List of Countries that Need Visa to Enter Philippines

The Philippines' visa policy is controlled by the Commonwealth Act No. 613, popularly known as the Philippine Immigration Act, and subsequent laws revising it. The Department of Foreign Affairs or DFA and the Bureau of Immigration or BI work together in order to enforce this law.

Visitors from a total of 157 countries can now enter and visit the Philippines without a visa for a duration period of either 14 days, 30 days, or 59 days.

What is a Philippine Visa?

A Philippine Visa is an endorsement on a travel document by a consular officer at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad, indicating that the visa application has been properly examined and that the holder is allowed to proceed to the Philippines and ask for permission from the Philippine Immigration authorities at the ports of entry to enter the country. There is no assurance the visa holder will be automatically permitted into the Philippines, since immigration officials at ports of entry are responsible for determining foreign citizens' eligibility to enter the country.

Visa required countries in the Philippines

Although there are already a total of 157 countries that granted a visa free entry to the Philippines or non visa required countries, there are still countries and foreign nationals that are required to have a visa before they can visit our country.

Passport holders from any country except the following may apply for a visa with a specific charge, of course, that would be valid for 59 days upon arrival:

1. Afghanistan

2. Albania

3. Algeria

4. Armenia

5. Azerbaijan

6. Bangladesh

7. Belarus

8. Bosnia and Herzegovina

9. China

10. Cuba

11. Egypt

12. Georgia

13. India

14. Iran

15. Iraq

16. Jordan

17. Kosovo

18. Lebanon

19. Libya

20. Moldova

21. Montenegro

22. Nauru

23. Nigeria

24. North Korea

25. North Macedonia

26. Pakistan

27. Palestine

28. Sierra Leone

29. Serbia

30. Somalia

31. South Sudan

32. Sri Lanka

33. Sudan

34. Syria

35. Taiwan

36. Timor-Leste

37. Tonga

38. Ukraine

39. Yemen

Types of Visas in the Philippines

According to the Immigration Act of the Philippines, there are fourteen distinct types of visas available, divided into two main categories:

Section 9 Visas or Non-immigrant Visas

These are the types of Visa used for short-term trips, such as those for tourists, businesses, transportation, studies, or job purposes. Below are lists of non-immigrant visas and their corresponding description:

9(a)- Visa used for leisure, business, or health.

9(b)- Visa used for transit purposes.

9(c)- Visa used by seamen on a ship docking in a port of entry in the Philippines.

9(d)- Visa that is used by alien or foreign businessmen.

9(e)- Visa that is used by foreign government officials and their dependents, assistants, and employees

9(f)- Visa that is used by students or foreigners who would like to study in the Philippines.

9(g)- Visa that is used by pre-arranged employees and their dependents.

Section 13 Visas or Immigrant Visas

These are the types of Visa used for foreign nationals who want to become a permanent resident of the Philippines or those who want to have a Philippine citizenship. Below are lists of types of immigrant visas and their corresponding description:

13- This is a visa for quota immigrants. Within one calendar year, no more than fifty immigrants from any one country or group of countries may be allowed into the United States. For purposes of admission, non-quota immigrants who have been granted a Section 13 visa and fall into one of the seven subcategories stated in CA 613 may be admitted regardless of the quota.

13(a)- This is a visa for a Filipino citizen's spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 years old.

13(b)- This is a visa for children whose moms were given permanent residency in the Philippines because they were born while they were on a short-term stay abroad.

13(c)- This is a visa for a child who was born after the visas for the accompanying parents were issued.

13(d)- This is a visa for women and their unmarried children (below 21 years old) who have lost their Filipino citizenship as a result of their marriage to a foreign spouse.

13(e)- This is a visa for permanent residents or former Filipino citizens returning to the Philippines following a short trip abroad to resume their permanent residency in the country.

13(f)- This is a visa for anyone who is married to or has children (under 21 years old) with an immigrant who was granted permanent resident status under Philippine Immigration Law before that law was established.

13(g)- This is a visa for foreign nationals who were born and raised in the Philippines but have now been naturalized in another country and want to return to the Philippines permanently. As a result of Republic Act No. 4376, which was enacted in 1965, this kind of visa was made possible.

Special Non-immigrant Visas or Special Visas

The Philippine Immigration Act does not include some visas as Section 9 or Section 13 visas, but later legislation or a presidential proclamation has added new types of visas to the list. They are known as special visas and are given to groups such as retirees, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Below are the lists of types of special visas and their corresponding description:

47(a)(2)- This kind of Visa is being granted to the following:

• In the Philippines, those foreign nationals allowed who work for companies registered in special economic zones, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Board of Investments (BOI), or the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) as executives, supervisors, experts, consultants, or personal employees.

• Those who work for companies that have signed contracts with the Philippine government or any of its subdivisions and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled firms, for the execution of a project.

• Exchange professors, scholars, trainees, participants, students, fellows, and social workers under the 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.

• The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) volunteers, including those from international rescue and humanitarian groups which provide support during natural disasters and other significant events in the Philippines.

• Those who are dependents of a foreign national who falls under one of the previously mentioned groups.

Special Investor's Resident Visa or SIRV- These are foreign nationals and those who have a stake in a Philippine company in the manufacturing or service sectors, or if they are a listed company on the Philippine Stock Exchange, they will be eligible for this kind of visa. It is a joint effort by the Bureau of Immigration and the Board of Investments to grant this kind of visa.

Special Visa for Employment Generation or SVEG- In order to be eligible for this visa, foreign citizens and their families must have at least 10 Filipino employees in a legal company or organization.

Special Resident Retiree's Visa or SRRV- Retirement in the Philippines is made possible through this non-immigrant visa, which may be obtained by foreign nationals and those who are dependent on them. The Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine Retirement Authority work together to award this visa, which is valid for a year.

Special Non-Immigrant Visa or SNIV- Non-immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals and their families who work for multinational firms' or international organizations' regional, area, and/or regional operating offices in the Philippines.

Special Employment Visa for Offshore Banking Unit or SEVOBU- This is a non-immigrant visa available to foreign citizens and any dependents, including their foreign spouses, that they bring with them when they are employed in Philippine offshore operations of foreign banks.

General guidelines when applying for a visa in the Philippines

Here are the general guidelines that you must observe and take note of when you apply for a Philippine visa:

• It is highly encouraged that visa applicants do not book their flights until they have received their visas. The Embassy will not expedite the visa application procedure in any way for the sake of the applicant's flight time.

• Visa processing times vary depending on the nationality of the applicant. Visa agreements between the Philippines and the applicant's nation, for example, might expedite the application procedure. About two to three weeks is the average time it takes to complete the course of study. In addition, there are certain applications whose review will take longer than expected.

• No visa application fee reimbursement will be granted if the applicant's visa application is refused or if the visa is issued after the applicant's planned departure.

• It is entirely at the discretion of the Embassy to reject a visa or refuse service to anybody.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Booking an appointment using the Philippine Embassy's portal of their country of origin.

• Make sure to check the website of Philippine Embassy in your country for the necessary guidelines from the Inter agency task force when you enter or visit the Philippines:

Now that we are already aware of the different types of Visas being granted in the Philippines if you are foreign national who came from country visa free to enter the country, let's talk about who are considered as foreign tourists.

Who are considered foreign tourists or temporary visitors?

People of any race, gender, ethnicity, or religion who travel to the Philippines for legitimate non-immigrant purposes, such as sightseeing or sports, health or family reasons, training or study that is not for the purpose of obtaining a degree from a university or obtaining a certificate from an educational institution, religious pilgrimage, business, cultural and scientific purposes are considered "foreign tourists" by the Philippines.

Temporary Visitors' Visa Application Process: Standard Procedure and Minimum Requirements

In order to apply for a short-term visitor's visa, you must do it in person. When a foreign national is under the age of eighteen (18) years old, a parent, guardian, grandparent, or other responsible adult may submit the application on his or her behalf. An interview with the Consulate will be necessary for any juvenile, not including newborn babies or infants in arms, if they are applying for a visa.

A temporary visitor's visa should be applied for at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has authority over the holder's place of residency. While some visa applicants are able to apply for a visa at any Philippine Embassy or Consulate overseas, others are only allowed to apply for a visa at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in their place of origin or legal residency.

In order to apply for a short-term visitor's visa, the following documents are required:

1. Duly Accomplished Visa application forms

2. Confirmed tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination

3. Passport Photos (2 pieces)

4. Passport/Travel Document Valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines

5. Proof of bona fide status as a tourist or businessman

6. Payment of Visa Fees

Other Foreign Nationals' Entry/Visa Requirements

Foreign nationals may be subject to additional visa/entry requirements according to their type of Section 9 Visas or Non-immigrant Visas application.

BUSINESS VISITORS or 9(a-1)

For business owners:

1. The visa applicant's personal appearance is important.

2. Duly accomplished Visa application via the Philippine Online Visa Application System or OVAS.

3. Valid passport for at least six (6) months beyond the permitted stay in the Philippines. Make sure to also have the original and one photocopy of the data and signature page/s.

4. A travel itinerary or ticket/flight reservation-- both entrance and exit. Also, please do not buy your ticket yet unless you are already granted a Philippine Visa.

5. Original copy of the Invitation letter from the Philippine government or private body or endorsement from a chamber of commerce (recognized by the host government) in the nation where the company is situated.

6. Business permit, license, or registration AND a bank statement from the most recent six (6) months, or a tax payment from the most recent six (6) months provides proof of company activities or revenue.

7. Any confirmation of housing, such as a reservation at a hotel.

8. Government-issued identification card from your country of origin.

For employees:

1. The visa applicant's personal appearance is important.

2. Duly accomplished Visa application via the Philippine Online Visa Application System or OVAS.

3. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the permitted stay in the Philippines.

4. A travel itinerary or ticket/flight reservation-- both entrance and exit. Also, please do not buy your ticket yet unless you are already granted a Philippine Visa.

5. Certificate of employment with remuneration OR letter of guarantee from the company or sponsor.

6. Endorsement letter from the applicant’s company.

7. Any confirmation of housing, such as a reservation at a hotel.

8. Government-issued identification card from your country of origin.

TOURISM OR LEISURE VISITORS or 9(a-2)

1. The visa applicant's personal appearance is important.

2. Duly accomplished Visa application via the Philippine Online Visa Application System or OVAS.

3. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the permitted stay in the Philippines.

4. A travel itinerary or ticket/flight reservation-- both entrance and exit. Also, please do not buy your ticket yet unless you are already granted a Philippine Visa.

5. Original copy of the Invitation letter from the Philippine government or private body or endorsement from a chamber of commerce (recognized by the host government) in the nation where the company is situated.

6. Proof of financial capability: a six-month bank statement or tax payments OR a certificate of employment with compensation OR evidence of business income OR a letter of assurance from the sponsor with proof of financial capacity are all acceptable forms of proof.

7. Documentation demonstrating a person's links to their place of origin, such as a employment certificate or a lease or mortgage agreement.

8. Any confirmation of housing, such as a reservation at a hotel.

9. Government-issued identification card from your country of origin.

VISA FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT VISITORS or 9(a-3)

1. The visa applicant's personal appearance is important.

2. Duly accomplished Visa application via the Philippine Online Visa Application System or OVAS.

3. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the permitted stay in the Philippines.

4. Appearance of the visa applicant or his or her designated representative. A letter of authorization should be included along with the necessary documents.

5. Proof of a medical condition, such as a medical abstract from the sending medical or wellness institution, is necessary.

6. For retirees, a pension statement for the most recent six-month period is required as proof of financial resources. For employees, bank statements from the most recent six-month period, pay slips from the most recent six-month period, employment certificates with remuneration, and receipt or confirmation of advance payment or deposit made for the treatment are all acceptable forms of proof of financial resources.

7. A health insurance plan or travel insurance, assuming there is one available.

8. Any confirmation of housing, such as a reservation at a hotel.

9. Government-issued identification card from your country of origin.

10. Certificate of filiation from the parent or guardian of the minor for minors who are not traveling with their parents or guardians; for escorts, a letter from the sending medical or wellness institution designating foreign nationals as the patient's escorts.

Minor children under the age of 15 traveling to the Philippines Unaccompanied by or not Joining a Parent in the Philippines

Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) is necessary for children under the age of 15 years old who are going to the Philippines on their own or without their parent/s, according to Section 29(a)(12) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 as modified.

WEG applicants must submit the following documents to the Bureau of Immigration prior to receiving a WEG Order being given to them at the port of entry:

1. An affidavit of permission from either parent or legal guardian of the kid, identifying the person who will accompany the child to the Philippines and with whom the child will remain while in the country. There must be a notary public in the applicant's country of residency or a consular official at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate who notarizes the aforementioned affidavit.

2. A clear copy of the child's passport data page.

3. Clear photocopy of the accompanying adult or guardian's passport data page.

4. Immigration fees must be paid which is around Php 3, 120 for each child.

Foreign nationals on privately owned yachts or sailboats

It is necessary for foreign nationals who are coming to the Philippines on privately owned boats and yacht to apply for a temporary visitor's visa. Applications for visas will be needed to give the following information about the yacht or sailboats and its crew members:

1. Character reference/shipping agent in the Philippines (if any)

2. Crewlist

3. Estimated date of entry into the Philippine territory

4. Estimated period of stay in the Philippines

5. Nationality/Citizenship

6. Passport details of the crew

7. Port/Area of entry (Philippine waters)

8. Purpose of visit

9. Vessel to be used for entry: type, name, registration, call sign, and other particulars

The crew of yachts and sailboats entering the Philippines must immediately register with the closest Coast Guard Station and subject the vessels to Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine examinations.

Foreign nationals who are interested in taking a non-degree short-term course in the Philippines

Students from outside the country who desire to enroll in a non-degree program such as language or computer training must first get a visitor's visa. The student should apply for a Special Study Permit at the Bureau of Immigration's Student Desk after arriving in the Philippines and being accepted by a school/institution approved by the Bureau of Immigration to accept international students. He/she should provide the following documents:

1. Affidavit of Support and Proof of Financial Capacity

2. Birth Certificate

3. Certificate of Acceptance from the school accredited by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students

4. Letter request

5. Photocopy of passport reflecting the applicant's authorized period of stay

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