This depends on which airport or terminal your flight arrives. Arriving in the Philippines used to be a nightmare when all international flights (except Philippine Airlines) arrived at Terminal 1 producing queues and it was common to spend up to 2 hours to pass through undermanned immigration desks. Thankfully International arrival has now been spread between the terminals, and the immigration process has improved drastically.
Maybe it’s because I travel to the Philippines 3–4 times a year and I have numerous long stay visas in my passport, my entry is just a quick stamp with no questions asked.
BIG TIP : If you are planning on staying longer than the 30 days allowed visa-free, or making multiple visits each year then go to the Philippine Embassy in your country a month before your departure and apply for a visa they are quick and easy to get. With this visa you can stay up to 59 days, (multiple entry visas are also available). One of my visas issued at the embassy I miraculously changed sex, with the visa stating I was female despite the digitized photo showing me to be a bearded man!
A rough guide for immigration queue times are :
For Manila NAIA
Terminal 3 : A number of international flights arrive at terminal 3, the process through immigration here is usually quite quick 15–30 minutes, except when there are multiple international flights arriving at the same time when expect to wait a little bit longer. Often the delay here is not for immigration but for baggage arrival, I have in the past waited up to an hour for bags to arrive on the carousel.
Terminal 1 : This can be a pain. I don't know why but there always seem longer queues at this terminal. Here expect 30–60 minutes to go through immigration, but by this time your luggage should have arrived and be waiting.
Terminal 2 : This is quite efficient and again expect a 15–30 minute queue to pass through immigration. Baggage for connecting flights from the same terminal is not automatically done, you collect your baggage go through customs then take it to a transfer desk, who rescans it, weighs it, and accepts it for the domestic flight. (Even when your domestic flight is part of your International ticket) you can be asked to pay excess baggage fees for the domestic portion of the flight (regardless of what it says on your itinerary or ticket).
If travelling to the Philippines why not consider alternative airports :
Clark : A number of airlines now fly to Clark (situated around 70km North of Manila) Here immigration usually takes 10 - 15 minutes, and is one of the smoothest arrivals processes in the Philippines.
Cebu: They can be slow at times here depending at the time of day but I have never had to wait more than 30 minutes.
Davao: Quick and efficient arrival process usually out of the airport and on my way into the city within 30 Minutes.
Kalibo : A few International flights arrive at Kalibo ( mainly from Korea) but my arrivals to this airport have only been domestic. So I cannot advise on the immigration queue times.
I only once went to BOI to obtain a visa extension, This was in Cebu and after arriving was approached by an Officer who offered to speed up my application no queueing, if I was prepared to pay extra! The same Officer on finding out that I was single and making multiple visits, Suggested that I pay him and marry his cousin so could stay longer. Needless to say, I declined his offer.
Visiting the BOI office can take all day, get there early, fill in the forms, queue to go to the counter, and then queue to pay your fee. Then told me to return 5 or 6 hours later. Queue again and get your visa. So generally I avoid this. If I find I am going to stay longer than my 30 days, I book a quick weekend break to a neighbouring country, and upon return get another 30 days visa.
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