Philippines Tourist Visa Regulations are getting tighter

Tourist Visa Regulations - BI Head Office

Tourist Visa Regulations have been the easiest way to come to the Philippines and stay almost as long as one wanted. Now the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and  the Department of Justice (DOJ) are tightening the rules. Already in our article from June 14 we warned long stay “tourist” about this upcoming change. We recommend to read this article also.

What is happening?

GMA Network wrote:

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has recommended to the Department of Justice (DOJ) a non-extendable 30-day validity for visas issued to foreign nationals upon their arrival in the Philippines.

Bureau spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the BI has submitted its position to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra after its operations team reviewed “possible weak points” of the visa upon arrival (VUA) policy.

“The management recommended to the DOJ that recipients be given a maximum of 30 days, with no extensions, as well as base allowed stay on itinerary presented,” Sandoval said in a message.

Deputy spokesman Melvin Mabulac said the BI submitted its recommendation to the DOJ last week.

In the current policy, VUA recipients may stay in the country for 30 days and are allowed to apply for an extension of up to six months, Mabulac said.

Asked for comment, Justice Undersecretary and department spokesman Markk Perete said the DOJ sees the shortening of the visa’s validity period as a measure to prevent possible abuse, adding that it was a proposal that had been raised by the DOJ.

“What we are interested in are the other measures proposed by the BI intended to further prevent any abuse of the VUA,” Perete said. “We will review and evaluate the recommendation ASAP.”

The bureau started its review of the policy even before Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. raised a need to end the policy amid concerns on the influx of Chinese nationals into the country, Perete said earlier this month.

He said “the entire mechanism and processes” behind the policy.

The BI program was reportedly opened to Chinese nationals who are members of tour groups organized by tour operators accredited by the tourism department, businessmen endorsed by local and foreign chambers of commerce and other government agencies, and athletes and delegates to conventions and exhibitions.

The big Question: Who will be touched?

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete mentioned concerns on the influx of Chinese nationals. Nobody openly spoke about other nationals.
Two years ago, on August 17, 2017 former former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II issued the visa upon arrival privilege (VUA) for Chinese nationals. This prompted the BI to issue “landing visas,” which allow a traveller to receive their visa at the airport of destination. Read the full article here.

It seems that for instance only these visa will again be restricted.

But information from the BI inner circles leaked, where they speak to implement also the new Thai visa regulations.

The new Thai Tourist Visa Regulations are very restrictive

Thailand isn’t anymore easily accessible. Since early 2019 the Thai government enforces tough immigration rules. These are:

  • Visa on arrival only valid for 15 days*. Onward ticket, confirmed accommodation and minimum funds are checked.
  • The visa on arrival now costs THB 2,000 equal to about PHP 3,420.
  • Only nationals of a few countries can receive this visa.
  • Western nationals and Filipinos among others cannot get this visa anymore!

* It seems that 30 days visa on arrival are still available for Canadians and other visitors from western countries. (Update November 9, 2019).

Furthermore tourist visa must be applied for abroad. The validity is still unclear. Some sources speak of 15 to 30 days. Other still indicate 3 to 6 months. In a recent message we read that the implementation of the new rules seemed to be postponed to 2020.

Tourist Visa Regulations – Get prepared!

If you are staying here with a 9A visa, then we strongly recommend to revise your strategy and apply for a resident’s visa as soon as possible. All possible visa are listed in our our article from June 14 and on our main website.

Once the new rules regulate immigration, it will be too late. Already now Quota Visa are very rarely available. The SRRV is the only independent solution – otherwise you need to get hired or to marry a Philippine citizen. 

[GARD]

Related posts

Share if you like

6 Responses

  1. Yves Keist says:

    Lieber Waebi,

    was Deinen Artikel vom 28. August anbelangt: Philippines Tourist Visa Regulations are getting tighter.
    Dieser Titel ist irreführend, weil es bereits Leser gibt, die glauben, das betreffe alle Tourist Visas. Das BI will aber nur Restriktionen anwenden für die visa upon arrival (VUA) policy, also für Touristen, die ohne irgendein Visa einreisen. Du schreibst am Ende: It seems that for instance only these visa upon arrival will again be restricted. Das scheint nicht bloss so, sondern es ist so. Alle Longstay Foreigners mit einem Tourist Visa 9A sind davon nicht betroffen und die Webseite des BI äussert sich auch nicht dazu.
    Ich würde Dir empfehlen, diese Mitteilung zu präzisieren.

    Noch eine Bemerkung zur Seite: https://www.silent-gardens.com/visa.php
    Diese Seite ist in mehreren Abschnitten nicht mehr up-to-date! Du solltest sie aktualisieren, weil sie unter Ausländern widersprüchliche Interpretationen zu Tage fördert.

    Herzlichen Gruss von nebenan.

    • waebi says:

      Hallo Yves,
      Besten Dank für dein Feedback.
      Es ist Fakt, dass das BI die Schrauben anzieht. Ich weiss von zwei Bekannten, dass sie Probleme hatten bei der Wiedereinreise in Mactan-Cebu.
      Ich hatte diese Fälle in meinem Artikel vom 14. Juli erwähnt.
      Von einer BI internen Quelle habe ich erfahren, dass nicht nur die VUA sondern auch die 9A und die Visa-Waiver überarbeitet werden.
      Nur die VUA zu verschärfen, ist schon aus diplomatischen Gründen nicht möglich. (Vor allem CHina würde dies nicht gefallen.)

      Kannst du mir via E-Mail die Sektionen der Visa Seite mitteilen, welche nicht mehr dem neusten Stand entsprechen?

      Besten Gruss auch von nebenan.
      Cheers, waebi

  2. but in Philippines the rules are not so very strict, so many foreign people living in Philippines permanently without a permanent visa.

    • waebi says:

      Hi Visa assistant,
      This had just been a warning.
      In the Philippines many things may happen next year maybe or they can happen immediately.
      Just be careful.
      BTW, today I got fined for smoking a cigarette in may car. Unfortunately the car had been on public ground.

      Cheers, waebi

  3. Bob the blob says:

    This information about Thailand is incorrect. Canadians (and other Westerners I suspect) still get 30 days on arrival. And I thought the scare mongering was limited to the Thai boards!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Enter Captcha Here : *

Reload Image

error: Content is protected !!