Philippines working to extend e-visas for foreign visitors

The chief executive made the statement during the courtesy visit of Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran at the Malacañan Palace last week, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

In response to Kumaran’s request for e-visa extensions for Indian nationals in the Philippines, Marcos said that the provisions for extending electronic visas would not only apply to Indian citizens but also to other foreigners staying in the country.

“It won’t be just India, we are doing it with…several other countries as well to keep it. Again, we will just apply the same principles that we did with others to India. But that is something that’s easy for us,” the president was quoted as saying.

Earlier in January, Marcos ordered the extension of e-visas for Chinese, Indian, South Korean and Japanese nationals to encourage more visitors to come to the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs launched the country’s e-visa system in August. The system was pilot tested at the Philippine Consulate in Shanghai, China. — Gaea Katreena Cabico