Are you flying to the Philippines for the primary time? Whether or not you’re a overseas customer or a returning Filipino, this step-by-step Manila Worldwide Arrival Information offers you an summary on what to anticipate upon your arrival.
I’ll be focusing totally on Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport (NAIA), which is the first gateway to Manila. However many of the steps listed here are additionally relevant to different worldwide airports like Cebu and Clark. Prepared?
BEFORE YOUR TRIP
Earlier than your journey, there are issues that it is advisable to deal with.
1. Test if you happen to want a visa.
First, let’s speak about visa. In case you’re a Philippine passport holder, in fact, you don’t want a visa to return. Most nationalities do NOT want a visa to enter the Philippines, both. Underneath Government Order 408, residents of 157 international locations can go to the Philippines visa-free, supplied that:
- Your keep isn’t exceeding thirty (30) days.
- Your passport is legitimate for at the very least six (6) months past the interval of keep within the Philippines.
- You will have outward-bound tickets.
Some particulars are totally different for some nationalities, although. For instance, Brazilian and Israeli nationals can keep for as much as 59 days.
Indian nationals, however, can keep for as much as 14 days for tourism or enterprise functions, however they’re required to additionally current a confirmed resort lodging reserving and proof of economic capability, on prime of the exit or onward ticket.
To be completely sure, contact your overseas affairs division or the Philippine embassy or consulate in your space for the up to date insurance policies.
2. Accomplish the eTravel kind.
What’s this type? And why do you need to hassle? Nicely, eTravel is necessary for everybody touring to the Philippines. Whether or not you’re a returning Filipino or a overseas customer, you’re required to have this achieved previous to your entry.
This kind serves because the Immigration Arrival Card, Customs Declaration Type, and Well being Declaration Type. You’ll be able to fill this out on-line. Both go to the official web site (etravel.gov.ph) or obtain the eGovPH app: Android, iOS (Apple).
You want an e-mail tackle to get this achieved.
- In case you do it on an internet browser, simply click on on SIGN IN, then click on CREATE AN ACCOUNT, and enter your e-mail tackle.
- The shape will ask on your private and journey particulars, together with your flight quantity, the dates of your keep, the place you’ll be staying (is usually a resort tackle or a neighborhood contact’s tackle), and what the aim of your journey is.
- In case you’re a Filipino or a Philippine passport holder, underneath Function of Journey, select RETURNING RESIDENT.
- It can additionally ask you to checklist down all of the international locations you might have visited prior to now 30 days, and whether or not you’ve been sick lately. It can additionally ask you to declare restricted gadgets you’re bringing in, when you have any.
- As soon as it’s achieved and submitted, it is going to generate a QR code. You’ll be able to obtain it or take a screenshot of it. You’ll additionally obtain this through e-mail. Airline check-in brokers could ask to see this QR code earlier than they verify you in.
eTRAVEL is totally FREE OF CHARGE. If the web site or app you’re utilizing is charging you a payment, you’re getting scammed. It’s COMPLETELY FREE. No must pay for something.
That’s just about it! We now have a extra detailed step-by-step gude right here: HOW TO ACCOMPLISH eTRAVEL FORM!
UPON ARRIVAL
Step 1: Make your strategy to the Immigration counters.
Simply comply with the ARRIVAL indicators. Alongside the best way, you’ll cross by a temperature verify. Lastly on the Immigration space, you’ll discover two foremost kinds of Immigration gates:
- In case you’re a overseas nationwide, fall in line on the handbook counters.
- In case you’re a Philippine passport holder, you should utilize the digital gates. It’s often a lot sooner as there are extra e-gates than handbook counters. Simply queue up and wait on your flip. Don’t strategy the gate till the passenger earlier than you is totally by means of.
Step 2: Undergo Immigration verify.
Final December 2025, they launched model new, extra superior e-Gates. These new ones are already operational at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. I’m undecided if Terminal 2 can also be utilizing the identical items.
NOTE: If you use the e-gates, you’ll not get a stamp or a sticker. As an alternative, you’ll obtain an e-mail affirmation in your inbox by means of the e-mail tackle you supplied if you accomplished the eTravel kind.
As soon as cleared, proceed to the Baggage Declare Space.
Step 3: Declare your luggage on the carousel.
- Test the display for the carousel assigned to your flight. Truly, it’s additionally introduced onboard earlier than you deplane. In case you missed it, don’t fear, you’ll be able to simply verify the screens.
- Be sure you have the right bag or suitcase. Most luggage look alike, and mix-ups occur extra usually than you suppose. So at all times verify the tags on the bag earlier than leaving.
Step 4: Bear Customs verify. Or NOT.
There are often two lanes on the exit: RED LANE for these with gadgets to declare, and GREEN LANE for these with out.
- For many GREEN LANE vacationers, you’ll be able to simply stroll by means of. I say most as a result of random or “affordable” checks should still be achieved.
- For these within the RED LANE, your QR code could also be scanned once more.
As soon as by means of, you’ll emerge into the Arrival Corridor.
IMPORTANT! NAIA or Manila Airport has 4 terminals. It’s essential to know which terminal your flight can be utilizing as a result of they’re far aside. I’ll forgo telling you what terminal serves what airways as a result of terminal assignments change usually. So simply take a look at your flight reserving. Or ask the airline if you wish to double-check. You may as well verify NAIA’s official Fb Web page.
Step 5: Safe your transportation out of the airport.
There may be no subway or practice service that connects the airport to the town heart. We solely have just a few methods to get out of the airport.
By UBE Specific Bus
You’ll be able to simply hop on an UBE Specific, a point-to-point airport bus in case your resort or vacation spot is near any of those terminals:
- PITX (Paranaque Built-in Terminal Trade)
- Victory Liner Pasay
- Robinsons Place Manila
- Araneta Metropolis
- The District
- Robinsons Santa Rosa
UBE Specific picks up passengers at NAIA Terminal 3, throughout Bay 12 of the Arrival space.
We now have a extra detailed article about UBE Specific, together with fares, schedules, and different suggestions. You’ll be able to verify it right here: UBE EXPRESS AIRPORT BUS GUIDE
In case you’re touchdown at Terminal 1, 2 or 4, you’ll must switch to Terminal 3 first, which prices P50. UBE Specific has a NAIA loop that runs in a single route. It goes from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 to Terminal 4 then lastly to Terminal 3. You’ll be able to’t use this bus to go from Terminal 2 to 1. You’ll have to seek out one other approach.
NOTE: The UBE Specific is totally different from the NAIA Inter-Terminal Shuttle Service, which is freed from cost. It’s open solely to passengers with a connecting flight. To make use of this, you’ll want to point out proof that you’ve a connecting flight to catch. I’ll talk about this later after we speak about connecting flights.
By Taxi
Taxis can be found in any respect terminals, however I don’t actually suggest this. I haven’t tried common cabs or airport cabs in a very long time as a result of I simply get uninterested in being overcharged.
There’s a new cab service known as JoyRide Tremendous Taxi, which you’ll be able to e-book on web site, however I haven’t tried it both.
What I often take is Seize.
By Seize
Seize is Southeast Asia’s model of Uber. Simply obtain the app, register for an account, and begin utilizing it. You’ll be able to pay by card or money.
On the Arrival Corridor, simply comply with the indicators to the Journey-Hailing Pickup level outdoors, and wait on your journey. That’s it!
However what if Manila isn’t your last vacation spot? What if you need to catch one other flight?
CONNECTING FLIGHTS
Initially, if you happen to haven’t booked your flights but and you propose to attach at NAIA, ensure you have loads of layover time. Give your self a variety of time allowance as a result of delays are frequent, and the terminals usually are not shut to one another. That is very true if each your flights are on separate bookings or itineraries or with totally different PNR (Passenger Title Document).
If each flights are in a SINGLE reserving
Or with just one PNR or reserving code (instance: each legs are booked with the identical airline or two airways with a code-sharing settlement), and your luggage are checked by means of to the ultimate vacation spot (that means, you had been informed by the employees that you’ll be selecting up your baggage at your last vacation spot), do that as a substitute:
- Observe the “Transfers” indicators as a substitute of Arrivals. Typically, in case your subsequent flight is already boarding, you’ll see airline employees ready for you, and they’re going to information you thru.
- In case you weren’t given the boarding cross on your subsequent flight on the airport of origin, you may get it from the switch desk. In any other case, proceed to the safety verify, then proceed to your assigned gate.
If each flights are in SEPARATE bookings
- Observe the steps 1-4 that I shared with you within the earlier part. Principally, undergo Immigration and decide up your luggage.
- Then, in case your subsequent flight is on the identical terminal, go as much as the Departures stage, verify in your luggage, and clear safety checks once more.
In case your subsequent flight is worldwide, you’ll must undergo Immigration verify, too. Then wait on your subsequent flight on the assigned boarding gate.
Once more, that’s assuming you don’t must switch to a different terminal. However if you happen to do…
If it is advisable to switch to a different NAIA terminal
There could also be free transfers between terminals on the airside so that you received’t must clear Immigration and verify in your luggage once more. I mentioned “MAY BE” as a result of I haven’t actually skilled connecting on the airside.
What I’m constructive of is, there’s a FREE inter-terminal shuttle service on the landside, or after clearing Immigration, Customs, and whatnot. Once more, it’s freed from cost.
If transferring from Worldwide to Home Flight
- If each flights are booked individually with two totally different PNR or reserving code, you’ll must comply with the steps 1-4 within the earlier part.
- Then verify in once more to your home flight.
IMPORTANT! Typically, even when it’s underneath the identical PNR, since not all home airports within the Philippines have customs, you could be required to nonetheless decide up your luggage and undergo customs at NAIA. Then drop the luggage on the switch desk they usually’ll transfer them to your subsequent home flight.
And there you might have it. Take pleasure in your flight and have a secure journey! In case you have questions, drop them within the feedback part under, and we’ll attempt to reply them (if we all know the reply). Be happy to share your arrival expertise at NAIA.
The place to Keep Close to NAIA (Manila Airport)
In case you’re on the lookout for a resort or condominium near the airport, listed here are some prime suggestions on varied on-line reserving web sites.
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Updates Log
2026 3 25 – First up
Edited by: Asta Alvarez
