IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR THOSE APPLYING FOR A VISA
- For the latest information on entry, testing and quarantine protocols please check IATF website.
- 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 approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.
- 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.
- Please note that NO REFUND of the visa application fee can be made for whatever reason.
For further information, you may visit the Philippine Bureau of Immigration’s website immigration.gov.ph or its Official Facebook Page.
VISA-FREE ENTRY
Citizens of 157 countries can enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism/business purposes. Check the full list of visa-free-countries and a maximum length of stay for your nationality.
If you are a German passport-holder and wish to travel to the Philippines for tourism/business, you are eligible for the visa-free privilege provided that your stay in the Philippines does not exceed thirty (30) days.
Citizens of countries not mentioned in the above list must apply for a visa.
IMPORTANT:
If you are eligible for visa-free entry, you must still be able to present, at the Philippine borders, the following documents:
- Your passport valid for at least six (6) months after the applicant’s date of departure from the Philippines; and
- An outbound flight ticket.
If you are eligible for visa-free entry into the Philippines but wish to stay longer than 30 days, you may apply for a Temporary Visitors’ Visa from the Embassy prior to your flight, or for an extension of your stay at the nearest Philippine Immigration office at least one week before the initial visa-free stay ends.
Minors under fifteen (15) years old traveling without his/her parent must secure a Waiver of Exclusion Ground.
All travelers to the Philippines, including those who may enter visa-free, must comply with applicable health protocols. Please check the ADVISORY section of this website or the IATF website for the most up-to-date health protocols.
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:
- A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year;
- A Filipino overseas worker;
- 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 link below for list of countries). The visa-free stay privilege is extended to the balikbayan’s non-Filipino spouse and children, on the two conditions that:
- They enter the Philippines with the balikbayan; and
- They are citizens of a country listed in the following link: COUNTRIES COVERED BY THE BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM
Former Filipino balikbayans traveling 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 the 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.
VISA VALIDITY
- SINGLE ENTRY – Traveler 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 – Traveler 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 a visa extension at the nearest immigration office at least one week prior to the expiration of the valid stay.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Documentary requirements vary depending on the type of visa being applied for:
NON-IMMIGRANT
- 9(A) – Temporary Visitors – According to Visa Types
- 9(B) – Transient
- 9(C) – Seafarers and Crew List
- 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
- 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
VISA FEE
The visa fee depends on the type of visa applied for, the number of entries requested, and the applicant’s nationality.
The visa fee excludes the express processing fee or legalization fee for documents that certain application might require. The range of visa fee are as follows:
- 9(a) Temporary Visitors
- Single entry – € 33.00
- Multiple entry (six months) – € 66.00
- Multiple entry (twelve months) – € 99.00
- 9(a) (Visa required)
- Single Entry – € 44.00
- Multiple entry (six months) – € 88.00
- Multiple entry (visa required – twelve months) – € 132.00
- 9(a) (Chinese Nationals)
- Single entry – € 27.50
- Multiple entry (six months) – € 55.00
- Multiple entry (visa required – twelve months) – € 110.00
- 9(c) Seafarer – € 22.00
- 9(c) Crew List (below 40) – € 110.00
- 9(g) Pre-arranged Employee / Missionary – € 440.00
- 13(a) / 13 (g) Non-Quota Immigrant – € 165.00
- Quota Immigrant – € 176.00
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 make sure that you have undergone through the necessary pre-processing procedures. Once pre-processed, you will be provided with Embassy’s bank details to transfer your payment and will be required to include a copy of the proof of payment (Überweisungsbeleg) in your submission.
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.
Downloadable Forms
- FA Form No. 2 – Application Form for Non-Immigrant Visa (except 9(a) visa)
- FA form No. 3 – Application for Immigrant Visa
- FA form No. 11 – Medical Examination form
- FA form No. 61 – Crew List Visa Form
- IPC Press Accreditation Form
- Affidavit of Support and Consent for WEG
- Affidavit of Support and Guarantee