Philippines to launch eVisa for Chinese nationals in November

The Philippines is set to launch an electronic visa (eVisa) system for Chinese nationals in November to boost tourism and trade.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing, along with its consulates in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, and Xiamen, will be issuing the e-visas.

This online visa system will initially cover Chinese travelers applying for short-term stays of up to 14 days for business or tourism, who should enter through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The eVisa scheme, first piloted in August 2023, was suspended in December 2023 due to concerns over illegal online gaming workers.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco welcomed the launch, noting that the program's suspension had a significant impact on meeting tourism targets from the Chinese market.

The launch occurs amidst ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea.