Philippines Visa Policy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.