Philippines Tourist Visa- Requirements For Visa on Arrival, eVisa, and 9a Visa

Overview- Philippine Tourist Visas

From Bali, Vietnam, to Cambodia, Southeast Asia is filled with beautiful beaches and gorgeous islands. However, when people ask me the best place to stay as a foreigner, my answer never wavers- The Philippines. My reasons center around the Philippines visa policy, one of the world's most liberal, inexpensive, and straightforward long-stay tourist visas.

The monthly visa runs, stressful interactions, and potential bribes with Vietnamese or Thai border guards are gone. A Philippines tourist visa allows you to stay in the country hassle-free for up to 36-months legally. Want to stay longer than 3-years? The Philippines also has one of the easiest to qualify for retirement visas with their SRR visa.

However, the process of acquiring a tourist visa depends on your citizenship. Foreign tourists from countries that offer Filipino citizens reciprocal permanent residency and immigration privileges (see list below) have easier requirements, cheaper visa fees, and longer visa durations. Citizens from countries not on EO 408 list are ineligible for visa on arrival, follow a different application process, pay more in visa fees, and have shorter visa validity.

Other Guides On Expat Life In The Philippines

Philippines Tourist Visa Category

There are three ways foreign residents can secure a Philippines Tourist Visa. The best method depends on your citizenship.

*HINT- The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia are on the approved visa-free list.

Getting A Philippines Tourist Visa On Arrival

For stays of 30 days or less- The Visa On Arrival passport stamp acts as a Philippines Tourist Visa for citizens of the US, UK, and other foreign citizens from the 157 countries under EO 408, allowing them to arrive in the Philippines without a visa.

To clarify, the term Visa on Arrival is commonly used to mean the passport entry stamp given to foreigners entering the country visa-free. However, there is also an official Philippines Visa on Arrival (SEVUA). The SEVUA is a special visa available for visitors of the Philippines in an official capacity. Examples are foreign investors invited by the Board of Investments or foreign athletes competing in a sanctioned athletic event.

I use the term Philippines Visa On Arrival to mean the visa-free entry stamp in this article.

Philippines Tourist Visa On Arrival Requirements

• Be a citizen from one of the 157 countries visa-free countries
• Have a passport valid for at least six months over the intended period of stay in the Philippines
• Purchased an onward travel ticket valid to return to your country of residence or your following country of destination dated to depart the Philippines no more than 30-days after your arrival
• Foreign tourist can extend their visa on arrival following the process below

For stays no longer than 59 days- Non-visa required tourists in the country on their initial 30-day Visa On Arrival can apply for a visa waiver extending their Philippine tourist visa an additional 29-days. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) main office in Intramuros Manila or eligible field or district office are authorized to grant the visa waiver.

Visa On Arrival Extension Requirements

1. Complete all the requirements on the visa waiver checklist TVS-C-VE-2016
2. Complete the visa on arrival extension application form TVS-CGAF-VE-2016
3. Optional extension application form BI FORM 2014-00-005 Rev 0 for any dependent children

How to apply for a 29-day Visa On Arrival Extension

1. Download a copy of the application form or pick up a copy at the Public Information and Assistance Unit (PIAU) at BI Main Office
2. Submit your passport, the completed application form, and supporting documents to the frontline BI officer.
3. Obtain a BI Clearance Certificate proving they are not on any BI derogatory database, list, or records. of the Bureau
4. The visa application must clear any negative records with the Verification and Certification Unit to proceed with the extension
5. Get the Order of Payment Slip and proceed to Cashier for payment of fees
6. Pay the visa fee. Don't forget or lose the official receipt.
7. Turn in the official receipt, your passport, visa application form, and supporting documents to the BI Assessment Officer.
8. Claim the passport stamped with a 29-day visa extension

Visa On Arrival 29 day Visa Waiver Fee

Note:

• Fine for Overstaying – (additional) Php 500.00 per month
• Motion for Reconsideration for Overstaying – (additional) Php 500.00
• LFR – Php 10.00

Visa On Arrival Extension Fees After 59 Days

Note:

• Fine for Overstaying – 500 PHP per month past visa validity date
• Additional costs for a motion for reconsideration for overstaying visa validity date– 500 PHP + 10 PHP for the LRF
• Re-issuance of ACR for (2^nd entry of every entry after 59 days) – 250 PHP and 150 for a minor child
• Application fee is 300 PHP for overstaying
• Fees are correct at the time of publishing but may change without prior notice. 

A visa is only one step of what you need to enter the Philippines. You need to also ensure you follow the current protocols to travel to the Philippines.

Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE)

For stays between up to 36 months (3-years)- To reduce the hassle of multiple trips to the immigration office, after the 2nd extension, the BI offers a 6-month visa extension. A non-visa-required foreigner can stay in the country on a Philippine tourist visa for a total of 3-years before needing to leave the country and start the process again.

How long is a Philippines Tourist Visa On Arrival valid?

The initial validity of the Philippines Tourist Visa on arrival depends on your citizenship. For example, 152 countries, including the US and UK, get an initial 30-days for visa on arrival, while Brazil and Israel are eligible for 59-days. Citizens of Hong Kong and Macau are allowed 14 days.

Foreign tourist can extend their Philippines Visa On Arrival by 1, 2, and 6-months for a period of up to 36 months.

To completely eliminate the visa extension process, foreigners can apply for one of the Philippines ' permanent residence visas, such as the Special Retiree Resident Visa (SRRV), 13a, or 13g.

If you would like help understanding your visa options, I can set you up to chat with a Visa Specialist. 

Applying for a 9a Tourist Visa at a Philippine Consulate General or Embassy

For stays of 59 days or less- Foreigners from Visa-Required Countries NOT on the EO 408 list are ineligible for Philippines Visa On Arrival. Instead, these citizens must apply for a 9a Temporary Visitors Visa at the Philippines Embassy or Consulate in their jurisdiction before traveling to the Philippines.

As of April 1 2022, Citizens from visa-required countries no longer need an entry exemption document (EED) to enter the Philippines.

9a Temporary Visitors Visa Requirements

You will need to provide certain documents that prove your identity and eligibility to enter the Philippines. Items can include your passport, birth certificate, and proof of financial capability. You need to provide additional documentation depending on your specific situation. Application requirements for the 9a vary by citizenship and Embassy. Check the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your jurisdiction for specifics. Basic requirements for the 9a applications include:

• Visa application form filled in English and submitted in person by the applicant 
• Recent passport size photograph with a white background and no eyeglass or sleeveless attire
• Electronic or machine-readable passport valid for at least six months over the intended period of stay in the Philippines and contains at least one blank visa page.
• Photocopy of the passport data and amendment pages
• Proof of financial capability, such as latest bank statement, pay stub, income tax return
• Proof of onward travel to return to your country of legal residence or your following country of destination dated to depart the Philippines no more than 30-days after your arrival.
• Additional requirements may be requested, depending on the initial evaluation results.

9a Temporary Visitor Visa Extension Requirements

For stays between 59 to 120 days- Visa required tourists entering the Philippines on a 9a Temporary Visitor Visa can extend for an additional 1 or 2 months at a participating BI main, field, or regional office. Follow the requirements below to extend the 9a visa.

1. Complete all the requirements on the CHECKLIST OF DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS FOR
   TOURIST VISA EXTENSION TVS-C-VE-2016
2. Complete the TOURIST VISA EXTENSION extension application form TVS-CGAF-VE-2016
3. Optional extension application form BI FORM 2014-00-005 Rev 0 for any dependent children

How to apply for a 9a Visa Extension

1. Download a copy of the application form or pick up a copy at the Public Information and Assistance Unit (PIAU) at BI Main Office
2. Submit your passport, the completed application form, and supporting documents to the frontline BI officer.
3. Obtain a BI Clearance Certificate proving they are not on any BI derogatory database, list, or records. of the Bureau
4. The visa application must clear any negative records with the Verification and Certification Unit to proceed with the extension
5. Get the Order of Payment Slip and proceed to Cashier for payment of fees
6. Pay the visa fees. Don't forget or lose the Official Receipt.
7. Turn in the official receipt, your passport, visa application form, and supporting documents to the BI Assessment Officer.
8. Claim the passport stamped with the requested extension of stay.

9a Visa Fee Extension after first 59 days

Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) For Visa-Required Foreign Tourists

For stays between up to 24 months (2-years)- To reduce the hassle of multiple trips to the immigration office, visa-required foreigners can use the same LSVVE available to visa-free foreigners to extend their stay 6-months in a single transaction. However, a visa-required national receives a total of 2-years (vs. 3-years for a visa-free tourist) before needing to leave the country and repeat the process.

To completely eliminate the visa extension process, foreigners can apply for one of the Philippines ' permanent residence visas, such as the Special Retiree Resident Visa (SRRV) or Temporary Residence Visa by Marriage (TRV).

How long is a 9a Tourist Visa valid?

9a visas come with a validity of 3, 6, or 12 months. However, validity and a maximum authorized period of stay are different dates. A 6-month 9a still only allows a maximum stay of 59 days unless extended. But, you may exit then reenter the country for another 59 days within the 6-months. 

Depending on the Philippine Consulate filing the visa application, you may have a choice of three different 9a visa types:

1. Single-entry valid for three months- allows for a maximum of 59 days 
2. Multiple-entry valid for six months- provides for 59 days per entry
3. Multiple-entry valid for 12 months- provides for 59 days per entry

A Philippine BI office can then extend a 9a Tourist Visa by 1, 2, and 6-months for a period of 24 to 36 months, depending on your citizenship.

Applying For A Philippines eVisa Online

At the moment, citizens of Taiwan are the only ones eligible to apply for a Philippines Tourist Visa online (Philippines eVisa). The Philippines eVisa process is simple and can be completed in a few minutes on the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) website.

A visa applicant submits the Philippines eVisa application on the MECO Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system. The visa holder will receive an email once approved.

While there have been discussions of extending the Philippines eVisa and eTA system to other foreign nationals aside from Taiwan, the Bureau of Immigration has not confirmed any future expansion. 

Entry Guidelines For Temporary Visitors On A Philippines Tourist Visa (As of February 10th, 2020)

Entry Requirements for Visa-Free Philippines Visa On Arrival:

1. Be a foreign tourist from one of 157 countries with reciprocity immigration agreements with the Philippines 
2. Fully vaccinated and present IATF approved proof of vaccination; OR
3. Pass a negative antigen test result taken no more than 24 hours from the departure of their first flight; OR
4. Take an antigen test upon arrival at a Philippines airport; AND
5. Purchase a valid onward ticket leaving the Philippines no later than 30 days from your arrival date;
6. Have a valid passport with an expiration date of at least 6-months from your Philippines entry date;
7. Register for the Philippines eARRIVAL card.
8. Maintaining travel medical insurance during your time in the Philippines is no longer mandatory but is recommended. 

Entry Requirements for Visa-Required 9a:

1. Be a foreign tourist NOT on the list of 157 visa-free countries (*Hint India, Pakistan, and China are not on the list);
2. Apply for a 9a visa from your Philippines embassy or consulate;
3. Fully vaccinated and present IATF approved proof of vaccination; OR
4. Pass a negative antigen test result taken no more than 24 hours from the departure of their first flight; OR
5. Take an antigen test upon arrival at a Philippines airport; AND
6. Register for the Philippines eARRIVAL card.
7. Maintaining travel medical insurance during your time in the Philippines is no longer mandatory but is recommended. 
8. As of April 1, 2022, securing an entry exemption document (EED) is no longer required.

IATF Approved Proof of Vaccination Status

1.  World Health Organization International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis;
2. VaxCertPH; or
3. Digital vaccination certificate of a foreign country that accepts VaxCertPH under a reciprocal agreement.

Where can I get health insurance that covers the COVID coverage requirement to enter the Philippines?

Can someone help me with my EED and 9a visa to travel to the Philippines?

Yes. I can help you with a marriage visa, retirement visa, or work visa? I've partnered with a Philippines Visa Specialist with experience relocating embassy personnel and corporate expats since 2011. If you don't want to deal with the hassle and complexity of the visa process, they can help. 

My partners are visa specialists certified by the Philippine Retirement Association (PRA) to handle your visa application, document submission, local appointments, and much more. They will simply your immigration process and make getting your visa easier.