The

visa Visa most commonly refers to: *Visa Inc., a US multinational financial and payment cards company ** Visa Debit card issued by the above company ** Visa Electron, a debit card ** Visa Plus, an interbank network *Travel visa, a document that allows ...

policy of the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

is governed by

Commonwealth Act This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Sources of Philippine laws ;Notes : *Customs may be considered as supplementary source of law, however, customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not be ...

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 Bureau of Immigration may refer to: *Bureau of Immigration (India) *Bureau of Immigration (Philippines) * Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (Liberia) *Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforc ...

(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 ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, militar ...

(ASEAN). *A citizen of a non-ASEAN member state whose nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free. *A ''

balikbayan An overseas Filipino ( fil, Pilipino sa ibayong-dagat) is a person of full or partial Filipinos, Filipino origin—i.e., people who trace back their ancestry to the Philippines but living or residing outside the country. This term generally a ...

'' and is only returning to the Philippines temporarily.

Visa policy map

Visa waiver program

The Philippine visa waiver program is governed by Executive Order No. 408, signed by President

Carlos P. Garcia Carlos Polestico Garcia (November 4, 1896 – June 14, 1971) was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist, guerrilla and Commonwealth military leader who was the eighth president of the Philippines. A l ...

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. Eligible nationals availing of visa-free entry must possess passports valid for at least six months beyond their contemplated period of stay. 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 Visa-exempt foreign nationals may extend their stay two months per extension but not exceeding the maximum period of two years. 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. In March 2015, it was proposed to extend the visa exemption to citizens of China and

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions do not require a visa for Philippines:

Replacement visas

Nationals of traveling as tourists and holding a valid visa issued by Australia,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, Japan,

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

or a Schengen Area state may enter and stay without a visa for up to 7 days. Nationals of holding a valid tourist, business or resident visa issued by Australia,

, Japan,

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

or a Schengen Area state may enter and stay without a visa for up to 14 days. They may enter from any port of entry.

E-visa

Citizens of may apply for an entry permit issued by

Manila Economic and Cultural Office The Manila Economic and Cultural OfficeIn .In tl, Tanggapang Pang-ekonomiya at Pangkultura ng Maynila. Also known as the Philippine Representative Office in Taiwan(; tl, link=no, Tanggapan ng Kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa Taiwan). is the representa ...

through the Electronic Travel Authorization system on the website of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office. Another e-visa system which is good for citizens of is now on "soft launch" stage and is undergoing "beta-testing". In order to smoothen the test, applicants currently have to personally visit the

Consulate General of the Philippines, Shanghai A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of diplomatic mission, it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy (or, only between two Commonwealth coun ...

in order to finish their applications. The Consulate General announces that these arrangements are temporary, the system will be opened to more Chinese applicants in the future.

Visa required

Holders of passports issued by any country except the following may obtain a visa (for a fee) valid for 59 days on arrival:

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: Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries may enter without a visa while ordinary passport holders require one: _{D — diplomatic passports}
_{O — official passports}
_{S — service passports}

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an

APEC Business Travel Card The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a travel document issued to business travellers who are citizens of APEC participating economies. Valid for five years, the card eliminates the need for its holder to possess a visa when visiting other APEC ...

(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. ABTCs are issued to nationals of:

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 President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

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

Foreign travel statistics

References and Notes

External links

The Bureau of ImmigrationVisa information from the Bureau of Immigration
*Philippines E-visa
for Chinafor Taiwan
{{Visa Requirements Foreign relations of the Philippines

Philippine immigration law