21 or 30 days?

[usa32]

I am planning a trip in 2017.(will be my first)

For the initial travel visa (with onward/return ticket) Can I stay in the country 21 or 30 days currently?

I have heard both numbers thrown around.

 

Thank you

 

[Kiwi-Alan]

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/us-citizen-need-visa-philippine-islands-105987.html

[sonjack2847]

It is now 30 days.

[Dave Hounddriver]

12 hours ago, usa32 said:

Can I stay in the country 21 or 30 days currently?

You can stay as long as you like, but I suspect you mean how long can you stay 'for free' and without having to go to BI for a visa.

Sonjack stated it was 30 days so what happens if you stay 31 days?  They are usually quite strict about that so you won't be able to leave until you go to the BI office and pay about 3,000 pesos to 'buy' up to 29 more days. (Experienced travelers have figured out how to pay for the additional 29 days on arrival at the airport but that has never worked for me).

[Jollygoodfellow]

Been 30 days for quite some time now. The first day starts the day after arrival. 

[Sander Martin]

Also you need to have a ticket to leave the country in those first 30 days (even if you plan to extend your visa). You wont be able to board a plane bound for Phills if you dont have "proof of onward ticket" thats dated in those first 30 days. Most of us buy a throw awey ticket if we plan on staying longer. A throw awey ticket is the cheapest ticket out of Phillipines you can find. You will never use it and just need it to enter the country. You can usually get a ticket for less than 40usd if you book ahead. This year i booked a ticket a month in advance only and was able to get a 45usd throw awey ticket Manila-Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia with Airasia.

 

you could also book a refundable ticket and cancel it once you get thru Immigratsions (usually that means booking an expensive business class ticket).

Edited April 19, 2016 by Sander Martin

[Tukaram (Tim)]

Your onward ticket does not have to be dated within 30 days.  Last time I went to the US I came back on a ticket almost a year out.  We went to Hong Kong 5 months later, so I used the same onward ticket twice :)

[Jollygoodfellow]

16 minutes ago, Sander Martin said:

Also you need to have a ticket to leave the country in those first 30 days (even if you plan to extend your visa). You wont be able to board a plane bound for Phills if you dont have "proof of onward ticket" thats dated in those first 30 days. Most of us buy a throw awey ticket if we plan on staying longer. A throw awey ticket is the cheapest ticket out of Phillipines you can find. You will never use it and just need it to enter the country. You can usually get a ticket for less than 40usd if you book ahead. This year i booked a ticket a month in advance only and was able to get a 45usd throw awey ticket Manila-Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia with Airasia.

 

you could also book a refundable ticket and cancel it once you get thru Immigratsions (usually that means booking an expensive business class ticket).

Sorry but that is incorrect as the onward/return ticket does not have to be within the 30 days. I have posted proof of this before. It can be dated anytime.  

[manofthecoldland]

Please try to get your facts straight before posting and misinforming people about the onward ticket. You are needlessly costing them money if providing bad information. I have always had onward/return tickets for anywhere from 2-6 months after arrival and have never had a problem or been out of compliance with the laws. I have made a score of long term trips over the years.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I knew I had seen that image before... but could not remember where :)