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General Information
*** Important: Please refer to the above Notice on Temporary Arrival Travel Restrictions pertaining to Foreign Nationals. The visa-free entry privilege is currently suspended.
Foreign nationals who fall under the above-listed categories and do not have a valid PH visa must apply for one before they travel to the Philippines.
Aside from submitting the usual visitor visa requirements (see below), you must provide proof of relationship (PSA-issued documents) and comply with the 4 IATF conditions (see above). Your visa application will be reviewed based on the documents you have submitted.
Please allow sufficient lead time between your visa application and proposed travel plans.***
Visa-Free Entry (Currently Suspended)
Citizens of 157 countries can now enter the Philippines visa-free. Check the full list of visa-free countries and maximum length of stay for your nationality.
Citizens of countries not mentioned in the above list are required to apply for a visa.
Requirements for visa-free entry:
Passport valid for at least six (6) months after the applicant’s date of departure from the Philippines.
Outbound flight ticket.
IMPORTANT:
Foreigners admitted visa-free may apply for an extension at the nearest Philippine Immigration office at least one week before the initial visa-free stay ends.
Minors under fifteen (15) years old travelling without his/her parent must apply for a Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG).
For further information, you may visit the Philippine Bureau of Immigration’s website immigration.gov.ph or its Official Facebook Page.
BALIKBAYAN PRIVILEGE
The Balikbayan Program as instituted by Republic Act 6768 (amended by Republic Act 9174) was launched by the Philippine Government to attract and encourage overseas Filipinos to come and visit their motherland. The following are considered Balikbayans:
1. A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year;
2. A Filipino overseas worker;
3. A former Filipino citizen who had been naturalized in one of the following countries listed on the attached page and who comes or returns to the Philippines; please note that their accompanying foreigner spouse and children are also considered balikbayans.
ONE YEAR VISA-FREE BALIKBAYAN STAY
The Philippines’ BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM allows a one-year visa-free stay for former Filipinos who have acquired citizenship in certain countries (please refer to the attached list of countries).
The visa-free stay privilege is extended to the balikbayan’s non-Filipino spouse and children, on the two conditions that (1) they enter the Philippines with the balikbayan and (2) they are citizens of a country listed below.
Former Filipino balikbayans travelling to the Philippines are advised to declare before the Immigration Officer at the port of entry that they are availing of the privilege and to bring either their old Philippine passport or copy of Philippine birth certificate as proof of their former Philippine citizenship.
Accompanying family members of the balikbayan can bring appropriate supporting documents to show evidence of relationship:
For the spouse: copy of marriage certificate For each child: copy of birth certificate (indicating the balikbayan as a parent) For adopted children: copy of adoption papers
Aside from visa-free entry to the Philippines, Philippine Law (R.A. 9174) provides benefits to Balikbayans:
Tax-exempt maximum purchases in the amount of USD 1,500, or the equivalent in Philippine and other currency, at Philippine Government–operated duty free shops Exemption from Travel Tax, provided that their stay in the Philippines is one year or less. If their stay in the Philippines exceeds one year, Travel tax will apply to them.
COUNTRIES COVERED BY THE BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM
Applying for a visa
IMPORTANT:
Visa applicants are strongly advised to finalize their flight booking only after the visa is granted. The Embassy will not expedite the visa processing to accommodate the applicant’s flight schedule.
Processing time is from five (5) to ten (10) working days depending on the applicant’s nationality. Some applicants may require a longer evaluation period.
Please note that NO REFUND of the visa application fee can be made for whatever reason.
Visa requirements
Documentary requirements vary depending on the type of visa being applied for:
NON-IMMIGRANT
9(A) Spouse or Parent of Filipino National, Tourism, Business, Journalist / Media Crew, Visa required nationals (Tourism /Business)
9(B) Transient
9(D) International Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors
9(E) Foreign Government Officials
9(F) Student
9(G) Pre-arranged employees / Missionary
SPECIAL NON-IMMIGRANT
47(A)(2) Foreign volunteers
IMMIGRANT (CURRENTLY SUSPENDED)
13(A) For spouses of Filipino national
13(G) For natural born Filipino who has been naturalized in a foreign country
SRRV Special Resident Retiree Visa
Processing time
Submission of visa application is strongly advised at least a month before the expected date of travel to the Philippines.
Processing of the visa takes five (5) to ten (10) working days, depending on the visa applied for and the applicant ‘s nationality. Some applications may require a longer period for evaluation and must wait for the approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.
Certain conditions will allow the visa application to be processed and released the following working day, with the payment of the express processing fee of nine euro (€ 9,00). Please inquire if your application is eligible for express processing.
Visa fee
The visa fee depends on the type of visa applied for, number of entries requested, and the applicant’s nationality.
The visa fee excludes the express processing fee or legalization fee for documents which certain application might require. The range of visa fee are as follows:
9(a) Single entry € 27,00
9(a) Single entry (Chinese) € 22,50
9(a) Single entry (visa required) € 36,00
9(a) Multiple entry (six months) € 54,00
9(a) Multiple entry (twelve months) € 81,00
9(c) Seafarer € 18,00
13(a) / 13 (g) immigrant € 135,00
IMPORTANT:
Visa fee must be paid in cash if application is submitted in person.
If you wish to send your visa application by post or courier service, please use the following bank details for your payment and send a copy of the proof of payment (Überweisungsbeleg):
Bank Details of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin
(Use this account for transactions done in Berlin only)
Name: Philippinische Botschaft
IBAN: DE 83 380 700 590 1950229 00
BIC: DEUT DE DK380
Please note that NO REFUND of the visa application fee will be made if the application is denied or the visa is approved after the applicant’s scheduled departure date.
Visa validity
SINGLE ENTRY – Traveller must enter the Philippines within three (3) months from the date of the visa’s issuance. Maximum allowable stay is fifty-nine (59) days.
MULTIPLE ENTRY – Traveller must enter the Philippines within six (6) or twelve (12) months from the date of the visa’s issuance. Maximum allowable stay is fifty-nine (59) days per trip.
For those who wish to extend beyond fifty-nine (59) days, the foreign national must apply for visa extension at the nearest immigration office at least one week prior to the expiration of the valid stay.
Downloadable Forms
FA form No. 2 – Application for Non-immigrant Visa
FA form No. 2 – for Chinese nationals
FA form No. 3 – Application for Immigrant Visa
FA form No. 11 – Medical Examination form
FA form No. 61 – Crew List Visa Form
Affidavit of Support and Consent for WEG