Looking for visa information for other countries? Check out our Travel Visa Guide

*Update as of September 2013: we intended to apply for a 59 day visa in Indonesia but things didn’t work out so we used the 21 day visa on arrival instead. Considering how much we loved the Philippines though, we wish we’d applied for a longer visa in advance. Immigration laws are strict for the Philippines; we had to show proof of onward flights out of the country before we were allowed to board a plane to Manila and our visas were scrutinised upon leaving to check we hadn’t overstayed.

We’re really excited about visiting the Philippines on our round the world trip, it was one of the countries we scheduled in from the very start of our trip planning. As we’re finding with all Asian countries though, the visa restrictions can be strict and hard to decipher – here’s what we’ve found out about how to get a Philippine visa.

Do I need a Visa for the Philippines?

The Philippines visa requirements for UK citizens depend on how much time you want to spend in the country. Residents from Britain and many other countries are able to stay in the Philippines for 21 days without a visa, as long as they have:

  • A passport with at least six months validity
  • An onward or return air ticket

If you wish to stay in the Philippines longer than 21 days, Philippine visa requirements become stricter – you’ll need to apply for the tourist visa in advance.

Philippine Tourist Visa

The tourist visa allows you to stay up to 59 days in the Philippines; to get this visa you need to make an application three months in advance and provide the following:

  • Valid passport with six months validity
  • Onward or return air tickets
  • Proof that you’re financially solvent in the form of a bank or credit card statement
  • A completed visa application form
  • Two passport sized pictures
  • Proposed tourist or business intentions
  • A fee of around £45

Work and business visas are also available from Philippine embassies; check out the Philippine immigration website for details of these.

Read our Travel Visa Guide for information about visas for other countries.

*Information is accurate as of November 2012