VISA Information To Travel Philippines

BELOW ARE INFORMATION FROM DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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	Ethiopia
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	Russian Federation
111	Rwanda
112	Saint Kitts and Nevis
113	Saint Lucia
114	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
115	Samoa
116	San Marino
117	Sao Tome and Principe
118	Saudi Arabia
119	Senegal
120	Seychelles
121	Singapore
122	Slovakia
123	Solomon Islands
124	Somalia
125	South Africa
126	Spain
127	Suriname
128	Swaziland
129	Sweden
130	Switzerland
131	Thailand
132	Togo
133	Trinidad and Tobago
134	Tunisia
135	Turkey
136	Tuvalu
137	Uganda
138	United Arab Emirates
139	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
140	United Republic of Tanzania
141	United States of America
142	Uruguay
143	Venezuela
144	Vietnam
145	Zambia
146	Zimbabwe

*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:

• Minor children below 15 yrs. old Traveling to the Philippines Unaccompanied by or not Joining a Parent in the Philippines

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).

• Foreign Nationals on Board Privately-Owned Yachts or Sailboats

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, Journalists and Cinema/Television Groups

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, sixe 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 Nationals who wish to take up a short-term non-degree course

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).