Philippine eVisa for China resumes

Philippine electronic visa operations resumed in China on Saturday as Manila hopes to draw more Chinese tourists to the country.

Chinese nationals residing in the mainland and its special administrative regions will be eligible to apply for Philippine eVisas for tourism and business purposes.

The eVisa will allow a single, non-extendable, and non-convertible 14-day entry and will be valid for entry only through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu.

"The development of the eVisa aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to streamline government processes, promote tourism, advance digitalization, and boost tourist arrivals in the Philippines," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

"It is also in line with the country’s continuing efforts to enhance people-to-people exchanges and facilitate trade and tourism cooperation," it added.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing, through VFS Global, had a soft launch on November 1 while operations will go on full implementation on November 3.

VFS Global is a leader in outsourcing and technology services for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide.

It will manage the online application platform and ensure complete submission of the documentary requirements and its secure transmission to Philippine diplomatic posts in China for assessment and issuance.

Chinese nationals and other eligible foreign nationals residing in China may also apply for conventional or sticker-type visas through the nearest Visa Application Centers (VAC) of VFS Global in Beijing, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

The eVisa website will be available 24/7, allowing users to create accounts, submit applications, and book appointments for conventional visa processing at their nearest VAC.

Developed by the DFA in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine eVisas have been in place since 2024 in selected foreign service posts in the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. —KG, GMA Integrated News