Chinese passport holders will soon be able to enter the Philippines without securing a visa, following a policy shift announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, Jan. 15. The arrangement takes effect Friday, Jan. 16, and permits short stays strictly for tourism or business.
The DFA said the decision follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instruction to ease cross-border movement in support of economic activity and exchanges between the Philippines and China. Under the new setup, eligible travelers may remain in the country for up to two weeks without the option to extend or convert their stay to another visa category. “The said privilege allows for a non-extendable 14-day stay, which is non-convertible to any other type of Philippine visa category,” the department said.
Visa-free entry will be limited to arrivals through two international gateways: Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu. Travelers are required to present a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay, proof of confirmed hotel accommodation, and a return or onward ticket to another destination.
The DFA said border screening measures will remain in place despite the relaxed entry rules. “To ensure that security and public order are maintained while facilitating the entry of legitimate travelers, checks on derogatory records of travelers will continue to apply,” it said.
According to the department, the policy will run for one year and will be subject to reassessment ahead of its expiration. “The visa-free entry arrangement will be in effect for one year and will be reviewed accordingly before it expires,” the DFA added.
Before this change, Mainland Chinese nationals could enter the Philippines without a visa only for an initial stay of up to seven days, provided they held a valid or unexpired visa from Australia, Japan, Canada, a Schengen state, or the United States, with the option to extend their stay to a maximum of 21 days.
