Do I need a visa for the Philippines?

Quick answer

• Probably not. Citizens of 157 countries can visit visa-free for tourism or business, usually for 30 days.
• Some passports get a different stay: 59 days for Brazil and Israel, 14 days for India and China (with conditions), 14 or 7 days for some Hong Kong and Macao passports.
• At the airport: a passport valid for six months beyond your stay and a return or onward ticket.
• eTravel is required: register free at etravel.gov.ph or in the eGovPH app within 72 hours before you land.
• Staying longer: most 30-day visitors can extend with the Bureau of Immigration, first by 29 days.

The short answer

If your passport is on the Philippines’ visa-free list, you can fly in for a holiday or a business trip without applying for anything except eTravel, the free online arrival registration. The list is kept by the Department of Foreign Affairs under Executive Order 408 and covers 157 countries, from the US, UK and Canada to Australia, the European Union and the Gulf states.

If your country is not on the list, you need a visa from a Philippine embassy or consulate before you travel. The Department of Foreign Affairs also runs an online visa application system at visa.gov.ph for temporary visitor visas.

Rules for a few nationalities changed in 2025 and 2026, so always check the official list for your passport before you book.

How long you can stay

Your passport	Visa-free stay	Notes
Most of the 157 visa-free countries	30 days	Can be extended in the Philippines
Brazil, Israel	59 days	Under bilateral agreements
India	14 days	Since 8 June 2025. Cannot be extended
India, with a US, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or residence permit	30 days	Cannot be extended
China (mainland)	14 days	Since 16 January 2026, through Manila (NAIA) and Cebu (Mactan-Cebu) airports only. Cannot be extended
Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passports	14 days
British National (Overseas) and Macao-Portuguese passports	7 days

The Chinese 14-day arrangement was set up for one year and will be reviewed before it ends, so check the latest position if you travel in 2027.

What to have ready at the airport

Visa-free visitors are admitted for tourism or business. Carry:

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay. Officers can make exceptions for some nationalities, but don’t count on it.
• A return ticket or an onward ticket to your next country. Airlines may ask to see it at check-in.
• Your eTravel QR code, saved on your phone.
• For Indian and Chinese nationals on the 14-day rule: a confirmed hotel booking and, for Indian nationals, proof you can pay for the trip.

Immigration officers decide on admission at the border, so keep your hotel details and onward plans handy even if you are from a 30-day country.

eTravel: the free arrival form

Every arriving passenger, Filipino or foreign, registers on eTravel before landing. The Bureau of Immigration repeated this in an advisory in October 2026. Diplomats and holders of diplomatic or official passports are the main exceptions.

1. Go to etravel.gov.ph (type the address yourself) or open the official eGovPH app.
2. Register within the 72 hours before you arrive. Earlier than that, the system will not accept it.
3. Fill in your passport and flight details, your address in the Philippines and the health and customs questions.
4. Save the QR code. The airline checks it before boarding, and officers scan it when you land.

eTravel is free. Websites that charge a fee for “eTravel processing” are not official, and the Bureau of Immigration has warned about them more than once. Each traveller needs their own registration, including children.

Staying longer than 30 days

If you came in visa-free for 30 days and want more time, apply to the Bureau of Immigration (at a BI office or through its online e-services):

• First, a 29-day visa waiver extension. That takes your total stay to 59 days.
• Then, extensions of one, two or six months, applied for at least a week before your current stay runs out.

Fees change, so check the current amounts with the Bureau of Immigration before you go. Don’t overstay: fines and problems leaving the country follow. Remember that the 14-day stays for Indian and Chinese nationals cannot be extended or converted to another visa.

If you need a visa

Nationals of countries not on the visa-free list apply for a temporary visitor’s visa before travelling, through a Philippine embassy or consulate or the online system at visa.gov.ph. The core requirements are a passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay and a completed application form, with extra documents depending on why you are visiting.

Leave plenty of time, and apply in the country where you live.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit the Philippines as a tourist?

Not if your nationality is on the visa-free list kept by the Department of Foreign Affairs. That covers 157 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the EU and the Gulf states, usually for 30 days. Everyone else applies for a visa before travelling.

How long can I stay in the Philippines without a visa?

Usually 30 days. Brazilian and Israeli passport holders get 59 days, Indian and Chinese nationals 14 days under special rules, and some Hong Kong and Macao passports 14 or 7 days.

Is eTravel the same as a visa?

No. eTravel is a free arrival registration that every arriving passenger completes, visa or not. It gives you a QR code to show the airline and the officers when you land. It does not give you permission to enter.

When should I fill in eTravel?

In the 72 hours before you arrive. Use only etravel.gov.ph or the official eGovPH app, and save the QR code on your phone before you go to the airport.

Can I extend my 30-day visa-free stay?

Yes, in most cases. Apply to the Bureau of Immigration for a 29-day visa waiver extension, which takes you to 59 days, then for further extensions of one, two or six months. Apply at least a week before your stay runs out. The 14-day stays for Indian and Chinese nationals cannot be extended.

Do I really need a return or onward ticket?

Yes. The visa-free rules ask for a ticket home or to your next country, and airlines may check it before you board. A refundable or flexible ticket is the safe choice if your plans are open.