PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the Philippines generally must first obtain a Philippine visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the Philippines without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel.

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Visa Reminder

A visa does not guarantee that the holder will be automatically admitted to the country. The admission of foreign nationals to the Philippines is a function of the immigration officials at the port of entry. Philippine immigration authorities will not allow entry into Philippine airports and seaports for the following foreign nationals:

• Those holding non-machine-readable passports (e.g. hand scripted passports); or
• Those previously deported from the Philippines or included in the “blacklist order” of the Department of Foreign Affairs or Bureau of Immigration; or
• Those with incomplete documentation; or
• Those with circumstances that would render them inadmissible for entry, even with a valid passport and visa issued by a Philippine Consulate.

PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR AIRLINE TICKET UNLESS AND UNTIL YOUR PHILIPPINE VISA HAS BEEN APPROVED.

The Consulate cannot guarantee the approval, and issuance, of the visa before the applicant’s flight schedule. Applicants, however, may submit a temporary flight booking/reservation to comply with the requirements.

THE CONSULATE WILL NOT:

-Expedite the visa processing to accommodate the visa applicant’s flight schedule;
-Refund the visa application fee if the visa is issued later than your flight departure date or if the visa application is denied or cancelled.

PHILIPPINE VISA POLICY

Check if your passport will require a visa for entry to the Philippines by searching the table below for the country that issued your passport.

BALIKBAYAN VISA-FREE PRIVILEGE

The following categories of person can avail of Balikbayan privilege: (a) a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year from the date of last departure; (b) a Filipino overseas worker (OFW); (c) a former Filipino citizen who was naturalized in a foreign country and holds a foreign passport.

Nationals of countries who fall under Executive Order 408 and are family members (spouse and children holding foreign passports) of a Balikbayan (returning Filipino citizen or former Filipino citizen) are entitled to a visa-free entry to the Philippines for a maximum stay of one (1) year from the date of their arrival in the country. They shall be admitted as Balikbayans on condition that they (i) travel with a Balikbayan and (ii) observe and comply with immigration rules and regulations.

Returning Balikbayans or former Filipinos should present the following to immigration officials at the port of entry:

1. Passport valid for six (6) months beyond the intended stay in the Philippines;
2. Proof of former Philippine citizenship (e.g. old Philippine passport or PSA-issued birth certificate). Please note that a foreign passport indicating “Philippines” as your place of birth is not sufficient proof of your previous Filipino citizenship.

Family members of Balikbayans are advised to bring with them proof of relationship or affiliation with the Balikbayan such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.

However, a former Filipino citizen who acquired the citizenship of a country that falls under the visa-required nationals category per Philippine visa regulations, or his/her family member whose nationality also falls under the cited category, is not entitled to a Balikbayan privilege and is required to obtain an entry visa to the Philippines.