Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Philippine Visa Applications

What are the general requirements for a Philippine visa application? Duly-accomplished application form. You may send your application through mail provided that it is notarized by a Notary Public (not by a Justice of the Peace). Submitting your application in-person will waive the notarization requirement altogether. Please note that the Philippine Online Visa Application System (OVAS) is out-of-service until further notice. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the authorized period of stay in the Philippines Proposed flight itinerary to and from the Philippines. (Important: please do not book or purchase your ticket until the visa has been issued.) Proof of financial capacity OR letter of guarantee from the sponsor with proof of financial capacity Documents proving ties to the home country or country of residence such as employment certificate or property documents. An employment certificate will be sufficient. Please do not send your employment contracts. Hotel accommodation reservation or any proof of lodging Valid New Zealand visa, if applicable New Zealand Police Conviction Check or Ministry of Justice Certificate from place of residence of applicant Passport-size photo (1) taken within 3 months of application Prepaid courier bag with signature-required sticker For Chinese nationals only: Social Insurance Record Certificate (original and official English translation) For students enrolled in primary, secondary, or college/ university: proof of enrolment. Payment: Bank account details of the Embassy will be provided after assessment of documents submitted. Please refer to our schedule of consular fees.

How long does visa processing take? The visa application process typically takes a minimum of fourteen (14) working days from the receipt of complete requirements. We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance, ideally no later than six (6) weeks before your intended flight departure, especially during high-volume periods.

Do I need to send my passport with my application? Yes, your actual passport is required. Once your application is approved, the physical visa sticker will be attached to it. You can send it with your initial application or once your application is approved and payment is made.

Can I book my flight and hotel before my visa is approved? The Embassy advises against purchasing your flight ticket outright before visa approval. A provisional booking for both your flight and lodging will suffice for the application process

Can I submit my visa application by mail or in person? You can submit your application by mail, but it will require notarization by a Notary Public. If you submit your application in person, the notarization requirement by a Notary Public is waived. No appointment is needed for in-person submissions, but we appreciate being notified of your arrival and encourage submission during morning operational hours. You can also email your application in PDF for a preliminary review.

What if my documents are notarized by a Justice of the Peace instead of a Notary Public? Documents authenticated by a Justice of the Peace are typically for legal use within New Zealand only. For your visa application to be admissible in the Philippines, documents need to be authenticated by a Notary Public. Alternatively, you can submit your application in person at the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, and a consular officer can attest to your documents, waiving the notarization requirement.

What is the process for visa applications for foreign government officials? Foreign government officials traveling on official business with official or diplomatic passports must course their visa applications through their respective foreign ministries. A letter of endorsement or Note Verbale from your foreign ministry is required. The application form can be downloaded from the Embassy website. If time is a constraint, you may apply for a non-immigrant, 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa, which is essentially a tourist visa without official privileges and subject to regular fees.

Can I submit internal correspondence from my government agency as part of my visa application for government officials? No, please ensure that only documents required and specifically addressed to the Philippine Embassy are submitted. Internal correspondence or documents intended for other government agencies or purposes not related to the Embassy's requirements should not be included.

What if I am a former Filipino with Filipino lineage? As a former Filipino, you may be entitled to avail of the Balikbayan Program through the Bureau of Immigration upon arrival in the Philippines. You will need to present your old Philippine passport and/or Philippine-issued birth certificate, as proof of being formerly Filipino to qualify for this program.

What is the Balikbayan Program, and am I eligible? The Balikbayan Program allows former Filipinos and foreign spouses of Filipino citizens to enter the Philippines visa-free for one year. For former Filipinos: You will need to present your old Philippine passport and/or a Philippine-issued birth certificate upon arrival to the Bureau of Immigration. For foreign spouses of Filipinos: You must be traveling together with the Filipino citizen (the principal Balikbayan) and be a citizen of a country listed under Executive Order No. 408 (visa-free countries). You will need a valid passport (6 months validity) and a marriage certificate (PSA-authenticated or a recognized/registered foreign marriage certificate). Foreign Spouses and children of Filipino citizens: A foreign national spouse and/or child of a Balikbayan may only be given the said privilege if he/she is traveling with his/her Balikbayan spouse or parent. Bureau of Immigration link.

Is the Philippine Online Visa Application System (OVAS) currently operational? No, the Philippine Online Visa Application System (OVAS) is currently out of service until further notice. All applications should be submitted manually to the Philippine Embassy in Wellington.

Can I email my application for review before physically submitting it? Yes, you can email your application in PDF format to the Embassy for a preliminary review. This allows the Embassy to assess the documents beforehand and advise you on any additional requirements or confirm sufficiency.

What should I do if I received a response stating my application has incomplete or incorrect requirements? If your application is found to have incomplete requirements or an incorrect form, you will be notified. Processing will only commence once all visa requirements are satisfied. The Embassy website provides links to the correct and complete list of requirements and application forms.

How will I know the progress of my visa application? You will typically be contacted by the Visa Officer via email when your visa application progresses.

How do I pay for my visa once approved? Once your visa application is approved, you will receive instructions for payment via bank transfer, including the exact fees and the Embassy's bank account details. Please ensure you use your name as the reference and 'VISA' as particulars. Do not send cash through the mail.

What is the 13A Non-Quota Immigrant Visa? The 13A Non-Quota Immigrant Visa, or Immigrant Visa by Marriage, is for foreign nationals married to Filipino citizens. This visa allows the foreign spouse to reside indefinitely in the Philippines as long as the marriage remains valid. Eligibility requires the Filipino spouse to be a citizen who has not acquired citizenship in another country or has re-acquired Philippine citizenship through Republic Act 9225.

Where can I find downloadable visa application forms? Downloadable visa application forms, including Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Application Forms, as well as the Standard Medical Examination Form, can be found on the Philippine Embassy in Wellington's website under their 'download' section, and on the Philippine Bureau of Immigration's website.

How do I apply for a Working Permit or Student’s Visa The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand does not process applications for Working Permits or Student Visas. These visa applications should be submitted directly to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the Philippines. Your prospective employer or educational institution in the Philippines is responsible for initiating this process and will facilitate your application with the BI.

What are the contact details for the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand? The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand is located at 50 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand 6011. You may send mailed applications to this address.

Are Indian nationals eligible for visa-free entry? Indian nationals may now enter the Philippines visa-free for an initial visit of no more than fourteen (14) days. As per the Philippine Bureau of Immigration Memorandum Circular 2025-003, and; This also covers the Department of Foreign Affairs' Foreign Service Circular 2025-020 revising the visa regulations for Nationals of India for Temporary Visits under the AJACSSUK Privilege, allowing Indian tourists in possession of a valid American, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Shengen, Singapore, or United Kingdom visa or permanent residence permit may be granted an initial stay not exceeding thirty (30) days

Are Chinese nationals eligible for visa-free entry? Chinese nationals may be granted visa-free entry into the Philippines for a stay not exceeding fourteen (14) days for tourism and business purposes only. (FSC 2026-05) This privilege is valid until 15 January 2027, unless otherwise stated.

ON VISA APPLICATIONS OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 9(e) Visa Application Procedure All visa applications must be coursed through your respective foreign ministries. The application form can be downloaded from this link. Please refer to our Embassy's website for the complete list of requirements for foreign government officials, which includes a letter of endorsement or note verbale from your foreign ministry. The actual passports must accompany the application for the visa sticker to be attached once the application is approved.

Processing Time and Requirements The processing time for visa applications is typically 14 working days. Due to the time constraint, we recommend applying for a non-immigrant, 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa if you are unable to meet the requirements for an official or diplomatic visa on time. This visa is essentially a tourist visa with no official or diplomatic representation or privileges and is subject to regular visa fees and costs.

Application Submission Mailed visa applications must be notarized by the government agency you are representing. Applications can be submitted in-person or by mail to the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, NZ at the following address: The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, NZ 50 Hobson Street, Thorndon Wellington, New Zealand 6011

Important reminders Please ensure that only documents specifically addressed to the Philippine Embassy are submitted. Internal correspondence or documents intended for other government agencies or purposes not related to the Embassy's requirements should not be included.

ON THE BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM

Traveling as a former Filipino, entitles you to avail of the Balikbayan Program through the Bureau of Immigration (BI) upon arrival. As part of the programme's requirements, you will need to present your old Philippine passport and/or Philippine issued birth certificate. The Balikbayan Program of the Philippines (Republic Act 6768 as amended by Republic Act 9174) was enacted to attract and encourage overseas Filipinos, including former Filipinos, to visit the Philippines. Information on the Balikbayan Program privilege may be likewise confirmed by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration website under “Visa Inquiry” at the following link. In the link, you shall find: WHO ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM? "i. A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year;"; and "b. Immediate family members (spouse and children) of the Balikbayan, who are nationals of countries falling under EO 408, (United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern Island) travelling together with the Balikbayan."; WHAT ARE THE PRIVILEGES OF A BALIKBAYAN? "Those who are admitted as Balikbayans are given an initial stay of one (1) year. They may extend their stay for another one (1), two (2) or six (6) months provided that they present their valid passport and filled out the visa extension form and submit it to the Visa Extension Section in the BI Main Office or any BI Offices nationwide. An additional requirement will be ask for Balikbayans who have stayed in the Philippines after thirty six (36) months."; and CAN A FOREIGNER SPOUSE OR CHILD OF A BALIKBAYAN AVAIL THIS PRIVILEGE WHEN TRAVELLING TO THE PHILIPPINES ALONE? "A foreign national spouse and/or child of a Balikbayan may only be given the said privilege if he/she is traveling with his/her Balikbayan spouse or parent."