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E-visa for Chinese nationals to be launched in the Philippines next month

July 27, 2023 Philippines Events & Announcements

Pilot run for new e-visa to start in China in August; digitization will allow more applications, face-to-face interviews may still be required; new visa system to apply for tourist/leisure and business.

Original story by Joyce Ann L. Rocamora for State-owned press Philippine News Agency

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will pilot the Philippines’ first-ever electronic Visa (e-Visa) system, starting with China next month.

The Philippine e-Visa will allow foreign nationals entering the country for tourism or business to apply for temporary visitors’ visas online.

“The e-Visa system is part of the DFA’s strategic goal of optimizing its consular services and is aligned with the President’s emphasis to embrace digitalization in government’s transactions in his State of the Nation Address last Monday,” said DFA Undersecretary Jesus Domingo in a press conference on Wednesday.

Chinese nationals may access the Philippine e-Visa website via https://visa.e.gov.ph, which will be operational on Aug. 24.

DFA Assistant Secretary Henry Bensurto Jr. said applicants can already fill up the application form at the portal, pay for the visa fee, submit via courier or personal appearance their printed and signed form along with their original documents, and wait for their e-Visa to be sent to their email.

An applicant, however, may still be required to undergo a face-to-face interview by the visa officer at the discretion of the embassy or consulate.

“If everything is clear, and NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency) clears, then the visa officer from the consulate now has the discretion to require or not require an interview,” he said.

“If the visa officer is of the view that there are certain points that need to be clarified or there are certain questions that need to be amplified, then a visa interview can actually be required by the consular officer. And they will be given a date and time where they have to see the visa officer,” he added.

Learn more about the upcoming policy change in the original article here: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1206514