a month in advance.
To summarize:
- Latest to apply: 1 month before traveling
- Earliest to apply: 3 months before traveling
Tourist visa extension
All Philippines tourist visas can be extended for 1 or 2 months continuously up to 36 months. Check the Philippines Visa Extension guide for more information.
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Philippines Tourist Visa Requirements
Who requires a tourist visa?
Nationals of the following countries require a tourist visa for the Philippines.
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- China
- Cuba
- Egypt
- Georgia
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Ukraine
- Yemen
Visa-exempt nationalities can also apply for a tourist visa if they wish to stay longer than 30 days in the Philippines. However, it’s usually easier (although not cheaper) to enter on visa exemption and apply for an extension within the country instead.
Documents required
The documents required for the tourist visa differ between embassies. In general, you need the following documentation.
- Original passport
- Photocopy of the passport biodata page
- Recent passport-size photo
- Completed tourist visa application form
- Flight itinerary or reservation
- Hotel accommodation reservation
- Proof of financial ability. It could be any number of these:
- Bank statements for the last 6 months
- Employment certificate/letter
- Business registration/license (if business owner or self-employed)
- Property documents
- Proof of legal status/residency if you’re applying in a country different from your nationality.
- Copy of latest latest Philippine visa issued (if held a previous Philippine visa)
- Documents proving ties to the home country or country of residence such as:
- Employment certificate
- Property documents
- Police clearance certificate (only required by some Philippine embassies)
NOTE: Documents not in English must be translated into English and certified.
Passport requirement
To apply for a Philippines tourist visa, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the authorized period of stay in the Philippines.
A tourist visa usually allows up to 59 days of stay. That means, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months plus 59 days (total about 8 months) at the time of entering the Philippines on a tourist visa.
Philippine tourist visa is a full-page sticker, so your passport must contain at least two blank pages. One page is for the visa sticker, and one is for entry and exit stamps.
Photo requirements
You need one or two passport-size photos depending on the embassy. The photo should meet the following requirements.
- Must be of size 3.5cm x 4.5cm or 4cm x 6cm or 2inch x 2inch (depending on the embassy)
- Must be in color on a white background
- Must have taken recently within the last 6 months
- Must show a clear front view of the face
- No eyeglasses and no sleeveless shirts
- No blurred or low-quality photos
Tourist visa application form
You must complete the tourist visa application form on the Online Visa Appointment System (OVAS). After completing it, you must print and sign it.
However, the OVAS has been down since May 2024. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs instructs applicants to fill out the application forms manually. That means, you will have to download the form from the embassy website, fill it out and submit it along with the required documents at the embassy. See the list of Philippine Overseas Missions here.
Flight itinerary
You must provide a flight itinerary for entering and leaving the Philippines. This can be a simple flight reservation for the visa application. Philippine embassies recommend not purchasing flight tickets before the visa is approved.
The Philippines embassy says:
“Applicants are reminded NOT to finalize the booking of your tickets, prior to the approval of your visa applications. You may submit a flight itinerary temporarily created by booking a reservation with an airline.”
I recommend using a dummy ticket service provider to obtain a flight itinerary for your Philippines tourist visa.
If you are a Visa-Required national, then the flight ticket out of the Philippines must be within 30 days of entry. For Visa-Exempt nationals, the exit flight can be within 59 days of entry.
Hotel reservation
You must submit hotel bookings for your entire stay in the Philippines. Again, the Philippines embassies recommend not paying for the hotels. You can simply book refundable and pay-at-check-in hotels for your visa application. Read this hotel reservation for visas guide to learn more.
Bank statements
Bank statements must be for the last 6 months with a minimum average balance of at least 1,500 USD.
If applying from a developing country such as India or Bangladesh, these bank statements must be signed and stamped by the bank officer verifying their authenticity.
If applying from a developed country such as the US or UAE, these can be statements downloaded from your bank’s website. No sign or stamp from the bank is necessary.
Employment certificate
The employment letter or certificate must include your remuneration (monthly or annual salary), job title or position, period of employment and no objection to your travel to the Philippines (NOC), etc.
If NOC is not included in the employment letter, a separate NOC or leave approval letter must be submitted.
Visa fee
The fee for 3-month single-entry visas is 40 USD. For Visa-Exempt nationals, it’s 30 USD.
The fee for 6-month multiple-entry visas is 80 USD. For Visa-Exempt nationals, it’s 60 USD.
To summarize:
| Visa Type | Visa-Required Nationals | Visa-Exempt Nationals | Chinese Nationals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-month single-entry | 40 USD | 30 USD | 25 USD |
| 6-month multiple-entry | 80 USD | 60 USD | 50 USD |
The currency and mode of payment depend on the embassy. Philippine embassies in countries like the US or the UK accept card and cash payments. Whereas the Philippine embassies in India or Bangladesh, etc, require bank drafts in local currencies.
Processing time
The Philippines tourist visa processing time varies between embassies. It can take anywhere from 1 week to 3 weeks.
Applications from some nationalities deemed as high-risk are sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila in which case it may take up to a month.
The embassy may request additional documents at any time during the process, in which case, the processing time resets. The processing time will restart from the day you submit the additional documents to the embassy.
Keep in mind that any public holiday in the Philippines is also a holiday at the Philippines embassy or consulate. This can further delay the processing.
If you account for weekends, public holidays in the country of application, and public holidays in the Philippines, you are left with limited working days. If you were requested for additional documents and there are major holidays in the Philippines, it can take several weeks.
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Tourist Visa Application Process
How to apply for Philippines tourist visa
Step 1: Pre-assessment
Some Philippine embassies such as the ones in UAE, Vietnam, etc. require pre-assessment of your visa application to determine your eligibility.
You will have to email digital copies of all the required documents to the embassy. The embassy will then assess if you are eligible for the visa. Then you will be sent instructions on how to and when to submit the visa application.
Step 2: Online visa application
You have to fill and submit the tourist visa application on the Online Visa Appointment System (OVAS). However, the visa appointment system has been down since May 2024.
This means that you must apply in person at the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate.
Step 3: Submit the application at the Philippines Overseas Mission
The process at the embassy is usually as simple as submitting the documents and then waiting. You may get contacted for additional documents.
Here are a few notes to keep in mind:
- Look for the visa application form on the embassy’s webpage. Download, print, and fill it out.
- Check if the embassy requires you to book an appointment or if walk-ins are also allowed.
- Prepare all documents. Make copies of originals. Most embassies will have a pre-authorization of some sort to confirm you have all the documents before proceeding with the application.
- See if the embassy wants you to bring the documents in person or if you can send them via a courier.
- Don’t pay for flight tickets before the visa is issued. Visas will never be expedited to match your travel schedule and you won’t be reimbursed for flights if the visa is not issued.
When your visa is approved, you will informed through email. You will have to go back to the embassy to pick up your passport with the visa.
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Entry Procedure at the Border
Pre-requisite: Passport and visa
Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your allowed stay of 59 days (about 8 months total). And, your tourist visa is still valid.
Within 72 hours hours before arrival: eTravel Registration
Make sure to fill out your Philippine eTravel registration within 72 hours (3 days) before arrival in the Philippines. You will have to present the QR code to check in and at the immigration in the Philippines.
At the airport: Immigration
Proceed directly to immigration. The border officer may ask you any number of questions about your stay in the Philippines. You may be asked to show proof of return or onward ticket.
You will receive a stamp allowing you to stay for 59 days.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an interview for the Philippine tourist visa?
Generally, no, there is no interview for the Philippines tourist visa. However, some may be requested to attend an interview by the embassy.
How much is the bank balance required for a Philippine visa?
Not all Philippine embassies clearly specify the required bank balance for the visa. Some do and it’s all over the place. For example, the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE requires at least 5,000 AED (about 1,350 USD) and the one in Cairo, Egypt requires 3,000 USD.
If the Philippine embassy that you will be applying from does not specify, have at least 1,500 USD in your bank account to increase your chances of visa approval.
Is Philippines visa easy to get?
The visa process itself is relatively easy. It’s just a matter of diligently gathering all required documents. It’s also a matter of patience and being flexible with your travel dates.
