Philippines
ISO Code: PH
- Visa: Not Required
- Vaccination: Conditionally Required
- 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 21 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/