Philippines transit visa (9b)

Only visa-required nationals who have to enter the Philippines during a connection need the 9(b) visa. Passengers who change carriers, collect checked baggage or move between terminals must pass the immigration counters, which counts as entry. Nationals of EO 408 countries can enter visa-free for 30 days and therefore transit without a visa as long as they meet the passport and onward-ticket conditions.

Your onward flight must leave the Philippines within 72 hours of arrival and take you to a final destination outside the country. You must hold the right to enter that destination, shown by a residence permit, visa or other proof of legal status there. The visa is single entry and valid for three months from issue.

Apply at the Philippine embassy or consulate that covers your place of residence. Use the same 9(a) temporary visitor form that applies to other visitors and paste a recent photo on it. Make sure the itinerary shows both the inbound flight to the Philippines and the connecting flight, and that your passport has blank pages for the visa and the entry and exit stamps. Documents not in English should be translated.

The fee follows the DFA fee schedule, with a higher rate for restricted nationalities, and is collected by the post where you apply; it is not refunded. Processing time is set by the post and starts once the file is complete, and the post may ask for further documents to verify that you are genuinely in transit. Some posts offer immediate release for an expedite fee.

Complete eTravel within 72 hours before your flight. The BI officer at the airport checks your onward booking and documents and decides on admission. If you need to stay longer than 72 hours, you need a different visa; the transit visa is meant only for the connection.