FAQs: Travel to the Philippines of Foreign Nationals

FAQ 1: Can I enter the Philippines visa-free?
You can enter the Philippines visa-free if you are fully-vaccinated and you:

• Are a citizen or national of a non-visa required country under Executive Order 408 s. 1960 (E.O. 408), the list of which appears below; OR
• Are a holder of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or Macau SAR passports (stay period not exceeding fourteen (14) days); OR
• Are a former Filipino citizen with balikbayan privilege under Republic Act No. 9174 or a spouse/child of a balikbayan travelling with them.
  

FAQ 2: What are the requirements to enter the Philippines visa-free?

Qualified foreign nationals who enter visa-free must have the following:

1. Proof of vaccination (WHO Certificate, VaxCertPH, national/digital certificate issued by countries with reciprocal arrangement with the Philippines; for Singapore, digital certificate issued through Notarise Singapore);
2. Only for those vaccinated with primary vaccine series but WITHOUT a booster shot: Negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or laboratory/clinic-administered antigen test/ART within 24 hours prior to departure from (first) point of origin; Effective 30 May 2022, pre-departure test is no longer required for:
   – Foreign nationals aged 18 and above who have received primary series COVID-19 vaccine and at least one (1) COVID-19 booster shot,
   – Foreign nationals aged 12 to 17 who are fully vaccinated with primary series COVID-19 vaccine; and
   – Foreign nationals below 12 years old, regardless of vaccination status, accompanied by parent/guardian who have received a complete primary series and one booster shot
3. Valid return ticket or ticket to onward destination (not later than the maximum period of stay allowed) (except for Balikbayan and their qualified dependents);
4. Passport valid for at least six months from the time of arrival in the Philippines; AND
5. EArrival Card registration

FAQ 3: I am not fully-vaccinated due to medical reasons and I have a document certifying this. Can I travel to the Philippines?

Yes. Travellers aged 15 and above who are not fully vaccinated are required to present a negative laboratory-based Rapid Antigen Test taken 24 hours before departure from country of origin. Those unable to present a laboratory-based ART will be required to undergo testing in the upon arrival in the airport. Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to complete a facility-based quarantine in the Philippines.

FAQ 4: Is quarantine still required?

Upon arrival in the Philippines, fully vaccinated foreign nationals do not need to undergo mandatory quarantine. Please refer to FAQ 3 for unvaccinated travelers.

FAQ 5: What are the quarantine/testing regulations for minors below 15 y/o?

Accompanied, unvaccinated children aged 14 and below shall follow the quarantine procedures of their parents and guardians.

FAQ 6: I am a national of a country not in the list above. Can I apply for a visa to enter the Philippines?
Visa-required foreign nationals may apply for a visa at the Embassy. Please visit THIS LINK for a list of requirements.

FAQ 7: I am an Indian national, but I have a valid American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or UK (AJACSSUK) visa/residency. Can I enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism?

Indian nationals with valid AJACSSUK visas travelling for tourism or leisure may enter the Philippines visa-free for a maximum period of stay of fourteen (14) days. This is NOT applicable for business travellers. Business travelers are required to secure appropriate visas.

FAQ 8: I am a Chinese national, but I have a valid American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen (AJACS) visa. Can I enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism?

Chinese nationals with valid AJACS  visas travelling for tourism or leisure may enter the Philippines visa-free for a maximum period of stay of seven (7) days. Please note: SINGAPORE visa/residency is NOT INCLUDED in AJACS. This visa-free entry privilege is NOT applicable for business travellers. Business travelers are required to secure appropriate visas.

FAQ 9: How do I apply for a visa?

1. Visit THIS LINK and make sure to complete all requirements for visa application.
2. Lodge your online visa application through the Philippine Online Visa Appointment System (OVAS) at https://visa.gov.ph. 
3. Visit the Embassy website’s appointment portal and request an appointment for visa application.
4. Once your requirements are evaluated, you will receive an e-mail with a confirmed schedule and guidelines for visa application. Please note that appointment requests that do not comply with the requirements  will be declined.

FAQ 10: Can I apply for a multiple entry visa?

Multiple-entry visas may be granted ONLY to business travelers with endorsement from their employer/Philippine counterpart. All requests for multiple entry are subject to evaluation and approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs and will entail additional 2-3 weeks of processing time. Those not qualified for multiple entry visas are kindly requested to lodge only a SINGLE ENTRY visa on OVAS to prevent delays in their visa application.

FAQ 11: Can I request for an earlier appointment?

Due to the high volume of visa applications, the Embassy is unable to accommodate requests for earlier appointment, unless in cases of emergency, i.e. death or accident. Booked flights and meetings do not qualify as emergency. Slots are opened regularly and slots do open every now and then due to cancellations. 

For all other inquiries, please e-mail consular.sgpe@gmail.com. 

Thank you.