Your complete guide to a Philippines visa for Indians

The Philippines is renowned for its beautiful beaches and islands, making it an increasingly popular honeymoon destination than ever before. Indian passport holders who are interested in discovering the Philippines and its dynamic city of Manila are going to need a visa to visit. Read on to learn more about getting a Filipino visa and how to apply.

Do Indians need a visa for the Philippines?

Indian citizens need a visa to enter the Philippines for any purpose, including tourism.

Indian passport holders having a valid American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore, or UK long-term visa or residency can enter the Philippines without a visa for tourism for up to 14 days.¹

Types of visas for the Philippines

The Philippines issues different types of visas to Indian passport holders, including immigrant and non-immigrant visas in various categories. The most popular visa categories include the following:²

• Temporary Visitors Visa: Visa 9(a)
• Pre-arranged employees visa: 9(g)
• Student Visa: Visa 9(f)

Additionally, the Philippines issues immigrant (quota and non-quota) visas in multiple categories for anyone looking to move to the country.

Philippine tourist visa for Indians

The Philippines issues the Visa 9(a) temporary visitor visa to Indian passport holders heading to the country for tourism. The visa can be issued for three months, six months, or one year, but only the six months or one-year visas allow for multiple entries.

Indians can also apply for the temporary visitor visa for the following reasons:

• Business meetings.
• Medical treatment.
• Training.
• Attending a conference or meeting.
• Workshops or seminars.

The maximum stay period on a Visa 9(a) is 59 days. Indian citizens can’t enter the country for tourism without this specific visa unless they meet the requirement of holding a residency or long-term visa to one of the designated countries.³

Philippine work visa for Indians

Indian citizens who get employment in the Philippines and are required to relocate to the country will require a Philippines pre-arranged work visa, Visa 9(g). This is in addition to a local work permit and the application process is to be done with the Filipino employer.⁴

Visa on arrival for Indians in the Philippines

The Philippines does not have a visa-on-arrival facility for Indian citizens. You must have a visa in hand when you depart from India.

How much does a Philippines visa cost?

A Philippines visa fee depends on the number of entries you require and the type of visa. Here are the fees to expect:

Visa Fees verified on 14 June 2023.

The payment must be made by Demand Draft favoring “Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines.” You do not get a refund on your visa application fee if you are denied a visa.⁵

Philippine visa requirements for Indians

To get a visa, Indian passport holders must meet the minimum requirements for a Philippines visa.⁸

• They must hold a valid passport with validity extending to at least six months beyond their intended stay in the Philippines.
• A complete visa application in English.
• A recent passport-size photograph on a white background.
• Show proof of your purpose for the visit, such as for tourism or business.
• Have confirmed roundtrip tickets to and from the Philippines, for tourists.
• Evidence of having paid the visa fee.
• Invitation letter, if required.

Students must provide the following additional documents:

1. Original Notice of Acceptance (NOA).
2. Original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CEHD).
3. Police clearance.
4. Medical Health Certificate.

Work visa applicants must have prior approval from the DFA, police clearance, and a medical health certificate.

The Embassy and Consulates have the right to ask for additional documents with your application.

How to apply for a Philippines visa

The application process depends on the type of visa you are applying for. The short-term temporary visitor visa process requires applying first on the online application portal and then submitting your paperwork in person at the Embassy of the Philippines or Consulate General offices in India.

Here is how to submit an application for a visa to the Philippines:

1. Access the official website for visa applications.
2. Review the details for your type of visa and scroll down to the bottom of the page to start the application.
3. Select ‘New Application’.
4. Complete the details about the type of visa, select the Embassy or Consulate for your region in India, and your email address.
5. Once you have completed your application, print out the application.
6. Gather your documents.
7. Contact the Consulate General or Embassy of the Philippines for your region for next steps.

Once you have submitted your documents and application, you will be given a claim stub with a transaction number and a date to pick up your passport.⁷

How long does it take to get a Philippines visa?

Generally, it can take six to ten days to be issued a Philippines visa. However, you can pay an additional fee of INR 800 INR express visa processing, which takes up to six working days.⁹

The Philippines temporary visitor visa is valid for 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year depending on the number of entries, with a maximum stay of 59 days. After that, you must extend the visa accordingly to remain in the Philippines, or leave the country and re-enter the Philippines.¹⁰

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