Do I need a visa to enter the Philippines?

[Jonathan Fairfield]

No visa required for a stay not exceeding 59 days. Travelers must hold a valid ticket for return journey to the country of origin or next country of destination and a passport valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the stay in the Philippines. No visa required for a stay not exceeding 21 days.

 

For more information on visa please read before you travel:

https://www.philippineconsulatela.org/consular-services-2/visa/dont-know-if-you-need-a-visa-to-travel-check-here

 

 

 

 

 

[gim12]

tourists still arent allowed in

[EVENKEEL]

Is it 50 days or 21 days? You wrote both.

[AlexRRR]

30 days on arrival if your Australian....google is your friend.....any longer you need to apply prior but its easy enough to top up at immigration once in the country....they would rather hold you there than let you go home....they want your money men....

[olfu]

Confusing answers.

I remember was 30 days without visa now suddenly 21 and country on lockdown anyway. 

Waiting for new start in 2022.

[NanLaew]

Philippines has added Thailand and Malaysia to their red-list country bans... for 7 days.

 

Thailand and Malaysia have been added to the list of countries covered by the Philippines' travel ban, due to the spike in COVID-19 cases there believed to be fueled by the Delta variant.

Travelers from these two countries are barred from entering the Philippines from July 25 to 31, announced Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque on Friday, July 23.

Also barred from entry are persons who have been to Thailand or Malaysia in the past 14 days but are arriving from a different country.

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1147999

[Jillie Norman]

Not sure if tourists are allowed already. I believe they are only allowing their citizens to go back. But no, you don't need visa.

[gim12]

the Philippine consulate page has very clear guidelines on who is/is not currently allowed in. Their site, Visa – Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles California (philippineconsulatela.org),  lists the categories of travelers allowed in and  TOURISTS WITHOUT ANY FAMILIAL CONNECTIONS, or DUAL CITIZENSHIP ETC ARE NOT ALLOWED. The sites telling you how to apply for a tourist visa are either outdated or  private companies looking to make a buck handling your visa request 

[scaldedfummy]

Thanks!

 

As far as I know tourists are not allowed yet. Though I've spoken to someone who have been there business purposes, apparently pharmaceutical. 

[RuamRudy]

Non Filipinos are generally banned from entering Philippines at present. I have been in Manila for a few months and see quite a few foreigners in the area where I live - I received a Travel Ban Exemption from the DTI which allowed me to return; clearly there are a lot of others in the same boat. 

The TBE wasn't easy to obtain and took me about 4 months to process with the help of a lawyer. The cost was around $1000 for their services, but in retrospect I think I could probably have  processed it with the assistance of my company's HR. 

[pattayadude]

On 8/9/2021 at 5:25 PM, scaldedfummy said:

Thanks!

 

As far as I know tourists are not allowed yet. Though I've spoken to someone who have been there business purposes, apparently pharmaceutical. 

I lived in Manila full-time since 2009 as single. I left in April 2021 to travel to USA and Colombia, knowing I wouldn't be able to return on tourist visa soon, but I never thought covid would make a come-back to Phils after a year and a half and lock the country down again. borders are still closed and have been closed since 2020 and  I'm "stuck" in Medellin/Colombia for 4 months..but it's not bad.I ain't complainin'..just bought a airbnb studio here and planning to stay until Phils re-opens

Edited September 1, 2021 by pattayadude

[pattayadude]

On 8/9/2021 at 5:25 PM, scaldedfummy said:

As far as I know tourists are not allowed yet

that's right and probably not until mid 2022, when at least 50% of population gets fully waxxed

[9KPhalak]

Due to Covid yes.  But you can't even apply for one now unless you are married to a Filipino, retired, etc.  With no end in site, if you have a loved one in the Philippines we're hoping for possibly meeting in Thailand.  Because I can't go there and she can't come here.

[grahamuk]

No tourists currently allowed into the Philippines.  

[grahamuk]

Latest from the BI Facebook page:

 

16 November 2021

PRESS RELEASE

PH still closed to foreign tourists

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified today that the Philippines is still closed to foreign tourists.

“The country remains closed to foreign tourists. Only those under the allowed categories as set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) if coming from green or yellow countries may be admitted to enter,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Morente stressed that, while there are encouraging signs that the country might soon reopen its borders, the BI will continue to restrict the entry of foreign tourists until the government decides to the lift the travel ban on them.

Presently, only Filipinos, balikbayan, and foreigners with valid and existing visas issued by the BI and other specialized government agencies are allowed to enter the country.

Those who wish to travel to the Philippines under a tourist visa may only do so if they apply for a 9(a) temporary visitors’ visa, and an entry exemption document (EED) from Philippine posts abroad.

Morente said that, while the BI is ready and prepared for the eventual reopening of the country to foreign tourists, the decision to reopen will come from the President and the IATF-MEID.

The BI Chief issued the statement following reports that the Bureau’s offices were being swamped with queries from persons who assumed that foreign tourists can now enter the country after Metro Manila was placed under the less restrictive Alert Level 2 status.

"We advise the public to refer to our website and social media pages to keep themselves updated on our latest advisories on guidelines and requirements for international travelers,” he said.

The Palace earlier said that the Philippines will again be welcoming foreign tourists “in due time,” saying such a move will depend on the experience of other countries who have already opened their borders to foreign visitors.

[final harbor]

Mabuhay! "Philippines targets vaccinating 70% of population by February". In due time before the election in May

 

[final harbor]

The Philippines currently (still) does not allow entry of foreigners for tourism purposes.

[Gknrd]

Looking forward to. visiting the Philippines in a couple of months. Spent 6 months in Thailand and immigration all but ruined that trip. What a total wast of time that was.. Hope the Philippines is better.

[Joebuzzz]

13 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Looking forward to. visiting the Philippines in a couple of months. Spent 6 months in Thailand and immigration all but ruined that trip. What a total wast of time that was.. Hope the Philippines is better.

Yep.  Considering that move myself.

[BritManToo]

14 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Looking forward to. visiting the Philippines in a couple of months. Spent 6 months in Thailand and immigration all but ruined that trip. What a total wast of time that was.. Hope the Philippines is better.

It's a lot easier,

Turn up an get 30 days on entry, extend in 2 month goes, 2nd extension gets you a residents card. Rinse and repeat with a local agent for 3 years then you need to leave the country for 1 night.

 

The 2 month extensions are $50 (ish).

Done via local agents, no need to ever see immigration.

Edited February 3, 2023 by BritManToo

[Pattaya57]

Does this thread really need to be pinned as the visa guide? I'm looking at going next month so I had a look here but the whole thread is primarily about Covid years. It also states no visa required for 21, 30 and 59 days, so no idea which is correct.  Better to use google instead

 

Edit: okay Brazil and Israel get 59 days visa free, most other countries get 30 days visa free as per below map

 

Edited June 16 by Pattaya57

[GypsyT]

" It also states no visa required for 21, 30 and 59 days, so no idea which is correct."

 

I think it's kind of them to brake you in what's waiting for once there and how policies and communications work. Or, don't work.

I'll visit too. No problem. Countless of beautiful islands to explore and ladies are friendly.