Starting January 16, 2026, Chinese nationals will be allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 14 days, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The move aims to boost tourism, trade, and investment, as well as people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China.
According to the DFA, visa-free entry is open to Chinese travelers coming to the Philippines for tourism or business purposes. It is strictly stated that the 14-day stay is non-extendable and cannot be converted to another visa category in the Philippines.
Visa-free entry is limited to arrivals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Cebu. Chinese travelers are required to present a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival, hotel booking or confirmed accommodation, and a return or onward ticket to their next destination.
Security checks are still ongoing to ensure safety and public order in the country. The DFA also stated that the visa-free arrangement will be effective for one year and re-reviewed before expiration.
Despite a decline in the number of Chinese tourists in 2025, China remains one of the top sources of visitors to the Philippines. Most of the tourists last year came from South Korea, the US, and Japan, while Filipinos traveling to China usually required to apply for a visa.
