Entry Visas for the Philippines
Philippines Visa RequirementsEntry requirements for the Philippines: All travelers need to obtain the eTravel One-Stop Electronic Travel Declaration System (originally the One Health Pass) to enter the Philippines. This mandatory entry requirement has been introduced by the Government of the Philippines. You can apply here.
Before booking a trip, it is necessary to verify the entry requirements and visa conditions for the Philippines.
Not all travelers must obtain a visa to the Philippines. However, foreign nationals who want to visit the country for short-term stays for tourism, transit, business, study, or employment should apply for a visa in advance.
What Is a Philippines Tourist Visa?
A Philippines tourist visa is a travel permit granted to a foreign passport holder by a consular officer at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate. A traveler visa for the Philippines will be issued after the visa application has been properly examined.
The Philippines visitor visa (a tourist permit) is an entry requirement for citizens of several countries. A tourist visa holder can travel to the Philippines and present their documents at any port of entry.
However, the visa issued is not a guarantee that its holder will be automatically admitted into the country. The final decision is up to the immigration officers at the border.
According to the Philippines Government, a "foreign tourist" is defined as a person reaching the Philippines for a legitimate, non-immigrant purpose such as sightseeing, sports, health, visiting family, training, short-term study (excluding enrollment in a school in the Philippines to pursue a title or degree), religious pilgrimage, business, cultural and scientific activities.
Standard Procedure Requirement for a Philippines Tourist Visa
Foreigners who need a tourist visa for the Philippines must apply in person at an embassy or consulate.
Those who need a tourist visa for the Philippines from an embassy can choose the type of visa depending on the length of validity and number of entries the traveler requires, either:
- Single entry valid for 3 months
- Multiple entry valid for 6 months
- Multiple entry valid for 12 months
However, all of these embassy visitor visas allow a total stay of 59 days in the Philippines, regardless of the number of entries or period of validity.
Applications for minors may be made by a parent or guardian. The minor, with the exception of an infant, will also be required to attend an interview at a Philippines mission along with the person who has presented the application on their behalf.
The following are the minimum requirements for applying for a temporary Philippines visitor visa:
- Passport/travel document (alongside a photocopy of the same) valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines
- Fully completed visa application forms (incomplete forms will be rejected)
- Passport-size photo of the traveler taken within the previous 6 months, with the applicant’s signature attached to the front of the picture
- Photocopy of a travel itinerary for return or onward journey to the next port of destination.
Applicants will also need a valid payment method to cover the visa fees.
Other document requirements for a visit visa
Additionally, all visa applicants are required to supply proof of sufficient funds to cover the stay in the Philippines. For example:
- Print-out of last credit card/bank account statement
- Deed of ownership of real estate property
Other documents showing the applicant’s ability to financially support themselves while in the Philippines may also be accepted. Please note that it is necessary to supply two or more of these types of documents.
In order to determine whether a visa can be issued, the visa officer can request additional documents at their own discretion.
Do You Need a Visa to Travel to the Philippines?
The visa policy of the Philippines is based on your nationality. Some passport holders can enter the country for a certain period of time without a visa, while others must always have a visa to enter.
Nationalities who can travel to the Philippines without a visa are part of the country’s visa waiver program. These passengers only need their passports to enter.
Countries that do not require a visa for the Philippines for stays of up to 59 days:
- Brazil
- Israel
Nationalities that do not require a visa for the Philippines for stays of up to 30 days:
All European Union citizens:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
Other Countries:
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Republic of the Congo
- Costa Rica
- Cote d'Ivoire
- DR Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Suriname
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Nationalities that do not require a Philippines visa for stays of up to 14 days:
- Hong Kong
- Macau
- Portugal
The Philippines Visa Information for Short-Term Stays
The Philippines Visa On Arrival
The Philippines also offers a visa on arrival (for a fee), that grants a stay of up to 59 days.
The visa on arrival for the Philippines is available to citizens of all countries except the following:
- 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
- Sierra Leone
- Serbia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Ukraine
- Yemen
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The Philippines Online Visa (e-Visa)
The Philippines has soft-launched an online visa (e-Visa) with the intention of streamlining the visa application process. The electronic visa allows eligible travelers to apply for their Filipino travel permit completely online, through a simple digital form.
Currently only citizens of China can use the e-Visa system, however it’s expected that it will become available to more countries in the future.
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The Philippines Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Citizens of Taiwan may apply for an entry permit by completing a form through the Philippines Electronic Travel Authorization System.
The Philippines eTA is different to a visa. The application process is more straightforward, and it allows the holder to enter the Philippines visa-free.