The Philippine government has launched a significant policy shift aimed at revitalizing its tourism industry, announcing visa-free entry for citizens of China effective Friday, January 16, 2026. This strategic move is designed to attract more visitors from one of its historically top source markets and increase overall tourism revenue.
Policy Details and Entry Requirements
In an official statement released on Thursday, January 15, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) outlined the new rules. Chinese nationals can now enter the Philippines without a visa for short stays of up to 14 days. However, this privilege is strictly for tourism or business purposes and is non-extendable. The visa-free status cannot be converted into other visa categories.
Travelers must enter through designated international gateways: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila or Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu. To be granted entry, they must present a passport valid for at least six months beyond their stay, proof of confirmed hotel bookings, and a return or onward ticket. The DFA emphasized that standard security checks, including screening for derogatory records, will remain in place to ensure public safety.
Boosting Tourism and Economic Ties
This policy directly supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to enhance trade, investment, and tourism flows while strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. Tourism officials and industry leaders anticipate the visa-free arrangement will sustain the post-pandemic recovery in visitor numbers.
Before the global health crisis, Chinese tourists were consistently among the Philippines' largest foreign visitor groups. The Department of Tourism (DOT) expressed optimism for 2026, partly due to this policy and the earlier resumption of the e-Visa program for Chinese applicants. Increased arrivals are expected to translate into higher spending across key sectors like hospitality, transportation, food services, and retail, particularly in major hubs like Metro Manila and Cebu.
Current Market Position and Future Review
Recent DOT data provides context for this push. For the period cited, China ranked as the sixth-largest source of tourist arrivals, with 262,144 visitors. It trailed behind South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada. The DOT noted that China's performance had been "largely influenced by visa disruptions, security perceptions and limited air connectivity." The new visa-free rule aims directly to address the first of these challenges.
The DFA confirmed that this visa-free entry arrangement will be effective for an initial period of one year. It will be subject to evaluation and review before its expiration to assess its impact and determine its future.
