The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) has voiced strong support for the Philippines’ plan to relaunch its eVisa program for Chinese nationals in November 2025.
The move aims to strengthen people-to-people exchange, facilitate trade and tourism and reverse a significant drop in Chinese visitor arrivals since 2019.
The Philippine Embassy in Beijing announced that the eVisa applications would be available again starting November 2025 for travelers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
Tourists from these regions will be able to apply for a 14-day, non-renewable tourist or business visa. Entry is restricted to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila or the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
FFCCCII president Victor Lim described the resumption as a “strong, powerful and positive signal” that the Philippine government is ready to welcome a new wave of Chinese visitors.
Lim expressed full support for the initiative, calling it a late but “extremely necessary measure” that could deliver significant economic benefits and reshape regional competition. He cited the importance of opening the country’s doors to foreigners as an essential move toward economic prosperity and regional cooperation.
Lim also warned that failure to actively attract foreign tourists could result in missed economic and diplomatic opportunities, noting that neighboring ASEAN nations have been more proactive in their efforts.
China was the second-largest source of foreign tourists to the Philippines, with about 1.7 million Chinese visitors in 2019. However, in the first nine months of 2025, only 204,000 Chinese tourists visited the country, far below the target of 2 million.
Chinese travelers as well as other eligible nationals living in China who intend to stay in the Philippines for more than 14 days may still apply for the conventional visa through the nearest Visa Application Centers that will open in Beijing, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
