Philippines Holidays

You can visit the Philippines without a visa for tourism for up to 30 days.

Your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

You must have a QR code from the free e-travel system registration completed within the 72 hours before your arrival.

You must be prepared to show proof of return or onward travel as immigration officials and airlines may ask for it.

To stay more than 30 days, you must apply for an extension while in the Philippines, as overstaying can lead to fines, detention, or deportation.

If your non-Filipino children aged 14 or under are travelling without either parent, you must apply for a waiver of exclusion ground for entry into the Philippines.

You cannot take in more than 50,000 Philippine pesos and must declare foreign currency worth more than 10,000 US dollars on arrival.

There are high levels of street crime, including robberies sometimes involving weapons, particularly in Manila and other large cities.

Alcoholic drinks contaminated with methanol have caused serious illness in popular travel destinations, so seek urgent medical help if you feel unwell after drinking.

British nationals have reported rape and sexual assaults in some backpacker hotspots like Coron and Siargao.

Carry a printed copy of your passport for identification, as you must be able to show ID if stopped by the police.

Swimming and surfing beaches often lack lifeguards, so always get local advice about water safety as conditions can be extremely dangerous.

There is a global risk of drinks being contaminated with methanol, which is often deadly and impossible to detect by taste or smell.

The ferry and passenger boat network is often unsafe, with boats lacking life-saving equipment, so be very cautious and avoid overcrowded vessels.