| Business Visa Requirements | Among the APEC members, only nationals from the People’s Republic of China, and Chinese Taipei are required to apply for visa prior to arrival in the Philippines. Nationals from other APEC economies may enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay of twenty (21) days provided they possess valid passport and return ticket. A visa is required for a stay of more than 21 days. Hong Kong SAR and British nationals overseas (BNO) passport holders may enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay of not more than seven (7) days. Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons Date of effectivity: 20 February 2007 |
| APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) | The Philippines, along with Australia and Republic of Korea, is a pioneer of the ABTC scheme. Other participating economies include Hong Kong SAR, Chile, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Japan, Peru and Chinese Taipei. Pursuant to the ABTC scheme, the Philippines grants every ABTC holder with a stay of fifty-nine (59) days. |
| Documentation Required |
To apply for a business visa, the following are the basic requirements:
- Accomplished visa application Form (FA Form No. 2);
- Passport valid for at least six (6) months;
- Return ticket; and
Other documentation to prove that the stay is for business. Moreover, Philippine consulates may require additional documents as may be deemed necessary.
Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons
Requirements for the issuance of the visa:
- Duly accomplished application form
- Letter request from the authorized representative of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Derogatory Clearance from Bureau of Immigration |
| Method of Lodgement | Visa application forms may be filed at the Philippine Foreign Service Post nearest to the applicants’ country of origin or place of legal residence. Interview may be required. Likewise, application forms can be downloaded at each post’s website all of which are linked to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ website (http://www.dfa.gov.ph).
Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons
Application of businessmen should be endorsed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI), the foreign chamber of commerce and industries (FCCI) and the current top 1000 corporations to the DTI through the Board of Investments three (3) days before their departure from point of origin. |
| Processing Time | Two (2) days after date of receipt of application.
Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons
Two (2) days from receipt of application. |
| Multiple Entry Visas | May be granted upon approval of the visa application.
Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons
N/A |
| Validity/Extension | A business person is usually granted a single-entry visa that is valid for three (3) months. He/she may also be issued a multiple-entry visa valid for six months or one year. Both visas allow a stay of fifty-nine (59) days, which may be extended upon application and compliance with the requirements of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration.
Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons
The visa upon arrival shall be valid for thirty (30) days from date of arrival of the business person. He/she may extend the same for another thirty (30) days and upon approval by the Bureau of Immigration Commissioner. |
| Cost of Visa Application |
In APEC members, except China:
· Single-entry valid for three (3) months –US$30.00 (RMB250 in China)
· Multiple –entry valid for six (6) months – US$60.00 (RMB1000 in China)
· Multiple-entry valid for twelve (12) months – US$90.00
Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons
$ 25.00 visa fee
P10.00 legal fee |
| Regulations relating to accompanying dependants |
Family members are generally granted the same length of stay as the business person.
Visa Upon Arrival for Business Persons
Conversion to other visa categories
Conversion to other visa categories may be allowed subject to existing rules and regulations governing visa conversion from one category to another and provided further that the applicant has not violated any conditions of his stay as a temporary visitor.
Applicability
The Bureau of Immigration will issue visa upon arrival to business people endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry (Philippines), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the current top 1000 corporations and the foreign chamber of commerce and industries in the Philippines.
Admissions under the Visa Upon Arrival category shall be allowed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan Cebu International Airport and Davao International Airport. |
