The Philippines is a country renowned worldwide for its lovely beaches and vibrant culture. With its breathtaking landscapes and warm hospitality, it’s a must-visit destination for every traveler. If you are planning to visit this place anytime soon or in the future, we have some amazing news for you! The Philippines is now visa-free! Yes, you read that right. No more queues at the embassy or forms to fill out! Now, you can focus completely on planning your dream trip. Here’s everything you must know about the Philippines getting visa-free.
The Philippines Is Now Visa-Free!
The Philippines has officially made traveling to the country easy for Indian tourists through a new visa-free travel policy. An official announcement was made by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stating the same. The purpose is to increase tourism from India, which is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in Asia.
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Primary Categories To Enter the Philippines
There are two primary categories through which Indian travelers can now enter the Philippines:
- 14-Day Visa-Free Entry:
The Indian tourists who will be visiting the country for tourism can stay in the Philippines for up to 14 days. This new visa-free option is for tourism purposes only and cannot be converted into any other visa category. The tourists must not have any previous immigration violations in the country, and must enter the country through authorized international ports of entry.
- 30-Day Visa-Free Entry:
All tourists who have a current visa or permanent residency from the UK, Australia, Singapore, USA, Canada, Japan, or any Schengen country, then you can get a 30-day visa-free entry to the country. In this option too, the visa is non-extendable or non-convertible.
Who Can Qualify For Visa-Free Travel
In order to get visa-free travel, Indian tourists will have to produce these documents at the Philippines immigration.
- A passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay
- A return flight ticket that is confirmed and planned departure within 14 days or 30 days.
- Any hotel stay reservation.
- Recent bank statements, credit cards, or employment verification, to make sure that you can fund your stay in the country.
The immigration officers, upon arrival, will give you an arrival card. Also, you must not hold any derogatory record with the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Process
You do not need any online form or application form to be eligible for visa-free entry. All you have to do is present all these documents at any official Philippine port of entry. Make sure that you carry all the required documentation and supporting documents as well.
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Restrictions To Be Noted
- You need to conclude your stay within the permitted duration.
- Your stay will be only for tourism purposes, so you cannot engage in any business activities.
- This visa-free entry cannot be converted into any other visa.
Summing Up
All the Indian tourists who are willing to visit the Philippines will no longer have to walk to the embassy, wait in queues, or navigate e-visa systems. Now, all you gotta do is hop on a flight, present your documents and passport at the port, and go ahead to enjoy the beauty of the country. So now wait no more, book your tickets now!
