The Philippines now permits citizens from 46 African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania, to enter the country visa-free for up to 30 days. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan are also eligible for this visa-free entry. However, nationals of Nigeria, China, and India remain excluded from this standard 30-day visa-free arrangement.
Visa Policy Framework and Stay Extensions
The visa-free entry program operates under Executive Order No. 408. Eligible travelers must present passports valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay and hold a return or onward ticket. Those admitted under this policy may apply for a
29-day extension through the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, allowing a maximum authorized stay of 59 days.
Eligible and Excluded African Countries
The African nations included in the visa-free policy span Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Eswatini, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Conversely, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan are excluded and
generally require visas prior to travel.
Separate Visa Arrangements and Tourism Impact
China and India are not covered by the 30-day visa-free rule but benefit from separate visa-free arrangements allowing shorter stays. Brazil and Israel have bilateral agreements permitting up to 59 days visa-free entry. In 2025, tourism accounted for 8.1% of the Philippine economy and supported approximately 7.7 million jobs. The country hosted about 5.94 million international tourists, whose spending was estimated at 694 billion Philippine pesos. International arrivals continued to rise into 2026 amid government initiatives to improve airports, transport infrastructure, and international connectivity.
