Philippines to open eVisa applications for Chinese travelers in November
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Embassy in Beijing will open applications for electronic visas (eVisas) to Chinese nationals starting in November, in a move it hopes will encourage more visits from one of the country’s largest sources of tourists.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 15, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz said the online visa system will initially cover travelers from mainland China and its Special Administrative Regions applying for short-term stays of up to 14 days for business or tourism.
This will "[make] the visa application process more convenient for those making a temporary visit to the Philippines,” FlorCruz said.
Applications may be filed online and are valid for entry through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila or the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
The eVisa program will be implemented by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Xiamen.
The embassy will announce detailed procedures and website information soon, following the signing of a memorandum of agreement on October 15 between FlorCruz and Kishen Singh, VFS Global’s CEO for Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Mongolia.
The rollout is being conducted in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and VFS Global.
Who are eligible? The embassy said Chinese nationals who intend to stay in the Philippines for more than 14 days, as well as other eligible foreign residents in China, may continue to apply for conventional visas through newly opened Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
“The implementation of the eVisa comes at an opportune time,” FlorCruz said. “Under the leadership of Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, the Department of Foreign Affairs met with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2025 for the Joint Consular Consultations, which discussed the importance of people-to-people exchange."
Diplomatic tool. FlorCruz said the eVisa launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, noting that people-to-people exchange remains central to bilateral cooperation.
In 2023, the DFA suspended the operations of its e-visa system in China, after three months of beta testing.
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