Check Visa Policy of Philippines for your Country

New requirement to enter the Philippines: Due to COVID-19, the Government of the Philippines has introduced a new mandatory Travel Health Certificate, the e-CIF System. You can apply by clicking here.

Visa Policy for the Philippines

The visa policy of the Philippines is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and determines the requirements for all foreign nationals who wish to enter the country for tourism, business, transit, to work or study, or for permanent residency.

The visa requirements to travel to the Philippines vary depending on both the applicant’s nationality and the purpose and duration of the intended stay.

Citizens of around 160 countries, including all member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), can enter the country without applying for a visa.

The period of visa-free stay permitted varies by nationality and can range from 14 to 59 days. Visa-free exempt nationals are able to access the Philippines by simply presenting a passport with at least 6 months of validity beyond their period of stay.

Citizens of a select few countries have the option of obtaining a Philippines visa on arrival, which allows the holder to spend up to 59 days in the country.

An Electronic Travel Authorization for the Philippines is currently available for Taiwan passport holders only, although it is expected to be expanded to other nationalities in the future.

The Philippines ETA may be applied for through a simple online form. Once approved, it permits Taiwanese citizens to spend up to 30 days in the Philippines.

Citizens of around 40 other foreign countries are required to apply for an embassy visa to travel to the Philippines, no matter the intended purpose and duration of the trip, from their nearest government diplomatic office of the Philippines well in advance.

Tourist Visa Policy for the Philippines

The tourist visa policy is under the administration of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, while a Philippines tourist visa is issued by the Bureau of Immigration.

According to the visa policy of the Philippines, passport holders from around 160 countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without a tourist visa, and may remain in the country for a period of stay between 14 to 59 days depending on nationality.

This includes all of the countries which, like the Philippines, form a part of ASEAN.

Around 40 other nationalities need to apply for a tourist visa from an embassy or consulate in advance to be able to gain entry to the Philippines.

An Electronic Travel Authorization is available for Taiwanese passport holders, although it is expected to be extended to other eligible nationalities in the future.

Additionally, citizens of a select few countries are able to obtain a tourist visa on arrival which allows a total stay of 50 days in the Philippines for tourism purposes.

Check the information below to see whether you require a visa to enter the Philippines for tourism.

Philippines ETA

The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for the Philippines was implemented to simplify the process of obtaining travel authorization for the country and remove the need to visit an embassy to submit an application.

A multiple entry travel authorization, this online visa waiver permits a total stay of 30 days in the Philippines and is valid for 1 month from the date of approval.

Although this online program is currently only available for citizens of Taiwan, it is expected to be expanded to other eligible countries in the near future.

To apply for the Philippines ETA, it is necessary to have a valid Taiwanese passport with a minimum validity of 6 months beyond the expected stay in the Philippines.

Taiwanese passport holders can obtain the Electronic Travel Authorization for the Philippines by filling in a simple online application from the comfort of their home or office.

Once the ETA for the Philippines is approved, holders are required to present a printed copy at the border upon arrival in the country.

It may also be necessary to present immigration officers some additional supporting documents, such as a a valid accommodation reservation and proof of sufficient funds to cover the trip, to gain entry to the Philippines with an ETA.

See below for a full list of Philippines ETA-eligible countries.

Visa on Arrival

The Philippines visa on arrival (VOA) is a travel document that allows eligible citizens to stay in the country for a short period of time, which may be obtained upon arrival at select ports of entry in the Philippines.

The visa policy of the Philippines allows eligible citizens to obtain a visa on arrival if they are entering the country for tourism purposes for a stay up to 59 days.

To apply for a visa on arrival for the Philippines, visitors must have a valid passport issued by one of the eligible countries, with a period of validity of at least 6 months beyond the intended period of stay.

When visitors arrive in the Philippines, they need to go directly to a border checkpoint to apply for this visa type. It is then necessary to wait in an immigration queue to receive and complete an application.

Supporting documentation such as proof of a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover the trip may also be requested. It is also necessary to pay a visa on arrival fee for the document to be approved.

Find below a full list of nationalities able to obtain a visa on arrival for the Philippines.

Tuvalu

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Embassy or Consular Visa Required

The visa policy of the Philippines states that around 40 nationalities need to obtain a travel visa for the country from one of the Philippines government diplomatic offices abroad, no matter the duration and purpose of the stay.

To apply for an embassy visa, travelers need to complete a visa application form and submit at an interview at the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

All data entered on the visa application form be should consistent with the related supporting documents, such as the applicant’s passport, for the visa to be approved.

When applying for a visa from an embassy of the Philippines, it is necessary to select the correct visa option depending on the purpose of the trip. The period of stay granted with an embassy visa will depend on the applicant’s individual needs.

Philippines visa law determines that there are several types of embassy visa available grouped into 2 categories:

Non-immigrant visas (also known as section 9), e.g tourist, business, or transit visas, or visas to study or work.
Immigrant visas (also known as Section 13) for those who wish to become Philippine permanent residents.

It is recommended that the traveler makes a consular appointment for a visa interview well in advance of their intended date of arrival in the country to ensure enough processing time, as it may take several weeks for a visa to be approved.

Below you can find a full list of countries whose citizens must apply for an embassy visa for the Philippines.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Anguilla
Antarctica
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Bermuda
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Egypt
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Georgia
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guernsey
India
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Jersey
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Macedonia
Martinique
Mayotte
Moldova
Montenegro
Montserrat
Nauru
New Caledonia
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Pakistan
Palestinian Territory
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Reunion
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Somalia
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Timor-Leste
Tokelau
Tonga
Turks and Caicos Islands
Ukraine
United States Virgin Islands
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required

Visa regulations of the Philippines identify approximately 160 countries across the globe whose citizens do not need a visa to enter the country for short stays.

This includes all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries.

A permitted visa-free stay in the Philippines varies from 14 to 59 days, depending on nationality, for business and tourism purposes. The majority of visa-exempt nationalities are permitted to enter for up to 30 days without a visa.

Passport holders from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) are allowed to enter the Philippines for a stay not exceeding 14 days.

To gain entry to the Philippines, all visa-exempt nationals are required to have a passport with validity at least 6 months beyond the period of intended stay. They may also be required to provide valid tickets for their return or onward journey.

To visit the country for longer consecutive stays, visa-free citizens are required to apply for a visa from a government diplomatic office of the Philippines.

Find below a comprehensive list of all the Philippines visa not required countries.

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

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Exemptions for Other Visa Holders

Indian passport holders who are also holding a valid tourist, business or resident visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States or a Schengen Area, do not need a visa to enter the Philippines.

They are allowed to access the Philippines via any port of entry and stay in the country up to 14 days.

Chinese passport holders who are holding a valid visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States or a Schengen Area country, do not require a visa for tourism purposes.

They are permitted to stay in the Philippines up to 7 days.