Travelling to the Philippines as a UK citizen is fun, but you must ensure that you have all the required documents in hand so you don’t encounter any problems with the immigration officers. A visa for the Philippines from UK is required if you plan to stay in the country for several months or years. Luckily for you, the Philippines visa application process is relatively straightforward, so that you can obtain a visa without stress. Keep reading to learn more about the Philippine visa application requirements and other important details.
Travelling To The Philippines
Every year many British citizens visit the Philippines to enjoy a nice time by the sandy beaches or to attend a business event in the country. The country is located at a strategic location in Southeast Asia, and it attracts Britons and other foreign nationals. The Philippines is blessed with stunning coastal towns, resorts and beaches. It has thousands of tiny islands, which are perfect locations for recreational activities. Should you choose to visit the Philippines, you should expect to enjoy an amazing experience because there is so much to see here.
Furthermore, the Philippines has a fertile economy ripe for investments with many opportunities to take advantage of. There are also thousands of British ex-pats living and working in the country too.
Do British Citizens Need A Visa To Enter The Philippines?
UK citizens do not need a visa to enter the Philippines if they plan to spend 30 days or less in the country. The UK is one of the countries on the visa-free list, so that you can enter without one. However, a visa is required if you plan to exceed the 30-day visa-free period. To avoid running into trouble with the authorities, it is best to know ahead of time how long you plan to stay in the country and apply for the right Philippines visa free.
Philippines Visa Requirements
If you plan to stay in the country longer than a month, you must apply for a visa. Find below the requirements.
Passport: A valid Philippines passport with a minimum of 6 months validity. The applicant's actual signed passport must have at least 2 blank pages where the immigration officers on duty will place the visa stamp.
Photograph: A recent photograph of you is required. The photograph must be coloured on a white background. The photograph must show your face clearly.
Proof of funds: A bank statement of account for 3 months showing a minimum balance to cover your expenses.
Proof of accommodation: A hotel reservation or house address where you will stay during your visit.
Invitation Letter: For business visas, the company or organization inviting you to the Philippines will need to provide you with a business invitation letter printed on the company’s letterhead paper.
Cover Letter: A signed cover letter indicating the purpose of the trip.
In addition to these documents, the applicant must prove beyond reasonable doubt that they intend to leave the country before or on the day their visa expires. They must provide evidence of a return flight ticket back to the United Kingdom as not having one may lead to disqualification. Furthermore, visitors are required to pay a departure tax when leaving the country. This amount is subject to change.
How To Apply For A Visa
There are two ways to apply for a visa. For long-term visa applications, the applicant must visit the Filipino embassy in the UK to submit the visa application form in person. This process takes a long time but is the only option for work or long-term visas. For short term visas, a visit to the embassy in London may not be required as they can do it online. To submit your application form online, you can use VisaHQ.
Log onto VisaHQ
Select the Philippines as your travel destination
Select UK as your citizenship
Choose the visa you want
Fill out and sign the application form
Attach the required travel documents
Pay the visa application fee
Submit for approval
These are the simple steps you must take to apply for a visa online, and if successful, it will be forwarded to your email address.
Types of Visas
Work visa
Tourist Visa
Business Visa
Spousal visa
Retirement visa
Visas are categorized into short or long stay visas, so endeavour to consider your plans before applying for a visa for the Philippines. It is a violation to overstay your visa or to be caught working in the country on a tourist visa. All applicants for a visa to the Philippines from the UK are also advised to use valid documents and provide accurate information to avoid application rejections.