{
  "id": "visa/visa-free-short-stay-conditions",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler they always need a visa in advance for a short tourist trip to the Philippines",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(philippines.*visa|visa.*philippines|philippines.*visa.free|philippines.*30.day)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Nationals of many countries can enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism (extendable in-country), provided they hold a passport valid 6+ months and an onward/return ticket. Some nationalities must obtain a visa in advance, so the visa-free entry is not automatic for everyone.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Assume every traveler needs a visa arranged in advance for the Philippines",
      "why_fails": "Many nationalities get 30 days visa-free on arrival for tourism, so arranging an unnecessary visa wastes time and money; conversely some nationalities DO need one - it depends on your passport.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://immigration.gov.ph/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Arrive without proof of onward or return travel",
      "why_fails": "Airlines and immigration require an onward or return ticket for visa-free entry; without it you can be denied boarding even if visa-free.",
      "fail_rate": 0.55,
      "condition": "No onward ticket",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Confirm your nationality's visa-free period on the Bureau of Immigration site and carry a passport valid 6+ months plus an onward ticket.",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Check immigration.gov.ph; bring return/onward proof and accommodation details; extend in-country at a BI office if staying longer.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://immigration.gov.ph/",
        "https://www.gov.ph/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "If your nationality is not visa-free, apply for a 9(a) tourist visa at a Philippine embassy in advance.",
      "success_rate": 0.82,
      "how": "Apply for the 9(a) tourist visa ahead of travel if you are not on the visa-free list.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.8,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.88,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "visa/visa-free-short-stay-conditions/ph"
  ]
}