Philippines: Visa-free entry for Indian nationals

Bureau of Immigration Memorandum Circular No. 2025-003
17 Jun 2025    2 minute read

In brief

On 26 May 2025, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2025-003 ("MC 2025-003") (copy available here), providing guidelines on the visa-free entry of Indian nationals.

Contents

In depth

Coverage

MC 2025-003 applies to all Indian passport holders who are coming into the Philippines for tourism purposes.

Fourteen-day visa-free entry for Indian nationals

Indian tourists may be granted a stay not exceeding 14 days, provided that the following are presented during inspection:

  1. A passport that will be valid for at least six months beyond the contemplated stay
  2. Confirmation of hotel accommodation/booking
  3. Proof of financial capacity (i.e., bank statement, certificate of employment, etc.)
  4. A return or onward ticket to the next country of destination
  5. Registration/update in the eTravel system (https://etravel.gov.ph)

The following conditions and limitations apply to such Indian tourists:

  1. The visa-free privilege is non-extendable and nonconvertible to other Philippine visa categories.
  2. Entry is subject to standard immigration arrival procedures and clearance from all of the BI's derogatory databases.
  3. The purpose of travel is tourism.
  4. Transit passengers holding visas to a destination beyond the Philippines shall be required to apply for or hold Philippine transit visas.

Indian nationals subject to the AJACSSUK privilege

Indian tourists in possession of a valid American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or United Kingdom (AJACSSUK) visa or permanent residence permit may be granted an initial stay not exceeding 30 days, provided that the following are presented during inspection:

  1. A national passport that will be valid for at least six months beyond the contemplated stay
  2. A valid AJACSSUK visa or permanent residence permit (excluding transit or seafarer's visas)
  3. A return or onward ticket to the next country of destination
  4. No derogatory record in any of the BI's databases
  5. Registration/update in the eTravel system (https://etravel.gov.ph)

The following conditions and limitations apply to such Indian tourists:

  1. The visa-free privilege is nonconvertible to other Philippine visa categories.
  2. Entry is subject to standard immigration arrival procedures and clearance from all of the BI's derogatory databases.
  3. The purpose of travel is tourism.
  4. For a stay longer than 30 days, they may apply for a visa at a foreign service post (FSP) in India, any FSP in a country where the applicant has legal residence or any FSP in a country that requires entry visas for Indian nationals.

* * * * *

LOGO Philippines_QuisumbingTorres_Manila

Please contact QTInfoDesk@quisumbingtorres.com for inquiries.

VISIT QUISUMBING TORRES SITE

Contact Information
Miguel Antonio Galvez
Partner at BakerMcKenzie
Quisumbing Torres, Manila
Read my Bio
miguel.galvez@quisumbingtorres.com
Renson Louise Yu
Associate at BakerMcKenzie
Quisumbing Torres, Manila
Read my Bio
rensonlouise.yu@quisumbingtorres.com

Copyright © 2025 Baker & McKenzie. All rights reserved. Ownership: This documentation and content (Content) is a proprietary resource owned exclusively by Baker McKenzie (meaning Baker & McKenzie International and its member firms). The Content is protected under international copyright conventions. Use of this Content does not of itself create a contractual relationship, nor any attorney/client relationship, between Baker McKenzie and any person. Non-reliance and exclusion: All Content is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal and regulatory developments. All summaries of the laws, regulations and practice are subject to change. The Content is not offered as legal or professional advice for any specific matter. It is not intended to be a substitute for reference to (and compliance with) the detailed provisions of applicable laws, rules, regulations or forms. Legal advice should always be sought before taking any action or refraining from taking any action based on any Content. Baker McKenzie and the editors and the contributing authors do not guarantee the accuracy of the Content and expressly disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or permitted to be done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance upon the whole or any part of the Content. The Content may contain links to external websites and external websites may link to the Content. Baker McKenzie is not responsible for the content or operation of any such external sites and disclaims all liability, howsoever occurring, in respect of the content or operation of any such external websites. Attorney Advertising: This Content may qualify as “Attorney Advertising” requiring notice in some jurisdictions. To the extent that this Content may qualify as Attorney Advertising, PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME. Reproduction: Reproduction of reasonable portions of the Content is permitted provided that (i) such reproductions are made available free of charge and for non-commercial purposes, (ii) such reproductions are properly attributed to Baker McKenzie, (iii) the portion of the Content being reproduced is not altered or made available in a manner that modifies the Content or presents the Content being reproduced in a false light and (iv) notice is made to the disclaimers included on the Content. The permission to re-copy does not allow for incorporation of any substantial portion of the Content in any work or publication, whether in hard copy, electronic or any other form or for commercial purposes.