Philippines Is Now Visa-Free For Indians: Check Full List Of Countries Allowing Entry Without Visa

The Philippines has become the latest country to grant visa-free entry to Indian travellers, opening its picturesque archipelago to more tourists from India. With the relaxed norms, Indians will now be able to visit the Philippines without a visa requirement for a maximum of 14 days.

Besides the Philippines, 16 more countries allow visa-free travel for Indians for a short-term duration, as per the Ministry of External Affairs data. The move is aimed at boosting bilateral relationships between the countries and improving travel convenience for tourists.

"The fourteen 14-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional seven days for a maximum of 21-day stay," the Philippine Embassy in India said on its website.

The visa-free arrivals in selected nations come with certain terms and conditions. For instance, the Philippines will allow Indians for a visa-free entry, given that the travellers have passports valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay. Moreover, they must meet conditions like having return tickets to their home country or onward tickets to their next destination.

To be clear, this visa-free entry is only meant for tourism purposes. Travellers will not be able to switch it for any other reason.

The nations that allow visa-free entry to Indian passport holders include:

• Barbados

• Bhutan

• The Philippines

• Dominica

• Grenada

• Haiti

• Hong Kong

• The Maldives

• Mauritius

• Montserrat

• Nepal

• Niue Island

• Saint Vincent & The Grenadines

• Samoa

• Senegal

• Serbia

• Trinidad & Tobago

India also has agreements with dozens of countries for facilities like ‘visa on arrival’ or ‘e-visa’. This move has significantly improved international travel for Indian passport holders and promoted tourism and connectivity.

Russia, Singapore and Turkey are some of the countries where Indians can get e-visa facilities. There are at least 25 countries that have this facility for Indian passport holders. Malaysia, New Zealand, Argentina, Bahrain, Oman, South Korea and Taiwan are also on this list. Meanwhile, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Seychelles and Fiji are among 26 countries that offer a ‘visa on arrival’ facility.

There are also countries like Thailand, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Suriname and Vietnam, among others, which offer both ‘visa on arrival’ and ‘e-visa’ facilities to Indians.

In 2023, Indian travellers accounted for 1.45% of global international tourist arrivals. 

“India has strengthened its position in global tourism, accounting for 1.45% of total international arrivals and 2.1% of worldwide tourism receipts,” the Ministry of Tourism’s ‘2024 India Tourism Data Compendium’ report said.