Philippines Visa Information (as an American)
I’ll update this whenever I make trips there, which was last in January of 2024.
If your stay in the Philippines is 30 days or less, you do not need to worry about a visa. Americans are granted what is called a “visa-on-arrival”. Meaning you get to immigration once you land, let them know you’re there for 1-30 days and then they let you in.
Your day count doesn’t start until the day after you clear immigration. Meaning if you land on January 2nd, your first day would be January 3rd. If you get through immigration at 11:59 PM, your first day would start 1 minute later. Just something to keep in mind. If you’re trying to maximize your time, arrive at the airport early in the day.
Not leaving before your required date could lead to fines (charged by the month, not by day) and potentially never being allowed back in. The good news is it’s very easy to extend your visa-on-arrival.
Staying between 31 and 59 days?
The Filipino government has made extending your visa-on-arrival real easy. Some people have had success simply asking at immigration once you land at the airport, but I wouldn’t bother because I’ve also heard of it being a real hassle. Instead, you can visit the Bureau of Immigration’s eServices website and do it from there. The website has changed a lot lately, so I don’t want to provide screenshots or detailed instructions, but you’re looking for the “Visa Waiver” portion of the website.
All American airlines will use the Timatic tables to guage whether you’re pemitted entry into a country, including the Philippines - basically an online service that contains all the rules countries have for incoming people.
You can buy your tickets no issue, they won’t check your dates at that time, but they will when you check-in for your flight. When you visit the check-in counter, they will use the Timatic table and ask for your visa permitting you to stay.
Agent: I see you’ll be staying in Manila for 40 days. Can you show me your visa?
You: Oh, I plan to extend my visa when I get there.
Agent: Unfortunately, our policy is that I can’t let you on the plane unless you can show me right now that you’re allowed to stay longer than 30 days, or have a ticket showing you leaving the Philippines during that time.
Focus on that bold part there. If you can show the airline that you intend to leave the Philippines (not even back to America) within 30 days, you’re all set.
A lot of people will tell you to buy what is called a forwarding ticket, which is a temporary, cheap ticket showing your intention to go somewhere. It’s real in that it’s a real ticket and will show up when the check-in agent looks it up, but it’s fake in that you’re not actually elligible to get on a plane with it. Problem being, that what you’ve got is a reservation, not an actual ticket.
The safest thing to do, is to simply buy an actual refundable ticket from an airline. Once you get through immigration in the Philippines, refund it. (I’ve never had immigration ask me for the return ticket, but I’d like to have it, just in case.) It’s more expensive immediately this way, sure, but you won’t be raising any eyebrows and the last thing you need right before your trip is stress.
Staying longer than 59 days?
Foreigners who stay in the Philippines for 60 days or longer are required to obtain two things: an Alient Certificate of Registration Identity-Card (ACR I-Card) and a Visa Waiver.