🇵🇭 Flying to Philippines
Visa · Health · Arrival · Flights — everything you need before you fly.
Content under review. Entry requirements and health rules change frequently. Information marked [VERIFY] has not yet been confirmed against authoritative sources. Do not rely on this page for travel decisions until verified content is published. Always check IATA Travel Centre and your government's travel advisory.
Last verified: July 22, 2026 · Philippines visa policy is actively expanding e-Visa/visa-free access for specific nationalities (China got 14-day visa-free from Jan 16, 2026; India got 14-day visa-free from May 2025) — this does not affect US/UK/EU/AU/CA (still 30 days visa-free) but recheck every few months.
Sources: immigration.gov.ph, etravel.gov.ph, www.gov.uk, travelhealthpro.org.uk, customs.gov.ph
Avi's Insider Tip
NAIA's traffic is the real story here, not the airport itself — budget an extra hour either direction and just accept it. Grab from the designated zone, every time — don't let anyone talk you into a random cab outside.
Travel essentials
Scannable data for the efficient traveler.
Sources: immigration.gov.ph, etravel.gov.ph, www.gov.uk, travelhealthpro.org.uk, customs.gov.ph
Visa-free entry
Citizens of roughly 157 countries — including the US, UK, all EU countries, Australia, and Canada — can enter visa-free for 30 days under Executive Order 408. The stay can be extended multiple times (first to 59 days, then in further increments) at a Bureau of Immigration office, up to a maximum of 36 months. Indian passport holders get 14 days visa-free (30 days if they hold a valid/recent US, Canada, Japan, Schengen, Singapore, or UK visa). Chinese passport holders got a new 14-day visa-free allowance starting January 16, 2026, entering via NAIA or Mactan-Cebu.
The Philippines does not offer a general visa-on-arrival program. Nationalities not covered by the visa-free list must obtain a visa or e-visa before departure.
Health & vaccines
No vaccines are legally required for entry for most travelers. Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus) are commonly recommended. Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies may be recommended for rural, longer, or adventure itineraries — confirm with a travel clinic.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate IS required if you are arriving from — or have recently transited — a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Without the certificate you may be denied entry or quarantined.
Customs
400 cigarettes (2 reams) or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco duty-free. 2 bottles of liquor (combined value under ₱10,000). Declare foreign currency over USD 10,000 equivalent.
🛂 Entry requirements
⚠️ You must also complete a free eTravel registration (etravel.gov.ph) within 72 hours before arrival and show the QR code at check-in and immigration — some airlines will not let you board without it. Always verify current rules at the Bureau of Immigration (immigration.gov.ph) or IATA Travel Centre before booking.
💉Health & vaccine requirements
⚠️ Health requirements sourced from NaTHNaC (travelhealthpro.org.uk). Always confirm with your doctor or travel clinic before departure.
Essential local apps
Download these before you land — tap a card to open the real app or site.
Grab
Ride-shareThe dominant ride-hailing app in Metro Manila — book from the designated Grab pickup zone at NAIA rather than accepting offers from touts in the arrivals hall.
GCash
PaymentThe Philippines’ leading e-wallet. Its GTourist feature lets visitors activate a usable account for up to 30 days once you’re in-country — handy for paying at stores that don’t take foreign cards.
Arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila (MNL)
SIM & connectivity
Globe and Smart both have SIM counters in the NAIA arrivals hall, open 24 hours, accepting cards or cash. Short tourist SIMs with a few GB start around ₱300–500; 30-day unlimited-data tourist SIMs run ₱2,000–3,000.
Philippine Peso (PHP). ATMs widely available in Manila. You may carry up to ₱50,000 in or out without prior Bangko Sentral (BSP) authorization — amounts above that must be declared and pre-approved.
Getting into town
NAIA is notoriously congested — Grab (₱300–600 to Makati/BGC from the designated pickup zone) or a fixed-price coupon taxi (₱450–800, no meter/no haggling) are the steadiest options on a first visit. The P2P/UBE Express bus is cheapest (₱150–200) but only boards from Terminal 3 — from T1, T2, or T4 you'll need the free NAIA Loop shuttle to T3 first. Avoid unmetered taxis touting outside arrivals.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit the Philippines?▼
Citizens of about 157 countries — including the US, UK, EU, Australia, and Canada — can enter visa-free for 30 days. You'll also need to complete the free eTravel registration (etravel.gov.ph) within 72 hours of arrival and show the QR code at the airport.
What is eTravel and do I really need it?▼
Yes — eTravel is a mandatory, free online arrival registration for every foreign visitor, completed at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours before you fly. Some airlines check for the QR code at check-in, and immigration scans it on arrival. There is no legitimate fee — ignore any third-party site asking you to pay for it.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate or malaria pills for the Philippines?▼
A yellow fever certificate is only required if you're arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Malaria risk is essentially zero in cities and on islands like Boracay, Bohol, and Cebu — there is low risk in rural areas of Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, and Palawan, where bite avoidance is usually enough for a standard trip.
How do I get from Manila airport (NAIA) to the city?▼
Grab is the steadiest option, booked from the designated pickup zone (₱300–600 to Makati/BGC). Fixed-price coupon taxis are a safe alternative (₱450–800). The cheapest option, the P2P/UBE Express bus (₱150–200), only departs from Terminal 3 — transfer there first via the free NAIA Loop shuttle if you land elsewhere. Expect heavy traffic regardless of mode.
Can I get a SIM card at Manila airport?▼
Yes — Globe and Smart both run 24-hour counters in the NAIA arrivals hall. Basic short-term data SIMs start around ₱300–500; 30-day unlimited tourist SIMs cost ₱2,000–3,000. Bring your passport.
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