The Philippines is an Island country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific ocean. It is an archipelago that is made up of over 7,000 islands and islets located around 800 km off the coast of Vietnam. Indians visit the Philippines for both business and pleasure. The country has big cities, beaches, and excellent surfing spots. It also has volcanoes and wildlife. Today at SBNRI, we will be explaining how Indians can get a visa for the Philippines.
This article will cover:
1. The Categories of Philippines Visas Available
2. The Philippines Visa Requirements
3. How to Apply for the Philippines Visa
5. Duration of Stay (Temporary Visit Visa)
6. General Guidelines
7. Reasons for Rejection
The Philippines Visa for Indians
Below we explain how to get a Philippines Visa for Indians
1. The Categories of Philippines Visas Available
- Tourist Visa
- Religious/Missionary Visa
- Business Visa
- Transit Visa
- Diplomatic Visa
- Student Visa
- Pre-Arranged Employment Visa
- Special Non-Immigrant Visa
- Temporary Visitor’s Visa with a pending application for a working visa or dependents visa
2. The Philippines Visa Requirements
The following are the basic requirements for a visa for the Philippines:
- Please make sure that your passport has enough pages for the new visa.
- The visa application form needs to be filled out completely and be in English.
- One passport size photograph.
- Bank statements of the last six months stamped and signed by a bank officer.
- The original passport with a validity of at least six months.
- Photocopy of data and amended pages in the passport.
- Demand draft from any bank which has a branch in New Delhi made payable to the “Embassy of the Philippines”.
Additional documents may be required. Please check the official website of the Embassy of the Philippines in India to know more.
3. How to Apply for a Philippines Visa
There are three ways for Indians to apply for a Philippines Visa
- In Person
- Through a Travel Agency
- From Legal Residence in other Countries
In Person
In order to apply for a Philippines visa in person, the applicant must visit the consular section of the Philippines embassy located in New Delhi, or the Philippine consulates in Mumbai, Chennai or Kolkata. Here you will be guided about the entire process for applying for a Philippines visa.
Through a Travel Agency
In order to apply for a Philippines visa through a travel agency, the applicant must submit the filled out visa application, required documents and fees to the agency itself. The travel agency will send all the paperwork and fees to the Philippines Embassy in New Delhi.
From Legal Residence in other Countries
Indians can apply for a Philippines visa from their legal residence in other countries. The applicant can contact the Philippine embassy or consulates there and ask about the visa process.
4. Processing of Visa
Regular Processing
The applicant can collect their passport on the third working day from the date of submission. This will only be possible if there are no unforeseen circumstances or further requirements. The passport can be collected from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m, Monday through Friday. Saturdays, Sundays, Philippine holidays, Indian holidays and any other day when the consular section is closed will not count as a processing day.
Fast Track Processing
In fast track processing, the visa may be given on the same day it is applied for (same day release). The visa may also be given on the second working day after the visa is applied for (following day release). The same day release is from 4:30 to 5:30 pm and the following day release is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m of the next working day.
The applicant must communicate the request for an early release of their passport to the consular personnel at the time of the submission of the visa application form. If the request is not made at this time, it may not be possible.
An additional fee will be applied for fast track processing.
5. Duration of Stay (Temporary Visitor Visa)
The visa officer determines the length of the stay on a temporary visitor visa. The authorized length of stay, however, cannot go beyond 59 days on any one visit. Also, the immigration officer at the port of entry can determine a length of duration less than that given by the visa officer. If you want to stay longer than the maximum period allowed, you can request a Philippines visa extension through the Visa Extension Section, Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Manila.
6. General Guidelines
- Indian nationals with a regular passport, require a visa to enter the Philippines. This does not depend on the duration of their stay.
- Indian nationals with a diplomatic or official passport, with an intended stay in the Philippines of no more than 30 days, do not need to apply for a visa for the Philippines.
- There is no legal right to a visa for the Philippines.
- Indian nationals can apply for a temporary visitor’s visa for pleasure (single entry or multiple entry for 6 months) or for business (single entry, multiple entry for 6 months or multiple entry for 1 year).
- All visa applications are subject to the evaluation and approval of the consular officer of the Philippines.
7. Reasons for Rejection of a Philippine Visa Application
The visa application for a Philippines visa can be rejected on the following grounds:
- If any of the requirements are not submitted.
- If the applicant cannot prove they have strong economic or familial ties in their home country, or if they cannot prove they have sufficient financial means to support themselves in the country with a clear intention of honoring the status of the temporary visitor’s visa
- If pending documents are not submitted within the 5-day waiting period.
- If any fraudulent supporting documents are submitted in the application.
- If misrepresentation is suspected.
- Any discrepancy between the information on the application form and the other related supporting documents.
- If the applicant applies for a temporary visitor’s visa when the correct category of visa they need to apply for is the student visa, pre-arranged employment visa or special non-immigrant visa.
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FAQs
Indians on a regular passport require a visa for the Philippines (not visa on arrival) and those with an official or diplomatic passport with an intended stay of less than 30 days do not require a visa.
It is subject to the discretion of the visa officer and the immigration officer. It is valid for a maximum of 59 days per visit. An extension can be requested.
In person, through a travel agency or from their legal residence in any other country.
There is regular processing which returns the passport on the third working day after the visa was applied for. There is also a fast track processing which gives the visa the same day or the next working day after it is applied for.
