Philippines
Philippines visa guide
- 12 visa types
- checked 29 October 2026
How visas for the Philippines work
Entry to the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 (Commonwealth Act No. 613). Visas are issued abroad by Philippine embassies and consulates under the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), while the Bureau of Immigration (BI), part of the Department of Justice, decides on admission at the port of entry, extends stays and converts visitors to longer-term visas inside the country.
Nationals of the countries listed under Executive Order No. 408 can enter without a visa for an initial 30 days if their passport is valid for six months beyond the stay and they hold a return or onward ticket. Brazil and Israel get 59 days; Indian nationals get 14 days for tourism and business, and Chinese nationals 14 days through Manila or Mactan-Cebu airports only. Everyone else, and anyone staying longer from the start, applies for a 9(a) temporary visitor visa, either at a Philippine embassy or consulate or online through the DFA e-Visa portal.
Most long-stay categories are obtained by converting your status at the BI in Manila or another authorised office: 9(g) for pre-arranged employment, 9(f) for degree students, 13(a) for spouses of Filipino citizens, the Special Visa for Employment Generation for employers of at least ten Filipinos. Two special resident visas are administered by other agencies: the SRRV by the Philippine Retirement Authority and the SIRV by the Board of Investments.
All arriving travellers must complete the free eTravel registration within 72 hours before travel. Foreigners who stay longer than 59 days must obtain an ACR I-Card, and registered aliens report to the BI within the first 60 days of every year.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday, family visit or business meetings up to 30 days: no visa for EO 408 nationals. Longer visits: a 9(a) visa from a Philippine post (up to 59 days per stay) or extensions at the BI, which for visa-free nationals can add up to 36 months in total. Visa-required nationals can use the e-Visa portal where it is available.
Job with a Philippine employer: 9(g) after the employer obtains a DOLE Alien Employment Permit; short paid assignments of three to six months: Special Work Permit. Degree studies: 9(f); short language or skills courses: 9(a) plus a Special Study Permit. Married to a Filipino: 13(a). Aged 40 or over and able to make a deposit: SRRV. Investment of at least USD 75,000: SIRV. Running a business that employs ten or more Filipinos: SVEG. Protection needs: refugee status determination by the DOJ.
Visa types for the Philippines
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visa-free entry (EO 408) and 9(a) temporary visitor visa for pleasure
Nationals of EO 408 countries can visit the Philippines for 30 days without a visa, with a passport valid six months beyond the stay and an onward ticket.
Maximum stay: Visa-free: 30 days initially; 9(a) visa: up to 59 days per stay; extensions at the BI up to 36 months in total for visa-free nationals - Transit visa 9(b) transit visa
The 9(b) transit visa is for travellers who must pass Philippine immigration while connecting to a destination outside the Philippines, for example to collect luggage or change airlines.
Maximum stay: 72 hours
Business and self-employment
- Business visa 9(a-1) business visitor (temporary visitor coming for business)
Business visitors attend meetings, conferences, negotiations and similar activities without receiving pay from a Philippine source.
Maximum stay: Visa-free: 30 days; 9(a): up to 59 days per stay, extendable at the BI - Investor visa Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)
The Special Investor's Resident Visa lets a foreigner aged 21 or over who invests at least USD 75,000 in an eligible Philippine company live in the Philippines indefinitely, as long as the investment is kept.
Maximum stay: Indefinite while the qualifying investment is maintained - Entrepreneur and start-up visa Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG)
The Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG), created by Republic Act 8756 and administered by the Bureau of Immigration, is for non-immigrant foreigners who actually employ at least ten Filipinos in a lawful and sustainable enterprise, or invest to keep ten Filipino jobs in a business being rehabilitated.
Study and training
- Student visa 9(f) student visa
The 9(f) student visa is for foreigners aged 18 or over who enrol in a course higher than high school at a university, college or seminary authorised to admit foreign students.
Validity: For the period of study, extended at the BI as studies continue - Language course visa 9(a) visa with Special Study Permit (short-term courses)
Short, non-degree courses in the Philippines, such as English language, computer or special-interest courses of roughly three to six months, do not lead to a 9(f) student visa.
Maximum stay: As a visitor: 30 days visa-free or 59 days with a 9(a) visa, then extensions at the BI
Work
- Work visa 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa (commercial)
Foreigners hired by a Philippine employer need the 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa.
Validity: 1, 2 or 3 years, extendable
Family
- Spouse and partner visa 13(a) non-quota immigrant visa by marriage
A foreigner validly married to a Philippine citizen can obtain a 13(a) non-quota immigrant visa, either at a Philippine post abroad or by conversion at the Bureau of Immigration.
Validity: Probationary for one year, then permanent resident status
Residence
- Retirement visa Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
The Special Resident Retiree's Visa is a special non-immigrant visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration under the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) programme.
Maximum stay: Indefinite stay with multiple entry while the visa is maintained
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Philippine e-Visa (9(a) temporary visitor categories)
The DFA's e-Visa portal lets foreigners apply online for 9(a) temporary visitor visas without a sticker in the passport.
Maximum stay: As endorsed on the e-Visa; the authorised stay cannot be extended
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Refugee status determination (DOJ Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit)
The Philippines runs its own asylum procedure, applying the refugee definition of the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
Processing time: Decision within 90 days of the last interview; reconsideration decided within 60 days
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for the Philippines?
Not for stays of up to 30 days if your country is on the EO 408 list, provided your passport is valid six months beyond the stay and you hold a return or onward ticket. Brazilians and Israelis get 59 days, Indian and Chinese nationals 14 days under specific conditions. Other nationals need a 9(a) visa from a Philippine post or the e-Visa portal.
What if I want to stay longer than 30 days?
Either apply before travelling for a 9(a) visa at a Philippine embassy or consulate or on the e-Visa portal, which allows up to 59 days per stay, or enter visa-free and apply to the BI for an extension before your 30 days run out. To enter visa-free you need a return or onward ticket.
Who issues Philippine visas and who decides at the border?
Visas are issued by DFA embassies and consulates and through the e-Visa portal. The decision to admit you is taken by Bureau of Immigration officers at the port of entry, so a visa does not guarantee entry.
Is eTravel registration a visa?
No. eTravel is a free arrival declaration that all foreign passengers must complete or update at least 72 hours before travel through the eTravel website or the eGov PH app. Giving false information can lead to refusal of entry.
Can I convert my visa after arriving in the Philippines?
Many categories, such as 9(g), 9(f), 13(a), SVEG and the Special Study Permit, are applied for at the BI inside the country. A Philippine e-Visa, however, cannot be converted or extended; if you plan to convert, obtain a sticker visa from a Philippine post.
Does a child travelling alone need anything special?
Foreign children under 15 who travel without a parent, or are not joining one, need a Waiver of Exclusion Ground. A parent signs an affidavit of consent, which is presented to the BI at the port of entry, whether or not the child needs a visa.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 29 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.