Chinese Visitors Can Now Apply for e-Visa to the Philippines
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has launched a pilot program for an electronic visa (e-visa) system for Chinese travelers at its consulate in Shanghai, China. Starting today, Chinese nationals residing in Shanghai who want to visit the Philippines can create an account on the website visa.e.gov.ph. Applicants will need to provide personal and travel information, answer security questions, upload required documents, choose between single-entry or multiple-entry visas, and pay the visa fee. A Philippine visa officer will then review the application and decide whether additional documentation or an in-person interview is necessary. If the application is approved, the e-visa will be sent to the applicant via email.
Currently, travelers from 136 countries can enter the Philippines without a visa. However, China is one of the restricted countries that require a visa. The DFA plans to expand the e-visa system to all restricted countries by the end of the year, if the pilot program in Shanghai is successful. This e-visa initiative is in line with the Department of Tourism’s goal of attracting 4.8 million tourists by the end of the year, with a particular focus on attracting Chinese tourists, who made up a significant portion of tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2019.