Philippines backs unified Southeast Asia visa initiative

By Hoang Vu May 19, 2025 | 12:32 am PT

Revellers play with water as they celebrate the Songkran holiday, which marks the Thai New Year, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 12, 2025. Photo by Reuters

The Philippines has expressed strong support for a proposed unified visa system among ASEAN member countries to promote seamless cross-border travel in the region.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco endorsed the initiative during the Skift Asia Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 15, Philstar reported.

She said the proposal, modeled after the Schengen visa in Europe and the GCC visa in the Middle East, aligns with ASEAN’s goal of unified tourism branding, Inquirer reported.

Frasco said the Philippines is "very hopeful" about the plan and confirmed that the proposal will be raised again when Manila hosts the ASEAN Summit in 2026.

Thailand initially proposed the Schengen-style visa for six countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

If implemented, the unified visa would allow tourists to travel freely among participating nations without needing separate entry permits.

Vietnam and Cambodia previously also backed the proposal.