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Written by Super User

Category: Visa

Published: 29 May 2014

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UPDATE

Visa issuance is temporarily suspended until 15 January 2021.

Passengers originating from the UK, Ireland, and 18 other countries are not allowed to enter the Philippines from 30 December 2020 to 15 January 2021.  Please read the complete travel advisory here.

The Philippine Government is currently imposing risk mitigation measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.  One of these measures is the temporary suspension of visa-free privileges and visa issuances. This travel ban is regularly being reviewed and updated depending on the COVID-19 situation in the country.  The public is therefore urged to postpone all non-essential travels to the Philippines. To check the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines please proceed to covid19.gov.ph.

A. Visa-free Entry to the Philippines

Pursuant to Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 85 s.2020, the following may be allowed entry privileges to the Philippines under Republic Act 6768 or the “Act Instituting the Balikbayan Program” effective, 7 December 2020:

• Filipino citizens’ foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are travelling with them;
• Former Filipino citizens, including their spouses and children, regardless of age who are travelling with them.

The entry of these persons shall be subject to the following conditions:

• They are allowed visa-free entry under Executive Order 408 s.1960;
  • Nationals who are allowed visa-free entry under EO 408 s.1960 include:
    • British citizens
    • Irish citizens
• They have a pre-booked quarantine facility;
• They have a pre-booked slot for COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport; and
• Subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port of and during the date of entry

The foregoing is without prejudice to immigration laws, rules and regulations such that the Commissioner of Immigration shall have the exclusive prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion orders for the above foreign nationals, including foreign nationals who have entered the Philippines by virtue of IATF resolutions.

Further, the entry of the above-mentioned nationals shall be subject to the implementing guidelines to be issued by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration.

Other foreign citizen spouses and children of Filipino nationals who do not belong to the above categories, are still subject to existing travel restrictions. They may apply for visas, as appropriate, provided that they are exempted from the temporary suspension of visa issuance, as outlined in previous IATF Resolutions.

B. Current holders of the following valid Philippine visas may enter the Philippines:

C. Foreign Nationals Who May Apply for a Visa to Enter the Philippines

Foreign nationals identified in the matrix below may apply for a 9A, 9C, and 9E visas to enter the Philippines if their date of entry to the Philippines falls before 7 December 2020 and/or if they are not among the foreign nationals belonging to the categories mentioned in Section A of this page.  All visa applications are to be sent by post. The visa application form must be notarised by a British / Irish Notary Public and must bear the Notary’s official seal. Applications that are not duly notarised and which do not bear the seal or stamp of the notary public will not be considered.  The purpose for the limited issuance of 9A visas is to enable foreign nationals to visit their Filipino national spouses int he Philippines or to travel to the Philippines with their Filipino nationals spouses for reason of GENUINE EMERGENCIES; as well as to enable foreign nationals to visit their Filipino national dependent children in the Philippines. Foreign nationals must therefore travel with their Filipino national spous to the Philippines or present proof that their Filipino national spouse is in the Philippines. A pre-booked holiday or vacation to the Philippines for the purposes of leisure is not considered an emergency.

Visa Categories

The Embassy is not authorised to issue 9G (work) and 9F (student) visas.  Only the Philippine Bureau of Immigration is authorised to issue these types of visas.  

For retirement visa applications, please contact the Philippine Retirement Authority through any of their contact details listed at pra.gov.ph.

Basic requirements:

• Completed Application for Non-Immigration Visa (FA Form 2A)
• Original passport and one (1) photocopy of the data page
• One (1) passport-size photograph, taken within the last 6 months
• One (1) copy of each of the following proofs of financial capability to support stay in the Philippines:
  • Latest bank statement, showing a balance of at least GBP 1,000.00.
  • Employment certificate disclosing one’s salaries & other entitlements
  • Pension statements (applicable only to retirees)
• Sponsorship letters supported by sponsor/s’ latest bank statement (if applicable)
• Visa fee in the form of a postal money order (in the UK) or bank draft (Ireland), paid out to the Philippine Embassy:
  • GBP 20 (For seafarers)
  • GBP 28 (For foreign nationals under EO 408.  Please check this link if this applies to you)
  • GBP 37 (For other foreign nationals not covered by EO 408)
• Self-addressed, stamped, special delivery envelope with tracking number

Additional Supporting Documents:

Estimated Processing Time:

Due to the volume of applications we are receiving, please expect to hear from the Visa Officer in at least 5-7 working days, except for visas applied for by partners of pregnant Filipino nationals as this type of application requires the issuance of an official approval from Manila before the visa can be released.  Expedited processing is not possible at the moment.

Visa applications from foreign nationals not covered under EO 408 include an additional 15 days clearing period.  

Important Reminders:

• Some airlines require passengers to present a Certification of Exemption from Travel Restrictions.  Kindly verify with your chosen airline if this is among their requirements.  A Certification of Exemption from Travel Restrictions may be obtained from the Philippine Embassy at GBP 23.00.  While this is not a requirement, it is recommended in order to avoid any inconveniences.
• Please submit only photocopies of supporting requirements.  The Philippine Embassy will not be liable for the loss of original copies of supporting documents during the application process.
• Incomplete applications will immediately be returned to the applicant.  We can only return your passport and visa application forms in the event that the envelope you have provided us can only accommodate both documents.  Therefore, please make sure you are able to provide us with a special delivery envelope that can fit all your documentary requirements so we can return all your documents in the event that your application is unsuccessful.
• The issuance of the non-quota immigrant visa (13A) is temporarily suspended until further notice.
•  Incomplete visa applications will immediately be returned to the applicant.
•  The Philippine Embassy is not in the position to answer queries on visas for those who want to stay or work in the UK or travel to another country. Please contact the UK Home Office or the relevant foreign embassy for these.
•  The grant of a Philippine visa is, in effect, only a form of pre-entry clearance. A foreign national who has been granted a Philippine visa by the Embassy is still subject to standard immigration control at the port of entry in the Philippines. The Philippine Immigration official at the port of entry will be the final authority to allow or deny admission into the country. 
•  The visa application fee is non-refundable.
•  Visa applications must be filed no earlier than 30 working days before the applicant's date of departure to the Philippines, except for travel document holders.
•  Do not book your flight until you have received your visa. The Embassy will not be rushed into issuing you a visa just because you had booked your flight.
•  For holders of collective passports, a separate application and payment must be made for each person who is travelling. All persons included in the passport must be properly identified with a photograph affixed to the collective passport.
•  Nationals who are subjects of deportation/blacklist orders of the DFA and the Bureau of Immigration shall not be admitted to the Philippines. Further inquiries may be addressed to The Visa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines.
•  For enquiries on particular cases related to the entry of foreign nationals into the Philippines, please directly get in touch with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Useful Links 

• FA Form 2A
• Ominibus Sword Statement
• COVID19 Situation
• Arrival Protocols
• List of Quarantine Hotels
• EO 408