Traveling to the Philippines From the UK

The Philippine Government is committed to making travel easier and more accessible to international tourists and has recently introduced measures with this purpose in mind.

The Philippine government offers different types of visas for UK citizens seeking to visit the country.

Travelers are encouraged to look through the different categories/sub-categories to see if they will be required to obtain a Philippines visa from the UK prior to visiting.

In the case of traveling to the Philippines as a tourist, there is now an easier way to obtain a permit for the country. The Philippine Government has launched an online Philippines eTA visa waiver application.

This allows eligible foreigners to apply for a Philippine eTA visa waiver from their homes or offices instead of having to visit a local embassy or consulate. The travel authorization is currently only available for citizens of Taiwan.

British citizens traveling to the Philippines

Brits should be aware that before boarding the plane to the Philippines, they will be required to show a ticket of onward or return travel from the country of origin.

In fact, some airlines can refuse to board a passenger if they don’t have a ticket or can suggest that the passenger purchase it there and then before they can continue with the onboarding process.

Other things Brits should keep in mind while traveling to the Philippines include the local customs regulations.

Certain items, like alcohol and tobacco, can be imported in limited amounts. Others, like firearms and weapons, are prohibited.

British citizens are allowed visa-free entry into the Philippines for a stay of up to 30 days without the need to have an approved visa or travel authorization.

At the moment, a Philippines ETA for UK citizens is not required, as the electronic authorization system is only available for Taiwanese nationals. However, the program may be expanded to British citizens in the future.

In cases where a British national is aware that they will have to stay for a period of more than 30 days, they may have to acquire a visa prior to traveling to the country.

In other cases, British visitors can obtain an extension to their stay in the Philippines if they arrive on a visa-free basis but decide to stay longer. However, foreigners are usually charged extra for this.

Philippines eTA visa waiver requirements from the UK

In the event that a UK visitor needs to apply for an eTA visa waiver once the program is expanded, the Philippine Government has set certain criteria that must be met by all applicants.

The requirements are as follows:

It is also worth noting that all travelers to the Philippines (including Brits) will have to go through a customs check at the port of entry, where they will be expected to clear security questions.

Incoming passengers may also be asked to provide certain travel documents and a printed copy of their Philippine visa (if applicable).

Philippines eTA application procedure from the United Kingdom

It is expected that the process of obtaining an eTA tourist permit for the Philippines from the United Kingdom will be very simple.

Applicants will need to go to the Philippines online application website and fill out the eTA application form from the United Kingdom.

It will then be necessary to fill in basic personal information and passport data, and provide a current email address. The applicant will also need to provide debit/credit card details to pay the ETA fee.

Once the form has been submitted, the applicant will be assigned a Unique Identification Number (UID).

In group applications, the UID will be issued to the main applicant of the eTA authorizations. The traveler(s) will also be charged a processing fee upon submission of the eTA request.

It will be important to check that all of the fields on the eTA application have been filled out correctly.

This is because even small differences between the details of the applicant’s travel documents and the data provided on the form can affect the validity of the eTA visa waiver. As a result, the eTA holder could be prevented from entering the country.

In case the questionnaire presents incorrect or lacking information, the applicant will have to fill out a new form.

If the form has already been completed and the traveler needs to update the information provided, they can make the necessary changes by contacting the Philippine eTA application website and providing their UID.

How to receive the Philippines eTA for British citizens

After the application has been submitted, it is expected that it may take a few business days for it to be processed and for the visa waiver to be granted. In some cases, it might take longer if there is any additional processing that needs to be carried out on the application.

Once the Philippines eTA visa waiver for UK citizens is granted, the traveler will receive the authorization via email.

They should keep a copy of the eTA on their smartphone/handheld device and are also advised to bring a printout of the permit on a sheet of A4 paper to present at the Philippine border.

In the case of multiple applicants, a separate printed copy will be needed for each individual in the group. The eTA will need to be presented to Philippine immigration officials at the Philippine port of entry.

Health Requirements to Enter the Philippines from the UK

British tourists should also be aware that they may need to meet certain health requirements in order to be granted entry to the Philippines. As noted above, it is necessary for all travelers to complete an electronic Travel form before visiting the country.

It is also important for travelers from the UK to make sure they are up-to-date with all the required vaccinations for entry to the Philippines.

Additionally, British visitors are advised to ensure they have up-to-date travel insurance before visiting the Philippines. Although not mandatory, this will ensure that any healthcare expenses are covered if medical needs arise while abroad.