In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to apply for a 9A tourist visa to the Philippines. You’ll learn who needs one, the various visa types and their validity periods, detailed document requirements, step-by-step application instructions, special-case rules, and tips for extending your stay without ever leaving the country.

Who Needs the 9A Tourist Visa?

If your nationality doesn’t qualify for the Philippines’ 30-day visa-free entry for nationals of over 150 countries, you must secure a 9A tourist visa before arrival. Nationals of the United States, Canada, the EU and most of Asia can enter visa-free for 30 days, provided they hold a machine-readable passport and an onward ticket. Everyone else must apply for the 9A at a Philippine embassy or consulate.

Types and Validity: Single-Entry vs. Multiple-Entry

The 9A tourist visa comes in two flavors:

1. Single-Entry 9A
   • Valid for up to 59 days from first entry according to the Philippine Embassy in Berlin’s 9A Tourist Visa guidelines
   • You must apply anew if you exit and want to return
2. Multiple-Entry 9A
   • Allows unlimited entries within its validity window
   • Typically valid for 6 months to 1 year, as outlined in this overview of Philippines multiple-entry visa validity
   • Re-entry requires presentation of your visa stamp and a boarding pass

Core Requirements

Every applicant must submit these baseline documents:

1. Valid Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date and have one blank visa page, per the IATA Travel Centre’s passport validity guidelines.

2. Duly Accomplished Visa Application Form

Download and complete the 9A form from the embassy or consulate website where you’ll apply. For example, refer to the Philippine Embassy in London’s visa application form for the format and fields required.

3. Passport-Size Photographs

Two recent 2×2-inch color photos with white background, printed on matte or glossy photo paper.

4. Confirmed Round-Trip Ticket

Proof of onward travel or return booking showing your intended departure within your visa validity.

5. Proof of Financial Capacity

You must show you can cover your stay. Acceptable documents include bank statements, property titles, pension statements or a letter of guarantee. See Travis­a’s breakdown of financial requirements for a Philippines visa for guidance.

6. Visa Fee

Fees vary by jurisdiction and nationality—check the embassy’s website for the exact amount.

7. English Translations

All documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

8. Machine-Readable Passports Only

The Philippines accepts only electronic, machine-readable passports for visa issuance.

Application Process & Where to Apply

Most consulates follow these steps:
1. Gather Documents
2. Book an Appointment (if required)
3. Submit Application in Person (many posts require personal appearance)
4. Pay Visa Fee
5. Await Processing (usually 5–10 business days)
6. Collect Passport with visa stamp

You can apply at any Philippine embassy or consulate abroad or through authorized partners like VFS Global’s Philippines visa application service.

Special Cases

Minor Travelers

Minors traveling alone or with non-parents need notarized parental consent.

Seafarers (9C Seaman Visa)

Seafarers qualify for the 9C visa, which has its own set of documents such as a valid seaman’s book and shipping contract. Refer to the Bureau of Immigration’s guidelines on the 9C Seaman Visa.

Medical Treatment (9A-3 Subtype) & Medical Escorts

Applicants coming for medical reasons or as medical escorts must provide assignment letters, doctor’s certificates and proof of booking/payment as specified by the Bureau of Immigration.

Extending Your Stay Without Leaving

Once in Manila or any major city, apply for an in-country extension at the Bureau of Immigration. You’re initially admitted for 59 days, but you can extend in 1- or 2-month increments up to 36 months total under the Special Tourist Visa Extension program:

• First extension: 29 days
• Subsequent extensions: up to 2 months each
• Total allowable stays: up to 36 months

By mastering these requirements, processes and special-case rules, you’ll navigate your 9A tourist visa application confidently and enjoy everything the Philippines has to offer—from tarsier-watching in Bohol to surfing in Siargao—without the stress of last-minute paperwork.