The authorities of the Philippines have said that the country will launch the e-Visa system for all foreign travelers by the end of this year.
Announcing the news, the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines said that they expect the system to be launched in the third quarter of 2023; however, they are still setting the deadline for the end of the year, VisaGuide.World reports.
In a press conference that was held earlier last week, the Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, Jesus Domingo, says that through the system, all foreigners will be able to apply for the type of visa they need online.
Moreover, Domingo highlighted the importance of such a system, saying that the visa application process will be made easier, faster, and more convenient for all those who wish to reach the country for travel and business purposes.
“This will make the visa application process easier, faster, more efficient, and convenient for foreign nationals who wish to visit the Philippines for leisure and business purposes,” the statement of Domingo reads.
As the Philippines News Agency explains, the e-Visa system is being developed by the DFA in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
The same notes that once such a system is fully implemented, the number of international visitors to the Philippines is expected to increase significantly.
Commenting on the new changes that the country plans on making, the Ambassador of the Philippines to China, Jaime FlorCruz, said that this initiative will attract more Chinese tourists as well as students to the country.
“The outbound travel is modest, and I think we’re getting a good share of that. But the reality is that the Chinese are not yet traveling out of China with full force as they used to,” FlorCruz added.
The same said that he had already observed an increase of traffic by 20 percent in the International Airport of Beijing, and at the same time stressed that the number of Chinese tourists reaching the Philippines is yet to reach the pre-pandemic levels.
All foreigners who need a visa to enter the Philippines must make sure to meet certain requirements.
The Philippines Visa requirements include the submission of the completed Philippines Visa Application Form and passport.
Moreover, all applicants must also submit passport-size pictures, a reserved return-flight ticket, proof of employment, proof of having paid the Philippines visa fee, and proof of having booked a place to stay in the country, among others.