Philippines e-Visa

The e-Visa is aimed at foreigners who need a visa to visit the Philippines for business, pleasure, medical treatment, training, conferences, meetings or seminars. Before applying, check on the portal whether your citizenship needs a visa at all: EO 408 nationals enter visa-free for 30 days, and Brazilian and Israeli citizens for 59 days. Visa-free nationals who want more than 30 days can obtain a sticker 9(a) visa from a Philippine post or extend at the BI after arrival.

The DFA divides the 9(a) visa into eight purposes: business visitors 9(a-1), tourism and leisure 9(a-2), medical treatment 9(a-3), private yachtsmen and sailors 9(a-4), filmmaking 9(a-5), journalism 9(a-6), athletic and performing arts 9(a-7) and other purposes 9(a-8). None of them allows an employer-employee relationship or pay from a Philippine entity. Each has its own minimum list: tourists show a flight reservation, bank statements for the last six months or other proof of funds, ties to the home country, an itinerary and lodging; medical visitors add a hospital acceptance letter and a medical abstract; film crews and journalists write to the International Press Center.

Register an account, fill in the form, upload the documents and pay. Payment is currently by direct bank transfer and must be made within 48 hours, otherwise you have to file a new application; fees are not refunded if the visa is denied. The issuing post may ask for original documents or a personal interview. The result appears under Application Status and is sent by e-mail. Relatives such as spouses, parents, minor children and siblings may file on behalf of family members who cannot apply themselves, uploading proof of the relationship.

A Philippine e-Visa cannot be converted to any other Philippine visa and its authorised stay cannot be extended. Anyone who plans to convert status after arrival, for example to a student or work visa, should obtain a machine-readable sticker visa with the right annotation from a Philippine post in their country of origin or residence. A lost passport invalidates the linked e-Visa, so a new application is needed for the new passport. Only electronic or machine-readable passports valid six months beyond departure are accepted, and the e-Visa does not guarantee admission.