Do citizens of Poland need a visa for Philippines? — Visa-free

This guide explains the general process for entering the Philippines as a foreign visitor for tourism. Two things are easy to confuse, so separate them from the start:

• Whether you need a visa at all — most nationalities can enter visa-free for a short stay; only some must obtain a tourist visa before arriving.
• eTravel registration — a mandatory online arrival form for almost every traveller, whether or not you need a visa.

Check both before you book.

Step 1 — Do you need a visa?

The Philippines lets citizens of roughly 157 countries and territories enter visa-free for tourism. Typical stay lengths:

• 30 days — most visa-free nationalities.
• 59 days — Brazil and Israel, under bilateral agreements.
• 14 days — China and India (short visa-free entry introduced in 2025).

To enter visa-free you must hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay and carry a return or onward ticket.

If your nationality is not on the visa-free list, you must obtain a 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa before you travel (Step 2).

Step 2 — The 9(a) tourist visa

The 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa is the standard visa for tourism, leisure, visiting family or friends, religious travel, or short business visits. It allows a stay of up to 59 days per visit.

There are two ways to apply, depending on your nationality:

• e-Visa (online) — available only to nationals of a limited, growing list of countries. As of 2026 this includes Austria, France (and Monaco), Greece (and Cyprus and North Macedonia), India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Foreign residents of the UAE (any nationality) may also apply if they show a valid Emirati residence visa. Apply at the official portal evisa.gov.ph.
• Embassy or consulate — everyone else applies in person at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate (a Foreign Service Post of the Department of Foreign Affairs) responsible for their country.

e-Visas are issued as single entry (valid 3 months) or multiple entry (valid 6 months or 1 year); each visit is limited to 59 days. An e-Visa cannot be converted to another visa type, and the authorised stay cannot be extended locally on that visa.

Step 3 — Documents

For a 9(a) visa the mission or portal typically asks for:

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay, with a photocopy of the data page.
• A completed (and, at some posts, notarised) visa application form.
• One recent 2" x 2" colour photo.
• A round-trip or onward ticket with a departure date within the allowed period.
• Proof of financial capacity (e.g. a recent bank statement).

The exact list is set by the issuing post, so confirm it with the specific Embassy, Consulate, or the e-Visa portal before applying.

Step 4 — eTravel registration (mandatory)

Separately from any visa, almost every arriving traveller must complete the free eTravel registration at etravel.gov.ph. Do it within 72 hours before departure. It is required whether you enter visa-free or on a visa. There is no charge — use only the official site.

Step 5 — Extending your stay

Both visa-free visitors and 9(a) visa holders can usually extend their stay in-country at a Bureau of Immigration office, up to a maximum total stay of 36 months for many nationalities. Extensions carry fees. (Note: the e-Visa itself is the exception — see Step 2.)

Practical tips

• Carry proof of onward/return travel and, if asked, evidence of funds (roughly US$50 per day is a common rule of thumb).
• Every traveller, including children, needs their own passport.
• Apply for a visa well ahead of travel if your nationality requires one.
• Use only the official government sites — evisa.gov.ph, immigration.gov.ph and etravel.gov.ph. Third-party "visa" websites charge extra and are not the official channel.

Entry rules change and depend on your nationality and circumstances. Always confirm with the Philippine Embassy/Consulate, the Bureau of Immigration and your airline before you travel.