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 Korea, the U.S., or France?
That dream can be really 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.
Even if the visa policies of certain countries have reverted to pre-COVID-19 conditions, some travelers would still rather not go through the trouble and postpone visiting their dream destination until they’ve collected enough stamps on their passport.
Your best bet? Traveling to visa-free countries for Filipino tourists. According to the 2022 Henley Passport Index,[1] Filipinos can visit 66 countries without having to apply for a visa.
Visa-Free Countries Filipino Tourists Can Visit in 2022
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 stay in the destination country;
- Other supporting health and travel documents required by the destination country; and
- Bureau of Immigration Risk Declaration Form
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 countries visa-free for Filipino tourists, 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 any non-visa countries for Filipino travelers. Here’s a list of family-friendly vacation destinations that you can visit without a visa, including the maximum allowed length of stay:
Visa-Free Countries in Asia
- Brunei – 14 days
- Cambodia
- Hong Kong – 14 days (COVID-19 ban lifted starting April 1, 2022; conditions apply)[2]
- Indonesia – 30 days
- Israel – 90 days
- Kazakhstan – 30 days
- Laos – 30 days (COVID-19 ban lifted starting January 1, 2022)[3]
- Malaysia – 30 days
- Mongolia – 21 days
- Myanmar – 14 days (COVID-19 ban lifted starting April 17, 2022)[4]
- Palestinian Territories
- Singapore – 30 days
- Taiwan – (COVID-19 ban lifted starting March 7, 2022; conditions apply)[5]
- Tajikistan – 30 days
- Thailand – 30 days
- Vietnam – 21 days
Read more: Trip to Asia 2022: 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
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
Read more: Philippine International Driving Permit Application
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
Read more: Best Personal Loans to Apply For in the Philippines
Countries That Issue Visa on Arrival to Filipinos
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
- Kyrgyzstan – 30 days (VOA or e-visa)
- Maldives – 30 days
- Nepal – 90 days
- Timor-Leste – 30 days
Visa on Arrival Countries in Africa
- Burundi – 30 days
- Cape Verde Islands – (E.A.S.E.)[6]
- Comoros – 45 days
- Guinea-Bissau – 90 days (VOA or e-visa)
- Madagascar – 90 days (VOA or e-visa)
- Malawi – 30 days (VOA or e-visa)
- Mauritania
- Mauritius – 60 days
- Mozambique – 30 days
- Seychelles – 90 days (tourist registration)
- Somalia – 30 days
- Tanzania (VOA or e-visa)
- Togo – 7 days
Visa on Arrival Country in the Americas
- Nicaragua – 30 days
Visa on Arrival Countries in the Caribbean
- St. Lucia - 42 days
- Trinidad and Tobago
Visa on Arrival Countries in the Oceania
- Palau – 30 days
- Papua New Guinea – 60 days (VOA or e-visa)
- Samoa – 60 days
- Tuvalu – 30 days
Read more: 12 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas This 2022
Countries That Issue E-Visa 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
- Armenia – 120 days
- Iran – 30 days
- Kyrgyzstan – 30 days (e-visa or VOA)
- Sri Lanka – 30 days (electronic travel authorization)
E-Visa Countries in Africa
- Benin
- Djibouti
- Guinea-Bissau – 90 days (e-visa or VOA)
- Kenya – 90 days
- Madagascar – 90 days (e-visa or VOA)
- Malawi – 30 days (e-visa or VOA)
- Tanzania (e-visa or VOA)
- Uganda
E-Visa Country in the Americas
Ecuador
E-Visa Country in the Oceania
Papua New Guinea – 60 days (e-visa or VOA)
Countries with Conditional Visa Exemption
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
Traveling in the new normal is certainly different from before. You have to be more conscious of so many things, especially of your safety while traveling. Because of the additional requirements like COVID-19 testing and other documents, your costs may balloon and eat up your travel budget. To add to your funds, you can get a personal loan for travel so as not to limit your enjoyment outside.
Also, keep in mind that while this guide is accurate as of writing, the list of visa-free countries for Filipinos changes every year. 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!
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