Unlike Brunei or several other Southeast Asian neighbors, India is not a visa-free destination for Philippine passport holders — but it's also far from the old-style embassy queue process many travelers still picture. India's e-Tourist visa system lets Filipinos apply entirely online, and for a stretch running from August 2025 through July 2026, India even waived the visa fee for Filipino applicants entirely. Here's what the process looks like, what it costs, and how to plan a realistic India trip budget from Manila in Philippine pesos.
Yes — Filipino passport holders need a visa for India, but it's a fully online e-Tourist visa (no embassy visit required), and Filipinos should check the official portal for current fee status since a temporary fee waiver period announced by India ran from August 2025 through July 2026.
- Filipinos need a visa for India — there is no visa-free entry, but the process is entirely online through the e-Tourist visa system
- India granted Filipino passport holders a free (gratis, no visa fee) 30-day double-entry e-Tourist visa for the one-year period from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026 — confirm current fee status on the official portal since that stated window has now closed
- Standard e-Tourist visas for 30 days typically cost around USD 25 for most nationalities when the fee applies
- Apply online at least 4 days before departure, and no earlier than 30 days ahead, through the official Indian government e-visa portal
- Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity remaining, and you should be ready to show proof of onward travel and sufficient funds on arrival
Do Filipinos Need a Visa for India? Yes — Here's the Format
Filipino citizens require a visa to enter India for any purpose, including tourism. The good news is that India has offered an e-Tourist visa system for years, which replaces the older process of dropping off your passport at an embassy or outsourced visa center — you apply and receive an approval electronically, then simply present it (usually as a printout or on your phone) when you arrive in India.
The e-Tourist visa is issued by India's Ministry of Home Affairs and Bureau of Immigration through the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in. The Embassy of India in Manila's e-visa page is the official reference for requirements specific to Philippine applicants.
The Free 30-Day Gratis e-Tourist Visa Program for Filipinos
The Government of India announced that it would grant the 30-day e-Tourist visa to Philippine citizens on a gratis basis — meaning no visa fee — for an initial one-year period running from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026. Under this program, eligible applicants received a double-entry e-Tourist visa valid for 30 days from the date of arrival, with the visa fee itself waived (though standard processing/service charges from authorized portals may still apply).
Because that announced one-year window has now closed as of this writing, confirm the current fee status directly on the official India e-visa portal or through the Embassy of India in Manila before applying — India has not published, in verifiable official channels, whether this fee waiver has been extended, replaced with a new arrangement, or allowed to lapse back to the standard fee. Budget for the possibility of paying the standard fee unless the portal explicitly shows a gratis rate for Philippine applicants at the time you apply.
Standard e-Tourist Visa Fees If the Gratis Period Has Ended
Outside of any fee-waiver arrangement, India's standard 30-day e-Tourist visa fee for most nationalities runs around USD 25, plus a smaller processing/service fee charged by the application portal itself — expect a total in the neighborhood of USD 30-45 (roughly ₱1,700-₱2,550 at a rate near ₱56-57 per USD) once bank and portal fees are included. Longer e-Tourist visa options (1-year and 5-year multiple-entry) cost more and carry their own fee schedule, which is published on the official portal at the time of application.
Always pay through the official government portal or an authorized channel referenced by the Embassy of India — third-party sites that charge a large markup for 'visa processing' are a common scam target for first-time e-visa applicants.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
- Go to the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in and select the e-Tourist visa category
- Fill out the online application with your passport details, a recent digital passport-style photo, and your travel dates
- Upload a scanned copy of your passport's biographical page
- Pay the applicable fee online (or confirm gratis status if the waiver is active for Philippine applicants at the time)
- Receive your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email, typically within a few business days, though it can occasionally take longer during peak season
- Print a copy of your approved e-visa to present at Indian immigration on arrival, alongside your passport
Apply no earlier than 30 days before your trip and no later than 4 days before your flight, since the system requires a minimum lead time for processing.
Passport and Entry Requirements Beyond the Visa Itself
Your Philippine passport must have at least 6 months of validity remaining from your date of entry into India, and at least two blank visa pages are typically recommended. On arrival, Indian immigration officers may ask for proof of your onward or return flight and evidence of sufficient funds for your stay, even though you already hold an approved e-visa — keep printed or downloaded copies rather than relying only on your phone.
The e-Tourist visa (30-day category) is generally issued as double-entry, meaning you can exit and re-enter India once within the 30-day validity window — useful if your itinerary includes a short side trip to Nepal, Bhutan, or Sri Lanka and back.
Flight Costs from Manila to India
Manila to Delhi round-trip economy fares typically start around USD 400-500 (roughly ₱22,800-₱28,500) on standard routings, with one-way fares from around USD 210 (roughly ₱11,970) on lower-cost bookings, while Manila to Mumbai runs somewhat higher, often from around USD 578 (roughly ₱32,950) round trip. Most itineraries connect through a Southeast Asian hub such as Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur rather than flying direct, since direct Manila-India service is limited; connecting through Bangkok is frequently the lower-cost option.
Booking 2-3 months ahead and avoiding peak Indian holiday periods (Diwali, major wedding season months) typically brings fares down noticeably from last-minute pricing.
Accommodation and Daily Budget in India
India offers an unusually wide accommodation range for the price: budget guesthouses and hostels in most cities run roughly ₹800-₹2,000 per night (about ₱540-₱1,340 at a rate near ₱0.67 per INR), solid mid-range hotels run ₹2,500-₹6,000 per night (about ₱1,675-₱4,020), and heritage or luxury properties can run ₹8,000-₹25,000+ per night (about ₱5,360-₱16,750+). Street food and local restaurant meals are inexpensive by regional standards, often ₹100-₹400 per meal (about ₱67-₱268), while mid-range restaurant dining runs higher in tourist-heavy areas like South Delhi or South Mumbai.
Domestic flights, trains (including the well-known Indian Railways network), and app-based ride-hailing (Uber and Ola operate widely) make getting between major cities and within them manageable on a range of budgets.
Best Time of Year to Visit India
India's climate varies enormously by region, but for most first-time travelers visiting northern cities like Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur (the classic "Golden Triangle" route), October through March offers the most comfortable temperatures and lower humidity, avoiding both the intense pre-monsoon heat (April-June) and the monsoon rains (roughly July-September in most regions). Southern India and coastal regions like Kerala and Goa have their own distinct seasonal patterns, with Kerala's monsoon season typically running June through September as well.
Because India is a big country with several climate zones, match your travel dates to the specific region on your itinerary rather than assuming one season works nationwide.
Sample Budget for a 7-Day Golden Triangle Trip From Manila
A realistic 7-day, 6-night budget itinerary covering Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur for one person — including a round-trip flight via Bangkok (~₱25,000), 6 nights in budget-to-mid-range hotels (~₱1,700/night average, ₱10,200 total), food at roughly ₱700/day (~₱4,900 total), intercity trains and local transport (~₱4,000), and entrance fees plus a guide for major sites like the Taj Mahal (~₱4,500) — lands around ₱48,000-₱53,000 all in, before the e-visa fee. Traveling in a small group brings per-person transport and guide costs down noticeably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Filipino passport holders need a visa to enter India for any purpose, including tourism — there is no visa-free arrangement between the two countries. However, India's e-Tourist visa system makes the process fully online, so you don't need to visit an embassy or visa center in person to apply.
India announced a fee waiver (gratis) for the 30-day e-Tourist visa for Philippine passport holders covering the one-year period from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026. Since that announced window has now passed, confirm the current fee status directly on the official India e-visa portal or with the Embassy of India in Manila before applying, since it's not publicly confirmed whether the waiver has been extended.
Most e-Tourist visa applications are processed within a few business days, though it can occasionally take longer during peak travel seasons or if additional document review is needed. India's official guidance is to apply no earlier than 30 days before travel and no later than 4 days before your flight to allow enough processing time.
Outside of any fee waiver, the standard 30-day e-Tourist visa fee for most nationalities is around USD 25, plus a smaller portal service fee, bringing the realistic total to roughly USD 30-45 (about ₱1,700-₱2,550). Longer-validity e-Tourist visa options cost more, with exact current pricing published on the official application portal.
The 30-day e-Tourist visa is typically issued as double-entry, meaning you can exit and re-enter India once within your 30-day validity window. This is useful for travelers combining India with a short side trip to a neighboring country like Nepal or Sri Lanka.
Bring your passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity, a printed copy of your approved e-visa, and be ready to show proof of your onward or return flight and evidence of sufficient funds if asked by an immigration officer. Even with an approved e-visa, final entry clearance is decided by the immigration officer at the port of arrival.
Direct Manila-India flight options are limited and change over time, so most travelers connect through a regional hub such as Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur. Connecting through Bangkok is frequently the lower-cost routing for Manila-Delhi or Manila-Mumbai itineraries. When in doubt, this is also worth confirming with a qualified professional familiar with your specific situation.
Apply only through the official government portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in or through guidance confirmed by the Embassy of India in Manila's official e-visa page. A number of third-party websites mimic the official portal and charge significant markups for 'visa processing services' that aren't affiliated with the Indian government.
Conclusion
India requires a visa for Filipino travelers, but the e-Tourist visa's fully online process removes most of the old friction, and Filipinos benefited from a temporary fee waiver through July 2026. Confirm the current fee status on the official portal before you apply, submit your application within the 30-day (but no later than 4-day) window before travel, and budget separately for flights, which usually route through a regional hub rather than flying direct. For the latest requirements specific to Philippine passport holders, the Embassy of India in Manila is the authoritative source.
