Ghana among 46 African countries granted 30-day visa-free entry to Philippines

Ghanaians can now travel to the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, following an expansion of the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free entry policy. The Philippines has extended the facility to citizens of 46 African countries as part of efforts to make the country more accessible to international travellers and attract more tourism and investment. According to Africa Business Insider, Ghana is among the countries covered by the arrangement, alongside South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ghana to formally apply to join BRICS – Ablakwa Other eligible African countries include Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea. Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Eswatini, Togo and Tunisia are also included. However, the policy does not extend to citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, who generally require visas before travelling to the Philippines. Requirements for visa-free entry Travellers eligible for the 30-day visa-free facility must hold passports valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay. They must also have a valid return or onward ticket. The arrangement is based on Executive Order No. 408 and subsequent amendments governing visa-free entry into the Philippines. Eligible travellers may also apply for a 29-day extension through the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, potentially allowing them to remain in the country for up to 59 days. China, India have separate arrangements The Philippines’ general 30-day visa-free policy does not apply to citizens of China and India, although both countries have separate arrangements with the Philippines. Chinese nationals, for example, can enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 14 days under a separate policy. Citizens of several other major economies, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, France and South Korea, are also eligible for the 30-day visa-free entry. The Philippines’ broader visa-free programme covers 157 countries, although the duration and conditions vary for some nationalities. Brazilian and Israeli passport holders, for instance, can stay visa-free for up to 59 days under existing bilateral arrangements. The expansion comes as the Philippine government seeks to attract more international visitors and increase tourism’s contribution to the economy. The country recorded about 5.94 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, while spending by inbound visitors was estimated at 694 billion Philippine pesos. Tourism accounted for 8.1% of the country’s economy and supported about 7.7 million jobs during the year. The government is also seeking to improve airports, transport infrastructure and international connectivity to support further growth in tourism. With additional files from Business Insider Africa MA How a Visit to GHACEM Inspired Ibrahim Mahama to Build Dzata Cement We Can’t Always Be Beggars – Ibrahim Mahama Pushes for Ghanaian-Owned Businesses Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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