What are the Types of Philippine Visas?
There are three main types of visas which the Philippine government issues to foreign residents:
- Philippine Non-Immigrant Visas, which are issued to foreigners who are visiting for a short period of time and who do not qualify to become permanent residents of the Philippines. This includes:
Philippines Tourist Visas, to foreigners who are entering the Philippines for recreational purposes.
Philippines Business Visas, to foreigners entering the Philippines for business-related purposes, such as to attend a meeting, conference, sign a deal, etc.
Philippines Student Visas, for foreigners who will enroll in higher education institutions in the Philippines
Philippines Work Visas, to foreigners who have a pre-arranged work offer with a Filipino company. - Philippine Immigrant Visas, issued to foreigners who fall under one of the following categories:
Quota Immigrants: Highly-skilled foreigners who will be of benefit to the Philippines, and who are from countries that have a reciprocal agreement with the Philippines
Former citizens of the Philippines
The spouse and/or child(ren) under the age of 21 of Filipino citizens - Philippines Special Visas, which includes the following:
Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV), issued to foreigners investing in a manufacturing or service company in the Philippines, a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, or in a project listed on the Philippines Investment Priority Plan.
Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG), issued to foreigners who hire at least ten Filipinos on their company/organization.
Special Resident Retiree Visa (SRRV), issued to foreigners who wish to retire in the Philippines.
Philippines Tourist Visa (Temporary Stay)
A Philippines Tourist Visa is a short-term visa, which is issued to visa-required foreigners who will enter the Philippines for:
- Tourism/sightseeing
- Medical treatment
- Conducting business
- Attending a cultural, academic, or sports event
- Visiting family members
Any other short-term purpose which does not require the holder to work
How Can I Apply for a Philippines Visa?
You can apply for a Philippines visa in one of the following ways:
- At an Embassy or Consulate of the Philippines in your jurisdiction
- On Arrival, at an international airport in the Philippines
- Online, through the website of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office
Apply for a Philippines Visa On Arrival
Citizens of all countries can apply for a Philippines Visa On Arrival, except those from the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- China
- Cuba
- Egypt
- Georgia
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Sierra Leone
- Serbia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Ukraine
- Yemen
Apply for a Philippines Visa Online
Only citizens of Taiwan can apply for a Philippines visa online (also known as Electronic Travel Authorization – eTA) through this website. The eTA is a facilitated method of obtaining a Philippine Tourist Visa, currently available only to citizens of Taiwan.
The eTA allows those who are eligible to receive authorization to enter the Philippines entirely online, by:
- Accessing the website of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office
- Completing the application form
- Paying the fee through a credit/debit card
Once the visa has been processed and approved, they will receive an email informing them of the decision. They can print the visa and show it to the Immigration Officers when they enter the Philippines.
How long does it take to process a Philippines Visa application?
It takes anywhere between two to ten working days to process a Philippines visa application. The time it takes for a visa to be processed depends on the specific Embassy or Consulate in which you apply. Whether you have all your documents in order or not also affects the processing time of your application.
However, you should always apply well in advance of the time you intend to travel.
What are the Philippines Visa Requirements?
The standard set of documents everyone who applies for a Philippines visa must have are:
- Philippines Visa Application Form, which you can usually find at the Embassy/Consulate in which you are applying or on their website. Completed and signed.
- Submit as many copies as you are required (usually one or two)
- Passport, valid for at least another six months and which has at least two blank pages to affix the visa in.
- You may also have to submit photocopies of the personal information page on your passport and previous visas.
- Passport-size pictures, with the following requirements:
- Dimensions: 35 mm x 45 mm
- Colored (not black and white)
- White background
- Recent (no older than three months)
- You must be staring ahead, with a neutral facial expression
- Your entire face must be visible, so your hair has to be pushed away from your face
Glasses are allowed, as long as they do not obscure your face or eyes (no thick rims, no tinted glass) - Headgear is only allowed for religious purposes, and as long as it does not obscure the face
Reserved return-flight ticket or a ticket for onward travel. - Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration of your stay in the Philippines (bank statements, pay slips, etc).
- Proof of employment, based on your status:
- If you are employed: Letter from your employer
- If you are a student: Letter from your school
- If you are self-employed: Business registration certificate
- Payment of the Philippines visa fee.
- Proof of enrollment in the Filipino health insurance system (for long stay visas only)
Philippines Business Visa Requirements
If you are traveling to the Philippines to conduct business, then you have to submit the following additional documents with your visa application:
Letter of Invitation from the company hosting you in the Philippines. The letter has to be signed by a person of authority in the company and notarized in the Philippines.
Letter from your company where you work, explaining the purpose and duration of your trip, and explaining who will cover the trip’s expenses.
How long is a Philippines Visa valid?
Philippines visas can be issued for a period starting from three months to one year, for single or multiple entries.
However, it should be noted that despite being valid for longer, a Philippines visa only allows the holder to stay in the Philippines for 59 days per entry. This means that even if you have a Philippines visa with a validity of one year, you will have to leave and re-enter the country every 59 days.
Is Philippines visa open for Pakistani?
Philippines visa for citizens of Pakistan is required. For more information please contact the nearest Philippines embassy.
How can I go to Philippines from Pakistan?
For Visit/ Tourist Visa
- Invitation letter from Pakistan.
- Photocopy of sponsor’s passport & NIC.
- Bank Statement.
- Employment Certificate.
- Hotel booking (in case applicant is going to stay in a hotel/ has no sponsor in Pakistan.
- NBI clearance authenticated by Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Do I need visa to go to Philippines?
No. US citizens do not need a visa to enter the Philippines. US citizens can enter the Philippines Visa on Arrival and stay in the Philippines visa-free for up to 59-days. After 59-days, US Citizens can extend their visa by 1, 2, or 6-months at a Philippine Bureau of Immigration office.
How much is the visa from Pakistan to Philippines?
The visa for the Philippines costs around $37 USD. Depending on how you obtain the visa as a foreign citizen, you may incur processing fees that can range from $20 USD to $60 USD.
Can Pakistan travel without visa to Philippines?
Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nigerian nationals who are travelling to the Philippines for business and/or tourism purposes are required to have a visa prior to entry in the Philippines. These nationals may apply only at the Philippine Embassy at their country of origin or their country of legal residence.
How long can a Pakistani stay in Philippines?
If the applicant will stay beyond 30 days in the Philippines, an application for extension of stay must be filed at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila, or the Immigration office nearest to the place where the applicant is temporarily residing.