- Capital
- Manila (MNL)
- Dialing Code
- + 63
- Time Zone
- UTC / GMT +8 (6 hours ahead of South Africa)
- Language
- Filipino
- Best Time to Go
- November - February
- Currency
- Philippine Peso (PHP)
Travel Tips
- USD is widely accepted. Credit cards are accepted in major cities, but elsewhere cash should be carried
- All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Bottled water recommended
- 170 local dialects and languages are also spoken. English is widely spoken
- If you are travelling outside Manila, healthcare facilities may be less readily available and it is advisable to carry basic medical supplies. Anti-venom may not be available in more rural areas and visitors should take caution against sea snakes
- Casual dress is suitable, but more conservative clothing should be worn when visiting Muslim areas (especially in Mindanao)
- Typhoons can occur – check the weather warnings before travel
Last updated 7 October 2026
Visa Guide
Foreign Representation in South Africa
Embassy of the Philippines
1st Floor, Building B, OMK House, 238 Florence Ribeiro Avenue, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria
Telephone: 012 346 0451
E-mail: pretoria.pe@dfa.gov.ph
Website: pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph
Also accredited to: Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
Honorary Consulate General, Cape Town
12 Bramber Court, Ravenscraig Road, Green Point, Cape Town, 8005
Telephone: (021) 4332270
E-mail: avatar@mweb.co.za
Public Holidays
2026
January: 1, 23
February: 17
March: 20
April: 2 - 4, 9
May: 1, 27
June: 12
August: 21, 31
September: 3, 8
November: 1 - 2, 7, 30
December: 8, 24 - 25, 30 - 31
Visa Requirements
South African passport holders do not require a visa for tourism or business visits, for stays not exceeding 30 days.
Entry Requirements
- Valid return tickets / proof of onward travel
- Passport must be valid for 6 months after the departure date
Health / Vaccinations
Compulsory:
Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover)
Recommended Travel Vaccines:
Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis (Not available in SA), Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio
Malaria Risk
South African Representative Abroad
South African Embassy, Philippines
29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza #6819, Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila
Telephone: +63 2 88899597
E-mail: manila.dha@dirco.gov.za
Website: dirco1.azurewebsites.net/manila/