In a bid to claw back lost market share, Manila will reopen its suspended electronic visa (e-visa) platform to mainland Chinese, Hong Kong and Macao passport holders from 1 November 2025. The South China Morning Post broke the story on 22 October, citing a Philippine embassy notice issued in Beijing. Chinese applicants will once again be able to secure a single-entry e-visa online for tourism or business stays of up to 14 days, initially restricted to flights landing at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino or Cebu’s Mactan–Cebu International Airport.
The e-visa pilot, launched in 2023, was abruptly paused that December for “systems optimisation”, forcing would-be travellers back to paper applications at consulates. During the two-year freeze Chinese arrivals cratered: only 203,923 mainland visitors entered the Philippines in the first nine months of 2025, compared with 1.7 million pre-pandemic.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco called the restart “necessary and overdue” but warned that marketing campaigns and airline seat capacity will determine how fast numbers recover. Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines and China Southern have already applied for additional frequencies to Manila and Boracay in anticipation of pent-up demand.
For companies moving staff between China and ASEAN, the e-visa offers a welcome, lower-touch alternative to in-person consulate visits—although the short validity means assignees on longer projects will still need 9(a) business visas. Employers should note that photo uploads, itinerary proof and a $25 fee are required; processing is promised within three working days.
Analysts say the move puts competitive pressure on rival destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia—which already enjoy mutual visa-waiver deals with Beijing—and may nudge other ASEAN states to digitalise Chinese visa channels ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Tourism Year.
The e-visa pilot, launched in 2023, was abruptly paused that December for “systems optimisation”, forcing would-be travellers back to paper applications at consulates. During the two-year freeze Chinese arrivals cratered: only 203,923 mainland visitors entered the Philippines in the first nine months of 2025, compared with 1.7 million pre-pandemic.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco called the restart “necessary and overdue” but warned that marketing campaigns and airline seat capacity will determine how fast numbers recover. Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines and China Southern have already applied for additional frequencies to Manila and Boracay in anticipation of pent-up demand.
For companies moving staff between China and ASEAN, the e-visa offers a welcome, lower-touch alternative to in-person consulate visits—although the short validity means assignees on longer projects will still need 9(a) business visas. Employers should note that photo uploads, itinerary proof and a $25 fee are required; processing is promised within three working days.
Analysts say the move puts competitive pressure on rival destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia—which already enjoy mutual visa-waiver deals with Beijing—and may nudge other ASEAN states to digitalise Chinese visa channels ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Tourism Year.
