Travel to Philippines might be one of the most exotic treats for any traveler. Stunning beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and the most vibrant culture in those big cities, as well as beyond. Otherworldly places like the Chocolate hills or coral reefs to be seen while diving in the pristine Panglao Island. Colours, tempting smells, and completely new flavors luring you in those small streets and the markets of local produce. Surely, this is just a drop in the ocean of opportunities to experience in this tourist beloved Pacific island archipelago, and you wouldn’t want to miss it for anything. Which is why before any travel comes the preparations for it, right? So that is why you are here on this page - researching how to get a Philippines visa. Good for you, because this is where you will find out more about the Philippines visa policy, and all the bits that will get you the very desired travel document. The types, the requirements, the fees, and other details will be useful whenever you decide to apply for Philippines visa. To be more specific, I will talk more especially about the different types of Philippines non immigrant visa, because these are the ones that will grant non-permanent stay rights in this beautiful country—specifically intended for tourists and everyone else travelling for jobs, studies, and many other reasons. So, let’s explore the first things first!
What are the types of visa for Philippines?
Just a moment ago, I briefly mentioned the name of the Philippines non immigrant visa. According to the Philippines visa policy, it is one of the two main available visa options. The other one being immigrant visas (usually granted for people with some family or other type of relation to the country, etc.). Non-immigrant visas are also categorized as Section 9 visas that need to be obtained for temporary visits like for tourism, transit, business, study, or employment. To be more specific, there are six subcategories of this type, all signified by a letter of the alphabet. All the non-immigrant visas to the Philippines are for the purpose of:
- pleasure, business or health (A)
- transit (B)
- seamanship (C)
- foreign business travels (D)
- studies (F)
- pre-arranged employment (and their family members) (G)
Who needs a visa for Philippines?
Actually, I am relieved to say that there are quite many nationals that wouldn’t need to apply for Philippines visa. That means - if you are not a national from one of the countries on the list, then you are eligible for a visa-free short-term entry in the Philippines. And if you do enter visa-free then in most cases you will be able to enjoy the benefit of staying there for up to 30 days, but if you hold a Brazilian or Israeli passport - then even up to 59 days. Unfortunately, if you come from Hong Kong, Macau or Portugal it is just 14 days at most. Take into consideration that even if you don’t need to apply for a visa before the trip, upon arrival, you might be asked to present some documents. The official Philippines visa website says that you should have the ability to show: your passport (valid for 6 months after the expected stay), roundtrip flight itinerary, hotel bookings, and school/company ID, if applicable. Finally, obtaining a visa will be required for anyone coming from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Montenegro, Nauru, Nigeria, North Korea (DPRK), North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Ukraine, Yemen. As with most other countries, anyone travelling to earn money in the destination country OR willing to stay longer than permitted on the visa-free agreement will have to apply for a visa, too. Check the regulations if you are travelling for business or employment - you might need to apply for a work permit or other document, too. Receiving any remuneration by companies or individuals in the Philippines without having such a permit might result in fines, deportation, or even jail time. And no one wants to be banned from such a beautiful country, am I right?
How to get a Philippines visa?
The procedures are quite standard when it comes to completing a Philippines visa application. There are three routes you can choose from. The easiest one is to go through a certified visa consultant or company that will do all the bureaucracy for you. Let’s say, you prefer doing it yourself. Then some nationals will be eligible for applying online, but most will have to contact and visit an embassy or other kind of diplomatic mission to get it done. If you are in a country that has a Philippino embassy, then it is slightly easier as you can turn up in person. If there is not, find the diplomatic mission that processes the applications for people from your country, and contact them to know what are the required procedures in the particular case. They will also be able to answer which requirements apply to you personally - knowing that from the get-go will speed up the process as you won’t need to bust your mind over unnecessary papers and formalities. Then you will pay the non immigrant visa fee Philippines embassy requires and will have to bring your documents to them somehow. Maybe you will need to send the documents with a courier or postal service, but maybe they offer an online service. After all the documents are with them, you wait for a notice that your application is accepted, and you will hopefully be granted the valuable document for entry in the Philippines.
What are the Philippines visa requirements?
Tourists love this country. This is why the Philippines visa policy is pretty straightforward and easy to comprehend. And it is also similar to all the other countries’ one, which is why you shouldn’t have problems wrapping your head around it if you have ever applied for a visa elsewhere. So what will you need to hand in to get the very desired document? It differs slightly depending on which particular subtype of non-immigrant visa you will try to obtain, but the basic package is rather standard. Let’s take a tourist visa as an example. Besides two filled Philippines visa application forms, you will have to present a passport (valid 6-12 months at a minimum), a recent passport format photo, flight reservation, confirmed accommodation bookings, proof of sufficient financial means, as well as proof of professional status (documents that prove your employment or studies). The officials might ask for additional documents, but always remember - it is just to make sure that you are there for the reasons you claim, and to make sure you are not going to stay in this paradise longer illegally.
What is non immigrant visa fee the Philippines usually charge?
The fees are quite democratic. Just like in many other countries, a visa that enables you to travel to Philippines depends on the purpose of your trip. For tourists, the fee will start at 30 USD for a single-entry visa, and go up to 120 USD. However, you should be ready to pay more if you are going there for anything related to business (400 USD) or studies (250 USD). No need to think how much is Philippines visa worth. There is no putting a price tag on the memories and experiences, right?
How much is Philippines visa processing time?
Most visas will take you anywhere from 1-15 calendar days to be confirmed. This is good news for you because it is not too long of a wait. Nevertheless, don’t leave it for the last moment, too, because you can never be sure if they will need additional information or documents from you to complete the application. So...Are you excited already? This beautiful country is waiting for you! And the list of Philippines visa requirements displays the fact that getting access to all of that is not too complicated. Whatever your next steps of the plan are, I applaud you for researching and planning well before. After all, a great plan is already half of the success. And the other half will be the breathtaking country itself, and all the wonderful people you will meet on the way. With that said, I wholeheartedly wish you the best trip, whatever is the purpose of it. Bon voyage! * Please keep in mind that currently, the world is still treating travelers in a special way due to health concerns. The Philippines is no exception, which is why check the latest information with the officials, the airline website, or the embassy website. At the moment of writing this article, there is a travel ban for people traveling from particular countries, and an obligatory 14-day quarantine on arrival applies to most other travelers. Better safe than sorry - so carry out the research before you make any bookings or definite plans!
