Last checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Rules change, so always confirm on the official links at the end before you fly.
Most visitors can fly into the Philippines without a visa, fill in one free online form, and be on Boracay's White Beach the same afternoon. Here is what you actually need in 2026, and the old rules you can forget.
The Short Checklist
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay.
- Return or onward ticket out of the Philippines.
- Visa free stay of 30 days for most nationalities (some get 59, 14 or 7 days, see below). If your country is not on the list, apply for an eVisa before you travel.
- eTravel registration, free, done online in the 72 hours before you land.
- For Boracay: your passport or ID for port registration at the jetty, plus the environmental fee, terminal fee and boat ticket (already included if you book a transfer with us).
Do You Need a Visa?
The Philippines lets around 157 nationalities in without a visa for tourism. How long you can stay depends on your passport:
| Stay | Who |
|---|---|
| 59 days | Brazil and Israel |
| 30 days | Most nationalities on the official visa free list (Executive Order 408), including the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, most of Europe, Russia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan. Also Indian passport holders with a valid US, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or residence permit (tourism only). |
| 14 days | India (since 8 June 2025), China (since 16 January 2026), Taiwan (until 30 June 2027), Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR passports |
| 7 days | Hong Kong British passports, and mainland Chinese holding a valid Australian, Japanese, Canadian, Schengen or US visa (extendable by 14 days) |
Indian and Chinese visitors on the 14 day entry: bring a confirmed hotel booking (Indian visitors also proof of funds). This stay cannot be extended or converted to another visa.
Taiwan passport holders get 14 days visa free until 30 June 2027, under a one year arrangement renewed by MECO, the Philippine office in Taipei. The stay cannot be extended. Flights and the change of plane are in our Taiwan to Boracay guide.
Chinese visitors on the visa free entry must arrive through Manila (NAIA) or Cebu (Mactan), not directly at Caticlan or Kalibo, and then take a domestic flight to Boracay.
Not on the list? Apply for an eVisa at evisa.gov.ph before you book your flights.
eTravel: The One Form Everyone Fills In
Every international arrival registers on eTravel, the government's free online form. It only opens in the 72 hours before you land, so do it after you check in for your flight, not when you book. At the end you get a QR code: save it on your phone and show it at immigration.
- Use only etravel.gov.ph or the official eGovPH app. eTravel is free. Several look alike websites charge a "processing fee"; you do not need them.
- Every trip needs a new registration.
Staying Longer
On a 30 day visa free entry you can apply to extend your stay with the Bureau of Immigration, online through BI e-services (Tourist Visa Extension) or at a BI office. Apply before your current stay runs out. The 14 day entries for Indian and Chinese visitors cannot be extended.
Children Travelling Without a Parent
A foreign child under 15 who is not travelling with a parent, or not joining a parent in the Philippines, needs a Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) from the Bureau of Immigration, together with a consent affidavit from the parents. Arrange it through the nearest Philippine embassy well before the trip. The fee has been around ₱3,120 per child; confirm the current amount with the embassy.
Arriving in Boracay
Boracay has no airport. You fly into Caticlan (MPH, 10 minutes from the jetty) or Kalibo (KLO, about 2 hours by road), then take a 10 to 15 minute boat to the island. At the jetty everyone goes through port registration:
- ID: your passport if you are a foreign visitor, any government photo ID if you are Filipino.
- Environmental fee: ₱300 foreign, ₱150 with a Philippine ID, ₱120 for seniors and PWD, paid once and valid for your whole stay.
- Terminal fee: ₱150 each way at Caticlan and Cagban. In the Habagat months, when boats use Tabon and Tambisaan, ₱100 on arrival and ₱50 on departure.
- Boat ticket: ₱50 each way (₱40 for seniors and PWD).
- Children aged 0 to 5 pay no fees.
There is no separate online registration for Boracay, and your hotel booking is not checked at the jetty.
If you book a MyBoracayGuide airport transfer, our guide meets you at the airport, handles port registration with you, and every fee except on the Budget package is already paid. You can send us a photo of your ID beforehand to make it even quicker.
Rules That No Longer Apply
If you are reading an older guide, ignore these. None of them is required in 2026:
- COVID-19 vaccination certificates or tests
- The One Health Pass and the old red or green health QR codes
- Mandatory travel insurance for entry (still a good idea, just not required)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for the Philippines?
Not if your passport is on the visa free list. Most visitors get 30 days; Brazil and Israel get 59, and India, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau get 14. Check the official list on evisa.gov.ph before you book.
When should I fill in eTravel?
In the 72 hours before you land. Earlier submissions are not accepted. It is free on etravel.gov.ph or the eGovPH app.
How long must my passport be valid?
At least 6 months beyond the day you plan to leave the Philippines.
Do I need a return ticket?
Yes, a return or onward ticket out of the Philippines.
Can Indian passport holders visit Boracay visa free?
Yes, for 14 days for tourism, or 30 days if you hold a valid US, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or residence permit. The 14 day stay cannot be extended.
Do I need a COVID vaccine or test to enter the Philippines?
No. All COVID entry rules have ended.
Do I need to register online to enter Boracay?
No. Apart from eTravel for the Philippines itself, there is no separate online registration for Boracay. You register at the jetty with your passport or ID, and nobody checks your hotel booking there.
What fees do I pay to get onto Boracay?
An environmental fee (₱300 foreign, ₱150 with a Philippine ID, ₱120 senior or PWD), a terminal fee (₱150 at Caticlan) and a ₱50 boat ticket. They are already included in our Standard, First Class and Executive Speedboat transfers.
Official Sources
- Visa free entry, stay lengths, India and China rules: evisa.gov.ph/page/policy
- eTravel registration (free): etravel.gov.ph
- Bureau of Immigration, extensions and waivers: immigration.gov.ph
- Waiver of Exclusion Ground for minors: Philippine Embassy guidelines
Planning your Boracay trip?
Book your airport transfer, island activities and hotel with the same local team that wrote this guide. Real people on the island, fair prices, no middlemen.
