Checklist for tourist visiting the Philippines
- Restricted foreign nationals are required to secure an entry visa before they can enter the Philippines
- Unrestricted foreign nationals can travel to the Philippines without an entry visa but needs to secure return or outward bound ticket
- Make sure your passport is valid at least 6 months
- Research your destination(s)
- Chinese Nationals, including citizens for Hong Kong and Taiwan will need a special permit
- Study differences in culture
- In most restaurants, there is a 12% VAT comprised in the price but service charge is often excluded and calculated separately
- Buy your tickets and make any necessary reservations ahead of time
- Review your finances
- Determine your health insurance coverage for the trip
- Consider travel time and traffic flow to your destination particularly if you are planning to visit Makati and Manila
- Double check that you’ve packed your necessary documents
- It is illegal for any inward or outward tourist to bring in or take out Philippine Pesos more than P10,000 without prior authority from the Central Bank of the Philippines
