Visa for Philippines - Type, Process, Document Required

Planning a trip to a foreign country is mostly about arranging for your travel essential and essential documents to enter the country or secure your trip. Acquiring the entry documents aka visas and entry permits is the primary and the most important step involved in planning a safe and hassle-free trip to a foreign country. This article will explore the types of entry permits and visas required by UAE residents and nationals to visit the Philippines, how to apply for them and the additional layers of safety you should arrange for your next trip.

Philippines Visa Types

UAE citizens going for a short trip to the Philippines (less than 30 days) do not require a visa. However, if you are not a UAE national and are planning to stay in the Philippines for more than 30 days, you must apply for a Philippines non-immigrant visa. Different types of Philippines visas are issued depending on your nationality, duration and purpose of visit. Below is a list of all different types of Philippines visas available:

Immigrant Visa

Section 13 Visa, or the Immigrant visa, is essential for foreign nationals who want to become permanent Philippines residents. Immigrant Philippines visas can be of two types:

Quota Immigrant Visa

Candidates possessing impeccable professional skills, qualifications or financial capital to benefit the country can apply for a quota immigrant visa. Only 50 quota immigrant visas are issued per calendar year. 

Non-Quota Immigrant Visa

This kind of visa is issued for spouses and children of the citizens of the Philippines planning to come live in the country and natural-born Filipinos returning to the country.

Non-Immigrant Visa

A non-immigrant Philippines visa or the Section 9 visa is granted for visitors coming for temporary visits for purposes like business, tourism, transit, and employment or education. A non-immigrant Philippines visa is granted for 30-day-long visits. Based on the purpose of your visit, the non-immigrant visa is divided into the following categories:

Philippines Tourist Visa

Philippines tourist visas are required for short stays ranging up to 30 days. Candidates who are nationals of some selected countries are exempt from this visa requirement if their visit ends within 30 days. UAE nationals also fall in the same category. 30-day extensions for tourist visas are also offered for an additional fee. 

Philippines Business Visa

A Philippines business visa can be acquired if you wish to visit the Philippines for business purposes. A business visa for the Philippines is categorised as a Section 9 (A) visa which is also applicable for medical treatment visits and tourist visits. The only difference will be the paperwork you submit. 

Philippines Student Visa

You can apply for a Philippines student visa 9 (F) if you have enrolled in a university or college in the Philippines.

Other Philippines Visas

1. 9(B) for transit
2. 9(C) for seamen docking in a port of the Philippines
3. 9(D) for business travellers from a foreign country
4. 9(G) for pre-arranged employees and also their dependents

Special Visas for the Philippines

Other non-immigrant Philippines visas are issued to the following categories of travellers:

Special Investors Resident Visa

If you are an investor in a Filipino company listed in a stock exchange market in the Philippines, then a special investors resident visa can be granted to you. 

Special Visa for Employment Generation

A special visa for employment generation can be granted to you and your dependents if you are a non-Filipino foreign national employing at least 10 Filipinos in your legal business or enterprise. 

Special Resident Retiree Visa

If you wish to retire in the Philippines with your dependents, you can apply for a special resident retiree visa. A deposit amount may be required based on age and retirement pension.

Insurance for Different Types of Visas

Travel Health Insurance for the Philippines Visa

If you are travelling to the Philippines from the UAE, you will need comprehensive travel insurance to secure your financial interest properly. Travel insurance used to be mandatory till recent times. Travellers do not necessarily require a travel insurance plan to visit the Philippines anymore. However, it is highly recommended to get proper travel insurance for the Philippines before you set out on your travels. Make sure that the validity of your travel insurance for a Philippines visa coincides with your stay duration in the Philippines. 

You can expect to get the following general benefits with good travel insurance for the Philippines:

• Emergency medical cover
• Loss or damage of passport
• Loss or misplaced luggage 
• Flight cancellation or delay
• Trip cancellation
• Coverage for Covid-19 

There are different types of travel insurance plans for the Philippines available for students, senior citizens, solo travellers, group travellers, etc. You can easily choose the right coverage as per your travel requirements. 

How to Get Travel Insurance Online for the Philippines?

The process of purchasing travel insurance for the Philippines visa is pretty straightforward. You can get the cheapest travel insurance for a Philippines visa by visiting our website Plicybazaar.ae. Follow the steps given below to successfully purchase your travel insurance for the Philippines visa:

• Go to the travel insurance section from the main menu on the homepage.
• Here you will find a lead form on the top right corner of the page. 
• Select your trip type: single trip or multi-trip and fill up the rest of the trip details.
• Submit the form to get travel insurance quotes for your Philippines trip.
• Compare options and pick up a suitable plan as per your requirement.
• Fill out the application form and pay the premium amount at the payment gateway to complete your purchase. 

Philippines Visa Eligibility

If you are a national of the United Arab Emirates, you are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa, provided:

• Your stay is for less than 30 days
• You have return journey tickets back to either the original or a different destination
• Your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned stay dates in the Philippines
• The Philippines Bureau of Immigration has not blacklisted your visa-free entry

UAE residents who are nationals of other countries allowed for visa-free entry also don’t require a visa for their short stay in the Philippines. Other residents who do not belong to any such country can apply for the visa they require as per the purpose of their visit. The application process is simple and only requires you to submit the necessary documents and go through a visa interview. Once you have been allotted an interview date and time, visit the embassy or the interview centre and complete the formalities. 

Documents Required to Apply for Philippines Visa

It is essential to ensure that you have all the paperwork you need to travel safely from UAE to the Philippines. For your ease, here is a list of all the documents that you will be required to show to travel to the Philippines-

• Application form, duly filled and signed
• Your Emirates ID
• UAE residence Visa copy valid well beyond the date of departure from the Philippines
• Your passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, and has at least 2 blank pages
• Copies of your return tickets
• Itinerary details of your Philippines trip 
• Copy of past visas, in case you have travelled to the Philippines 
• Two passport-size photographs, with your name and date of birth written on the back
• Travel insurance papers, if required
• Proof of accommodation in the Philippines in the form of confirmed hotel bookings, details of the host, etc. 

Additional Documents required to apply for the Philippines Tourist Visa

• Bank statements for the last 3 months with a minimum maintained a bank balance of AED 8,000
• Proof of accommodation, wherever you have stay plans in the Philippines/ confirmed hotel bookings

Additional Documents Required to Apply for the Philippines Business Visa

• Credit card statements for the last 3 months 
• Cover letter from the company in the name of the employee explaining the purpose of visit, signed and stamped
• Details of travel itinerary
• Invitation letter from the company in the Philippines

Additional Documents Required to Apply for the Philippines Student Visa

• Duly filled and signed visa application form
• Letter of Acceptance from the school/ institute in the Philippines
• Birth certificate of the student verified by the Embassy of the Philippines
• Student’s character certificate verified by the Embassy of the Philippines
• Personnel history forms from school
• Receipts of the fee paid at the institute/university
• Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) that has been issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines

Additional Documents Required to Apply for Philippines Visa for Minor Children Travelling Alone

• Duly filled and signed visa application form
• Copy of the Birth certificate of the applicant
• Copy of valid passport of parents

How to Apply for a Philippines Visa?

You can visit the Department of Visa at the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) office to submit your visa application. First, take an appointment from the PCG official website. No applicants are received without a prior appointment. The visa application form can be obtained online. Fill out the form, gather the required documents and take everything along. You will be allotted a day and time slot for your visa interview. Go to the interview centre at the assigned time and date and complete the interview. You can also opt to apply for the Philippines visa online. You would have to visit the official web portal Philippines Online Visa. Fill in the required forms and fix an appointment. Visa travel insurance requirements in the Philippines include a few basic details. The processing and release of your visa may take 8 to 14 days.

Philippines Visa Fees

Check out Philippines visa fees structure for various types of visas offered as per the nature of your visit to the Philippines from the UAE:

How to Check the Philippines Visa Status?

The status of your Philippines visa status can only be determined on the allotted visa receipt date by the Philippine Consulate General office at the time of visa application submission. You or an authorised representative can go to the PCG office on the receipt day and get information about the status of your visa. A visa application reference number and fee receipt must be carried to get the visa or any information regarding the visa from the Philippine Consulate General office. 

Conclusion 

Gathering your travel documents and arranging for proper travel insurance plans is necessary to ensure that all your trip proceedings are conducted without any hassle. Your travel insurance plan will provide a wide range of benefits and services to facilitate a carefree trip to the Philippines for you. Simply make sure that you have completed all legal formalities properly before heading out on your trip and have all necessary documents with you. All that’s left to do for you now is leave for the Philippines and make the most of your trip. 

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