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Philippines Visa Application Forms And Visa Extension Forms

You can use the application and extension forms above when applying for a visa at a Bureau of Immigration (BI) office once you are in the country. I include how-to instructions, a checklist of requirements, and the PDFs of the forms you need to apply for various Philippine visas.

Follow the sections below to apply for a Philippines Tourist Visa outside the Philippines.

How Do I Apply for a Philippine Visa From Abroad?

Citizens from 157 visa-free countries can enter the Philippines visa on arrival for up to 30 days WITHOUT applying for a visa. However, citizens from the visa-required countries listed below must apply for a 9a visa at the Philippine Consulate General in their country of origin before traveling to the Philippines.

Complete List of Countries Whose Citizens Require A Visa Application Before Entering The Philippines 

  • Afghanistan
  • Azerbaijan
  • China
  • India
  • Kosovo
  • Montenegro
  • North Macedonia
  • Serbia
  • Sudan
  • Tonga
  • Albania
  • Bangladesh
  • Cuba
  • Iran
  • Lebanon
  • Nauru
  • Pakistan
  • Somalia
  • Syria
  • Ukraine
  • Algeria
  • Belarus
  • Egypt
  • Iraq
  • Libya
  • Nigeria
  • Palestine
  • South Sudan
  • Taiwan
  • Yemen
  • Armenia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Georgia
  • Jordan
  • Moldova
  • North Korea
  • Sierra Leone
  • Sri Lanka
  • Timor-Leste

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QUICK TIPS- PHILIPPINES

Show a mandatory departure ticket. You cannot enter the Philippines on a one-way ticket if you only have a tourist visa or visa on arrival. You will need a flight ticket with a date leaving the country before your visa expires. Save money by showing immigration you have  a cheap onward travel ticket for just $14

Get help with your visa. The Philippines visa process can get complicated. The rules and regulations change frequently. Avoid the hassle of dealing with the immigration bureaucracy by speaking with a Philippines Visa Specialist. 

Learn some basic Tagalog phrases. While nearly everyone speaks some English, learning some basic Tagalog is always appreciated by Filipinos. Get a FREE Language Lesson using the same learning technique used by the US State Department, FBI, and overseas military.

Save On Moving Costs. Save up to 40% on your international moving costs. Nomadic FIRE has partnered with 10,000+ pre-screened global moving companies to save you time and money. Fill out our 60-second form and get 5 free quotes from accredited moving companies competing for your business.

Get Free Expat Health Insurance Quotes. Your home insurance will not cover you while abroad. However, you can find affordable international health insurance for less than what you would pay in the United States. 

How To Find The Cheapest Flights To The Philippines

How do I get a Philippines Tourist Visa Application Form?

Application forms for the Philippines 9a visa vary. 63 embassies and 26 consulates globally process visa applications submitted outside the Philippines. Each embassy or consulate can use different visa application forms, have differing basic requirements, and charge separate visa fees.

For example, the United States Consulate-General in San Francisco uses this visa application form; the Canadian Embassy uses a different visa application form. At the same time, the London Embassy requests UK citizens to submit their 9a visa application forms online

Check the Philippine Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your country of residence for details. 

PHILIPPINES EMBASSY AND CONSULATES GLOBALLY

The list of eligible countries can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website or click icons below to find the Philippines Consulate General in your country of residence.

AFRICA

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EUROPE

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NORTH AMERICA

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SOUTH AMERICA

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ASIA

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MIDDLE EAST

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OCEANIA

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Philippines Visa Extension Forms

There is an online visa extension option for your first 29-day extension (technically called a visa waiver). However, staying in the Philippines past the initial 59-day valid duration of your visa (30 days for visa on arrival + 29-day extension = 59 days) requires applying for a visa extension at the Philippines Bureau of Immigration office in Intramuros, Manila or your closest satellite BI branch. 

Additionally, eligible BI regional or district offices (check the list here) can accept and process visa extension forms.

Visas can be extended by 1, 2, or 6-month increments for a total validity of up to 36-months or 3-years, depending on nationality. You can download copies of the visa extension forms in the section above.

Where can I find a Philippines Visa Application Forms Online?

The Philippines has two online eVisa systems. The Electronic Travel Authority (eTA), which is only eligible for citizens of Taiwan, and the Philippine Online Visa Application System (OVAS), which only allows application forms for a 9a Temporary Visitors Visa.

After you submit the 9a visa application form online, you will still need to contact the Philippine Consulate General with jurisdiction over your country of origin to complete the visa application officially.

What types of visas can I apply for using the Philippine Online Visa Application System?

The Philippine Online Visa Application System currently only accepts 9a visa application forms. 9a visa categories include:

  1. 9a Temporary Visitors Visa– A short-term stay visa used for tourism, business meetings, symposiums, conferences, or medical treatment. 
  2. 9b Transit Visa– used when the Philippines is not your final destination.
  3. 9c Foreign Crew Members and Seaman Visa– For issuance to the entire crew of a ship docked at a Philippine port of entry
  4. 9d International Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors Visa- For foreign nationals with existing economic treaties with the Philippines to conduct business.
  5. 9e Foreign Government Officials Visas– For accredited officers of foreign governments and international NGOs
  6. 9f Student Visa– Issued to students over 18 years old attending a Philippines university, seminary, or college.
  7. 9g Pre-arranged Employees Visa– Commonly referred to as working visa for foreigners with an employment certificate with a Filipino business.

How to apply for a visa online using the Philippine Online Visa Application System (OVAS)

  1. Visit the Philippine Online Visa Application System at https://www.visa.gov.ph/
  2. Choose your country of citizenship from the dropdown menu
  3. Acknowledge the reminder that OVAS only accepts visa application forms for the 9a Temporary Visitor Visas
  4. Review the minimum requirements and visa types on the Online Visa Application System home page, and click the blue button labeled “Apply For Individual Visa” when ready
  5. Complete the fields for visa type, country of application, choose the embassy or consulate where you will complete the rest of the visa application, and enter in a valid email address
  6. Review the Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form on the following page
  7. Complete application profile data, application details, and pay careful attention to answering the questions in the application history section
  8. Upload a 2″ x 2″ passport photo on a plain background
  9. Click the blue-button labeled “Save and Download Application” when you are ready
  10. Confirm that all the information you input in the visa application form is correct and valid, then click “Yes” to confirm or “Cancel” to make any changes
  11. Save, download, print, and sign the completed visa application form
  12. Scan and upload the accomplished application form and a copy of your passport data page into the online visa system in JPG, PNG, or PDF digital file formats
  13. If your visa application upload and submission were successful, you would see a “Success” message with a reference number
  14. Note the reference number and check your registered email for a receipt confirmation of your duly accomplished form
  15. Your receipt confirmation email contains important information; please ensure you read, understand, and carefully follow the instructions.

Philippine Online Visa Requirements

  • Visa applicants must have a valid passport with an expiration 6 months beyond their authorized period of stay in the Philippines
  • Only machine-readable passports are considered valid
  • The Visa Officer assigned to your application may ask for additional documents (proof of financial capability, bank statements, return journey tickets, medical report, etc.) to support your visa application
  • You will be required to bring your passport, visa application form, travel documents submitted online, and additional supporting documents (birth certificate, bank statement, marriage certificate, trip flight itinerary, etc.) depending on the type of visa requested for your in-person visa appointment.
  • Official Receipt of Application does not authorize you to enter the country. The Philippine Immigration Authorities must review the application and approve your visa. 

 INSIDER TIP : Visa Applicant Passport Picture Requirements-  to ensure your application form is accepted without delays or revisions, please confirm your passport picture adheres to the following guidelines:

  • 2″ by 2″ plain white or off-white background
  • No smiling. Natural expression with both eyes open
  • No eyeglasses, earrings, necklaces, hats, or any material covering your head
  • Full face view looking straight into the camera
  • Square aspect ratio, with a pixel height and width of equal dimensions
  • The top of your hair to the bottom of your chin must be 50% to 69% of the passport pictures total height

How to apply for a Philippine visa online using eTA?

The Philippines Travel Authority (eTA) is an online visa system only for citizens of Taiwan to apply for an e-visa to enter the Philippines. A Philippines e-visa application requires a valid passport with an expiration 6-months beyond the intended period of stay, payment of fees, and a valid email.

The online visa process is simple and takes just a few minutes to complete. You will need to provide some basic information about your trip, personal information, original passport details and pay the visa fee.

Standard application processing time is within 1-2 working days. The e-visa can also be expedited and approved in roughly 3-hours for a 500 NTD / $18 USD expedited visa fee.

Once the visa application form is complete, you will need to attach a digital photograph of yourself with a plain background, no glasses or sleeveless attire, and in JPG digital file format.

How long can I stay with a Philippines e-visa?

Using the Philippine eTA online visa system, citizens of Taiwan can apply for a Multiple Entry e-visa with a valid time period of 3, 6, or 12 months. However, the Philippines e-visa still only allows a maximum stay of 59 days per entry into the Philippines starting from the arrival date.

FAQs: Philippines Visa Application Forms and Process

Do I need an Entry Exemption Document (EED) before submitting my Philippine visa form?

Before applying for a 9a visa, foreign nationals ineligible for a visa on arrival must secure an endorsement from a Philippine government agency. The specific agency will depend on the purpose of your visit. The endorsing agency must request an EED from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

With the EED from the DFA, you can apply for a 9a visa from your country of origin’s Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the section above.


About the author

Hi, That's me. I'm Marco Sison. I am a survivor of the corporate rat race. I started Nomad FIRE to show you an alternative to the stress and grind of 70-hour weeks to pay off a mortgage, student loans, and countless bills. After getting laid off in 2015, I said screw it all and retired early at 41 years old. I have traveled the last eight years to over 50 countries to show you the best ways to save, invest, and live in amazing countries for 70% less cost than the US. I have been featured in: US News & World Reports, HuffPost, MSN Money, USA Today, ABC Network, Yahoo Finance, Association of MBAs, the iTunes documentary Seeking FIRE, and the Amazon Best-Seller, Abroad: Expats That Thrive . [view press...]

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