Traveling Abroad? Here’s a List of Visa-Free Countries for Filipinos

What’s your dream destination? Are you more into places that are best enjoyed during the ber months, or do you prefer sunny countries that are popular during summertime? Or perhaps you’re raring to go to countries like South Korea, the U.S., France, or Japan? 

That dream can be elusive for many Filipino travelers, especially with these countries’ strict visa requirements. Applying for a visa is generally time-consuming, tedious, and costly. You won’t even get your money back when you’re denied a visa.

Your best bet? Traveling to visa-free countries for Filipinos.

So how many visa-free countries for the Philippines? According to the 2023 Henley Passport Index,^[1] Filipinos can visit 67 countries without having to apply for a visa.

Visa-Free Countries for Filipinos in 2023

Looking for Asian countries without visa requirements? Cambodia is one of the ASEAN countries that Filipinos can visit without a visa

If a country allows visa-free access for Filipinos, it means you don’t need a visa to enter or exit it, as long as you can present these requirements:

• Passport with a remaining validity of at least six months from the date of travel (if your passport is about to expire or is still valid but no longer has blank visa pages, make sure to renew it);
• Travel and health insurance to cover any disruption related to COVID-19;
• Proof of good character (e.g., no criminal record, no persona non grata status in the destination country);
• Confirmed accommodation and roundtrip flight ticket;
• Proof of sufficient funds for subsistence during your stay in the destination country;
• Other supporting health and travel documents required by the destination country; and
• Bureau of Immigration Risk Declaration Form

See also: Europe, Here I Come: Schengen Visa Requirements in the Philippines

Keep in mind that you should stay in the destination country only within the maximum allowable period. If you plan to stay longer, you have to secure an appropriate visa depending on your purpose of visit, e.g., tourist visa or working visa.

When traveling to visa-free countries for Filipinos, you just have to check in with your passport at the immigration counter at the airport. The immigration officer may ask for a copy of your proof of accommodation and/or return ticket.

As long as you can take care of these basic travel requirements, you can freely go to visa-free countries from the Philippines.

So what countries don't need visas from the Philippines? Here’s a list of visa-free countries for Philippine passport holders, including the maximum allowed length of stay:

📍 Visa-Free Countries in Asia

• Brunei – 14 days
• Cambodia
• Hong Kong – 14 days
• Indonesia – 30 days
• Israel – 90 days
• Kazakhstan – 30 days
• Laos – 30 days
• Macao
• Malaysia – 30 days
• Mongolia – 21 days
• Myanmar – 14 days
• Palestinian Territories
• Singapore – 30 days
• Taiwan – (visa-free access until July 31, 2023 with extension pending)^[2]
• Thailand – 30 days
• Vietnam – 21 days

Read more: Trip to Asia 2023: Cheapest Country to Travel from the Philippines

📍 Visa-Free Countries in Africa

• Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) – 90 days
• Gambia – 90 days
• Morocco – 90 days
• Rwanda – 90 days
• Senegal

📍 Visa-Free Countries in the Americas

• Bolivia - 90 days
• Brazil - 90 days
• Colombia - 90 days
• Costa Rica - 30 days
• Ecuador - 90 days
• Peru - 183 days
• Suriname - 90 days

📍 Visa-Free Countries in the Caribbean

• Barbados – 90 days
• Dominica – 21 days
• Haiti – 90 days
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines – 30 days

📍 Visa-Free Country in Oceania

• Fiji – 120 days
• Cook Islands
• Micronesia
• Niue
• Vanuatu

Countries That Issue Visa on Arrival to Filipinos

What countries can Filipinos travel to without visas? Pinoy travelers who want to hike Mt. Everest can get visa on arrival in Nepal

Some countries issue a visa to visitors arriving at the airport. This type of visa is called visa on arrival (VOA), and it requires no pre-application unless stated in the requirements. You’ll receive your visa directly from the immigration at the airport of the destination country.

Unlike countries that require a visa, visa-on-arrival countries don’t require visitors to undergo a pre-application process in their origin country. They just ask for documents such as a valid passport, return ticket, proof of accommodation, and passport-size photo. Visitors may also have to pay a visa fee.

Despite this, visa-on-arrival countries are still among the easiest destinations to visit, just like visa-free countries. Here’s the list of countries that issue visa on arrival to Filipino travelers, along with the maximum allowed length of stay:

📍 Visa on Arrival Countries in Asia

• Amenia
• Iran
• Kyrgyzstan – 30 days 
• Maldives – 30 days
• Nepal – 90 days
• Tajikistan – 30 days
• Timor-Leste – 30 days

📍 Visa on Arrival Countries in Africa

• Burundi – 30 days
• Cape Verde Islands – (E.A.S.E.)^[3]
• Comoros – 45 days
• Guinea-Bissau – 90 days
• Madagascar – 90 days 
• Malawi – 30 days 
• Mauritania
• Mauritius – 60 days
• Mozambique – 30 days
• Seychelles – 90 days (tourist registration)
• Somalia – 30 days
• Tanzania 
• Togo – 7 days
• Uganda

📍 Visa on Arrival Countries in the Americas and the Caribbean

• Nicaragua – 30 days
• St. Lucia - 42 days
• Trinidad and Tobago

📍 Visa on Arrival Countries in Oceania

• Marshall Islands
• Palau – 30 days
• Papua New Guinea – 60 days 
• Samoa – 60 days
• Tuvalu – 30 days

Countries That Issue E-Visas to Filipinos

If you’re really set on traveling to a country that requires a visa, check out if they accept e-visas, which can be applied for and processed online. An e-visa doesn’t require any stamp or sticker to be placed on your passport before travel. Your visa can be accessed by immigration online via your passport number.

Applying for a visa online is faster and more convenient than the typical process, which requires a lot of time and movement. You can finish your e-visa application within minutes and get approved within a matter of days. Here are some countries that accept e-visas:

📍 E-Visa Countries in Asia

• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka – 30 days (electronic travel authorization)

Visit the Countries on Your Bucket List with a Loan from Citi

Plan your next adventure with the Citi Personal Loan Bounce Back Promo. Borrow up to ₱2 million and enjoy flexible terms and low interest rates. 

You also get a free gift upon loan disbursement. Click the banner above to learn more.

Note: This product is sold by Union Bank of the Philippines, using certain trademarks temporarily under license from Citigroup Inc. and related group entities.

Countries with Conditional Visa Exemption

Visit Dubrovnik, Croatia visa-free

Some countries allow conditional visa exemption for Philippine passport holders, provided they hold valid visas or valid permanent resident cards to other countries.

Others allow visa-free access to Filipinos visiting only a specific area in the country or as a part of a tour group based in that specific country. Countries that implement conditional visa exemption policies issue visas on arrival to Filipinos.

Here are countries you may visit upon meeting their visa-free entry conditions:

Final Thoughts

Raring to go traveling again after being cooped up for so long? Just remember, the pandemic isn't over yet! If you can, get travel insurance, especially if you're traveling abroad. 

Also, keep in mind that while this guide is accurate as of writing, the list of visa-free countries for Filipinos changes every so often. Some countries may discontinue accepting Filipino tourists without a visa while others that used to require a visa may allow visa-free entry in the future.

Just to be sure, visit the Henley Passport Index website to confirm if the country you want to visit still allows visa-free entry for Filipinos. Also, make sure to contact the embassy or consulate of your destination country so you can get a more specific list of requirements for your travel.

If you get all these things right, you’re all set for your trip. Enjoy!

Sources:

• ^[1] Henley Passport Index
• ^[2] Taiwan to evaluate visa-free extension for PH (Philippine News Agency, 2023)
• ^[3] Cape Verde E.A.S.E.