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Philippines Travel – Visa Requirements For A Short Holiday

By RomanticHeart | July 28, 2010

Are you day-dreaming of a beach holiday for your next holiday escape? Why not venture beyond the usual destinations and expand your horizons. The Philippines is just a short flight across the ocean but a world away from your daily routine. Why not experience cocktails on the beach as the sun goes down over the pristine white sand. If you want adrenalin, why not explore the night life of Manila, dive the world class reefs or trek past an ancient volcano.

Situated due South of Taiwan and a short hop from Hong Kong, the Philippines is a great tourist destination. If you are thinking of booking a holiday here, then in this article I am going to talk about what visas you need for your stay.

Visiting For A Couple Of Weeks?

Before travelling anywhere you are of course going to need a passport. Twenty years ago you had to send your passport down to your local consulates for the countries you wanted to visit and they would send back your visa after a couple of weeks. Times have changed and a lot of countries issue a temporary visa on arrival. The Philippines falls into this category and short-term visitors can travel without arranging a visa beforehand if they have the following -

1.A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay;
2.There are blank pages in the passport for the entry and exit stamps; and
3.A return or onward travel ticket.

What type of traveller for this hassle free entry? The Philippines accepts visitors from 150 countries for a stay of up to 3 weeks. That covers just about everyone on the planet. This entry can be for business or a holiday – there are no restrictions for this 3 week stay.

The Longer Holiday Stay

What do you do if you want to stay longer than 21 days? The next step up is to obtain a visa from your local Philippines consulate. The visa you are applying for is the Temporary Visitor’s Visa 9(A) for Pleasure and Business and will allow a stay of up to 59 days. As you are applying for an actual stamped visa that will appear in your passport, there a few more requirements -

1.There is least at 6 months left on your passport after you intend to leave the Philippines;
2.At least 2 blank pages in your passport for the visa and any border stamps;
3.A signed and completed visa application form (with required payment);
4.At least 1 passport sized photo of yourself;
5.Photocopy of your plane ticket and/or confirmed travel itinerary;
6.Supporting documents as required (this may include an invitation from friends or family you are staying with etc.).

These are the requirements for a holiday traveller and are typical of spending an extended stay in any country.

What About Business Travellers?

Business travellers must additionally provide a company letter of sponsorship detailing the purpose of the visit and a letter of invitation from a business contact in the Philippines.

Are you a single traveller looking for an exciting getaway? Why not holiday in the Philippines with our Philippines Travel and Visa Service. Relax by the pool while beautiful Filipino girls serve you cocktails as the sun goes down.