Philippines grants 30-day visa-free entry to South Africa, Kenya and 44 other African countries, but leaves out Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria

The Philippines is allowing citizens of 46 African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania, to enter visa-free for up to 30 days, alongside travellers from the US, UK, Canada and Japan, while Nigeria, China and India remain outside the standard arrangement.

• The Philippines now allows citizens of 46 African countries to enter visa-free for up to 30 days to boost tourism and investment.
• Travellers must have a passport valid for at least six months and a return or onward ticket to qualify.
• China and India are excluded from the general 30-day visa-free policy; Chinese visitors have up to 14 days visa-free with different rules.
• Tourists can extend their stay by 29 days for a total of 59 days, while the visa-free entry list covers 157 countries overall, with some special cases.

Under Executive Order No. 408 and subsequent amendments, eligible travellers must hold passports valid for at least six months beyond their planned stay and have a return or onward ticket.

African countries covered by the policy include South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Other eligible countries include Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea.

Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Eswatini, Togo and Tunisia also qualify.

However, nationals of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan do not qualify for the Philippines’ standard 30-day visa-free entry and generally require a visa before travelling.

China and India, two of Asia’s largest economies, are also outside the arrangement, although both benefit from separate visa-free rules with shorter stays.

By contrast, citizens of major economies including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, France and South Korea qualify for the 30-day visa-free arrangement.

Philippines targets more foreign visitors

The visa policy comes as Manila seeks to strengthen tourism’s contribution to the economy and make the country more accessible to overseas visitors.

The Philippines recorded about 5.94 million international tourists in 2025, while inbound visitor spending reached an estimated 694 billion Philippine pesos. Tourism contributed 8.1% to the economy and supported about 7.7 million jobs during the year.

International arrivals have continued to rise in 2026, with the government also pushing for better airports, transport links and international connectivity.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the government wants to show that the Philippines is “open, accessible, and ready for greater tourism and investment.”

Longer stays are possible

Travellers admitted under the 30-day visa-free arrangement can apply for an initial 29-day extension through the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, taking their authorised stay to 59 days.

The broader visa-free list covers 157 countries, although separate rules apply to some nationalities. Brazilian and Israeli passport holders, for instance, can enter visa-free for up to 59 days under existing bilateral agreements.