Philippines grants 14-day visa-free entry for Indian tourists

Indian passport holders with a valid visa or residence permit from the U.S., U.K., Schengen Area, Japan, Australia, or Canada are now eligible for visa-free travel to the Philippines for up to 14 days, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration announced, as reported by Business Traveller.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco called India a "priority market," highlighting the cultural and historical ties between the two countries, The Economic Times reported.

Data shows Indian tourist arrivals in the Philippines grew by over 60% in 2024, and officials are optimistic that the new visa-free policy will further accelerate this growth.

In the first four months of 2025, the Philippines welcomed 1.93 million visitors, a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.83%, according to the Department of Tourism.

South Korea remained the largest source of inbound tourists with 468,000 visitors, though this represented an 18% decline compared to the previous year.

Thailand and Malaysia already waive visas for Indian tourists.