The Philippines is an archipelagic nation in Southeast Asia comprising over 7,600 islands. It is a founding member of ASEAN and a major tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region. Philippine immigration policy is governed primarily by Commonwealth Act No. 613 (the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940) and subsequent executive orders. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) oversees all entry procedures. The Philippines grants visa-free access to nationals of 157 countries for stays ranging from 14 to 59 days, with several temporary and conditional measures in place.

2. Visa-Free Access

The Philippines extends visa-free privileges to nationals of approximately 157 countries and territories. The duration of the visa-free stay varies by nationality.

2.1 Visa-Free — 59 Days

59-Day Visa-Free Countries • Brazil • Israel

2.2 Visa-Free — 30 Days (Main Category)

The majority of visa-free countries receive 30 days. This includes all ASEAN members (except Timor-Leste), all EU member states, and a wide range of partner nations.

Key 30-Day Visa-Free Countries • All ASEAN member states (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei) • All European Union member states • United States of America • Canada • Australia, New Zealand • United Kingdom (7 days for BN(O) passport holders) • Japan, South Korea • UAE, Saudi Arabia • Taiwan — temporary, 14 days (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) • China — temporary, 14 days (until January 15, 2027) • India — conditional visa-free, 30 days (from June 8, 2025, with valid AU/CA/JP/Schengen/SG/UK/US visa) • And ~130 other countries

2.3 APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

Holders of valid APEC Business Travel Cards (ABTC) from 18 APEC economies are entitled to 59-day visa-free entry to the Philippines for business purposes.

3. Conditional Visa-Free Entry

The Philippines has introduced conditional visa-free arrangements for several nationalities that would otherwise require a visa, subject to holding a valid visa/residence permit from a qualifying third country.

Nationality	Condition	Duration
India	Valid AU, CA, JP, Schengen, SG, UK, or US visa/residence permit	30 days (from June 8, 2025)
China	Valid AU, CA, JP, Schengen, SG, or US visa/residence permit	7 days
Taiwan	eTA (NTD 1,500) required	30 days (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026)

4. e-Visa

The Philippines offers an electronic visa (e-Visa) for specific nationalities that would otherwise require a regular consular visa. The e-Visa is applied for online and avoids the need to visit a Philippine embassy or consulate.

Countries Eligible for Philippines e-Visa • Austria, France, Greece, Netherlands (EU members) • India • Indonesia • Japan • Kenya • Nigeria • Singapore • South Korea • United Arab Emirates

5. Visa Required

Citizens of approximately 40 countries require a visa to enter the Philippines. These include:

Countries Requiring a Visa for the Philippines (Select List) • Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria • Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh • Cuba • Iran, Iraq • Jordan • North Korea • Pakistan, Palestine • Serbia, Ukraine • Yemen • And approximately 30 other countries

6. Types of Philippine Visas

Philippine visas are categorised under the Philippine Immigration Act as follows:

Visa Type	Category	Description
Section 9(a)	Temporary Visitor	Tourism, transit, family visits — most common non-immigrant visa
Section 9(b)	Seaman/Crew	For ship or aircraft crew members
Section 9(c)	Student/Training	Study or training at Philippine institutions
Section 9(d)	Treaty Trader	For citizens of countries with commerce treaties
Section 13	Immigrant Visa	For permanent residents — includes quota and non-quota categories
SIRV	Special Investor’s Resident Visa	For qualifying foreign investors
SVEG	Special Visa for Employment Generation	For foreign nationals creating local employment
SRRV	Special Resident Retiree’s Visa	For retirees via the Philippine Retirement Authority
SNIV	Special Non-Immigrant Visa	Diplomatic/official/special purpose categories
SEVOBU	Special Visa for Employment of Balikbayan	For overseas Filipinos returning for employment

7. Visitor Statistics (2025)

Country of Origin	Visitors (approx.)
South Korea	1,250,000
United States	1,130,000
Japan	502,000
Australia	346,000
Canada	313,000
China	267,000

8. Entry Requirements

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)
• Return or onward ticket from the Philippines
• Proof of sufficient funds (at least PHP 10,000 or equivalent per month of stay)
• Completed BI Arrival Card (online at etravel.gov.ph mandatory prior to departure)
• Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host invitation letter)
• Visa (for required nationalities) or e-Visa / qualifying third-country visa (for conditional access)

9. Summary Table

Category	Key Countries	Duration
Visa-Free — 59 Days	Brazil, Israel	59 days
Visa-Free — 30 Days	ASEAN, EU, US, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and ~130 others	30 days
Visa-Free — 14 Days (Temporary)	China (until Jan 2027), India (from June 2025, conditional), Taiwan (eTA, Jul 2025–Jun 2026)	7–30 days
APEC ABTC	18 APEC economies	59 days (business)
e-Visa	Austria, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, South Korea, UAE	30 days
Visa Required	~40 countries incl. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen	Must apply in advance

10. Important Notes

• The Philippines eTravel portal (etravel.gov.ph) registration is mandatory for all inbound passengers
• Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA/MNL) is the main international gateway, with NAIA Terminals 1-4
• Other international airports: Mactan-Cebu, Clark, Davao, Kalibo, Iloilo, General Santos
• The Bureau of Immigration (BI) may deny entry even to visa-exempt nationals at its discretion
• Visitors may extend their stay at BI offices; initial extensions are typically 1–2 months
• For up-to-date requirements, consult the Philippine Bureau of Immigration at immigration.gov.ph