Considering that the Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, there is no dearth of new local travel spots to fly in to. From Batanes in the north to Tawi-Tawi in the south, virtually any spot in the country is now within easy reach.
But the same does not hold true for international destinations. Due to entry restrictions, the number of countries that Filipinos can travel to visa-free with their Philippine passports is quite limited.
 |
| Taiwan allows visa-free access to Philippine passport holders until July 31, 2019. |
The good news, however, is that over the years, the number of countries that allow for visa-free access to Filipino nationals has been on the rise. In the latest 2018 survey of citizenship and residency firm Henley & Partners on the most powerful passports in the world, the Philippine passport rose to 70th among 186 passports being used in the world today, with visa-free, visa on arrival, or e-visa access to 66 countries.
According to the same study, the top three countries with the most powerful passports in the world are: (1) Japan, with visa-free access to 189 countries; (2) Singapore and Germany, with visa-free access to 188 countries; and (3) Finland, France, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and Sweden, with visa-free access to 187 countries.
So if you are looking to expand your travel portfolio beyond Philippine borders, now is as good a time as any to get going.
For starters, here's the complete and updated list of countries that allow for visa-free access to Filipinos carrying Philippine passports:
ASIA
1. Brunei - visa-free for 14 days
2. Cambodia - visa-free for 21 days
3. China - visa-free to Hainan Island for 30 days in tour groups
4. Hong Kong - visa-free for 14 days
5. India - e-visa for tourists in 24 airports only for 30 days
6. Indonesia - visa-free for 30 days
7. Iran - visa-free for 30 days
8. Israel - visa-free for 90 days
9. Kyrgyzstan - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
10. Laos - visa-free for 30 days
11. Macao - visa-free for 30 days
12. Malaysia - visa-free for 30 days
13. Maldives - visa-free for 30 days
14. Mongolia - visa-free for 21 days
15. Myanmar - visa-free for 14 days
16. Nepal - visa issued upon arrival for 90 days
17. Singapore - visa-free for 30 days
18. South Korea - visa-free to Jeju Island only
19. Sri Lanka - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
20. Taiwan - visa-free for 14 days until July 31, 2019
21. Thailand - visa-free for 30 days
22. Timor-Leste - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
23. Vietnam - visa-free for 14 days
SOUTH AMERICA
1. Bolivia - visa-free for 90 days
2. Brazil - visa-free for 90 days
3. Colombia - visa-free for 90 days
4. Costa Rica - visa-free for 30 days
5. Ecuador - visa-free for 90 days
6. Nicaragua - visa issued upon arrival for 90 days
7. Peru - visa-free for 180 days
8. Suriname - visa-free for 90 days
EUROPE
1. Armenia - visa-free for 120 days
OCEANIA
1. Cook Islands
2. Fiji - visa-free for 120 days
3. Marshall Islands - visa issued upon arrival for 90 days
4. Micronesia - visa-free for 30 days
5. Niue - visa-free for 30 days
6. Palau Islands - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
7. Papua New Guinea - visa issued upon arrival for 60 days
8. Samoa - visa-free for 60 days
9. Tuvalu - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
10. Vanuatu - visa-free for 30 days
CARRIBEAN/NORTH AMERICA
1. Dominica - visa-free for 21 days
2. Haiti - visa-free for 90 days
3. Saint Lucia - visa issued upon arrival for 6 weeks
4. Saint Kitts and Nevis
5. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - visa-free for 30 days
6. Trinidad and Tobago - visa issued upon arrival
AFRICA
1. Cape Verde - visa issued upon arrival
2. Comores Island - visa issued upon arrival for 45 days
3. Cote d’Ivoir - visa-free for 90 days
4. Djibouti - visa issued upon arrival
5. Gambia - visa-free for 90 days
6. Guinea-Bissau - visa-free for 90 days
7. Kenya - visa-free for 90 days
8. Madagascar - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
9. Malawi - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
10. Mauritania - visa issued upon arrival
11. Mauritius - visa issued upon arrival for 60 days
12. Morocco - visa-free for 90 days
13. Mozambique - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
14. Rwanda - visa-free for 90 days
15. Seychelles - visa-free for 90 days
16. Somalia - visa issued upon arrival for 30 days
17. St Helena - visa issued upon arrival
18. Tanzania - visa issued upon arrival
19. Togo - visa issued upon arrival for 7 days
20. Uganda - visa issued upon arrival
Which country in the list do you intend to visit anytime soon? Let us know in the comments section below.