General Philippine Visa Information


What is a Philippine Visa?

A Philippine Visa is an endorsement made on a travel document by a consular officer at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad denoting that the visa application has been properly examined and that the bearer is permitted to proceed to the Philippines and request permission from the Philippine Immigration authorities at the ports of entries to enter the country. The visa thus issued is not a guarantee that the holder will be automatically admitted into the country, because the admission of foreign nationals into the Philippines is a function of the immigration authorities at the port of entry.

 

Guidelines on the Entry of Temporary Visitors to the Philippines

Nationals from countries listed below who are traveling to the Philippines for business and tourism purposes are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding twenty-one (21) days, provided they hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or next port of destination and their passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay. However, Immigration Officers at ports of entry may exercise their discretion to admit holders of passports valid for at least sixty (60) days beyond the intended period of stay.

Nationals from the following countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of stay of twenty-one (21) days or less:

 

  1. Andorra

  2. Angola

  3. Antigua and Barbuda

  4. Argentina

  5. Australia

  6. Austria

  7. Bahamas

  8. Bahrain

  9. Barbados

  10. Belgium

  11. Benin

  12. Bhutan

  13. Bolivia

  14. Botswana

  15. Brazil**

  16. Brunei Darussalam

  17. Bulgaria

  18. Burkina Faso

  19. Burundi*

  20. Cambodia

  21. Cameroon

  22. Canada

  23. Cape Verde

  24. Central African Republic

  25. Chad

  26. Chile

  27. Colombia

  28. Comoros

  29. Congo

  30. Costa Rica

  31. Cote d’Ivoire

  32. Cyprus

  33. Czech Republic

  34. Democratic Republic of the Congo

  35. Denmark

  36. Djibouti

  37. Dominica

  38. Dominican Republic

  39. Ecuador

  40. El Salvador

  41. Equatorial Guinea

  42. Eritrea

  43. Etiopia

  44. Fiji

  45. Finland

  46. France

  47. Gabon

  48. Gambia*

  49. Germany

  50. Ghana

  51. Gibraltar

  52. Greece

  53. Grenada

  54. Guatemala

  55. Guinea

  56. Guinea Bissau

  57. Guyana

  58. Haiti

  59. Honduras

  60. Hungary

  61. Iceland

  62. Indonesia

  63. Ireland

  64. Israel**

  65. Italy

  66. Jamaica

  67. Japan

  68. Kenya

  69. Kiribati*

  70. Kuwait

  71. Lao People’s Democratic Republic*

  72. Lesotho

  73. Liberia

  74. Liechtenstein

  75. Luxembourg

  76. Madagascar

  77. Malawi

  78. Malaysia

  79. Maldives

  80. Mali

  81. Malta

  82. Marshall Islands

  83. Mauritania

  84. Mauritius

  85. Mexico

  86. Micronesia

  87. Monaco

  88. Mongolia

  89. Morocco

  90. Mozambique

  91. Myanmar

  92. Namibia

  93. Nepal

  94. Netherlands

  95. New Zealand

  96. Nicaragua

  97. Niger

  98. Norway

  99. Oman

  100. Palau

  101. Panama

  102. Papua New Guinea

  103. Paraguay

  104. Peru

  105. Poland

  106. Portugal

  107. Qatar

  108. Republic of Korea

  109. Romania

  110. Rwanda

  111. Saint Kitts and Nevis

  112. Saint Lucia

  113. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  114. Samoa*

  115. San Marino

  116. Sao Tome and Principe

  117. Saudi Arabia

  118. Senegal

  119. Seychelles

  120. Singapore

  121. Slovakia

  122. Solomon Islands

  123. Somalia

  124. South Africa

  125. Spain

  126. Suriname

  127. Swaziland

  128. Sweden

  129. Switzerland

  130. Thailand

  131. Togo

  132. Trinidad and Tobago

  133. Tunisia

  134. Turkey

  135. Tuvalu

  136. Uganda

  137. United Arab Emirates

  138. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  139. United Republic of Tanzania

  140. United States of America

  141. Uruguay

  142. Venezuela

  143. Vietnam

  144. Zambia

  145. Zimbabwe

*The following are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days:

1. Holders of Burundi passports

2. Holders of Gambia passports

3. Holders of Lao passports

4. Holders of Kiribati passports

5. Holders of Samoa passports

 

**The following are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding fifty-nine (59) days:

1. Holders of Brazil passports; and

2. Holders of Israel passports

 

The following are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days:

3. Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative (SAR) passports

4. Holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports

5. Holders of Portuguese Passports issued in Macao

6. Holders of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports

 

Important Note:

Nationals who are subjects of deportation/blacklist orders of the Department and the Bureau of Immigration shall not be admitted to the Philippines. Further inquiries may be addressed to the Visa Division (Telephone numbers: 834-4854, 834-3707, and 834-4810), Department of Foreign Affairs, 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City or to any Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad.


Definition of a Foreign Tourist (Temporary Visitor)

A “foreign tourist” is defined as a person without distinction as to race, gender, language or religion, who is proceeding o the Philippines for a legitimate, nonimmigrant purpose such as sightseeing, sports, health, family reasons, training or study (excluding enrolment in schools for the purpose of obtaining a title or degree), religious pilgrimage, business, cultural and scientific purposes.


Standard Procedure/MINIMUM Requirements for Applying a Temporary Visitor’s Visa

Application for a temporary visitor’s visa must be made in person. In the case of a minor under eighteen (18) years of age, the application may be made for him by a person who, in the opinion of the consular officer, is responsible for his/her welfare. The minor, not an infant in arms, shall be required to appear at the Consulate for interview, together with the person making the application for him/her.

 

Applicants for temporary visitor’s visa should normally apply at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. While some visa applicants may apply at any Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad, others are only allowed to apply his/her visa at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in his country of origin or legal residence.

 

The following are the minimum requirements for applying a temporary visitor’s visa:

  1. Passport/Travel Document Valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines;

  2. Duly Accomplished Visa application forms;

  3. Passport Photos (2 pieces);

  4. Proof of bona fide status as tourist or businessman;

  5. Confirmed tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination; and

  6. Payment of Visa Fees


Other Visa/Entry Requirements for Foreign Nationals:

 

A Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) Under Section 29(a)(12) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended is required for children below 15 yrs. old who are traveling to the Philippines unaccompanied by or not joining his/her parent/s to the Philippines.

The WEG Order will be issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the port of entry upon submission by the WEG applicant of the following requirements:

1. Affidavit of consent by either parent or legally appointed guardian of the child, naming therein the person who will be accompanying the child to the Philippines and with whom the child will stay while in the country. The said Affidavit must be duly notarized by a local notary public or the consular officer at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country or residence;

2. Clear photocopy of the data page of the child’s passport;

3. Clear photocopy of the data page of the passport of the accompanying adult or guardian; and

4. Payment of immigration fees (currently, P3,120 per child).

 

A temporary visitor’s visa is required for foreign nationals who are traveling to the Philippines on board privately-owned yachts and sailboats. When applying the visa, the applicants will be required to provide the following particulars of the yacht/sailboat and its crewmembers:

  1. Crewlist;

  2. Nationality/Citizenship;

  3. Passport details of the crew;

  4. Vessel to be used for entry: type, name, registration, call sign, and other particulars;

  5. Estimated date of entry into the Philippine territory;

  6. Port/Area of entry (Philippine waters);

  7. Estimated period of stay in the Philippines;

  8. Character reference/shipping agent in the Philippines (if any); and

  9. Purpose of visit

 

Upon entry into the Philippines, the crew of the yacht and sailboats are required to register immediately with the nearest Coast Guard Station and submit the yacht/sailboats to Customs, Immigration and Quarantine inspections.

 

Foreign newsmen and journalists visiting the Philippines in pursuit of their profession are required to apply for a temporary visitor’s visa. The following are additional requirements for visa application of foreign newsmen, journalist, cinema/television groups:

  1. Curriculum vitae of newsmen/journalists;

  2. Shortlist of work credits;

  3. Copy of one (1) sample article written by the applicant;

  4. Background of media organization, including target market/audience, circulation, format; and

  5. Administrative arrangements for the work in the Philippines, as follows:

 

    1. List of members of the reportorial team, nationality and passport details;

    2. Planned itinerary and activities, with storyline for any films to be made;

    3. List of equipment to be brought by each team member, with certification from the media organization that said equipment will be re-exported at the end of the trip to the Philippines;

    4. Flight details (arrival and departure); and

    5. For each team member, one (1) photograph, size 1”x1”, to be submitted to the International Press Center (IPC) for the issuance of accreditation card.

 

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the newsmen/journalists will have to report to the IPC for accreditation.

Foreign students who wish to take up a short-term non-degree course like language and computer courses must apply for a temporary visitor’s visa. Upon arrival in the Philippines and acceptance by the school/institution authorized by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students, he/she should apply for a Special Study Permit at the Bureau’s Student Desk, together with the following documents:

  1. Letter request;

  2. Certificate of Acceptance from the school accredited by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students;

  3. Photocopy of passport reflecting the applicant’s authorized period of stay;

  4. Affidavit of Support and Proof of Financial Capacity; and

  5. Birth Certificate.

 

Extension of Authorized Period of Stay in the Philippines

In case of a temporary visitor’s visa holder whose stay in the Philippines will exceed the authorized period of stay, he/she will have to report to the Bureau of Immigration, secure an extension of stay and pay the corresponding immigration fees. Information on fees for extension of stay and other Immigration fees are available at the Bureau of Immigration website (www.immigration.gov.ph).