Visa to the Philippines. Visa regime of the Philippines: entry, visa-free stay, visa extension (order, terms, cost), departure, personal experience What to take with you from things

Therefore, I would like to paint some points in more detail. Maybe this information will be useful to someone.

Bank cards in the Philippines.

ATMs accept any bank cards such as Visa and Master Card. For example, VTB, Alfa Bank, Bank St. Petersburg, Tinkoff cards work fine for us. And Sberbank cards are often blocked after withdrawing money through an ATM (when paying in stores and supermarkets, everything is ok), so you need to call the bank and ask to unblock it, maybe this problem will be solved soon. Plus, they don't work in the Philippines on Mondays and Tuesdays. It is impossible to withdraw money from banks here, as in, only through ATMs. The commission for each withdrawal is 200 pesos, the maximum amount of cash withdrawal at a time is 10,000 pesos.
Read more about bank cards in the Philippines.

What is better to fly with - dollars or euros? And where is the best place to exchange them?

It doesn't matter which is more convenient for you. The course is about the same. And you can exchange it immediately at the airport, where the rate is no worse. But you will immediately have money for an internal flight from Manila to the right place, as well as for taxis and more.

Internet:

There are no problems with the Internet in tourist places in the Philippines. At the same. But on Samal Island, it is far from being everywhere. For example, we had to connect it separately, by ourselves. Mail and yandex mail work fine from the Philippines, nothing is blocked. On the Internet 3g and 4g, the speed reaches 3-3.5 megabits / sec. It works stably, failures happen on holidays, for example, on New Year's Eve.

Flight.

From Moscow it is more convenient to fly to the Philippines via Bangkok or Hong Kong. From some other cities - through Beijing. From there it is better to take tickets from the airline, because. She has the lowest prices. At the airport, they will definitely ask for return tickets. If you do not show them, you will not be allowed into the country. You need to show them only at the entrance to Manila, for domestic flights it is not necessary. When flying Manila-Davao (and vice versa), you need to pay 200 pesos per person (you definitely won’t pass by the payment window), and when flying from Manila to another country - 750 pesos per person. There are both ATMs and money changers at the airport. You can change directly at the airport, the exchange rate there is the same as everywhere else.
From Moscow (Domodedovo) - Etihad Airways 17,500 rubles; Emitares 18300 rub.
From St. Petersburg (Pulkovo) - Rossiya Airlines + Etihad Airways 16600 rubles.
The cheapest flights to the Philippines () can be found on the sites:
http://www.skyscanner.ru
http://mmd.ru.momondo.com
http://www.anywayanyday.com
http://www.trip.ru

How much money do you need to live in the Philippines (Davao, Samal) per week/month?

Without knowing your requests, it's hard to say, so you can figure it out yourself based on the prices for basic needs:

- Travel by public transport in Davao: 12-15 pesos per person (8-10 rubles / 0.27-0.34 $)
- Minimal for a taxi in Davao: 40 pesos (28 rubles / $ 0.93). On average, a half-hour trip costs (90 rubles / $ 3)
- Bike-taxi on Samal: 10-30 pesos per bike (7-21 rubles / 0.23-0.69 $)
- Tricycles on Samal: 20-40 pesos (14-28 rubles / 0.46-0.93$) for the entire tricycle (up to 5-6 people go crazy)
- One hour of full body massage: 200 pesos (140 rubles / $ 4.6) (Types available: Filipino, Thai, Japanese, Swedish, separate massages for legs, back and head)
- Ticket to the cinema: 130-200 pesos (90-140 rubles / $ 3-4.6)
– Food prices:
Durians: 30-70 pesos / kg, depending on the season (21-49 rubles / kg / 0.69-1.6 $ / kg)
: 30 pesos/kg (21 RUB/kg / $0.69/kg)
: 30 pesos / kg unpeeled, 80 pesos / kg peeled (21-56 rubles / kg / 0.69-1.8 $ / kg)
: 20-80 pesos/kg, depending on the season (14-56 rubles/kg / 0.46-1.8$/kg)
Pineapples: 20 pesos/kg (14 rubles/kg / $0.46/kg)
Watermelons: 10-20 pesos / kg (7-14 rubles / kg / 0.23-0.46 $ / kg)
Bananas: 10-20 pesos / kg (7-14 rubles / kg / 0.23-0.46 $ / kg)
: 15-30 pesos / piece (10-21 rubles / kg / 0.34-0.69 $ / kg)
: 40-60 pesos/kg (28-42 rubles/kg / $0.93-1.4/kg)
: 20 pesos/kg (14 rubles/kg / $0.46/kg)
Rambutans: 50 pesos/kg (35 rubles/kg / $1.1/kg)
Mangosteen: 50-200 pesos/kg (35-140 rubles/kg / $1.1-4.6/kg)
: 30 pesos/kg (21 RUB/kg / 0.69$/kg)

Jobs in the Philippines.

You can’t find work here, so it’s worth going here with a pre-accumulated amount, or working remotely, or renting an apartment in Russia and living on this money.

How and where to get a visa to the Philippines? What is its validity period?

Russians can come to the Philippines without a visa for 21 days, after which every 2 months they can renew their visa at the immigration office in Davao for $50. Citizens of Ukraine need to apply for a visa in advance, and then also renew it every 2 months. In total, you can stay in the Philippines for no more than 16 months without leaving the country, after which you need to leave the country and re-enter. Read more about Philippine visa.

What entertainment is there on the island? What are you doing there anyway?

Samal has beaches, waterfalls, a gorge with bats, water slides, the opportunity to ride a water scooter, a banana boat, etc. In the vicinity of Samal there are beautiful islands with wonderful beaches - Vanishing Island, Wishing Island and two Ligit Islands (large and small). On the island of Mindanao, where Davao is located, there are hot springs and Mount Apo, where you can go on a 3-day hike and climb to the very top. And also on Mount Apo there is one of the highest rope slopes in Asia (about 200 meters).
We go to the beach (the weather is sunny almost every day, it rarely rains), we communicate with each other, we play chess, Mafia, Uno and other games, we ride bicycles, we walk, sometimes we go to, we go to waterfalls, we go to the fruit market, once or twice a week we go to Davao, play billiards and bowling, etc. It doesn't get boring!

When is the best time of year to go to Davao and Samal?

It's up to you. The weather here is constantly good, all year round, but in spring and summer it is hotter than in autumn and especially in winter. The sea is cleaner in winter. All fruits are available all year round.

How much does it cost to stay at a raw food resort in Samal?

This is described in great detail, with photographs and explanations.

What to take with you from things?

You definitely don’t need to take anything warm, it’s summer here all year round, it’s very warm. Read more about that (the list is mostly for girls).

How to get to the resort

About how to get to our raw food resort, write in a personal message after purchasing tickets. This is for those who wish to reach us on their own. And there is also a meeting service at the airport and a transfer to the resort ().

I found out that there is a great hotel near Domodedovo. Therefore, there is no need to go to the center of Moscow, you can comfortably stay right after the airport. The prices are very pleasant.

A unique state located on the Malay Archipelago and including more than seven thousand islands. Russians most often visit the islands of Boracay, Bohol, Cebu and, of course, the main "gateway" to the country - Manila, located on the island of Luzon.

There is a simplified visa regime for tourists.

We hasten to please the Russians who plan to spend up to 30 days on the islands: a visa to the Philippines is not required. Only a foreign passport is required, with a validity period of at least six months from the date of entry into the country.

For example, if you arrive in the Philippines in February 2020, and your passport is valid until June 2020, then you may not be allowed to enter the paradise islands on this basis and your vacation will not take place.

The period of visa-free stay for Russians in the Philippines is 30 days in 2020. In this case, the day of arrival in the country is not included in 30 days, the countdown starts from the next day. So, if you arrive early in the morning, in fact, you have the right to live without a visa stamp even for 31 days.

How to apply for a visa for 59 days

If you want to go to the Philippines for a long time, you can pre-arrange a long-term visa for 59 days (almost 2 months). For Russians, there is an opportunity to address this issue to the Philippine Embassy in Moscow.

In addition, you can get a Philippine visa at the consulates general, which are located in St. Petersburg and Vladivostok.

Required documents

Before going to the embassy or consulate, you need to collect several mandatory documents:

• International passport. Requires the original and a copy of the first page with a photo;
• Completed application form (in English);

Questionnaire

The application form for opening a visa to the Philippines consists of only 18 questions. The form must be filled out only in English, preferably in block letters.

Step by step filling out the form:

• In the 1st line, the surname, first name, patronymic are entered and the gender is selected: male or female.
• In the 2nd, you will need to indicate the date and place of birth, as well as the citizenship of a foreign resident.
• In the 3rd, marital status is selected. You need to mark with a cross.
• The 4th line is filled in only by those foreigners who are officially married. In this line, you need to specify detailed information, initials and address of the wife or husband.
• 5th is filled in if the foreign resident is accompanied by minor children. In this column, you will need to indicate their initials, dates and places of birth of each.
• The 6th line contains the actual address of residence and the current mobile or home of a foreign resident.
• The 7th indicates the occupation and sources of funds for the trip.
• In the 8th, data on a foreign passport is entered: number, date of issue, validity period and the authority that issued the travel document.
• The 9th indicates the name and address of the inviting person.
• Line 10 is filled in only by those foreigners who want to work in the Philippines. People wishing to work in this country must indicate their last place of work in this line. Be sure to indicate the amount of salary and position held.
• In the 11th line, the applicant signs and puts the date of filling out the application form.

The lower part of the application is not filled in by the applicant. It is intended to be filled in by the consular staff. Each form, after completion and verification, is signed by a consular officer.

Requirements to a photo

It is very important to comply with the requirements for photographs for a visa to the Philippines:

1. Size: 30x40 millimeters.
2. No traces of pixelation and photoshop.
3. No hats or sunglasses. Glasses are allowed only for vision correction, but it should be borne in mind that the lenses should not create glare, and the frame cannot cover any parts of the face. A headdress is allowed in the photo only for women of the Muslim faith, but it also should not completely or partially cover the applicant's face.
4. The “age” of still images cannot be more than 90 days.
5. The applicant's face should occupy from 70 to 80% of the entire frame space.

Terms of registration

All visas are made in Russia for quite a long time - from one week to 10 days. Therefore, it is better not to postpone the execution of documents to the last moment.

Renewal of the stamp and visa

The Philippines has created ideal conditions for those who want to stay in a tropical paradise for as long as possible. Having already arrived at the airport, you can immediately issue, instead of the usual stamp for 30 days, another, longer visa-free stamp - for 59 days. The price of the issue is 75 US dollars.

Any tourist visa can be extended in the Philippines at immigration offices. There are several important points here:

Every traveler from any CIS country can renew his tourist visa. Each extension is given for 59 days. With these little formalities, you can stay in the Philippines for up to 16 months.

Certificate for leaving the country

If the vacation in the Philippines lasts more than 6 months in a row, then the traveler will need to issue another document - Special Travel Exit Clearance (Special Exit Permit for Travelers). Regrettably, without this document, you simply will not be allowed out of the country: either they will force you to issue it, or you will be fined.

Therefore, you will have to pay about $ 12 for registration and prepare several documents:

• Photocopies of the “foreigner”: a page with a photo, as well as pages with all Philippine stamps and visas;
• Previously issued ID (a copy is enough);
• Receipt of payment of fees for the latest visa extensions;
• Photo (color or black and white) 3×4 cm.

If you are going to the Philippines, then there are three options for which city to see first. You can fly to Manila, Angeles (Clark) or Cebu. Each has its own advantages. Clark is the cheapest and best located. From Cebu Airport, you can walk with suitcases to a paradise beach. But I chose Manila, because I was going to buy a motorcycle for my trip "12 islands" and naively thought that the easiest way to do this would be in the capital of the country.
This is the first post about a motorcycle trip in the Philippines, in which I will tell you about how a simple Russian guy Sasha came to the Philippines and what happened to him in the first days of his stay in this country. You will also learn the whole truth about the crazy city of Manila.
I flew from St. Petersburg on November 17, 2013. The cheapest and fastest way to fly to the Philippines is via Hong Kong. Considering that this supercity is visa-free for Russians, it would be a sin not to stop there for a few days, which I did. Hong Kong turned out to be so incredible that for the first time in my life I seriously thought about moving for a long time. It’s a long story, so I plan to write a separate post about him with enthusiasm and colorful photos.

After three wonderful days in Hong Kong, I drove to the airport, went to the check-in counter, and happily handed the girl with the Philippines Air badge my passport and ticket printout.

Your return ticket, sir! she said with a sweet smile.

Why do I need to show a return ticket? - I asked and began to feverishly think about what to answer, since I did not have a return ticket

This is an immigration requirement. Without it, we can't get you on the plane.

Eeeee... You know, I don't remember where he is.

No problem sir! Please state your last name and departure dates. I'll check the database.

I don't remember the date \ It's not mine \ Call my lawyer \ Please!

Unfortunately no ticket. If you don't have it, then you can buy it now at our counter. It is impossible through the Internet because the sites do not confirm the purchase immediately, and the departure of your plane is in an hour. At our counter, confirmation takes place immediately, but since you buy a ticket at the airport, it will cost at the maximum fare.

There weren't many options. I had to buy a ticket from Hong Kong to Manila for 400 bucks! By the way, the flight from St. Petersburg to Hong Kong was cheaper. But the ticket was refundable and in Manila I was able to return it, although I had to suffer a couple of days for this. At first they said that another return ticket was needed, and when I bought it for 50 bucks, they said that it was not needed. As a result, after 15 days they returned the full cost to the card and did not even take any commission. But the situation at the airport was certainly nervous.

So tip #1. If you are flying to the Philippines, always buy a return ticket!

On the plane, I came to my senses from the charming view outside the window. Flying across the South China Sea is very beautiful! You immediately notice that there are many different clouds everywhere. This is one of the main properties of the Philippines, which guarantees unique sunsets.

Clouds are like a pattern that complements the equally boundless sea, the calmness of which is broken by smoothly sailing ships. And next to the island of Luzon - millions of small boats "bank". It takes only an hour and a half to fly and, to be honest, I want to fly further, continuing to look at natural pictures.

At the Manila airport, another surprise awaited me. There was no cash and I naturally went to withdraw money from an ATM. It turned out that for unknown reasons, some local banks do not serve my card (Visa Alfa-Bank). I was at that moment confused when I realized how much I depend on the map. I'm in a new country and I don't even have money to drink coffee. Fortunately, there was a friendly ATM at the other end of the airport, which gave me the money. That's how I got pesos for the first time.

The first taxi driver traditionally tried to divorce me. At first he said that it was 10 pesos per kilometer, and when we drove off, he said that it was 100 or a fixed price of 1,500 rubles. But those things don't work for me. If you have been traveling around India for 10 months of your life, then you have a nose for divorces and a well-honed technology for destroying deceit in the bud. I quickly said everything I think about the driver and he brought me back to the point of reference. The road with another carrier cost about 400 rubles. Moreover, airport drivers and even cops vied with each other saying that it’s better not to get into ordinary city taxis because no one is responsible for your safety there.

Before leaving, I read stories about local dangers. If you believe what they write on the Internet and say on TV, then the Philippines is a country where everyone walks around with pistols, robs and kills until they are all washed away at one moment by a typhoon or an earthquake covers them. "There are cannibals in the north, and terrorists in the south," a man who has an official relationship with the Philippines once told me. What can we say about Manila! There, in general, it is better not to go out into the street and not talk to anyone, because in the capital the concentration of everything bad reaches a maximum and every Filipino you meet sharpens a huge knife behind his back.

I understood that these were all stories, but there were so many of them that I gradually began to believe. Therefore, upon arrival, I hung locks on my backpack, took on a menacing look and began to walk quickly, looking around. This is an overall great recipe. Everyone sees that you are acting like a fool, and they prefer to bypass you.

Then I became convinced that everything they were talking about was nonsense. The locals are wonderful hospitable and kind people who are always ready to help you. But many understand these stereotypes in the head of a foreigner and skillfully use them. Taxi drivers talk about the dangers of traveling with strangers, hotels say that their security guard with a shotgun will protect them from all troubles, and in a tourist restaurant there is always a man with a pistol hanging proudly. All safe, dont worry, diar sir! In this way, you can sell the excess security that foreign tourists have a request for.

There is no need to talk about Manila for a long time. This is a multimillion-dollar urban agglomeration, which consists of different cities. Manila itself is a small part of it. There are several dozen different areas that consider themselves separate cities: Makati, Pasay, Ermita, Valenzuela, Quezon, Pasig, Taguig, Paranjak, etc. If you really want to get to the bottom of this, then San Miguel definitely won't do without beer.

The general opinion about Manila is that it is a terrible city. Mostly tourists use it as a transit point between their country and a beautiful beach and often spit, remembering the capital of the Philippines. But there are those who like Manila. I'm more into the first one.

Manila is absolutely nothing. There is a skyscraper district of Makati with beautiful avenues, but after Hong Kong they seem to be the most boring. There is a fake restored Spanish fortress. And everything else is a typical low-rise Philippine development, which is interspersed with huge shopping centers and large highways. This city's coat of arms should feature traffic jams and street food. Most of the time, motorists stand dead, and passers-by are constantly eating something.

The first thing that catches your eye is the unique public transport: jeepneys and tricycles. Jeepneys are an example of how the Filipinos eerily liked the American military Jeep Wrangler. Since at that time there was no cooler car on these islands, local mechanics began to copy the design of the jeep, but make cars tailored for passenger transportation.

This is how incredible minibuses turned out, without which it is difficult to imagine the modern Philippines. Each driver decorates his jeepney in his own way. Everyone is trying to stand out, and therefore lurid works of art roam around the cities and villages, dousing passers-by with black solar smoke.

Tricycles are the Filipino version of auto rickshaws. For some reason, they chose the option of a motorcycle with a covered sidecar.

Tricycles are everywhere. This is the national type of individual transport, since it is cheap and, if you suck in your bellies, 10 people can fit on it. Each region has its own unique design of tricycles and you can study the culture of different Filipino peoples on them.

Thus, for the first time in Manila, jeepneys and tricycles attract your eye the most. The rest is uninteresting.

I am deeply convinced that Manila in terms of tourism is intended only for masochistic tourists. If you want to spend time in this mediocre city and understand that white beaches, incredible mountains, volcanoes and lakes are within easy reach, then you are undoubtedly harming yourself. True, there is one exception. You should go to Manila if you have been sitting on a remote beach for a month and miss civilization. There you can sit in Starbucks, shop and taste fast food.

But I'm not saying this because something really spoiled my impression. I didn’t really go to the sights, but I did business. Maybe that's why I have such an opinion. But on the other hand, it turned out to be a more independent assessment of this city. It's really boring there.

Manila has a strange property. There, in the morning, nothing works out for you and all plans collapse, and in the evening everything is favorably resolved and plans return to normal. For three days, every morning was nervous and incomprehensible, but by the evening I calmly sipped coffee with a sense of accomplishment. In India, if it doesn't work out, nothing will change until you realize what you're doing wrong. And it all depends on the time of day.

On the evening of the last day in Manila, I accidentally met a group of Filipinos in my hotel, who turned out to be wonderful guys, gave me important contacts in different cities and told me about interesting places on the route. It was the first meeting, of which there will be many in this country. I did the right thing, that roughly made up the travel itinerary. It will be constantly ruled by random encounters.

In the next post, I will talk in detail about the long purchase of a motorcycle, which I did not do in Manila after all.

Read the posts about Manila that I wrote in the Vkontakte travel community -

The island countries of Southeast Asia are not the most popular tourist destination. Mostly people visiting this region go to Bali or Singapore. There are not so many vouchers and sightseeing tours to other places in Southeast Asia, and compared to such popular European countries as Spain or the Czech Republic, there are almost none. Therefore, independent travel is the best way out for those who want to travel to one of the exotic Asian countries - the Philippines.

Visa

Citizens of Russia can stay on the territory of the state without a visa if the period of their trip does not exceed 30 days. During border control, you must present your passport and return tickets.

If you plan to stay longer than a month, you must apply for a visa in advance.

Visa to the Philippines 9a - tourist.

How to get there?

There are no direct flights from Russia yet, therefore, you will have to fly with a transfer. The most popular options are via Hong Kong, Beijing or Seoul. Docking time is different - from one and a half to twelve hours. Russians can stay in the mentioned territories without visas when staying there for up to 14, 60 and 1 days, respectively: if a sufficient amount of free time appears during the flight, you can carry out a cursory inspection of the transit city.

The cheapest tickets are to the Philippine capital when departing from the airports of Moscow, Vladivostok and Irkutsk. It is also better for residents of other cities to fly from there - the cost of transport within the country will be less than for a ticket from their own air terminals. It is much more budgetary to fly to Manila, because tickets there are several times cheaper than to other settlements - you can get to them on local low-cost airlines.

Transport

When buying tickets for planes and ferries, it is important to pay attention to the following point: a special fee, sometimes immediately included in the price, and sometimes paid separately. Love for surcharges is a national trait of the indigenous people: the islanders are constantly asking for an extra 10-15 pesos, sometimes even after they suggested the way.

Trains and buses run to settlements located, like the capital, on Luzon. If you need to get to another island, it is best to use ferries, but in addition to them, various boats, motor boats and sailboats run.

The most budget options for traveling around Philippine cities are a tricycle, which is a motorcycle, to which a small booth is attached for passengers, and a jeepney: a slightly modified minibus without doors. Each owner of such a car tries to give his car an original look by pasting it with bright stickers. Taxi is also not very expensive.

Climate

So that an independent trip to the Philippines does not end at the hotel, you need to take into account some climatic features. From June to the end of November, the so-called rainy season takes place there, when powerful typhoons and tropical showers are not uncommon, so the best time to travel is from December to mid-May. However, even at this time, typhoons occur in the northern territories. This is especially likely in Luzon, which is part of the geographical zone of typhoons, and the least rare bad weather occurs in the southern territories. In general, the country is very warm - in 2020, the thermometer during the day did not fall below + 23 ° C at night.

Where to stay?

As those who have already traveled to the Philippines as a savage write, there is no shortage of housing anywhere - there are many hotels, guesthouses, apartments and hostels. All accommodations have a fan or air conditioning, and the staff almost everywhere speak excellent English. The sockets are designed for 60 Hz and often for three pins - you need to take an adapter with you, buy it at a nearby supermarket or ask at the hotel reception. Often the conditions in guesthouses are no worse than in hotels, at a similar price, but this depends on the locality.

Money and prices

The monetary unit is the Philippine peso, denoted as "₱"; there are about fifty of them in one American dollar. Currency exchange is most advantageous to carry out in the capital. Almost all hotels, restaurants and shops accept cards for payment - Visa, Master Card, American Express. At ATMs, the withdrawal limit is most often 10 thousand pesos, and everywhere you will have to pay a commission for this - at least 200 ₱. Extending an already issued visa costs about 5 thousand pesos.

A hotel room or a room in a guesthouse costs an average of ₱700-1000 per night, a jeepney ride is about ₱8, a tricycle ride is ₱7 per kilometer, a Manila metro ride is from ₱15, a ferry crossing is a few hundred pesos. You will have to pay about 350₱ for renting a motorbike. Lunch in a cafe will cost about 150-200₱ per person, tea / coffee - 20₱, rum - 85₱, mango - from 75₱, tangerines and papaya - an average of 20₱.

It is difficult to say how much a trip to the Philippines costs - it depends on where to stay, how to eat, how much to spend on transport and excursions. Flights to Manila from Russia and back cost an average of 65-70 thousand.

Food

There are quite a lot of various cafes and restaurants everywhere, where dishes of both local and European cuisines are served. However, it would be strange to go to such an exotic country and not get acquainted with its traditional cuisine, so you should definitely try the main dishes and unusual fruits.

The most popular side dish, as in other countries of Southeast Asia, is rice, in addition to which vegetables and noodles are used. Most often they are served with various seafood: shrimp, crabs, fish, shellfish, lobsters. All sorts of spices are usually added to dishes, especially pepper, so those who do not like spicy dishes should immediately warn the waiter about this. Often, exotic fruits become an addition to dishes - for example, they are part of "siniganga" - soup with shellfish.

Desserts are also made from rice, fruit or coconut. The most popular is Halo-Halo, a combination of fruit and ice cream, sold almost everywhere. Locals recommend trying Durian ice cream and sweets, rice cakes, Ube-Halaya purple jam, coconut milk and fried bananas. From alcoholic drinks - local rum, palm wines and wines based on coconut milk.

The service charge is included in the bill in all establishments, but it is customary to leave the waiter an additional tip from the change.

Where to go?

The state is located on an archipelago consisting of seven thousand islands - it is obvious that you won’t be able to visit all of them, but you definitely shouldn’t ignore a few especially interesting ones. It is important to plan your independent trip to the Philippines in advance in order to choose the most suitable place depending on the desired goals - exploring the beautiful nature, active pastime or relaxing on the beach.

Luzon

The route of travel in the Philippines usually starts from this island - it is there that the capital of the country, Manila, is located. The most beautiful places in the city are the old Intramuros district, the business part with the skyscrapers of Makati, the Malacañang Palace, the Manila Cathedral, the aquarium, the museum of the national hero Jose Rizal and the park named after him. Not far from Manila is the active volcano Taal, near which there is a lake. Together they make up one of the most widely known tourist sites, attracting visitors and locals alike.

In the east of Luzon rises the Mayon Volcano, an almost perfect triangular shape, the last eruption of which was recorded only eleven years ago. Highland Baguio is hidden among tropical rainforests a couple of hundred kilometers from Manila - there is the summer residence of the president and one of the most beautiful Philippine temples - Iglesia ni Cristo and the Bell Church.

The capital of the Philippines is Manila.

Cebu

Cebu has some of the best diving spots around. People who are fond of this occupation almost unanimously say that the underwater dives made there give simply amazing sensations. The most beautiful dive sites: Capitancillo, Gato, Quattro, Badian, Pescador, Copton, Tongo, Saavedra. Each of them is rich in amazing marine life - corals, sharks, parrot fish, turtles, gorgonians and even rays, sometimes there are caves, tunnels and sunken ships. Fans of beautiful views on land can go to see the old Spanish fortress of San Pedro, the Taoist temple, the Minore del Santo Basilica and the Kawasan waterfall cascade. It is said that a wish made in a Taoist sanctuary will certainly come true.

Palawan

Palawan is famous for its unique nature. In the tropical forests of the El Nido Conservation Area in the north, you can find hundreds of various birds and exotic plants, and in the Ursula Reserve - amazing marine life, including even such a rare animal as a sea cow. There are a huge number of caves on the island, connected by an eight-kilometer-long river flowing underground - you can go canoeing there. The river is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and to visit you need to pay a special permit, as well as, according to tradition, an additional environmental fee. In general, a river walk, lasting about an hour, will cost no less than 1800₱, but tourists say that it's worth it. Palawan is also hugely popular with diving and snorkelling enthusiasts, with sites that rank among the best in Asia.

bohol

The main attraction of the island is the “chocolate hills”, a real miracle of nature, which is more than a thousand low mountains in the form of cones covered with burnt chocolate-colored grass. There is also a center for the conservation of exotic animals of tarsier lemurs, the population of which is only a couple of hundred individuals, the Raha-Sitakuna redwood reserve, the oldest church in the entire archipelago and several thousand caves and waterfalls. Bohol's waters are exceptionally clear, which means that Bohol is also suitable for scuba diving enthusiasts.

Mindanao

Mindanao is home to the highest point of the state - the UN World Heritage Site Apo volcano, whose height is almost 3000 meters. A national park has been created near Apo, where very rare Philippine eagles live. The main city of the island is Davao; its attractions are San Pedro Cathedral, Lon Wa Buddhist Temple, Malagos Garden, Taoist Temple and Crocodile Farm. The route must include a trip to Davao, because it is called the "fruit capital" - where, no matter what, you can taste more than a hundred types of bananas, the freshest mangosteen, rambutans, durians and marangs.

In order for a trip to the Philippines to leave only positive memories and not be overshadowed by unpleasant situations, you need to take note of a few simple rules.

1. A distinctive feature of the Filipino mentality is slowness, often turning into laziness, which is why taxis, buses, ferries and even planes are constantly delayed. This is important to consider when planning time, postponing an extra half an hour or an hour.
2. English is one of the official languages: all the islanders speak it perfectly, a slightly smaller number of residents also understand Spanish. People are happy to suggest the way and are generally very friendly - therefore they never refuse tourists to answer questions - even when they do not know the right answer. In order not to get lost, it is better to ask for a hint not from one person, but from several. In small towns, you should not be surprised if a person asks for a reward for a hint.
3. It is not recommended to use unboiled water for washing and even more so for drinking. Dairy and meat products must be cooked before use - the same applies to vegetables. Fruit can be simply washed and peeled.
4. In all public places, it is traditionally recommended to periodically check pockets, not to leave things unattended and not to lose vigilance. At the entrances to large stores, metro stations and banks, there are armed guards who often check the contents of bags.

Most travelers consider the Philippines as the perfect vacation destination, especially a visa to the Philippines for Russians in 2020 is not needed for short visits. If a longer trip is planned, then Russian citizens need to apply for a visa in advance at the Embassy or Consulates of the Philippines in Moscow or other cities.

The Philippines has the third largest English-speaking population in the world.

The need for a visa

There are simplified entry rules for Russians. This means that for any purpose of travel, a visa to the Philippines is not needed if the stay does not exceed 30 days.

According to Philippine law, the day of arrival is not considered, that is, if the traveler arrived in the state in the morning, then 31 days is the last day for legal stay in its territory.

If the purpose of coming to the Philippines is not tourism or you need to stay for a longer time, then you will have to go through a simple procedure for obtaining a visa at the Embassy in Moscow or at the Consulates General in Vladivostok and St. Petersburg.

Philippines without a visa

For most trips, a 30-day visa-free period is enough to relax, take a diving course, visit friends, get to know the country. In order to be able to enter the state under a visa-free regime, you need to have the following documents on hand:

• A valid passport with blank pages, it must be valid for another six months from the date of entry into the Philippines;
• Pre-filled migration card;
• Return ticket to Russia, or its electronic copy;
• Confirmation of the availability of money.

  This requirement is optional, at the border they may ask for confirmation, but they may not focus on this.

No additional forms need to be filled out..

Filling out the migration card

The Philippine Migration Card is a special small form that every foreigner is required to fill out and show at the border, often given directly on board the aircraft. There you need to enter your data, information about the hotel and the purpose of the visit. The migration card will be required by the authorities in the event of a missing foreigner to make it easier to find him, as well as in the event of an incident.

Border crossing procedure

Each arriving passenger undergoes border control and, if necessary, screening. After presenting the necessary documents, a visa stamp is affixed to the passport, which records the date of entry. Visa officers will be guided by this date when a foreigner leaves the country.

Customs regulations

In the Philippines, there are certain customs rules that must be followed by every visitor to the country.

It is forbidden to import:

• Certain medical medicines;
• explosive materials;
• Weapons (cold weapons are allowed, but permission is required);
• Jewelry that does not contain markings.

Allowed to import:

• Animals, if there is an appropriate international veterinary certificate;
• No more than two liters of alcohol, 400 cigarettes (or the equivalent - 50 cigars);
• Food products intended for personal use.

It is forbidden to export:

• Any representatives of the Philippine flora and fauna;
• Antiques;
• Products from wood of rare breeds;
• Jewelry.

Restrictions are also imposed on the amount of cash with which a traveler arrives in the country. The amount of more than 10,000 US dollars must be declared; you cannot take out of the country more than 10,000 Philippine pesos. The rule does not apply to non-cash funds stored on cards or traveler's checks.

For more information on customs regulations, please visit the website of the Philippine Embassy.

Extension of stay

If the standard thirty days was not enough, and the Philippine visa was not obtained in advance in Russia, then you can take the opportunity to extend your stay. It can be issued immediately at the airport by asking to put not the usual 30-day stamp, but another one that entitles you to a 59-day stay (for a fee), or you can do it already at the Immigration Office in Manila or other cities. As many as 44 offices across the country deal with extensions of stay in the Philippines.

You can extend not only not only the entry stamp, but also any Philippine visa if it has expired. There are a few things to remember about extensions:

• You can extend your stay several times, for a total of 16 months;
• Together with the extension, the tourist receives a special ID-document, where his personal data is recorded and there is a photo;
• If the stay has been extended several times for a period of more than six months, then you need to obtain a certificate for departure, without it, they can be fined at the border, it is done on the basis of a passport and ID and is paid.

Obtaining a visa at the Embassy on your own

There are times when a visa to the Philippines must be obtained in advance in Russia. This will be required if the stay in the state may be delayed due to the extension of rest, work or study in the Philippines, as well as protracted business trips. Philippine entry permits do not have a clear gradation for "study visa", "business visa", "work visa", "guest visa". Visas differ in terms of validity and a slight difference in the list of papers that need to be collected.

A visa to the Philippines is done on your own very simply, you will need to submit a small list of documents:

1. International passport;
2. Copy of passport spread with personal information and photo (2 pages);
3. A questionnaire filled out in Latin can be downloaded from the website of the Embassy;
4. Return tickets with a specified date;
5. One photo size 30 by 40 mm;
6. Receipt of payment of the consular fee;
7. The last important document is an invitation (from the employer, or from another organization with which the trip to the Philippines is connected, from a friend / relative).

   For a tourist visa, it is enough to show a reservation from a hotel.

Documents for a visa can be brought in person, it is also possible to submit it through a representative or send it by courier service, for example, DHL. Documents are accepted both in Moscow at the Embassy and at the Consulates of St. Petersburg and Vladivostok.

Visa for children

For minors, the rules for entering the Philippines are somewhat different. If the whole family goes on vacation not exceeding 30 days, then no additional documents need to be provided.

You need to request a separate visa to the Philippines for a child in the Russian Federation, if you plan to stay for a long time, for this you need to provide a birth certificate.

Features of entering the Philippines with a child

Due to the fact that human trafficking routes (illegal trafficking in people, and especially children) pass through the Philippines, there are nuances for the entry of foreign children.

• A child can enter the state only with parents/legal guardians. Entry with relatives or third parties is almost impossible;
• If the minor arrived only accompanied by one parent/guardian, then at the border it is mandatory to present a power of attorney from the second parent/guardian. This document must be translated into English and officially certified by a notary;
• If it is not possible to obtain a power of attorney from the second parent (death, unknown location), you must provide a certificate in English from the competent authority in which this fact is registered.

Enhanced security measures for children are being taken by the government to minimize risks for minors. While in the Philippines, you should never let your children go alone even for a few minutes, you should always look after your child and not lose him out of sight.

Visa validity periods

Any visa to the Philippines obtained in Russia, as well as entry and extension stamps, have their own time limit.

Price

If you plan a long-term visit, it is much more profitable to get a visa to the Philippines in advance in the Russian Federation.

There are additional fees for certain documents required by a foreigner:

• Identification document (foreigner's ID) - $15;
• Certificate for departure (if the stay exceeded 6 months) - 12 dollars.

Conclusion

The Philippines is a great destination for a quality beach holiday for tourists. In the advertising materials of travel companies, you can see a lot of fabulous photos, in which the snow-white sand and the azure sea attract the eye and make you dream of a vacation, representing all possible pleasures. The Internet is replete with numerous reports about visiting Boracay, Cebu, Mindanao. Some Russians “wait out” the winter in the Philippines and sometimes live there with their whole families, because the absence of the need for a visa eliminates many unnecessary problems.

Going to the Philippines, you should remember the following theses:

• For a thirty-day stay, Russians do not need a visa;
• If you plan to travel for a longer period, then it is most profitable to obtain a visa to the Philippines on your own at the Embassy of the country, while still in Russia - you will have to pay more for extending your stay on the spot (especially for repeated extensions);
• Visa refusals are rare, the possible reasons are the same as for other countries;
• While in the Philippines, you should carefully monitor children, minors are not recommended to be unaccompanied;
• Before traveling, it is better to purchase medical insurance, since in the tropical climate of the country there are such bacteria and diseases to which a person from the middle latitudes does not have immunity;
• The penalty for staying in the Philippines for Russian citizens on an expired visa is $23 per day, payment is made at a special window at the airport. The fine must be paid in advance during business hours, as the window for payment of fines is closed late in the evening and at night.

Video: vacation in Manila, Philippines