Do Ukrainians need a visa for the Philippines?
Short answer: yes. There is no visa-free entry for Ukrainian passport holders, but the tourist visa can now be obtained online — no embassy visit needed.
Which visa you need
For tourism, holidays or visiting friends, Ukrainian citizens apply for the 9(a) Temporary Visitor visa — the standard Philippine tourist visa. It doesn't allow work, but lets you travel around the country and stay in hotels or rentals.
The official Philippine portal lists Ukraine as "Visa required". The "30 days visa-free" rule you may have read about applies to other nationalities, not to Ukrainian passports.
e-Visa: online instead of a passport sticker
The visa used to be a sticker in your passport, which meant leaving the original at a consulate for days. Now there is an electronic visa (e-Visa) on evisa.gov.ph:
- the form is filled in online and documents are uploaded as scans;
- your passport stays with you;
- the approved visa arrives by email and in your account — you show it at the border with your passport.
Your country of residence matters more than citizenship
An e-Visa application is reviewed by the Philippine embassy that serves the country where you currently live. Ukrainians in Poland, Germany, Czechia or anywhere else apply through the embassy that serves their country of residence. If e-Visa isn't available for that country yet, the visa is obtained through the local embassy.
How long you can stay
You request the length of stay in the form (up to 59 days); the embassy sets the final period. A real approved example: single entry, valid for 3 months, 30-day stay as requested. According to the portal, an e-Visa can't be extended or changed to another visa type in the country — that requires a paper visa.
What else you need to enter
- a biometric passport valid for at least 6 months after you leave the Philippines;
- an onward or return ticket;
- eTravel registration within 72 hours before arrival — free and mandatory.
A visa doesn't guarantee entry: the immigration officer makes the final decision. Keep your accommodation booking and tickets at hand.