Indians can visit the Philippines without a visa for 14 days from 8 June 2025, and for 30 days if you hold a valid visa or PR from the US, UK, Schengen, Japan, Australia, Canada or Singapore. Documents, eTravel and extension rules explained.
Cover image: El Nido Bay in Palawan with turquoise water and limestone islands — photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Do you need a visa for the Philippines from India in 2026? For most short holidays, no. Since 8 June 2025, the Philippines grants 14 days visa-free entry to Indian tourists, and 30 days conditional visa-free if you hold a valid visa or permanent residence from the United States, United Kingdom, Schengen Area, Japan, Australia, Canada or Singapore. The rules were announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs on 19 May 2025 and took effect after the Philippine Embassy in India posted them on 7 June 2025. If you do not qualify for visa-free, you apply for a 9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa or the newer e-Visa where available.
If you hold an Indian passport and want a 10-day trip to Palawan or Cebu, you can board with the 14-day visa-free permission. If you have a valid US B1/B2 or Schengen tourist visa in the same passport, you can use the 30-day conditional track instead. Longer stays are handled by an extension inside the Philippines.
Who gets visa-free entry from India and for how long?
The 14-day visa-free track is for all Indian nationals travelling for tourism or business. You must arrive with a passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay, a return or onward ticket within the 14-day window, and proof of accommodation or invitation. The permission is for single entry and is stamped on arrival at any international port of entry.
The 30-day conditional visa-free track is for Indian nationals who hold a valid tourist, business or resident visa, or a permanent residence permit, issued by one of the approved jurisdictions: Schengen Area, Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom or United States. The visa or permit must be valid and the name must match your passport. You must still meet the passport, onward-ticket and accommodation conditions, and the 30 days are counted from arrival.
- 14 days: unconditional for Indian tourists and business visitors, introduced 8 June 2025
- 30 days: conditional on holding an approved third-country visa or PR, same start date
- Entry ports: any international airport or seaport where immigration operates
- Purpose: tourism and business meeting; work and study still require a work or study visa
If you need more than 14 or 30 days, you can extend at a Bureau of Immigration office. Extensions are granted in increments and attract fees. Overstay without extension carries fines and may affect future entries. For how neighbours handle short stays, compare Do I Need a Visa for Thailand from India? and Do I Need a Visa for Bali? Indonesia Entry Rules for 2026.
What documents do Indian travellers need to carry?
| Document | What immigration checks | Tip for Indians |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid at least 6 months beyond stay, with one blank page | Carry a photocopy and a phone photo; name must match all tickets |
| Return or onward ticket | Departure within 14 or 30 days depending on your track | Print the itinerary; bookings on hold are not accepted |
| Accommodation proof | Hotel confirmation or host invitation with address | Keep the address on arrival card consistent |
| Proof of means | Sometimes requested for visa-free entrants | Bank statement, forex receipt or credit card |
| eTravel registration | Mandatory free online registration before arrival and before departure | Complete at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours; keep the QR code |
The eTravel system is not a visa. It is a free registration for all travellers, replacing the old arrival card. You complete it online within 72 hours before arrival and again before departure. Registration generates a QR code linked to your flight and passport. Airlines may ask to see it at check-in from India.
For onward travel planning, also review Do I Need a Visa for Malaysia from India?, which uses a similar MDAC arrival registration and shows how ASEAN arrival cards differ.
How much does a Philippines visa cost if you need one?
If you do not use visa-free, costs depend on where you apply:
- 14-day and 30-day visa-free tracks: no visa fee, but pay domestic extensions if you stay longer (fees set by Bureau of Immigration and change periodically)
- 9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa at the embassy: fee varies by entry type and duration; in 2025-2026 it has typically been in the range of INR 3,500-5,500 for single entry, payable in rupees via the outsourced centre, with a 59-day initial stay option
- e-Visa (where rolled out): similar fee to the embassy route, paid online
The 9(a) visa can be issued for 59 days initially and is extendable inside the Philippines. It suits travellers who know they want 3-6 weeks, or who prefer to land with a visa rather than rely on visa-free discretion at the border.
Can you extend your stay inside the Philippines?
Yes. Bureau of Immigration offices in Manila, Cebu, Palawan and other hubs handle extensions for visa-free entrants and for 9(a) holders. Bring your passport, arrival stamp, eTravel QR, extension fee and a passport photo. Extensions are normally issued for 29 days at a time and can be renewed. Do not let your permission expire before you apply.
If you entered on the 14-day unconditional track and later decide you need 30 days, visit immigration before day 14. If you entered on the 30-day conditional track and need longer, apply before day 30. Keep receipts. Overstay is fined per month and can lead to a hold-departure order until fees are settled.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for the Philippines for 10 days in 2026?
No. Use the 14-day visa-free permission introduced on 8 June 2025. Carry a passport valid for six months, a return ticket within 14 days, hotel proof and a completed eTravel QR.
How do Indians get 30 days visa-free?
Hold a valid visa or permanent residence from the US, UK, Schengen, Japan, Australia, Canada or Singapore in the same passport. Present it on arrival along with the standard passport, ticket and accommodation proofs.
Is eTravel the same as a visa?
No. eTravel is a free mandatory registration before arrival and before departure at etravel.gov.ph. It does not replace a visa where one is required and does not extend your stay.
Can I convert visa-free to a longer visa inside the country?
Yes, through an extension at the Bureau of Immigration. Go before your initial 14 or 30 days expire. The 9(a) visa is a separate route you obtain before travel if you prefer to arrive with a 59-day visa.
Do children need separate documents?
Yes. Every traveller, including minors, needs a separate passport, eTravel registration and, if not visa-free, a separate visa. Airlines will check documents for each child at check-in from India.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Visa policy of the Philippines (updated 2025, cites DFA announcement of 19 May 2025 and Embassy of the Philippines in India notice of 7 June 2025)
- Embassy of the Philippines in New Delhi — visa and eTravel notices
- Philippine eTravel — official registration portal
- Bureau of Immigration, Philippines — extension and visa information
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