# 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 exemption

The Philippine visa waiver program is governed by Executive Order No. 408, 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.
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 2 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.
Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions do not require a visa for Philippines:
In January 2025, the Philippines welcomed a group of Afghan nationals who had worked alongside American forces, providing them with a safe and supportive environment to continue their visa processing for resettlement in the United States. This effort highlights the Philippines' role as a reliable partner in international humanitarian initiatives, offering assistance and refuge to those affected by conflict following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
| Brazil | Israel |
| Andorra  Angola  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina  Australia  Bahamas  Bahrain  Barbados  Belize  Benin  Bhutan  Bolivia  Botswana  Burkina Faso  Burundi  Cameroon  Canada  Cape Verde  Central African Republic  Chad  Chile  Colombia  Comoros  Congo-Brazzaville  Congo-Kinshasa  Costa Rica  Djibouti  Dominica  Dominican Republic  Ecuador | El Salvador  Equatorial Guinea  Eritrea  Eswatini  Ethiopia  Fiji  Gabon  Gambia  Ghana  Grenada  Guatemala  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Guyana  Haiti  Honduras  Iceland  Ivory Coast  Jamaica  Japan  Kazakhstan  Kenya  Kiribati  Kuwait  Kyrgyzstan  Lesotho  Liberia  Liechtenstein  Madagascar  Malawi | Maldives  Mali  Marshall Islands  Mauritania  Mauritius  Mexico  Micronesia  Monaco  Mongolia  Morocco  Mozambique  Namibia  Nepal  New Zealand  Nicaragua  Niger  Norway  Oman  Palau  Panama  Papua New Guinea  Paraguay  Peru  Qatar  Russia  Rwanda  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Samoa | San Marino  São Tomé and Príncipe  Saudi Arabia  Senegal  Seychelles  Solomon Islands  South Africa  South Korea  Suriname  Switzerland  Tajikistan  Tanzania  Togo  Trinidad and Tobago  Tunisia  Turkey  Turkmenistan  Tuvalu  Uganda  United Arab Emirates  United Kingdom  United States  Uruguay  Uzbekistan  Vanuatu  Vatican City  Venezuela  Zambia  Zimbabwe |
Date of visa changes :

### 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:
| Argentina$^4$  Austria$^4$  Brazil$^1$  Chile$^1$  Croatia$^2$  Cuba$^2$  Denmark$^4$  Estonia$^2$  Finland$^4$ | Germany$^1$  Hungary$^2$  Italy$^4$  Mexico$^2$  Morocco$^2$  Norway$^4$  Panama$^2$  Peru$^2$  Poland$^2$ | Romania$^2$  Russia$^2$  Slovakia$^4$  Slovenia$^2$  Spain$^4$  Sweden$^4$  Tunisia$^3$  Venezuela$^1$ |
$_{1-3months}$ $_{2-90days}$ $_{3-2months}$ $_{4-59days}$
Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries may enter without a visa while ordinary passport holders require one:
| Albania$^{DOS}$  Armenia$^{DOS}$  Bangladesh$^{DOS}$  China$^{DOS}$  Egypt$^D$ | India$^{DOS}$  Iran$^{DOS}$  Jordan$^{DOS}$  Pakistan$^D$  Timor-Leste$^{DOS}$ |
$_{D-diplomaticpassports}$ $_{O-officialpassports}$ $_{S-servicepassports}$

### Replacement visas

Nationals of China traveling as tourists and holding a valid visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, United States or a Schengen Area state may enter and stay without a visa for up to 7 days.
Nationals of India holding a valid tourist, business or resident visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States 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.

## 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.
Citizens of China may obtain e-Visas from Consulate General of the Philippines, Shanghai after transferring the visa fee to a designated bank account since November 15, 2023. Visitor with e-Visa may stay in Philippines for a maximum of 59 days. Single entry e-Visa costs 50 USD while multiple entry e-Visa valid for 6 months costs 125 USD. However, the operations of the Philippine e-Visa System in China is temporarily suspended from November 28, 2023 until further notice.

## 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:
| Afghanistan  Albania  Algeria  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Bangladesh  Belarus  Bosnia and Herzegovina  China  Cuba | Egypt  Georgia  India  Iran  Iraq  Jordan  Kosovo  Lebanon  Libya  Moldova | Montenegro  Nauru  Nigeria  North Korea  North Macedonia  Pakistan  Palestine  Serbia  Sierra Leone  Somalia | South Sudan  Sri Lanka  Sudan  Syria  Taiwan  Timor-Leste  Tonga  Ukraine  Yemen |

## 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.
ABTCs are issued to nationals of:
| Australia  Brunei  Chile  China  Hong Kong  Indonesia  Japan  South Korea  Malaysia | Mexico  New Zealand  Papua New Guinea  Peru  Russia  Singapore  Taiwan  Thailand  Vietnam |

## 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

Visas in the Philippines :
| Type | Visa | Description |
| Non-immigrant | 9(a) | Pleasure, business or health |
| Non-immigrant | 9(b) | Transit |
| Non-immigrant | 9(c) | Seaman on a ship docking in a port of entry in the Philippines |
| Non-immigrant | 9(d) | Alien businessman |
| Non-immigrant | 9(e) | Foreign government officials and their dependents, assistants and employees |
| Non-immigrant | 9(f) | Students |
| Non-immigrant | 9(g) | Pre-arranged employees and their dependents |
| Immigrant | 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. |
| Immigrant | 13(a) | The spouse or unmarried child (below 21) of a Filipino citizen. |
| Immigrant | 13(b) | Children born during a temporary visit abroad to mothers granted permanent residence in the Philippines. |
| Immigrant | 13(c) | Children born after the issuance of the visa of the accompanying parents. |
| Immigrant | 13(d) | Women who lost Filipino citizenship by virtue of marriage to a foreign spouse, and her unmarried children (below 21). |
| Immigrant | 13(e) | Permanent residents returning to the Philippines from a temporary visit abroad to resume permanent residence. |
| Immigrant | 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. |
| Immigrant | 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. |
| Special | 47(a)(2) | 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 |
| Special | SIRV | 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. |
| Special | SVEG | 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. |
| Special | SRRV | 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. |
| Special | SNIV | 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. |
| Special | SEVOBU | 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. |

## Visitor statistics

| Rank | Country | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
| 1 | South Korea | 1,569,071 | 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 |
| 2 | United States | 947,891 | 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 |
| 3 | Japan | 388,316 | 305,580 | 99,557 | 15,024 | 136,664 | 682,788 | 631,801 | 884,180 | 635,238 | 495,662 | 463,744 | 433,705 | 412,474 | 375,496 | 358,744 |
| 4 | China | 312,222 | 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 |
| 5 | Australia | 272,215 | 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 |
| 6 | Canada | 223,944 | 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 |
| 7 | Taiwan | 208,736 | 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 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 160,296 | 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 |
| 9 | Singapore* | 157,264 | 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 |
| 10 | Malaysia* | 95,713 | 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 |
| 11 | Germany | 79,886 | 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 |
| 12 | Hong Kong SAR | 79,276 | 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 |
| 13 | India | 79,276 | 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 |
| 14 | France | 60,743 | 51,601 | 23,949 | 1,425 | 24,530 | 88,577 | 74,400 | 64,777 | 55,384 | 45,505 | 38,946 | 39,042 | 33,709 | 29,591 | 27,302 |
| 15 | Vietnam* | 58,098 | 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 |
| 16 | Indonesia* | 57,085 | 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 |
| 17 | Spain | 46,146 | 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 |
| 18 | Thailand* | 45,896 | 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 |
| 19 | United Arab Emirates | 40,026 | 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 |
| 20 | Guam | 37,609 | 35,501 | 2,875 | 644 | 2,882 | 19,835 | 32,357 | 36,637 | 38,777 | 35,262 | 38,016 | 42,204 | 42,695 | 41,013 | 40,928 |
| 21 | Netherlands | 34,726 | 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 |
| 22 | Italy | 29,943 | 22,496 | 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 |
| 23 | New Zealand | 28,193 | 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 |
| 24 | Russia | 27,602 | 23,104 | 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 |
| 25 | Switzerland | 27,050 | 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 |
| 26 | Saudi Arabia | 22,429 | 19,311 | 10,414 | 2,252 | 7,014 | 43,748 | 46,967 | 54,716 | 56,081 | 50,884 | 43,483 | 38,969 | 30,040 | 27,945 | 22,214 |
| 27 | Norway | 19,100 | 20,000 | 12,004 | 508 | 4,365 | 23,464 | 23,571 | 21,890 | 21,606 | 20,968 | 20,846 | 20,625 | 19,572 | 17,959 | 16,742 |
| 28 | Sweden | 18,144 | 16,789 | 9,389 | 508 | 6,996 | 27,892 | 28,085 | 27,703 | 26,062 | 23,206 | 21,861 | 22,957 | 21,807 | 17,973 | 15,510 |
| 29 | Ireland | 16,111 | 16,379 | 12,009 | 600 | 3,621 | 21,475 | 20,051 | 18,051 | 16,557 | 14,050 | 12,354 | 10,576 | 8,362 | 6,023 | 5,368 |
| 30 | Israel | 15,537 | 13,334 | 9,711 | 452 | 4,745 | 22,851 | 20,343 | 17,446 | 16,725 | 11,756 | 8,776 | 7,675 | 5,895 | 4,990 | 4,525 |
| 31 | Poland | 15,294 | 9,923 | 4,222 | 520 | 5,429 | 15,816 | 12,568 | 10,786 | 8,893 | 8,030 | 5,911 | 5,653 | 4,187 | 3,263 | 2,917 |
| 32 | Belgium | 15,094 | 14,459 | 8,961 | 648 | 3,756 | 19,156 | 17,285 | 15,703 | 14,477 | 12,825 | 12,236 | 11,454 | 11,649 | 10,959 | 10,512 |
| 38 | Myanmar* | 9,143 | 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 |
| 43 | Brunei* | 6,011 | 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 |
| 55 | Cambodia* | 4,010 | 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 |
| 82 | Laos* | 1,111 | 988 | 495 | 15 | 203 | 1,454 | 1,183 | 1,580 | 1,173 | 1,231 | 1,056 | 1,062 | 1,088 | 971 | 1,079 |
| | All Countries | 5,949,350 | 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 |
* Country in ASEAN