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Philippines Visa Policy

The visa policy of the Philippines is governed by the long-established Commonwealth Act No. 613. 

This ActAct is also popularly known as the Philippine Immigrant Act and has been amended several times by Parliament. 

This ActAct is overseen by the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau. Under ACT 613, citizens from more than 150 countries are entitled to visa-free entry into the country and are free to stay for 14-59 days.

However, most visitors who wish to stay for much longer will need a visa unless they meet the following conditions

• They are citizens of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) country.
• They are a citizen of a non-ASEAN nation on the visa-exempt list of the Philippines
• They are “Balikbaynan” returning to the Philippines on a temporary visit

You are entitled to visa-free entry if you fall under any of these groups. Below, we explain the Visa waiver program of the Philippines in detail.

Philippines Visa Waiver Program

The visa waiver program came into force in 1960 after then-President Carlos Garcia signed Executive Order No 408, and the order was further amended. Although the Bureau of Immigration was responsible for issuing visas, the Department of Foreign Affairs administered the Visa Waiver Program. Overall, nationals from countries with diplomatic ties with the Philippines are classified as restricted citizens but allowed to enter the country visa-free.

If you are an eligible visa-free visitor, you must possess a passport that will remain valid for the next six months to cover your stay in the country. Furthermore, as a visa-exempt visitor, you can extend your stay in the country by two months for each extension, which cannot exceed two years. As for those who need visas, they may extend their visa by one month per extension but up to six months. They must also have a valid flight ticket for the onward trip to their next destination.

Philippines Electronic Travel Authorization

The Filipino electronic travel permit is an online entry document issued to eligible foreign nationals which allows them to visit the country for short stays. While most eligible visitors can obtain the ETA online, citizens of Taiwan can get it from the official website of Manila’s Economic and Cultural Office.

This online entry permit is easy to obtain and helps you avoid the rigors of applying for a visa from an embassy or Consulate. The ETA was introduced in 2015 for Taiwanese, but in recent times, the number of eligible countries has expanded. This entry permit is a multiple-entry document and allows the holder to stay in the country for up to 30 days and is valid for one month from the approval date.

The application takes only a few minutes, and you must provide valuable information like your travel, passport, and personal information when filling out the application form. You must also indicate the purpose of your trip as well as your itinerary.

Key Information About Philippines Electronic Travel Authorization

Before applying for a Filipino ETA, there are more than a few things to keep in mind to make your trip smooth, and we review them below.

Don’t Apply Too Early: The Filipino ETA is only valid for 30 days and becomes active from the day it is issued. If you want to spend considerable time in the county, you don’t want to apply several days or weeks before your planned trip. It is better to submit your application at least 3 days before the trip so you can leave on the day or a few days after you get it.

You Need An Active Email: ETAs are issued electronically through the applicant’s email address, so you need an active email that you can access. Without an active email, there is no other way to get your ETA.

Passport: The passport you use for the application must be yours and valid for at least 6 months. If yours will expire in less time, apply for a new one before going for the ETA. Furthermore, you should travel with the same passport you used for the ETA because they are linked. Traveling with a different passport is tantamount to having no ETA, and you will not be allowed into the country.

Extension: It is possible to extend your ETA, but that will be when you are already inside the country. 

The days you will be granted will depend on the immigration officer handling your application. Make sure you extend it several days before your current ETA expires. It is Illegal to stay a day with an expired ETA.

Not For Employment: Electronic Travel Authorizations are only issued for tourism, business, transit, and nothing more. It is not a work visa, so you cannot use it for employment. Apply to the embassy or Consulate in your country if you wish to work in the country.

Use Approved Routes: Visitors are advised to only access the country through approved routes like the airports and the seaports. The Philippines is an island country, so land travels are out of the question.

Philippines Visa Online – Get your Philippines e-Visa with VisaHQ

Are you planning a trip to the Phillippines in the coming weeks or months? If you are from an eligible country, you may be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization rather than a conventional visa. ETAs are easier to apply online and are processed in just a few days.

How To Apply For ETA With VisaHQ?

If you wish to apply for an ETA online, you can do so with VisaHQ. Your electronic travel authorization application Form is available on our platform, and you can complete it in a few minutes without the help of a travel agent or this party; just follow these steps.

Please fill out your form: The first step is to complete the online application form on our platform. There are special sections for personal, passport, and travel information. Take your time to complete the sections with accurate information, as reflected in your documents. Wrong information may lead to cancellation.

Attach documents: The travel document is required for the ETA you pick must be uploaded on the form. You must ensure that the documents you submit are valid and are yours. You will also need a credit or debit card to pay the application fee before you can submit the form.

Get your ETA: After applying, wait a few days for the permit. It will be sent to your email address, so print it and travel with it.

Why Use VisaHQ?

If you want to speed up and stress-free the application process, VisaHQ is the ideal platform. We are a trusted brand when it comes to online applications. Our application process is structured so that you don’t need prior experience to apply for the entry permit independently. If you use VisaHQ, you are sure of

• Easy application process
• Secure platform
• Online application status tracking
• Save your data for future use
• Expert support

Visit our application page now to apply for your ETA.