9(a) Tourist Entry and Extensions

This is the route almost every nomad in the Philippines actually uses. Visa-free nationals arrive with 30 days, then extend at any Bureau of Immigration office: first by 29 days, then in one or two-month blocks, up to a cumulative 36 months without ever leaving the country. It is unmatched in the region. The trade-offs are administrative: an ACR I-Card becomes mandatory past 59 days, an Emigration Clearance Certificate is needed to leave after six months, and you will visit an immigration office repeatedly.

60 nationalities are on the eligible list. Anyone not listed applies through a different route.

• Passport eligible for visa-free entryRequiredAround 150 nationalities enter visa-free for 30 days. A few, including Brazil and Israel, receive 59 days.
• Total stay of 36 months or lessRequiredVisa-free nationals can extend to a cumulative 36 months. Visa-required nationals are capped at 24 months.
• Passport valid for six monthsRequiredSix months of validity beyond your intended stay is required.
• Onward or return ticketRequiredStrictly enforced here. Airlines routinely deny boarding without proof of onward travel within your permitted stay.
• ACR I-Card past 59 daysInfoOnce your continuous stay passes 59 days you must obtain an Alien Certificate of Registration I-Card, which costs around USD 60 plus fees and is issued through the Bureau of Immigration.
• Exit clearance after six monthsInfoStaying more than six months means you need an Emigration Clearance Certificate before you can leave. Arrange it a week or two before your flight, not at the airport.
• eTravel registrationInfoEvery arrival must file the free eTravel declaration within 72 hours before arrival. Only etravel.gov.ph is official.

• Passport with six months validity
• Onward or return ticket
• eTravel registration
• Proof of accommodation

1. File eTravel and arrive

   ~1 day

   Complete eTravel within 72 hours before arrival and enter on the 30-day visa-free stamp.

   1

2. Extend before day 30

   ~1 day

   Visit any Bureau of Immigration office to add 29 days. Bring your passport and the arrival stamp.

   2

3. Apply for the ACR I-Card

   ~21 days

   Required once your stay passes 59 days. It takes a few weeks to be produced.

   3

4. Get an ECC before leaving

   ~7 days

   If you stayed over six months, obtain the Emigration Clearance Certificate before your departure date.

   4

First extension adds 29 days, then one or two-month blocks. Each visit costs roughly USD 60-110 in combined fees. Agents in Cebu and Manila handle it for a small premium.

• Extending for six months at a time in one visit saves repeated trips to immigration
• Cebu's immigration office is generally faster and calmer than Manila's
• Keep every official receipt: they are checked at later extensions and at the ECC stage
• Overstaying accrues daily fines plus a fixed penalty and can lead to a blacklist
• Working on a tourist stay is not permitted; the digital nomad visa is intended to address this

• Philippine Bureau of ImmigrationBureau of Immigration, Republic of the Philippines2026-07-27