Philippines visa and entry requirements

The Department of Foreign Affairs says visa-free nationals must hold passports valid for at least six months beyond the contemplated period of stay.

• Yellow fever (ICVP) — WHO's country list says proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, and for travellers who transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of such a country.

No official source we could read states a travel-insurance requirement for the Philippines. The UK Foreign Office advises making sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment, including repatriation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs' visa policy says visa-free nationals must possess return tickets to their country of origin or outward-bound tickets to their next country of destination. The UK government says immigration officials and airlines may ask for proof of return or onward travel.

The Department of Foreign Affairs' visa policy lists proof of financial capacity (any of the following: bank statements for the latest six months or tax payments, an employment certificate with remuneration, proof of business income, or a letter of guarantee from the sponsor with proof of financial capacity) among the minimum requirements for a tourism/leisure visitor visa (9(a-2)). It asks Indian nationals entering visa-free for 14 days to show proof of financial capacity. No amount is published.

• eTravel Registration — The eTravel FAQ says arriving passengers, foreign and Filipino, must register on eTravel, except foreign diplomats and their dependants, foreign dignitaries, 9(e) visa holders and holders of diplomatic and official or service passports; registration is possible within 72 hours before arrival and is free of charge, and etravel.gov.ph is the only official website. The QR code is shown to the airline before boarding and to customs on arrival. (within 72 hours before arrival) etravel.gov.ph ↗(opens in a new tab)

Fine: 500 PHP per month

The Bureau of Immigration's fee table for extending a visa-waiver stay adds a fine for overstaying of PHP 500.00 per month; the table is dated 6 March 2014. The Bureau says a foreign national who has violated immigration law, for example by overstaying, may be placed on its Black List, which bars entry into the Philippines.

Done by the traveller.

The Bureau of Immigration says all foreign nationals, including holders of a Temporary Visitor's Visa, who have stayed more than 59 days in the Philippines must apply for an ACR I-Card, which is issued to registered aliens whose stay has exceeded 59 days. Canada's travel advice says foreign nationals staying longer than 59 days must register with the local authorities.

• Departure tax at Mactan-Cebu airport — 850 Philippine pesos in local currency or the equivalent in US dollars, according to the UK government. Paid on departure.

  The UK government says that if you leave the country from Cebu Mactan airport you must pay a departure tax of 850 Philippine pesos in local currency or the equivalent in US dollars, and that there is no longer a departure tax at Manila airport. Australia's Smartraveller says a departure tax is payable when leaving from Mactan-Cebu or Clark International Airports.

The Bureau of Customs says anyone bringing into or taking out of the Philippines foreign currency in excess of USD 10,000 or its equivalent must declare the whole amount in the e-CDF, and that more than PHP 50,000 in Philippine currency requires prior written authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and declaration.

• The UK government says there are strict rules on goods taken into or out of the Philippines, and you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
• The Bureau of Customs says passengers fill in the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF), and, when bringing currencies beyond the allowed threshold, the electronic Currencies Declaration Form (e-CDF), on the eTravel website or the eGovPH app within 72 hours before arrival; the e-CBDF must be filled in by all arriving passengers, and the QR code is presented to the customs officer for clearance.