Philippines: e-Visa System for Philippine Visitor Visas Expanded to Applicants in India

The Philippine government has opened the electronic visa (e-Visa) system for nationals of India applying for 9(a) Temporary Visitor’s Visa from within India. The e-Visa system allows eligible applicants to complete their 9(a) visa applications online through the official e-Visa portal. The e-Visa is intended for short-term travel, including tourism, business, medical treatment, and participating in events such as meetings, conferences, and athletic activities. It can be issued for single or multiple entries with a validity of six months or one year at the discretion of consular authorities. The e-Visa typically cannot be extended or converted to other visa types in the Philippines. For this reason, foreign nationals intending to travel to the Philippines for work should not choose the e-Visa route and should apply for a stamped 9(a) visa at the corresponding consular post instead so that they can convert it to the appropriate work visa (e.g., 9(g) or PEZA visa) in the Philippines afterward. The government anticipates a full implementation of the e-Visa system for other foreign nationals by the end of 2024.