Travel to Visayas with the Philippines eTA
Travel to Visayas with the Philippines eTA
The Visayas, also known as the Visayan Islands, are located in the central part of the Philippines. Most international travelers will need a Philippines visa or eTA to travel to the Visayas.
Travelers with an approved visa for eTA for the Visayaya can visit any of the major islands in the region, including:
The Philippines Electronic Travel Authorization or eTA is the most convenient way to visit the Visayas, as it can be obtained exclusively online through a simple application. It allows the holder to stay up to 30 days in the Visayas and the rest of the Philippines.
Do you Need a Visa to Travel to Visayas?
Whether or not a foreign citizen needs a visa to travel to the Visayas (or any other part of the Philippines) depends on the traveler’s nationality.
Passport holders from a number of countries are able to visit Visayas and the Philippines visa-free for varying periods. The length of stay permitted depends on the visa-exempt country that has issued the passport.
- Citizens of countries in the European Union, as well as the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others, can visit the Vsiayas visa-free for up to 30 days.
- Nationals of Brazil or Israel may stay for up to 59 days without a visa
- Passport holders from Hong Kong or Macao (and Portuguese permanent residents of Macao) can visit for up to 14 days
To visit for stays longer than the visa exempt period for your nationality, you need a visa for the Visayas. Additionally, nationals of countries not in the Philippines visa waiver program must apply for a visa to travel to the Visayas no matter the period of stay.
Obtaining a visa for the Visayan islands usually involves the need to apply at a Philippines embassy or consulate. However, the government has recently launched an online application for an Electronic Travel Authorization (the Philippines eTA).
Can you Get a Philippines eTA for Visayas?
At the moment, the Philippines eTA for Visayas is only available to nationals of Taiwan. Travelers with a Taiwanese passport can apply for their Visayas eTA exclusively online.
Nevertheless, the government of the Philippines is expected to launch the eTA for other nationalities in the near future. This will simplify the process of obtaining a travel permit for the Visayan islands and remove the cumbersome embassy application process.
Philippines eTA Requirements for Visayas
Those eligible for the eTA for Visayas will only need to meet a few basic document requirements to submit an application:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay in the Visayas and the Philippines
- Proof of a return/onward trip
- Proof of hotel reservation in the Visayas
- An active email address at which to receive the approved eTA
- A debit or credit card to pay the eTA Visayas fee
The applicant must also ensure that they are able to print a copy of the approved eTA for the Visayas once it is approved. It must be printed full-scale on a piece of A4 paper.
How to Apply for a Visayas Philippines eTA
It only takes a few minutes to complete an eTA application. To apply for a Philippines eTA for the Visayas, you’ll need to:
- Access the eTA application form online
- Fill in the form with personal, passport, and travel details
- Pay the fee using your credit card or debit card
- Submit the eTA form
You should also double check all the details provided before submitting the form. This can help you avoid any processing delays or even the rejection of the eTA application.
Traveling to Visayas with the Philippines eTA
If your eTA application is approved, you will receive an email notification in the inbox you indicated on the form. You can then print and use this email as proof of your eTA status when arriving in the Visayas.
This must be shown to border officials upon arrival in the Visayan islands along with the passport used to complete the eTA application. The officers may also ask to see the proof of accommodation booking in the Visayas and the traveler’s return/onward flight itinerary.
You can use the eTA to arrive at any of the major airports in the Visayas, which include:
- Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA)
- Iloilo International Airport (ILO)
- Bacolod Silay International Airport (BCD)
However, the eTA can be used to enter the Visayas at any point of entry.
Philippines Visa Requirements for Visayas
Travelers who are not visa-exempt for the Visayas and not eligible for the Philippines eTA will need to apply for an embassy visa to travel to the Visayan islands.
To do so, they will need to compile a range of supporting documents in paper form, including.
- A completed visa application form
- Passport photos (2 copies)
- Proof of bona fide status as a tourist or businessman
- Confirmed tickets for the return or onward journey to the next port of destination
As with the eTA application, they will also require a passport or travel document with a minimum validity of 6 months to apply for a visa for the Visayas. The Visayas visa fees will need to be paid in person at the embassy.