The Philippines has introduced a Cruise Visa Waiver (CVW) Program to facilitate easier entry for visa-required foreigners vacationing on cruise ships.
As the Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI), eligible applicants who arrive and depart via cruise ship must be handled by the Bureau of Immigration’s BI-accredited cruise tour operator and hold a passport valid for at least six months from their arrival date, VisaGuide.World reports.
The same authority further announced that the waiver is for single-entry use and is valid up to a maximum of 14 days stay in the country.
The Cruise Visa Waiver is a significant step in revitalizing our tourism industry after the pandemic. It ensures that cruise tourists can easily visit and enjoy our beautiful country.
Cruise Visa Waiver Grants Travelers Limited Duration of Stay in Philippines
According to the latest statement of the BI, the cruise visa waiver allows visa-required foreign nationals to enter the Philippines for a limited duration, strictly for cruise tourism. It also states that cruises are non-convertible and non-extending and would require the holder to arrive and depart on the same cruise ship.
The project, which is in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), was launched on Tuesday at the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Authority (TIEZA) in Pasay City.
In this regard, the program was institutionalized under Immigration Memorandum Circular 2024-001, issued by the BI Commissioner on January 25, 2024, and approved by Justice Secretary Remulla on March 14, 2024.
The pandemic had a profound impact on our tourism sector, but with initiatives like the Cruise Visa Waiver, we are confident in our ability to rebound stronger,” said Tansingco. “This program is a testament to our dedication to enhancing the tourist experience while ensuring national security.
Data provided by the BI agency revealed that last year, over 101,000 passengers made 123 port calls in the Philippines. In addition, thanks to the recently implemented cruise visa waiver program, the country is expected to have 117 cruise calls with around 118,000 passengers this year. At the same time, this growth is projected to significantly impact the expansion of the tourism sector and economic recovery.
In October last year, the country also won the Best Cruise Destination in Asia 2023 at the World Cruise Awards.