Philippines Visa

Philippines — Visa Overview

About the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the world's most breathtakingly beautiful and genuinely captivating archipelago nations — a country of over 7,600 islands scattered across the western Pacific Ocean, where dramatic limestone karst landscapes, world-class coral reefs, pristine white-sand beaches, ancient rice terraces, and one of the warmest and most genuinely welcoming peoples on earth combine to create a travel experience of extraordinary richness and diversity. From the cosmopolitan energy of Metro Manila to the UNESCO-listed baroque churches of Ilocos, from the electric-blue waters of El Nido to the powdery shores of Boracay, the Philippines rewards every visitor with experiences that are genuinely unlike anywhere else in the world.

Palawan — consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful islands — stuns with the extraordinary underground river of Puerto Princesa, the dramatic limestone cliffs and turquoise lagoons of El Nido, and the island-hopping paradise of the Bacuit Archipelago. Boracay — one of Asia's most iconic beach destinations — enchants with its legendary White Beach, vibrant nightlife, world-class water sports, and extraordinary sunsets. The Chocolate Hills of Bohol — over 1,200 perfectly symmetrical conical hills turning chocolate-brown in the dry season — are one of the Philippines' most extraordinary natural wonders, alongside the tiny tarsiers — the world's smallest primates. Cebu — the historic heart of the Visayas — blends colonial heritage at Magellan's Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño with extraordinary diving and the whale shark encounters of Oslob. The Ifugao Rice Terraces of the Cordillera — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — carved into the mountainsides of Luzon over 2,000 years ago — remain one of the most awe-inspiring human achievements in the Asia-Pacific region. The Batanes Islands — the northernmost tip of the Philippines — transport visitors to rolling green hills, ancient stone-walled Ivatan villages, and dramatic Pacific cliffs unlike anything else in Southeast Asia.

What is a Philippines Visa?

The Philippines issues the 9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa — the standard visa category for all foreign nationals visiting the Philippines for tourism, business, leisure, medical treatment, and other short-term purposes. The 9(a) visa is available in two forms:

eVisa (Fully Digital — No Passport Submission Required):
Applied for entirely online through the official Philippines eVisa portal — evisa.gov.ph — operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. The approved eVisa is delivered electronically to the applicant's registered email address — no physical sticker is placed in the passport. The eVisa must be presented in printed or digital format at the Philippine port of entry alongside the valid travel passport. The Philippines eVisa is currently available to citizens and residents of India · UAE · Japan · South Korea · Singapore · Indonesia · and selected other nationalities.

Physical Sticker Visa (Embassy or Consulate):
For nationalities not eligible for the eVisa system — or for long-term stays, study, work, or other non-tourist visa categories — a physical sticker visa is issued through the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad. The sticker visa is affixed into the passport upon approval and must be presented at the Philippine port of entry.

Important — eVisa Restrictions:

• The Philippines eVisa is non-extendible and non-convertible — it cannot be extended or converted to any other visa category after entry.
• Only the 9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa can currently be applied for through the eVisa system. All other visa categories — including student, employment, and long-term visas — must be applied for through Philippine diplomatic missions.
• The eVisa is not a guarantee of entry — the Bureau of Immigration at the port of entry has the sole discretion to determine admission.

Four Entry Routes — Philippines

Route 1 — Visa-Free Entry — 30 Days (EO 408)

As governed by Executive Order No. 408, nationals of over 150 countries may enter the Philippines without any visa for an initial stay of up to 30 days — upon presenting a valid passport with at least 6 months beyond the intended stay and a confirmed return or onward ticket.

UAE Nationals — Visa Free — 30 Days:
UAE nationals are on the Philippines' visa-free list — they may enter the Philippines without any visa for an initial stay of up to 30 days. This can be extended at the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines for an additional 29 days — and further monthly up to a maximum of 36 months.

KSA Nationals — Visa Free — 30 Days:
Saudi Arabian nationals are on the Philippines' visa-free list — they may enter the Philippines without any visa for an initial stay of up to 30 days — extendable at the Bureau of Immigration.

Route 2 — Visa-Free Entry for Indian Nationals (Effective 8 June 2025)

Option A — 14 Days Visa-Free — All Indian Nationals:
Indian nationals may enter the Philippines without a visa for a non-extendible and non-convertible period of 14 days for tourism and business — upon presenting:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay
• Confirmed hotel accommodation or booking
• Proof of financial capacity
• Return or onward ticket

Option B — 30 Days Visa-Free — AJACSSUK Visa/Permit Holders:
Indian nationals holding a valid and current American · Japanese · Australian · Canadian · Schengen · Singapore · United Kingdom (AJACSSUK) visa or residence permit may enter the Philippines without a visa for a non-extendible period of 30 days for tourism — upon presenting a valid passport and return or onward ticket.

Critical — Indian Nationals:

• Both 14-day and 30-day privileges are non-extendible and non-convertible — cannot be extended or converted after entry.
• Indian nationals transiting through the Philippines or visiting for long-term stays or non-tourism purposes must apply for a Philippine visa through the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate before travel.
• Indian nationals must have no derogatory record with the Bureau of Immigration.

Route 3 — eVisa (Online Application)

For visa-required nationalities — or for Indian nationals and UAE residents requiring a stay beyond 14 or 30 days — the Philippines eVisa (9a Temporary Visitor Visa) can be applied for online through the official portal — evisa.gov.ph — before travel.

• Single Entry eVisa: Valid for up to 3 months from date of issue — stay up to 59 days
• Multiple Entry eVisa: Valid for 6 months or 1 year — stay up to 59 days per visit
• Processing: 7 to 12 working days for single entry · 15 to 21 working days for multiple entry
• The eVisa is non-extendible and non-convertible after entry

Route 4 — Physical Sticker Visa (Embassy or Consulate)

For nationalities not eligible for visa-free entry or the eVisa system — or for all long-term and non-tourist visa categories — a physical sticker visa must be obtained through the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate before travel. This includes:

• UAE Market: Philippine Embassy — Abu Dhabi · Philippine Consulate General — Dubai
• KSA Market: Philippine Embassy — Riyadh · Philippine Consulate General — Jeddah
• India Market: Philippine Embassy — New Delhi · Philippine Consulate General — Mumbai · Kolkata · Chennai

Do You Need a Philippines Visa? — UAE, India & KSA

UAE Nationals — Visa Free:
UAE nationals enter the Philippines without any visa for up to 30 days — extendable at the Bureau of Immigration. No application required.

UAE Residents of Other Nationalities:
Determined by passport held. Indian passport holders residing in UAE qualify for 14-day or 30-day visa-free access. For stays beyond 30 days or non-tourism purposes — apply for the Philippines eVisa online at evisa.gov.ph or through the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

KSA Nationals — Visa Free:
Saudi Arabian nationals enter the Philippines without any visa for up to 30 days — extendable at the Bureau of Immigration.

KSA Residents of Other Nationalities:
Determined by passport held. For non-exempt nationalities — apply for Philippines eVisa online or through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.

Indian Nationals:

• 14 days visa-free — all Indian nationals — non-extendible
• 30 days visa-free — Indian nationals with valid AJACSSUK visa or residence permit — non-extendible
• eVisa — for stays beyond 14/30 days or non-tourism purposes — apply online through evisa.gov.ph
• Sticker Visa — for long-term stay or non-tourist visa categories — apply through Philippine Embassy New Delhi

Entry Summary — Rayna's Three Markets

Permitted Activities

• Tourism, sightseeing, island hopping, beach holidays, and leisure travel
• Visiting family or friends
• Business meetings, conferences, and trade activities — short term
• Medical tourism

Not Permitted on 9(a) Visitor Visa:

• Paid employment — a 9(g) Pre-arranged Employment Visa and Alien Employment Permit required
• Long-term study — a student visa required
• Any activity inconsistent with the declared purpose of visit

Important Entry Requirements

• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the contemplated period of stay — machine-readable or electronic passport mandatory — non-machine-readable and hand-scripted passports are NOT accepted at Philippine Embassies or ports of entry.
• Confirmed return or onward ticket to the country of origin or next destination — mandatory.
• Confirmed hotel accommodation or booking — mandatory for Indian nationals under the 14-day visa-free policy.
• Proof of sufficient financial capacity for the duration of stay.

eTravel Registration — Mandatory for ALL Travellers:
All foreign nationals entering the Philippines must complete the mandatory eTravel digital arrival registration before departure — free of charge — at etravel.gov.ph. Must be completed within 72 hours before arrival. This replaces the paper arrival card — the QR code generated must be presented at the Philippine port of entry.

Extension of Stay:
The initial 30-day visa-free stay for UAE and KSA nationals may be extended at the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines:

• First extension: 29 additional days — total 59 days
• Subsequent monthly extensions: up to a maximum of 36 months
• ACR I-Card required for stays exceeding 59 days
• Annual Report required for stays exceeding 1 year

Processing Time

• Philippines eVisa — Single Entry: 7 to 12 working days
• Philippines eVisa — Multiple Entry: 15 to 21 working days
• Physical Sticker Visa (Embassy): 5 to 10 working days — subject to Embassy workload
• Visa-free entry: No application — enter on valid passport with completed eTravel registration

General Disclaimer
All visa and entry decisions rest solely with the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and the Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines. Rayna Tours acts as a professional visa assistance provider only. Possession of an approved eVisa or visa-free privilege does not guarantee entry — final entry is at the sole discretion of the Bureau of Immigration at the Philippine port of entry.