President Marcos wants simplified visa application for foreigners

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has directed government agencies to simplify visa application for foreign tourists and students to encourage them to come to the country.

The President’s order was in support of the recommendation by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) for streamlined visa requirements as well as the adoption of online platforms to make the Philippines attractive to foreign tourists.

The PSAC Tourism Sector Group presented to the President on Thursday new proposals, including the standardization of information application procedure and information on student visa requirements and accreditation of clinics for medical clearance and certificate requirements for foreign students.

Also part of the recommendations is allowing online submission of student visa applications.

“So, I think the easiest… is to align ourselves … We can choose to remove it altogether, the requirement for medical certificate, or if we will continue to require medical certificate, as long as it’s a recognized clinic, and it comes out in the actual list of hospitals or something like that. I’m sure there’s a way,” the President said.

PSAC lead convenor and Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin Aboitiz said the initiative would strengthen education tourism in the country.

“This concerted effort will help reinforce the Philippines’ position as a leading educational tourism hub. It involves a multifaceted approach, including partnerships, cultural promotion and improved education quality, to attract and retain international students, scholars and travelers seeking enriching experiences in the country,” Aboitiz said.

The Department of Trade and Industry said documentary requirements may be reviewed to simplify and reduce the number of requirements.

It also recommended the automatic accreditation of at least Level 3 hospitals nationwide for tourists’ medical clearances.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, for its part, cited Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) No. 01, Series of 2017, which aimed to streamline regulations on the entry of foreign students to support government policy of promoting the Philippines as a center of education in the Asia-Pacific region.

Based on the JMO, foreign students can enter the Philippines by applying for a student visa at a Foreign Service Post and also by securing temporary visa with the intention of converting to student admission status.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, student visa processing takes about two months in the Philippines, the longest processing period among its Southeast Asian peers.

Rene Limcaoco of Hertz Philippines said opportunity is large for this segment of tourism.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were five million foreign students who applied for visas, he said. This is expected to grow to 10 million by 2030, he added.

“And, predominantly, they go to English-speaking countries. There’s a large demand to learn and at the same time to learn English. For the Philippines, it’s a unique opportunity. We are an inexpensive place to get educated,” Limcaoco said.

“So, the Philippines has this unique opportunity in this segment if we can get easier visa rules,” he said.

As of Aug. 14, the country has welcomed 3.4 million foreign visitors, representing 71.4 percent of the 4.8 million baseline industry target for this year.

The Philippines eyes 4.8 million foreign visitors and 85.1 million domestic travelers this year.