How to Get a Visa

A "foreign tourist" is defined by the Philippines government as a person visiting the Philippines for a legitimate, non-immigrant purpose such as sightseeing, sports, health, visiting family, training or short-term study (excluding enrollment in a Philippine school to pursue a title or degree), religious pilgrimage, business, cultural, or scientific activities.

You may be permitted visa-free admission to the Philippines depending on your passport and the nation you come from, or you may be required to apply for a visa. Most European countries, North American countries, and ASEAN members do not require a visa to enter the Philippines as long as the entrance requirements are met.

To see if you need visa requirements, go to the website of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, which has a handy tool called Applying for a Philippine Visa. Almost every country is listed there, and it will tell you everything you need to furnish in a nutshell.

Philippines Visa Requirements

If you plan to stay in the Philippines for more than 30 days, you'll almost certainly require a visa. The non-immigrant visa, which allows you to stay for a certain time, and the immigrant visa, which allows you to stay indefinitely, are the two basic types of visas. Begin by selecting the appropriate visa, then filling out and submitting the application.

If you're merely traveling for a brief trip, see if you need a visa.

If your nation has good diplomatic relations with the Philippines, you may not require a visa if you're staying for less than 30 days. If you're coming from the United States, for example, you won't need one.

Check the list at https://www.dfa.gov.ph/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa to see if your country is on it.

Use the non-immigrant visa for temporary visits over 30 days.

This visa is for things like travel, work, and education. If you're planning on becoming a resident, you typically don't use this visa.

When deciding on a non-immigrant visa, choose from the following categories:

• 9(A) Temporary Visitor's Visa, for tourism and pleasure.

• 9(B) Transit, for traveling through the country.

• 9(C) Seaman, for workers entering the country on a boat.

• 9(D) Treaty Traders, for making financial trades in the Philippines.

• 9(E) Foreign Government Official.

• 9(F) Student.

• 9(G) Pre-Arranged Employees.

Make sure to choose the right category so you get the correct visa form.

If you're not sure which form you should use, call the Consulate office to ask.

If you're a citizen's spouse or child, apply for an immigrant visa.

This visa is only for people who intend to stay in the Philippines for an extended period of time. You must either be married to a Filipino or be a Filipino's child (and under 21).

This visa essentially permits you to remain in the Philippines until you can apply for permanent residency or citizenship. You will need to utilize a different visa or seek for citizenship if you are above 21 and the child of a citizen.

Using a Non-Immigrant Visa

1. Collect the documentation you'll require. You'll need a current passport that's valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date from the Philippines. You'll also need two passport images and a ticket proving that you intend to depart the country when you say you will.

2. Proof of your financial situation is required. You'll need to provide a photo of your most recent bank statement, as well as a letter from your company detailing your current salary and position. This demonstrates that you have sufficient funds to remain in the nation for the time period requested.

3. Please complete the appropriate form. Keep in mind that each of these sub-categories will have its own form, so make sure you pick the right one. You'll fill in basic biographical information like your name and address on the form.

• You'll also need to include details about your passport, your employer's contact information, and the dates you plan to visit the Philippines. You must also state whether or not you have ever been convicted of a crime.

• This form can be typed on a computer and printed, or it can be written on in legible print.

The visa application fee must be paid.

Your fees will be lower if you live in a country with an agreement with the Philippines. Your fees will be slightly more expensive if you are in a country that does not have an agreement.

• If your nation has a visa agreement with the Philippines, the fees for a single-entry 3-month visa were $30.00 USD, $60.00 USD for a multiple-entry 6-month visa, and $90.00 USD for a multiple-entry, year-long visa. Those visas cost $40.00 USD, $80.00 USD, and $120.00 USD, respectively, if your nation does not have an agreement.

• The price is $20.00 USD for a seaman. For government employees, the visa is free.

• In most cases, you'll have to pay with cash or money order. Make the money order payable to the Philippine Consulate General in the United States or the Philippine Embassy in most countries.

The application can be submitted in person or by mail to the Consulate.

Some nations may require you to submit your application in person at the nearest Consulate. You can also send it to the Consulate by mail.

• To have your passport returned, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Priority or expedited shipping is required in the United States.

Entering The Philippines Visa-Free: The Requirements

If your passport allows you to enter the Philippines without a visa, you will usually be granted a visa waiver that allows you to stay for a maximum of 30 days. It's worth noting that in some countries (such as Thailand), the maximum stay is only 21 days, so double-check the laws that apply to you.

When entering the Philippines on a visa waiver, there are a few additional requirements to be aware of:

1. A valid exit ticket is required. In other words, you must have purchased a travel ticket to your home country or another location before your visa waiver expires. When you check-in for your journey to the Philippines, the plane company will usually verify this, as will the immigration official when you arrive at Philippine customs. You can show the ticket and its booking reference on your phone, but printing it is usually safer. It's important to note that if you can't present this exit ticket, the plane company would most likely refuse to let you board your flight.

2. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your departure date. Make sure your passport does not expire within six months of your intended stay in the Philippines to prevent being denied entry. Because the visa waiver is available for 30 days, your passport must be valid for at least 7 months on the date of your arrival.

3. Your stay cannot be more than 30 days. Finally, while you can enter the nation without a visa, you will need to apply for one if you plan to remain for more than 30 days. Of course, after you've entered the country, you can always prolong your stay by requesting a visa extension through the Bureau of Immigration. However, if you are planning to work in the Philippines, you have to process your working visa via the Department of Labor in your country, or in the Philippines.