How many days per year may I visit the Philippines? (Merged threads)

[Nathan Alden, Sr. 17]

I recently visited my now-wife for about 28 days, which doesn't require a tourist visa. How many days total per year may I visit the Philippines as a US citizen, with or without a tourist visa? I know some countries have limitations on the total number of days per year one may visit.

[Theersink 20]

47 minutes ago, Nathan Alden, Sr. said:

I recently visited my now-wife for about 28 days, which doesn't require a tourist visa. How many days total per year may I visit the Philippines as a US citizen, with or without a tourist visa? I know some countries have limitations on the total number of days per year one may visit.

As long as you don't stay past 30 days in any one trip and your passport expiration date is in 6 months or more there is no other provisions specified as far as I am aware. Here is the snip from there travel authority:

GUIDELINES ON THE ENTRY OF TEMPORARY VISITORS TO THE PHILIPPINES

 

The Philippines grants visa-free entry to passport holders of certain countries while requiring a visa to others. Check if your passport will require a visa for entry to the Philippines by selecting the country that issued your passport:

 

(Selected USA in dropdown)

 

You are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of stay of thirty (30) days or less provided that you meet all of the requirements below:

 

• If you are traveling to the Philippines for business or tourism; and
• You hold valid tickets for your return to port of origin or next port of destination; and
• Your passport is valid at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay
• You are not subject of deportation/blacklist order of the Department and the Bureau of Immigration

 

 

https://dfa-oca.ph/visa/visa-general-info/

 

At the bottom is the dropdown to select the country. There is other info there as well for your reference.

 

 

Edited June 22 by Theersink

[Nathan Alden, Sr. 17]

Thanks @Theersink. That was my impression, too, after I had read that same information the other day. I just wanted to check my assumptions.

[RO_AH 1,659]

If you enter with your wife you will get a Balikbayan visa stamp which gives you 1 year.

[Nathan Alden, Sr. 17]

4 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

If you enter with your wife you will get a Balikbayan visa stamp which gives you 1 year.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by this. My wife already lives in the Philippines (she doesn't have a passport yet) and I'm a US citizen living in the US. Can you elaborate?

Edited June 22 by Nathan Alden, Sr.

[Stevephoto 230]

2 hours ago, Nathan Alden, Sr. said:

 

I'm not sure what you mean by this. My wife already lives in the Philippines (she doesn't have a passport yet) and I'm a US citizen living in the US. Can you elaborate?

@RO_AH can elaborate, but it does not sound like the balikbayan visa is an option for you. Essentially when I entered the Philippines with my wife I was given a one year visa. When I traveled to see her alone back in the day I was given a 30 day visa each time. I visited 4 times in 12 months (never longer than 30 days on a given trip) and there was never a problem. Members, PLEASE correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the 30 day visa can be extended at least once by visiting the Bureau of Immigration, but again, my caveat is that most of my information is over 10-years old and things do change.

[Nathan Alden, Sr. 17]

From what I can tell, the Balikbayan privilege only applies if we both return at the same time from overseas. She doesn't even have a passport yet, and getting a B-2 visa so that she can come here and then return with me will take a long time, I suspect. However, I was not able to find an official .ph website that describes the exact restrictions.

Edited June 22 by Nathan Alden, Sr.

[RO_AH 1,659]

11 hours ago, Nathan Alden, Sr. said:

 

I'm not sure what you mean by this. My wife already lives in the Philippines (she doesn't have a passport yet) and I'm a US citizen living in the US. Can you elaborate?

Yes, I get that, but your question was a little generic. I know you are rather new here and just wanted you to have the information. I am taking my 11th trip to the Philippines and this will be the first time that I enter with my wife so it will be my first BB stamp.

 

My co-worker just got back from the Philippines. He stayed 31 days. It cost him over $100 USD. I said you dummy! That 1 day cost a lot.

[RO_AH 1,659]

7 hours ago, Nathan Alden, Sr. said:

getting a B-2 visa so that she can come here and then return with me will take a long time

About that...Try never. You have a better chance of winning powerball than her getting a B-2

[top_secret 2,411]

You can pay as you go for visa extensions up to three years.  After three years you have to leave country but could even do a same day turnaround flight to someplace like Hong Kong or Taipei and back, restarting the clock on another three years of paid visa extensions.  Or, as @RO_AH mentioned, take your wife with you on quick trip to some nearby country and if you return to the Philippines traveling together they would give you a Balikbayan stamp good for one year free.

Edited June 23 by top_secret

[widude 38]

 I was under the impression one has the 30 days. If needed, leave the country, fly back, the 30 days starts over. 
 

 

[top_secret 2,411]

18 minutes ago, widude said:

 I was under the impression one has the 30 days. If needed, leave the country, fly back, the 30 days starts over. 
 

 

 

You just go down to the immigration office and pay for an extension.  It's a standard service . I seem to recall it being $40/$50-ish a month but it's been a while since I paid.  These days they even have tourist visa extensions online though I can't personally vouch for that.  https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph/  There's plenty of foreigners living in the Philippines defacto permanently by continuously extending tourist visas and doing a quick turnaround trip every 3 years.

Edited June 23 by top_secret

[Nathan Alden, Sr. 17]

Very interesting. See, this is why I love asking VisaJourney these questions! There's an answer somewhere if I dig deeply enough. 😊

[RO_AH 1,659]

2 hours ago, Nathan Alden, Sr. said:

Very interesting. See, this is why I love asking VisaJourney these questions! There's an answer somewhere if I dig deeply enough. 😊

Just gotta make sure to extend it before the 30 days and not just show up at the airport like my friend did. You will get hit with a penalty.

[top_secret 2,411]

9 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Just gotta make sure to extend it before the 30 days and not just show up at the airport like my friend did. You will get hit with a penalty.

 

Yea, extending is cheap and easy but if you don't bother and just show up at the airport overstayed its a potentially significant fine.  There was an overstayed Vietnamese tourist at NAIA just last week who made quite a public controversy protesting her fine.  Errr,,,, umm,,,, if you do get fined it's best just to pay.