Details about Philippine visas for Russian citizens in 2021: ways to obtain a visa in the Russian Federation, in Asian countries and upon arrival, how and where to extend it and how much it costs.
The attractiveness of the Philippines for Russian tourists is obvious: thousands of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, sandy beaches and a mild climate. For some time now, the country's government has been making some relaxation in the area of the visa regime. Below you will find out if a visa to the Philippines is needed for Russians in 2021, how and where to get it, how to renew it and how much it costs.
Do Russians need a visa to the Philippines?
Not if you plan to rest no more than 30 days. If you suddenly have a desire to stay longer, you can extend your stay already in place.
Depending on the purpose of the visit and the period of stay in the territory of the Philippine state, citizens of the Russian Federation will need a visa. If you plan to travel for a month or two, it is convenient to use a single nonimmigrant 59-day visa.
A multiple entry visa can be used for six months or 1 year. All applications are considered in the consular departments of the Philippines' missions in Russia - in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok.
Conditions for visa-free entry
If the duration of the visit is planned no more than 30 days, then the Russians will not need a visa. For most domestic tourists traveling to the islands on vacation, this option is ideal.
What documents are needed? To receive a mark of entry at the airport, you must show a passport that is valid for another six months from the end of the intended trip, return tickets (electronic ones are printed) or tickets to another country. You may need to prove your solvency by having a sufficient amount of money for the entire period of stay. After filling out the migration card, a mark is put in the passport indicating the date of departure.
Before traveling to the islands, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the prices in the Philippines and our detailed article on organizing an independent trip to this country.
Visa for the Philippines in Russia in 2021
If the trip is expected to be long, then it makes sense to apply for a Philippine visa to the Russian Federation in advance. Citizens can apply at the consular department in three major cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok.
In Moscow, the representative office is located near the Smolenskaya metro station at the address: Karmanitsky lane, 6. Applications are accepted every day, except weekends, from 9 to 11:30, visas are issued from 14 to 16. Usually, an application is considered within one working week, from 2 up to 5 days.
Standard package of documents for Russians in 2021:
- International passport and a copy of the first page. The document must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of the intended departure.
- Fully completed and signed application form in English.
- Fresh color photo 3x4 on a light background without ovals and corners.
- Air tickets with exact date (round trip), originals and copies.
- Confirmation of hotel reservation for tourists (can be electronically or a copy).
- Children - a copy of the birth certificate. If the child is accompanied by one of the parents, you will need a power of attorney from the other parent, certified by a notary.
- Check of payment of consular fee.
For the sake of safety and peace of mind, we advise you to take out insurance.
The cost of a visa to the Philippines for Russians:
- for 3 months (single entry) - $ 40;
- for six months (multiple entries) - $ 80;
- for one year (multiple entries) - $ 120.
Documents for registration are submitted personally by the applicant or his authorized representative (travel agency). Documents delivered by special courier services DHL or FedEx are also considered.
Applying for a visa to the Philippines in Asia
Sometimes it becomes necessary to obtain a Philippine visa for people who are in another country at this time. Practice shows that the easiest way to do this while in Hong Kong (China).
According to travelers' reviews, the whole procedure takes a maximum of 15 minutes, it is only important to correctly collect the package of documents. Consulate staff will advise, if necessary. Submission of the application is very fast, the results are issued in two days. A separate window is provided for foreigners. The cost of a single entry visa is the standard $ 40.
But in Bangkok (Thailand), citizens of the Russian Federation at the Consulate of the Philippines are often denied extradition, arguing that Russia is on the list of visa-free countries. Tourists who have applied are advised to enter the country and issue / renew a permit already in place.
Citizens of the Russian Federation can stay on the territory of the islands on a tourist visa for a maximum of 16 months. If you leave with an expired permit, you will at least face a fine at the airport, but there may be serious problems with the authorities, so you should not risk it.
Extension of the Philippine visa on the spot in 2021
The Philippines is one of the most convenient countries in Asia for those who are used to wintering in warm countries. The fact is that any Filipino visa can be extended without leaving the country - for this, everyone needs to contact the Bureau of Immigration 7 days before the expiration of the existing permit or two weeks after arrival if the visa has not been issued.
Renewals are made at the Bureau of Immigration headquarters in Manila or at one of its offices in other localities. There are 44 such offices in the country: there are Boracay, Cebu, Davao, Legazpi and other popular places. Usually visitors are accepted from 9 to 17, sometimes - until 16. There is a dress code, so it is advisable to visit the office in decent form, they may not be allowed in shorts.
For renewal, you will need a passport, a completed application form, and a color photo. After two months of stay on the islands, an ID must be issued - a plastic card, which contains all the personal information of the tourist, including a photo and address of residence. The ID card can be used as a temporary form of identification and even open a local bank account with it. Extension for the next two months after the first two months of stay will cost 4800 pesos plus 500-600 pesos per ID. You can get the card within a month.
Also, upon arrival, you can immediately, without putting a stamp for 30 days, apply for a visa for a period of up to 59 days right at the airport at the immigration office, open only during the day. You will need to fill out a form, attach a passport and pay about $ 50 and 500 pesos.
It is important to remember that each subsequent extension is 59 days; in total, you can stay on the islands for no less than 16 months!
A visa extension system has been in operation since 2013 - LSVVE - instead of a stamp, a sticker with an end date is pasted into the tourist's passport. Under the new rules, it can be extended immediately for 6 months, the minimum period is 1 month. In this case, an application must be submitted either before the expiration of the visa, or during the last month of the previous extension. You can apply for an LSVVE for six months at any immigration office for about 4290 pesos.
If the total uninterrupted period of residence in the Philippines is more than six months, then before leaving, you must obtain a special Special Travel Exit Clearance certificate from the immigration office. To issue a certificate, you will need a copy of your passport, a photograph, a payment receipt, a copy of your ID.
You must apply for a certificate at least two days before the expected date of departure, the document is valid for only 5 days, the cost of registration is 500 pesos. The certificate contains information about the absence of any financial obligations of the owner to the local authorities, as well as the absence of open criminal proceedings.
