A. A visa means an endorsement made on a travel document by the consular officer denoting that the visa application has been properly examined and that the bearer is permitted to proceed to the country of his destination. 

B. The granting of a Philippine Visa, however, is not a guarantee that the holder will be admitted into the country. Immigration Officers have authority to grant or deny admission. Visa holders are subject to normal immigration control at the port of entry. 

C. Visitors who are issued visas under 9(a) (temporary visitors’ visa) are normally allowed to stay in the Philippines for fifty-nine (59) days for every entry. However, Immigration officers at port of entry may exercise their discretion to allow a stay of less than 59 days. It is advised that applicants for temporary visitor’s visa take note of the above and check the number of days he/she is allowed to stay in the Philippine as stamped on his passport by the Immigration officer at the port of entry. 

D. A temporary visitor’s visa may be valid for single or multiple entries. A single-entry visa is valid for entry for three (3) months from the date of issuance. A multiple-entry visa is valid for entry either for six (6) months or one (1) year. 

E. The validity of an entry visa should be differentiated from the length of stay in the Philippines. A three-month validity means a person may enter the Philippines within three (3) months from the date of issuance of visa. The length of stay in the Philippines is determined by immigration officials.

F. For holders of collective passports (where several persons are included in one passport), a separate application and payment must be made for each person. All persons included in the passport must be properly identified with two photographs affixed to the passport. The lack of a photograph may serve as sufficient grounds for the denial of visa. 

G. Applicants are reminded to submit the complete visa requirements. Incomplete or lack of requirements will result in the delay or denial of applications. 

MINORS UNDER FIFTEEN (15 YEARS OLD TRAVELING WITHOUT HIS/HER PARENT MUST SECURE A WAIVER OF EXCLUSION GROUND (WEG)

Under Section 29(a) (12) of the Philippine Immigration Act, children below fifteen (15) years of age who are unaccompanied by a parent or not coming to a parent in the Philippines, can be excluded entry to the Philippines. However, unaccompanied children may be granted entry with a Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) from the Bureau of Immigration upon arrival at the Philippines.

The WEG is a formal permission of at least one of the parents of the child(ren) to travel to the Philippines.

The WEG is a requirement of the immigration authorities of the Philippines.

The adult accompanying the child(ren) must bring the documentary requirements listed below and upon arrival at the airport of entry in the Philippines, obtain application forms for the Waiver of Exclusion (WE) from the Immigration Duty Supervisor (IDS). The accomplished WE application form and documentary requirements will be submitted to the IDS. A waiver fee will apply for each child.

Requirements for WEG application

The documentary requirements of the WEG are the following:

1. Letter addressed to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines from the parent requesting the granting of Waiver of Exclusion Ground and allowing the entry of the child(ren) to the Philippines. The letter must name the adult accompanying the child and representing the parent(s) during the trip;
2. Affidavit of Consent/Waiver of Exclusion Ground of either parent of the child(ren) notarized by the Embassy of the Philippines in Lisbon, Portugal and the payment of Euro 27.50 per document
3. Personal appearance of the parent/s who will sign the Affidavit of Consent before a consular officer;
4. Photocopy of the child(ren)’s passport information page;
5. Photocopy of the parent(s)’s passport information page;
6. Copy of the child(ren)’s flight itinerary indicating the departure from the Philippines;
7. Copy of the invitation (from sponsoring institution or sponsoring parent) for the child(ren) to come to the Philippines;
8. Waiver Fee of PHP 3,120.00 per minor child

VISA VALIDITY

• SINGLE ENTRY – Traveler must enter the Philippines within three (3) months from the date of the visa’s issuance. Maximum allowable stay is fifty-nine (59) days.
• MULTIPLE ENTRY – Traveler must enter the Philippines within six (6) or twelve (12) months from the date of the visa’s issuance. Maximum allowable stay is fifty-nine (59) days per trip.

 VISA FEES 

Payment can be made in cash or by debit card. 
Fee for a single-entry visa with 3 months validity of entry: Euro 30 
Fee for a multiple-entry visa with 6 months validity of entry: Euro 60 
Fee for a multiple-entry visa with one (1) year validity of entry: Euro 90 

Fee for a single-entry visa with 3 months validity of entry (Visa-Required Nationals): Euro 40 

Fee for a multiple-entry visa with 6 months validity of entry (Visa-Required Nationals): Euro 80 

Fee for a multiple-entry visa with one (1) year validity of entry (Visa-Required Nationals): Euro 120

VISA EXTENSION IN THE PHILIPPINES 

When a foreign traveller or tourist plans to stay for more than the 21- or 59-day period, he/she may apply for an extension of the visa at the office of the Bureau of Immigration in Intramuros, Manila at least one week prior to the expiration of valid stay. Please check the Bureau’s website at https://immigration.gov.ph/ for more information.

Please note that the visa issued is not a guarantee that the holder will be automatically admitted to the country. The admission of foreign nationals into the Philippines is a function of the immigration authorities at the Port of entry. Philippine immigration authorities will not allow entry into Philippine airports and seaports the following foreign nationals:

• Those holding non-machine readable passports (e.g. hand scripted passports); or
• Those previously deported from the Philippines or included in the “blacklist order” of the Department of Foreign Affairs or Bureau of Immigration; or
• Those with incomplete documentation; or
• Those with circumstances that would render them inadmissible for entry, even with a valid passport and visa issued by a Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

All travellers to the Philippines are required to register at https://etravel.gov.ph at least 72 hours before their arrival. Travelers need to present their eTravel QR code prior to flight boarding. Registration is FREE OF CHARGE.

For the latest information on entry, testing and quarantine protocols please check the IATF website. 

As of 22 July 2023, no COVID-19 test or vaccination requirement when traveling to the Philippines.

BALIKBAYAN PRIVILEGE

The Philippines’ BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM allows a one-year visa-free stay for Filipinos working overseas and for former Filipinos who have acquired citizenship in certain countries (refer to list of countries below). The visa-free stay privilege is extended to the balikbayan’s non-Filipino spouse and children, on the two conditions that (1) they enter the Philippines with the balikbayan and (2) they are citizens of a country listed below.

Former Filipino balikbayans travelling to the Philippines are advised to bring either their old Philippine passport or copy of Philippine birth certificate as proof of their former Philippine citizenship.

Accompanying family members of the balikbayan can bring appropriate supporting documents to show evidence of relationship:

• For the spouse: copy of marriage certificate
• For each child: copy of birth certificate (indicating the balikbayan as a parent)
• For adopted children: copy of adoption papers

EXTENSION OF STAY

Visitors who are admitted as balikbayan are given an initial stay of one (1) year. Their stay may be extended for an additional one (1), two (2) or six (6) months at the Visa Extension Section of a Bureau of immigration office. Balikbayans who have stayed in the Philippines after thirty six (36) months may be required to submit additional requirements.

COUNTRIES COVERED BY THE BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM

Former Filipinos who have acquired citizenship from a country listed below can avail of the one-year visa-free balikbayan stay. If the country of citizenship is not listed, the balikbayan must apply for a Philippine visa.

The non-Filipino spouse and dependent children of a former Filipino can avail of the one-year visa-free balikbayan stay if their passport is issued by a country listed below. If the country of passport is not listed, the spouse or dependent children must apply for a Philippine visa.

1) Indians may be granted a visa-free entry for an initial stay not exceeding 14 days, provided, that they possess:

• Unexpired US, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or permanent residence permit;
• A national passport valid at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated stay;
• Return or onward ticket to the next country of destination;
• No Bureau of Immigration (BI), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and the International Police (Interpol) derogatory record.

Note: The 14-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional seven days for a maximum 21 days.

2) Under Foreign Service Circular (FSC) No. 112-11, the following may enter the Philippines for an initial stay not exceeding seven days if they possess a return or onward ticket:

• Holders of Hong Kong British passports; and
• Mainland Chinese for tourism with unexpired Australian, Japanese, Canadian, Schengen or US visa.

Seven-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional 14 days to complete a maximum 21 days. HK-SAR passport holders may enter the Philippines for an initial 14 days.

3) Under FSC 122-11, Macau-SAR passport holders may enter the Philippines for an initial 14 days, provided, that they possess a return or onward ticket.

4) Under Operations Order No. SBM-2015-018, MECO ETA holders may enter the Philippines for an initial 30 days.