In a previous post, we talked about how Filipinos can apply for an Oman visa, be it as as a tourist/visitor or as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Today, we will talk about the other way round — how foreigners can apply for a Philippine visa in Oman.
In this article, we will talk about the major types of Philippine visas, as well as the requirements, fees, and procedures involved. We will also discuss some guidelines, such as how long visa holders can stay, especially during this time of the pandemic.
What is a Philippine Visa?
Generally speaking, a Philippine visa is an endorsement made on a travel document (e.g. a passport), indicating that the bearer may enter the Philippines for a given period. This endorsement is made by a consular officer at a Philippine Consulate or Embassy abroad. There are two major types of Philippine visas: the Immigrant Visa, and the Temporary Visitor’s Visa.
Immigrant Visa
The Immigrant Visa is issued to foreigners who would like to settle in the Philippines. These include spouses and children of Philippine citizens. The visa may also be granted to natural-born Filipinos who have been “naturalized” in another country, but would like to reside permanently in the Philippines.
Temporary Visitor’s Visa
The Temporary Visitor’s Visa is issued to foreigners who intend to stay in the Philippines for a limited period. These include tourists who are mainly coming for sightseeing and leisure purposes. The visa may also be granted to foreigners who are participating in sports/cultural/religious events, taking up a short-course or study program, undergoing medical treatment, visiting family, or going to the country for business purposes.
This type of visa is not suitable for those who are planning to immigrate to the Philippines, take up employment, or complete a college degree in the country.
Qualifications
Some foreigners are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa, while others are required to apply for a Temporary Visitor’s Visa, at least. In this section, we will take a look at the different nationalities who are “visa-required” and “non-visa required,” and how long they can stay in the country for tourism or business purposes.
Travelers from 152 countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for trips not exceeding 30 days. These include foreign nationals from Australia, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Paraguay, Saudi, Arabia, Spain, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, United Kingdom, and many more.
Click here to see the full list of countries whose nationals may enter the Philippines without visas for trips not exceeding 30 days. These travelers should have passports that are valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay. They should also be holding valid tickets for their return journey or for their next port of destination.
Meanwhile, there are two countries whose nationals may enter the Philippines without visas for trips not exceeding 59 days: Brazil and Israel. Holders of Brazil and Israel passports are allowed to enter the country and stay for a longer period than those above.
Moreover, there are travelers who may enter the Philippines without visas for trips not exceeding seven (7) days. These include holders of: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports; British National Overseas (BNO) passports; Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports; and Portuguese passports issued in Macau.
Requirements
At this point, let us take a look at the requirements for an Immigrant Visa and a Temporary Visitor’s Visa.
Requirements for Immigrant Visa
If you are applying for an Immigrant Visa, particularly if you are a spouse or child of a Filipino citizen, be sure to prepare the following documents:
- Letter of Application from Filipino spouse;
- Accomplished and notarized General Application Form (FA Form No. 3);
- 2 x 2 picture;
- Birth Certificate of Filipino spouse authenticated by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) (ALSO: See NOTE);
- Marriage Contract authenticated by the PSA and DFA;
- Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage issued by the Embassy or Consulate of foreign spouse;
- Joint Affidavit of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage;
- True copy of Divorce Decree/Dissolution of Marriage/Death Certificate (if foreign spouse was previously married);
- Birth Certificate of minor unmarried children below 21 years (if any);
- Joint Affidavit of Financial Capacity and Support with supporting documents (e.g. land titles, etc.);
- Medical Certificate from the Bureau of Quarantine proving that applicant, spouse, and unmarried children are not afflicted with any contagious and dangerous disease;
- AIDS Certification;
- Police Clearance Attested by Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Embassy; and
- Copy of Passports of foreign spouse and children, indicating date of arrival and validity of stay.
NOTE: In the absence of the Filipino spouse’s Birth Certificate, the following documents may be submitted instead: (a) certification of the Local Civil Registrar or PSA regarding the Birth Certificate’s loss or unavailability; (b) affidavit of two disinterested persons indicating name and nationality of parents, applicant’s place and date of birth; or (c) any public document proving Filipino citizenship.
Requirements for Temporary Visitor’s Visa
Meanwhile, here are the requirements when applying for a Temporary Visitor’s Visa. Take note of the additional requirements as well, depending on your specific case.
- Personal appearance of the applicant;
- Original Passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay;
- Copy of Passport Data Page and amendments to passport information (if any);
- Accomplished Visa Application Form;
- One passport-sized colored photo;
- Confirmed tickets for return or onward journey; and
- Payment of visa processing fees.
Additional Requirements for Temporary Visitor’s Visa
Please be informed that there are additional requirements, based on the purpose of travel. Be sure to prepare these documents as well.
For Tourism of Business Visitors:
- Certificate of Employment (for employees) or copy of Business Registration Certification (for business owners);
- Copy of hotel reservations in the Philippines; and
- Bank statement indicating the applicant’s financial ability to support himself/herself.
For Participants of Sports/Cultural/Religious Events:
- Letter from the organizer addressed to the DFA – Office of Consular Affairs and endorsing the applicant (if organizer is in the Philippines); or
- Letter from the organizer addressed to the Ambassador and endorsing the applicant (if organizer is in Oman).
For Travelers who will Undergo Medical Treatment:
- Original letter from attending physician; and
- Copy of attending physician’s valid PRC ID, PRC Certificate of Registration/License, or Special Temporary Permit.
For Travelers on Board Privately-Owned Yachts or Sailboats:
- Crew List;
- Nationality/Citizenship of the crew;
- Passport details of the crew;
- Vessel to be used: type, name, registration, call sign, etc.;
- Estimated date of entry into Philippine territory;
- Port/Area of entry in Philippine waters;
- Estimated period of stay in the Philippines;
- Character reference/shipping agent in the Philippines (if any); and
- Purpose of visit.
NOTE: Upon entering the Philippines, the crew must register immediately with the nearest Coast Guard Station and submit the yacht/sailboat to Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine inspections.
For News Correspondents, Journalists, and Cinema/Television Groups:
- Curriculum Vitae of news correspondents/journalists;
- Shortlist of work credits;
- Copy of one sample article written by the applicants; and
- Background of media organization, including target market/audience, circulation, and format.
Furthermore, administrative arrangements for work in the Philippines must also be furnished by submitting the following:
- List of members of reportorial team, nationality and passport details;
- Planned itinerary and activities, with storyline for any films to be made;
- List of equipment to be brought by each team member;
- Flight details (arrival and departure); and
- One photograph, size 1″x1″ (for each member), to be submitted to International Press Center (IPC) for the issuance of accreditation cards.
For Students Taking Up Short-Term or Non-Degree Courses:
- Letter of Request;
- Certificate of Acceptance from the school, which should be accredited by the Bureau of Immigration to accept foreign students;
- Copy of Passport indicating applicant’s authorized period of stay;
- Affidavit of Support and proof of financial capacity; and
- Apostilled Birth Certificate.
Fees
With regard to the Temporary Visitor’s Visa, here are the fees for single entry, multiple entry (six months), and multiple entry (one year) for non-restricted and restricted nationals, respectively. Please note that payments must be made through cash basis only.
For Non-Restricted Nationals:
- Single Entry – OMR 12
- Multiple Entry (6 months) – OMR 24
- Multiple Entry (1 year) – OMR 36
For Restricted Nationals:
- Single Entry – OMR 16
- Multiple Entry (6 months) – OMR 32
- Multiple Entry (1 year) – OMR 48
Procedure
As soon as you have prepared all the requirements, go to the Philippine Embassy in Muscat. Personal appearance is a must. Submit your documents, pay the fees, and wait for further instructions regarding your application. It should take around two to ten working days for the Embassy to process your visa, depending on the type of visa you applied for, as well as your purpose for traveling and duration of stay in the Philippines.
Additional Reminders
Keep in mind the following reminders when applying for a Philippine visa:
- Submit your application at least 14 days before the intended date of departure, thus giving time for visa processing and issuance.
- If you are applying for a multiple entry (one year) visa, it is best to submit your application at least one month before the intended date of departure.
- Once your application has been processed, payments are non-refundable.
- Always be respectful towards consular staff in the Embassy. Do not demand for a visa or say negative things about the staff or about the Filipino people and culture.
- Having a visa does not guarantee entry to the Philippines; you will still be subject to Philippine Immigration authorities at the port of entry.
Video: More Fun Awaits in the Philippines
Are you thinking about going to the Philippines as a tourist? Check out this video shared by Tourism Philippines, the official YouTube channel of the Philippines’ Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board. Get ready to discover the country’s 7,641 islands filled with amazing sights, flavors, and lots of fun!!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have some questions in mind? Here are some commonly asked questions — and answers — about Philippine visas:
1. Who can enter the Philippines without a visa?
As mentioned earlier, there are certain foreign nationals who can enter the Philippines without visas for a limited period. Nationals from Brazil and Israel may enter without visas and stay for up to 59 days. Meanwhile, nationals from 152 countries (including ASEAN, European Union countries) can enter the country without visas and stay for up to 30 days. Finally, people holding Hong Kong, Macau, and Portuguese passports (those issued in Macau) may enter the Philippines and stay for up to 14 days.
2. How long can a traveler stay in the Philippines?
The Philippine Embassy issues: Single Entry Visas, which are valid for three months; and Multiple Entry Visas, which are valid for six months or one year. Regardless of the type of visa that you have, you can only stay for a maximum of 59 days at a time. This means that even if you have a multiple entry visa, you need to exit the country after 59 days, before re-entering again.
3. What happens if I overstay in the Philippines?
If you have exceeded the maximum number of days that your Philippine visa allows, this is considered as overstaying. Depending on how long you have overstayed, you will be asked to pay a fine. The standard fine is around PHP 500 for every month that you overstayed.
On the other hand, if you overstayed for more than 12 months, you will need to acquire a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) prior to paying overstaying fines. In a worst-case scenario, you may be deported and placed on the blacklist, which means that you will not be allowed to enter the country again.
4. Are foreigners allowed to enter the Philippines now?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Philippine health and travel authorities have set some protocols in place. At the moment, only fully-vaccinated foreign nationals (except for minors 12 years old and below) with proof of vaccination are allowed to enter the country.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated travelers are currently not allowed to enter the Philippines. If you are unable to present proof of vaccination, you will be subject to quarantine in a government facility until the fifth day, during which you will need to take an RT-PCR Test (and get a negative result). After this, you will need to undergo home quarantine until your 14th day in the country.
5. How can I stay in the Philippines permanently?
If you are planning to settle or stay in the Philippines permanently, please inquire with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad. On the other hand, if you are already in the country on a tourist visa, go to the Bureau of Immigration and inquire about how you can have your current visa converted into a different type of visa.
Summary
As you can see, applying for a Philippine visa depends on your passport type, purpose of travel, and duration of stay. Provided that you have all the requirements, getting a visa to enter the Philippines should be quick and easy. Of course, you should also make sure that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to avoid any travel problems.
Contact Information – Philippine Embassy in Muscat
To know more about applying for a Philippine visa, you can get in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Muscat through the following contact details:
Address: Bldg. No. 1041 / 1043, Way No. 3015, Al Kharijiya Street, Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Telephone: (+968) 2460-5335, 2460-5143
Email: muscat.pe@dfa.gov.ph
Website: https://muscatpe.dfa.gov.ph/
Google Map Location
Below is the location of the Philippine Embassy on Google Maps, for your reference:
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