Philippines
Phone Code
+63
Capital
Manila
Population
115 Million
Native Name
Pilipinas
Region
Asia
South-Eastern Asia
Timezone
Philippine Time
UTC+08:00
On This Page
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641 islands spread across the western Pacific, and part of the Coral Triangle — the most biodiverse marine region on Earth. It is Southeast Asia's largest predominantly Catholic country, after 333 years of Spanish rule, and the largest English-speaking nation in Asia, making it exceptionally accessible to international visitors. Citizens of 157 countries enter visa-free for 30 days, though a return or onward ticket is strictly enforced at boarding.
Philippines Visa & Entry System
The Philippines offers visa-free entry to citizens of 157 countries for stays up to 30 days, including US, Canadian, UK, EU, Australian, Japanese, Korean and ASEAN nationals. Check your own passport's allowance rather than assuming the headline figure — some nearby markets sit on shorter tiers, and Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan passports receive 14 days rather than 30. No advance application is needed for eligible nationalities — the entry stamp is issued on arrival at Manila (NAIA), Cebu-Mactan, or other international airports. Critical requirement: a return or onward ticket is strictly enforced. Immigration will deny entry and airlines will deny boarding without proof of departure — book a confirmed return flight before travelling. Passport must be valid 6 months beyond intended stay. Extensions of 29 days (total 59 days) are available through Bureau of Immigration offices for a fee set by the bureau; further extensions are possible up to a maximum of 3 years cumulative with regular reporting. Citizens of approximately 50 countries not on the visa-free list must obtain visas in advance at Philippine embassies. The mandatory eTravel system must be completed online before arrival. See the safety notes below for current advisory guidance on Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.
Common Visa Types
Visa-Free Entry (30 days)
For tourism, available to citizens of 157 countries including US, UK, EU, Australia, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN. No advance application. Entry stamp on arrival. Return ticket REQUIRED (strictly enforced — denied boarding without it). Passport valid 6 months, accommodation details may be requested.
Pre-Arranged Visa (Tourist/Business)
For nationalities not eligible for visa-free entry, or for stays exceeding the visa-free period. Apply at a Philippine embassy or consulate. Requires application form, passport, photos, bank statements, return ticket and the applicable visa fee — check current fees and processing times with the post handling your application, as both vary by mission.
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
Permanent residence for retirees aged 35+. Administered by the Philippine Retirement Authority. Requires a refundable deposit, the size of which varies by age bracket and category — check current requirements with the Authority. Includes indefinite stay, multiple entry, and spouse/dependent inclusion. Popular with retirees from the US, Korea, Japan and Australia for the cost of living, English-speaking environment and tropical lifestyle.
Essential Information for Philippines Travellers
The Philippines is where island-hopping becomes an art form — thousands of islands ranging from dramatic limestone karsts and hidden lagoons to WWII wreck-diving sites and some of Asia's best surf breaks, with the highest marine biodiversity on Earth running through nearly every itinerary. Palawan and the Visayas cover most first-time trips, while Manila's colonial old town, the Banaue rice terraces and the wildlife-rich south around Bohol and Davao reward a longer stay. Filipino hospitality — warm, genuine and often overwhelming in its generosity — is as much a part of the experience as the scenery itself.
Discover Philippines
El Nido's Tours A-D aren't a single trip but four fixed routes run by a rotating pool of licensed boat operators — each tour visits a different combination of Bacuit Bay's 45 islands, so repeat visitors typically do two or three different letters across a stay rather than one tour twice. Every visitor also pays a separate El Nido Eco Tourism Development Fee, valid for ten days and required before joining any tour, which funds the marine park's conservation and ranger presence. Coron's own island-hopping tours run on the same licensed-operator model but centre on freshwater crater lakes rather than open-bay islands, so the two towns' tours are genuinely different experiences rather than a repeat of each other.
Ways to Experience This Destination
El Nido (Tours A-D: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Nacpan Beach), Coron (Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon), Hundred Islands (Pangasinan), and island chains off Cebu and Bohol. Bangka outrigger boats visit multiple beaches, snorkelling spots and lagoons in a day — the quintessential Philippine experience. Each island has its own character: limestone cliffs, coral gardens, jungle waterfalls or white sand. Tours are sold at set per-route rates by licensed operators; check current pricing locally.
Part of the Coral Triangle — highest marine biodiversity on earth. Coron wreck diving (12+ WWII Japanese ships at 10-40 m), Tubbataha Reefs (UNESCO, liveaboard-only, April-June), Moalboal sardine run, Malapascua thresher sharks, Anilao macro photography, Apo Island sea turtles, Oslob whale shark encounters in Cebu, and Donsol whale shark encounters (Feb-May) further north in Luzon. Diving here is inexpensive relative to most of the world for equivalent quality, with both single dives and full certification courses widely available — check current rates with operators. Water temperature 26-30°C year-round.
Boracay White Beach (4 km powdery sand, Stations 1-3, sunset paraws, nightlife), Palawan beaches (Nacpan, Long Beach, Port Barton), Siargao (surfing at Cloud 9 plus pristine beaches), Panglao (Bohol), Bantayan Island and Malapascua (Cebu), and Camiguin (volcanic island with white sandbar). From backpacker hammocks to luxury private-island resorts.
Intramuros walled city in Manila (Spanish colonial, Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church UNESCO), Vigan (UNESCO, best-preserved Spanish colonial town in Asia), Banaue rice terraces (UNESCO, 2,000-year-old Ifugao engineering), baroque churches of Paoay and Miag-ao (UNESCO), and the unique Catholic-animist festivals — Sinulog in Cebu, Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, MassKara in Bacolod.
Bohol's Chocolate Hills (1,268 conical hills) and Philippine tarsiers (one of the world's smallest primates), Puerto Princesa Underground River (UNESCO, 8.2 km navigable cave), Taal Volcano (volcano within a lake within a volcano), Mayon Volcano (perfect cone in Albay), whale watching in Bohol Strait, and the Philippine eagle (critically endangered, Davao).
Siargao's Cloud 9 (one of Asia's best right-hand reef breaks, September-November peak), La Union (Luzon's surf capital, beginner-friendly), Baler (where Apocalypse Now was filmed). Plus Kawasan Falls canyoneering in Cebu, zip-lining in Bohol, kiteboarding on Boracay's Bulabog Beach (November-May), and volcano trekking on Mount Pinatubo and Taal.
Money & Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP)
Currency code: PHP
Practical Money Tips
Cash Is King Outside Metro Manila and Resort Hotels
The Philippines is fundamentally cash-based for travellers. Visa and Mastercard work at international hotels, upscale restaurants, major malls (SM, Ayala, Robinson's) and airline offices. But island destinations — guesthouses, dive shops, island-hopping boat operators, local restaurants, tricycles, jeepneys and markets — are overwhelmingly cash-only. Carry enough Philippine Pesos for your island itinerary. Even on Boracay, many smaller establishments prefer cash. On remote islands (El Nido outer beaches, Siargao, smaller Visayan islands), cash is the only option.
ATMs Available in Cities — Scarce on Islands
ATMs from BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Security Bank and Land Bank are widespread in Manila, Cebu City, and major towns, and most accept Visa and Mastercard. Two things to plan around: the maximum per transaction is lower than in many countries, so a trip may need several withdrawals rather than one; and local banks charge a fee per withdrawal on foreign cards on top of your home bank's charges — check the on-screen notice rather than assuming an amount. On tourist islands, ATMs exist but are unreliable: they run out of cash, go offline, or have long queues. El Nido town has a few that frequently run dry, especially at weekends and over holidays. Coron has limited ATMs. Siargao has improved but remains hit-or-miss. Boracay's coverage is reasonable. Withdraw in the city before heading to the islands.
GCash Is Everywhere — But Foreign Visitors Can't Use It
GCash and Maya (formerly PayMaya) are the dominant mobile payment platforms in the Philippines — used by millions of Filipinos for everything from convenience stores to street food. QR code payments are ubiquitous. However, both require a Philippine phone number and bank account to set up, making them inaccessible to foreign visitors on short trips. Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work at modern terminals in Manila malls, international hotels and chain restaurants, but coverage is limited. For travellers, the reality is: card at hotels and malls, cash everywhere else.
Exchange USD in Manila or Cebu — Not on the Islands
Exchange offices in Manila (Ermita, Makati, NAIA terminals) and Cebu City offer competitive rates for USD. Rates are significantly worse on tourist islands. Bring clean USD bills — post-2006 series preferred, damaged or old bills may be refused. EUR and GBP are exchangeable at major banks and forex dealers but USD gets the widest acceptance and best rates. Don't exchange at hotel desks — the markup is substantial.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Embassies in Philippines
These foreign embassies and consulates are based here. Choose a mission to open its in-depth guide and contact details.
Key origin countries
Accredited missions for Philippines
Yes, without exception for visa-free entrants — this is the most common reason travellers get denied boarding at their departure airport, not turned away in the Philippines itself, so book a confirmed return or onward flight before you travel, not just plan to buy one later.
Both work well as a single-region first trip rather than trying to combine them — Palawan (El Nido and Coron) suits travellers prioritising lagoons and wreck diving, while the Visayas (Cebu, Bohol, Siargao) suits those wanting a wider mix of marine life, culture and surfing within shorter inter-island hops.
The main tourist regions — Luzon, the Visayas, and northern and eastern Mindanao spots like Siargao and Camiguin — see millions of visitors safely every year; the advisories that exist are specific to the Sulu Archipelago and parts of central/western Mindanao, not the country as a whole.
Planning a trip to the Philippines? Whether you need to check your visa-free eligibility, apply for a tourist visa, or get guidance on entry requirements — get step-by-step support for your application.
Get your digital arrival cardTreat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.