Visa policy of the Philippines

The visa policy of the Philippines is governed by Commonwealth Act No. 613, also known as the Philippine Immigration Act, and by subsequent legislation amending it.

The Act is jointly enforced by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Visitors from 157 countries are permitted visa-free entry for periods ranging from 14 to 59 days.

Generally, foreign nationals who wish to enter the Philippines require a visa unless the visitor is:

A citizen of a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
A citizen of a non-ASEAN member state whose nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free.
A balikbayan (a member of the Filipino diaspora) who is only returning to the Philippines temporarily.

Visa policy map

Visa exemption

History

The Philippine visa waiver program is governed by Executive Order No. 408,^[1] signed by President Carlos P. Garcia on November 9, 1960, and by subsequent executive issuances amending it. While visas are issued by the Bureau of Immigration, the program itself is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, which maintains a list of countries eligible to participate in the program.

In principle, nationals of countries which maintain diplomatic relations with the Philippines and whose nationals are not classified as restricted nationals by the DFA are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa.

On July 1, 2013, the Bureau of Immigration began implementing an extended visa waiver for covered nationals from 21 to 30 days, which the Philippine government hoped would boost tourism^[2]

In March 2015, it was proposed to extend the visa exemption to citizens of China and India.^[3]

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced the Philippines' new visa exemption policies for Indian nationals, which will grant 14 days visa-free entry for all Indian tourists and an enhanced 30 days conditional visa-free entry for Indian tourists with valid visas or permanent residencies from select countries. The new visa exemption rules took effect on June 8, 2025, following the official announcement from the Philippine Embassy in India on June 7, 2025.

On July 1, 2025, the Philippines introduced visa exemption policy for Taiwanese nationals traveling to the country for a short term touristic visit, following the announcement from Manila Economic and Cultural Office on June 19, 2025.^[4]^[5]

Visa exempt nationals

Eligible nationals availing of visa-free entry must possess passports valid for at least six months beyond their contemplated period of stay.^[6]^[7]

Visa-exempt foreign nationals may extend their stay two months per extension but not exceeding the maximum period of 2 years.^[7] Foreign nationals who require a visa may extend their stay one month per extension but not exceeding the maximum period of six months and must have a ticket valid for onward travel.^[6]

Citizens of the following countries and territories do not require a visa for the Philippines:^[8]

59 days

Brazil

Israel

30 days

All ASEAN member states (except Timor-Leste)
All European Union member states

14 days

China^T1 ¹ ² ³
Hong Kong³ ^[9]^[10]
India¹ ⁴

Macao³
Portugal⁵
Taiwan^T2 ¹ ⁴

7 days

United Kingdom⁶

_{T1 - Temporary policy until January 15, 2027.}
_{T2 - Temporary policy until June 30, 2027.}
_{1 - Extension of visa-free stay is not possible.}
_{2 - May enter via Ninoy Aquino International Airport or Mactan–Cebu International Airport.}
_{3 - For Chinese citizens with People's Republic of China passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports or Macao Special Administrative Region passports only.}
_{4 - For tourism purposes only.}
_{5 - For permanent residents of Macao only.}
_{6 - For British Nationals (Overseas) only.}

More information Date of visa changes ...

Date of visa changes
March 9, 1962: Germany August 30, 1962: Malaysia (as Federation of Malaya) and Thailand^[11] February 1, 1963: Bolivia^[12] January 1, 1966: Sweden^[13] January 1, 1967: Denmark and Norway^[14] January 1, 1970: Israel^[15] July 1, 1970: France^[16] April 1, 1971: Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands^[17] August 22, 1972: Brazil (replaced by another agreement from October 25, 1973)^[18]^[19]^[20] January 1, 1975: Iceland^[21] January 1, 1978: Austria^[22] May 13, 1994: Mongolia^[23] June 22, 1994: Macao^[24] July 12, 2005: Laos^[25] September 19, 2007: Russia April 15, 2014: Belize, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan^[26] June 8, 2025: India^[27] July 1, 2025: Taiwan (effective until June 30, 2027)^[28]^[29]^[30] January 16, 2026: China (effective until January 15, 2027)^[31] Cancelled: April 15, 2014: Somalia^[32]

Close

Non-ordinary passports

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries enjoy an extended length of stay when compared to ordinary passports:

Germany¹
Hungary²
Italy⁴
Mexico²
Morocco²
Norway⁴
Panama²
Peru²
Poland²

_{1 - 3 months}
_{2 - 90 days}
_{3 - 2 months}
_{4 - 59 days}

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries may enter without a visa while ordinary passport holders require one:

Albania^{D O S}
Armenia^{D O S}
Bangladesh^{D O S}
China^{D O S}
Egypt^D

India^{D O S}
Iran^{D O S}
Jordan^{D O S}
Pakistan^D
Timor-Leste^{D O S}

_{D - diplomatic passports}
_{O - official passports}
_{S - service passports}

Conditional visa exemption

Nationals of China traveling as tourists and holding a valid visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Schengen countries, Singapore or United States may enter and stay without a visa for up to 7 days.^[33]

Nationals of India traveling as tourists and holding a valid tourist, business or resident visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Schengen countries, Singapore, United Kingdom or United States may enter and stay without a visa for up to 30 days. They may enter from any port of entry.^[34]

Online application

Citizens of Taiwan may apply for Electronic Travel Authorizations issued by Manila Economic and Cultural Office by paying 1500 NTD online. The validity of this multiple entry ETA allows visitors to stay in Philippines for no more than 30 days.^[35]

Citizens of China residing in Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao may obtain tourist and business eVisas good for single entry via VFS Global website by paying 380 CNY application fee along with 98 CNY service fee since November 3, 2025. Visitors with valid eVisas may enter via Ninoy Aquino International Airport (in Manila) or Mactan–Cebu International Airport (in Cebu) and may stay in the Philippines for a maximum of 14 days.^[36]^[37]

Citizens of the following countries may obtain eVisas good for single entry (valid for 3 months) or multiple entry (valid for 6 months or 1 year) through the official Philippine eVisa website. The cost of eVisa (which include application and service fees) may vary, depending on the applicant's nationality and preferred eVisa type. Holders of valid eVisas from these countries may stay in the Philippines for up to 59 days per visit.^[38]^[39]

_{* - Foreign residents of the United Arab Emirates (regardless of nationality) may also obtain eVisas through the official Philippine eVisa website. They are required to show their valid Emirati residence visas upon eVisa application.}^[40]

Visa required

Citizens of the following countries must obtain a visa from embassies or consulates of the Philippines, prior to travel:^[8]

_{1 - May obtain a single or multiple-entry visa online.}

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the "PHL" code on the reverse that it is valid for travel to Philippines can enter visa-free for business trips for up to 59 days.^[8]

ABTCs are issued to nationals of:^[41]

Types of visas

The Philippine Immigration Act prescribes fourteen different visas grouped into two broad categories:

Section 9 visas (non-immigrant visas), for temporary visits such as those for tourism, business, transit, study or employment
Section 13 visas (immigrant visas), for foreign nationals who wish to become permanent residents in the Philippines

Some visas have been introduced by subsequent legislation or proclamation of the President which are not classified by the Philippine Immigration Act as either being a Section 9 or Section 13 visa. These visas are called special visas and are issued to groups such as retirees, investors and entrepreneurs.

List of visas

More information Type, Description ...

Visas in the Philippines
Type	Visa	Description
Non-immigrant^[42]	9(a)	Pleasure, business or health
	9(b)	Transit
	9(c)	Seaman on a ship docking in a port of entry in the Philippines
	9(d)	Alien businessman
	9(e)	Foreign government officials and their dependents, assistants and employees
	9(f)	Students
	9(g)	Pre-arranged employees and their dependents
Immigrant^[42]	13	Quota immigrants, of which no more than fifty of any one nationality or without nationality may be admitted within one calendar year. Immigrants who are issued Section 13 visas belonging to one of the seven listed sub-categories under CA 613 are considered non-quota immigrants, and may be admitted despite the quota.
	13(a)	The spouse or unmarried child (below 21) of a Filipino citizen.
	13(b)	Children born during a temporary visit abroad to mothers granted permanent residence in the Philippines.
	13(c)	Children born after the issuance of the visa of the accompanying parents.
	13(d)	Women who lost Filipino citizenship by virtue of marriage to a foreign spouse, and her unmarried children (below 21).^[a]
	13(e)	Permanent residents returning to the Philippines from a temporary visit abroad to resume permanent residence.
	13(f)	The spouse and/or unmarried children (below 21) of an alien admitted to the Philippines for permanent residence prior to the approval of the Philippine Immigration Act.^[b]
	13(g)	Natural-born Filipinos and their dependents who have naturalized in a foreign country and wish to permanently reside in the Philippines. This visa was provided for under Republic Act No. 4376, passed in 1965.^[c]
Special	47(a)(2)^[45]	Special Non-Immigrant Visa. This is a non-immigrant visa granted to several categories of foreign nationals: Those employed as executives, supervisors, specialists, consultants, contractors or personal staff at enterprises registered with special economic zones, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Board of Investments (BOI), or the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Those employed in enterprises that have existing agreement/s with the Philippine government or any of subdivisions and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, for the completion of a project Exchange professors, scholars, trainees, participants, students, fellows and social workers under sponsorship of locally or internationally recognized educational, scientific, cultural, relief and charitable organizations, institutions, agencies or foundations, including representatives of non-recognized foreign governments to those organizations Volunteers registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), including foreign personnel of international rescue/aid organizations providing assistance on occasion of natural disasters and major emergencies Dependents of any foreign national covered under the previous categories
	SIRV^[46]	Special Investor's Resident Visa. This is a non-immigrant visa granted to foreign nationals and their dependents who have shareholdings in Philippine corporations engaged in the manufacturing or services sectors, involved in projects listed under the Investment Priority Plan, or are listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange. This visa is issued by the BI in coordination with the Board of Investments.
	SVEG^[47]	Special Visa for Employment Generation. This is a non-immigrant visa granted to foreign nationals and their dependents who employ at least ten Filipinos in a lawful enterprise or business venture.
	SRRV^[48]	Special Resident Retiree's Visa. This is a non-immigrant visa granted to foreign nationals and their dependents who wish to retire in the Philippines. This visa is issued by the BI in coordination with the Philippine Retirement Authority.
	SNIV^[49]	Special Non-Immigrant Visa. This is a non-immigrant visa granted to foreign nationals and their dependents who are employed by the regional, area and/or regional operating headquarters of multinational corporations.
	SEVOBU^[50]	Special Employment Visa for Offshore Banking Unit. This is a non-immigrant visa granted to foreign nationals and their dependents who are employed by the Philippine offshore units of foreign banks.

Close

Visitor statistics

More information Country, 05/2026 ...

Country	05/2026^[51]	2025^[52]	2024^[53]	2023^[54]	2022 ^[55]	2021 ^[56]	2020^[57]	2019^[58]	2018^[59]	2017^[60]	2016^[61]	2015^[62]	2014^[63]	2013^[64]	2012^[65]	2011^[66]	2010^[67]
United States	531,859	1,323,142	1,239,674	903,299	505,089	39,326	211,816	1,064,440	1,034,396	957,813	869,463	779,217	722,750	674,564	652,626	624,527	600,165
South Korea	501,789	1,346,301	1,651,779	1,439,336	428,014	6,456	338,877	1,989,322	1,587,959	1,607,821	1,475,081	1,339,678	1,175,472	1,165,789	1,031,155	925,204	740,622
Japan	226,494	502,546	444,258	305,580	99,557	15,024	136,664	682,788	631,801	584,180	535,238	495,662	463,744	433,705	412,474	375,496	358,744
China	187,478	267,660	313,856	263,836	39,627	9,674	170,432	1,743,309	1,255,258	968,447	675,663	490,841	394,951	426,352	250,883	243,137	187,446
Canada	166,178	333,136	269,300	221,920	121,413	6,781	55,273	238,850	226,429	200,640	175,631	153,363	143,899	131,381	123,699	117,423	106,345
Australia	166,036	359,646	299,286	266,551	137,974	2,184	55,330	286,170	279,821	259,433	251,098	241,187	224,784	213,023	191,150	170,736	147,649
Taiwan	96,655	213,928	213,833	194,851	23,604	1,619	48,644	327,273	240,842	236,777	229,303	177,670	142,973	139,099	216,511	181,738	142,455
United Kingdom	90,863	193,999	178,656	154,698	101,034	4,348	39,980	209,206	201,039	182,708	173,229	154,189	133,665	122,759	113,282	104,466	96,925
Singapore*	80,436	198,461	198,471	149,230	53,448	653	19,998	158,595	171,795	168,637	176,057	181,176	179,099	175,034	148,215	137,802	121,083
India	52,257	104,994	79,366	70,286	51,542	7,202	29,014	134,963	121,124	107,278	90,816	74,824	61,152	52,206	46,395	42,844	34,581
Germany	49,290	108,569	88,454	74,731	39,013	2,037	25,893	103,756	92,098	85,431	86,363	75,348	72,801	70,949	67,023	61,193	58,725
France	48,305	78,823	67,082	51,601	23,949	1,425	24,530	88,577	74,400	64,777	55,384	45,505	48,644	38,946	39,042	33,709	29,591
Malaysia*	47,746	104,989	99,881	97,639	46,805	1,620	23,359	139,882	145,242	143,566	139,133	155,814	139,245	109,437	114,513	91,752	79,694
Hong Kong SAR	42,699	96,679	98,073	80,512	8,589	354	12,444	91,653	117,992	111,135	116,328	122,180	114,100	126,008	118,666	112,106	133,746
Italy	30,358	56,119	45,571	34,157	12,933	1,212	8,976	38,951	35,182	30,437	25,945	21,620	19,865	17,668	16,740	15,798	16,350
Indonesia*	26,571	48,964	57,864	53,707	24,596	1,888	13,734	70,819	76,652	62,923	44,348	48,178	46,757	45,582	36,627	34,542	31,997
United Arab Emirates	25,004	73,870	69,995	33,769	2,084	2,733	2,518	10,192	15,402	16,399	17,634	16,881	17,000	15,155	12,684	13,404	12,734
Thailand*	22,404	49,650	47,675	40,952	16,300	1,464	9,788	61,292	59,793	48,727	47,913	44,038	45,943	47,874	40,987	37,862	36,713
Russia	22,335	44,007	37,341	29,779	8,040	1,027	12,643	36,111	29,967	33,279	28,210	25,278	32,087	35,404	28,270	20,185	14,642
Spain	21,419	60,290	55,768	34,063	19,194	1,220	9,621	49,748	44,133	36,954	32,097	24,144	19,353	17,126	15,895	14,648	12,759
New Zealand	20,706	46,122	39,040	29,272	17,503	345	6,883	37,872	33,341	28,983	23,431	20,579	17,704	15,783	14,100	12,782	11,323
Netherlands	19,857	40,981	36,749	31,956	19,306	1,510	8,961	41,313	37,051	33,821	31,876	28,632	25,236	22,595	22,195	21,029	19,227
Vietnam*	18,945	33,599	58,677	67,661	38,605	1,785	11,406	66,698	52,334	39,951	33,895	31,579	29,800	26,599	20,817	17,781	17,311
Switzerland	16,024	31,769	30,813	24,048	11,092	598	7,094	29,966	31,075	29,837	29,420	27,200	25,548	24,907	23,557	22,335	21,224
Israel	15,127	24,583	15,998	13,690
Poland	11,573	21,311	15,555	10,081
Myanmar*	3,459	9,278	6,395	4,255	271	2,877	13,978	9,630	9,571	7,442	7,033	6,633	4,948	4,290	3,246	3,983
Brunei*	2,464	5,853	6,578	6,639	1,884	37	1,037	8,126	9,533	8,679	8,211	9,015	9,677	8,297	5,992	5,247	4,072
Cambodia*	2,085	4,268	3,999	1,454	40	942	5,988	4,154	4,712	3,526	3,503	3,276	3,228	2,661	2,469	2,244
All Countries	2,741,117	6,484,060	6,435,438	5,450,557	2,653,858	163,879	1,482,535	8,260,913	7,168,467	6,620,908	5,967,005	5,360,682	4,833,368	4,681,307	4,272,811	3,917,454	3,520,471

Close

* Country in ASEAN

Visa policy of the Philippines

Visa policy map

Visa exemption

History

Visa exempt nationals

Non-ordinary passports

Conditional visa exemption

Online application

Visa required

APEC Business Travel Card

Types of visas

List of visas

Visitor statistics

See also

References and Notes

External links

Related Articles

Related Articles

"Business News, India Stock Market, Personal Finance, IPO, Financial News Headlines - The Financial Express"

"Guidelines on Entry Visas of Temporary Visitors to the Philippines"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during January 1963"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during March 1964"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during January 1967"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during March 1967"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during September 1970"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during June 1971"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during September 1973"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during January 1976"

"STATEMENT of TREATIES and INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during July 1980"

"Bureau of Immigration Starts Implementing Visa-free Entry for Taiwanese Nationals"