Quick Facts

Visas are required for all international travellers entering the Philippines except the following: 

1. Travellers carrying passports from Hong Kong and Macau SAR are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding fourteen (14) days.
2. Travellers carrying passports from the following countries can enjoy visa-free access to the Philippines for up to 30 days: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil*, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel*, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
3. Travellers carrying passports from Brazil and Israel can enjoy visa-free access to the Philippines for up to 59 days.

View visa requirements from the official website of Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines

The local currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP). The units of money are pesos (for bills) or centavos (for coins). Credit cards are accepted in major hotels and shopping malls.

Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.

PHP 1.00 equals:

A 12.75% surcharge, including government tax, is applicable in majority of the hotels, restaurants, salons and spas.

Many mid-range and high-end hotels, restaurants, salons and spas include a 10% service charge.  
If there is no service charge reflected on the bill, a tip of 10-20% is accepted.

Bank Hours
9am - 6pm, Monday through Friday.
Banks inside shopping malls are open 9am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday.

Office Hours
9am - 6pm, Monday through Saturday

Shopping Hours
10am - 9pm or later throughout the week

Visitors entering the Philippines are required to complete a health declaration form. Check with your local doctor or health care professional about vaccination requirements before you plan your trip.

Dress is generally informal in the Philippines except on social, diplomatic or government occasions, when a suit and tie / long gown or Barong Tagalog / Filipiniana (national dress) are appropriate. Light clothing is appropriate for the tropical humid weather.

Manila has a temperate climate ranging from very warm during April to June (28 C to 39 C) to cool during December to February (20 C to 25 C).