PassportSouth Africa

Philippines: do South Africans need a visa?

Travel with cautionOther governments advise against travel to parts of the country, or to reconsider travel. Why

South Africans don't need a visa for the Philippines. You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Visa-free. South Africa is on the Department of Foreign Affairs list of nationals who may enter without a visa for business and tourism.12

The Philippines is one of 59 visa-free destinations for South Africans. See the full list or visa-free countries in Asia.

Travel advice

Travel with caution

The UK advises against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, and against all but essential travel to the rest of Mindanao except Camiguin, Dinagat and Siargao.

We show UK and US government advice because they publish detailed, regularly updated assessments. Checked 5 October 2026.

Read the full advice: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · US Department of State

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

Business and tourism. Work, study or long stays need a visa from the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria.1

Confirmed on an official government source

Passport validity

At least 6 months beyond the intended stay.12

Confirmed on an official government source

How to apply

Nothing to apply for. Present your passport, return or onward ticket and eTravel QR code on arrival. For longer stays, either apply for a temporary visitor visa at the embassy before travel, or extend in the country online at e-services.immigration.gov.ph (Tourist Visa Extension) or at a Bureau of Immigration office. First extension (visa waiver, 29 days) costs PHP 3,030 including the express fee.1234

Confirmed on an official government source

Where South Africans apply

No application needed for 30 days. For a visa before travel: Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Pretoria (pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph).25

Confirmed on an official government source

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Required. A ticket for the return journey to the port of origin or onward to the next destination. The Lisbon embassy page says the outbound flight must be within the 30-day period.12

Confirmed on an official government source

Proof of funds

Not published by official sources

Accommodation or invitation

Not published by official sources

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

No vaccinations required for travellers coming from South Africa. The Philippines requires a yellow fever certificate only from travellers arriving from yellow fever risk countries. Returning to South Africa: the Philippines is not on South Africa's yellow fever risk list, so no certificate is needed on return.67

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

eTravel registration is mandatory for all arriving foreign passengers. Register free at etravel.gov.ph or the eGovPH app within 72 hours before travel and show the QR code. Giving false information can lead to refusal of entry. Customs: declare more than PHP 50,000 in local currency or more than USD 10,000 (or equivalent) in foreign currency.487

Confirmed on an official government source

Extending your stay and overstaying

First extension is 29 days (to 59 days). Further extensions of 1, 2 or 6 months are possible, up to 36 months in total for non-visa-required nationals. Apply before the stay expires at a Bureau of Immigration office or via e-services. Overstaying leads to fines and you must clear them before departure.3

Confirmed on an official government source

Transit

Airside transit does not need a visa. If you leave the airport, the 30-day visa-free entry applies. eTravel is required for arriving passengers.86

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Travelling with children

Foreign children under 15 who travel alone or are not travelling to join a parent need a Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG), obtained from a Philippine embassy before travel or on arrival. Carry an unabridged birth certificate as South Africa may ask for it on departure.6

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

What changed

5 October 2026Bureau of Immigration advisory reminds arriving foreign passengers and crew to register or update eTravel at least 72 hours before travel; false information can lead to refusal of entry.
1 September 2026US State Department advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution); Level 4 for the Sulu Archipelago and Marawi City.
1 January 2026The Philippines chairs ASEAN in 2026; the Bureau of Immigration has issued travel advisories for summit dates, which may bring extra checks at airports.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines dfa.gov.ph
  2. 2Philippine Embassy in Lisbon (DFA) lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph
  3. 3Bureau of Immigration, Philippines immigration.gov.ph
  4. 4eTravel, Government of the Philippines etravel.gov.ph
  5. 5Philippine Embassy in Pretoria pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph
  6. 8Bureau of Immigration, Philippines immigration.gov.ph

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 6UK FCDO gov.uk
  2. 7US Department of State travel.state.gov

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book. Spotted something out of date? Report a change.