
Flying worldwide for the primary time? Right here’s the whole departure course of. Though the title particularly names the Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport (NAIA), this additionally applies to another worldwide airport within the Philippines. We’ll even be highlighting the journey necessities you have to current each step of the best way.
The thought of touring overseas may be nerve-wracking particularly for first timers. The airport course of alone may be fairly overwhelming for the uninitiated. There appears to be plenty of steps, plenty of queuing, and plenty of paperwork that you have to put together prematurely. However don’t fear, on this article, we’ll take you thru the whole course of, from the pre-departure preparations all the best way to boarding the plane.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
1. Accomplish the eTravel kind.
What’s the eTravel kind? It’s a government-mandated digital kind that collects your private and journey data for Immigration report. By finishing this kind, you’re telling the federal government the place you’re going, what you’ll be doing in your vacation spot, and when you find yourself coming again. It’s the digital alternative of the paper Immigration departure card.
You need to fill out the e-Journey kind on-line as early as 72 hours (3 days) earlier than your departure time via any of the next:
You are able to do this as much as 3 days (72 hours) earlier than your flight. I normally accomplish this on my approach to the airport.
If it’s your first time, you’ll must create an account first utilizing a legitimate e-mail tackle. After you have an account, you’ll be able to add a visit and enter your journey particulars.
We now have a extra detailed step-by-step gude right here: HOW TO ACCOMPLISH eTRAVEL FORM!
That is required for departing Filipinos. Some would say that they weren’t requested to current this. It’s true. However that’s as a result of Immigration Officers can see of their system if a passenger has completed an eTravel kind or not. In the event that they see that the passenger has achieved it, they don’t ask them for it anymore. In the event that they don’t discover the passenger’s eTravel, they are going to ask them to step apart and do one on the pill space close by.
Observe that the Philippines isn’t the one nation implementing a digital border management kind. Singapore and Japan have one thing related, too.
2. Make your approach to the precise airport terminal.
Most worldwide airports outdoors Manila have only one terminal, so it’s fairly simple. However Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport has 4: Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Easy methods to decide which terminal it’s best to go to? Test your reserving affirmation. It’s normally indicated there. However to be completely sure, you’ll be able to contact the airline or strive checking in on-line.
Upon coming into the airport terminal, the guard will ask to see the next paperwork:
- passport
- reserving affirmation
Solely passengers are allowed on the Departure Corridor, the place the check-in counters are positioned. At Terminals 1 and a pair of, when you’re not a passenger, the guard gained’t allow you to in.
At Terminal 3, though the Departure Corridor is basically for passengers solely, some elements are accessible for non-passengers and well-wishers. The “mall space”, which is occupied by a big selection of eating places and retailers, can be open to non-passengers.
3. Pay the journey tax.
As soon as inside, discover the TIEZA counter to settle the journey tax. That is the levy imposed by the federal government on Filipino vacationers exiting the Philippines.
Listed here are the charges:
- Economic system-class passengers: PHP 1620
- First-class passengers: PHP 2700
Observe that not all vacationers are required to pay this. Some are eligible for a diminished or discounted charge or full exemption. To verify when you’re certified, go to this web page first: TRAVEL TAX EXEMPTION & DISCOUNT!
If you happen to’re a bunch/household, a consultant can do that step alone to keep away from crowding.
After cost, you’ll be given two (2) copies of the TIEZA receipt. The unique copy is yours; you’ll be able to preserve it. The duplicate copy should be submitted to the verify in agent afterward.
However earlier than you pay, verify if the journey tax is already paid for while you booked your flight. Some airways — normally legacy carriers — robotically embrace this upon reserving. To make sure, verify the breakdown of cost in your reserving affirmation or ticket. Search for PH TAX amounting to PHP 1620 or the equal in one other forex.
- If it’s already included, no have to method the TIEZA counter to pay once more. Skip this step and head straight to the verify in counters.
- If you happen to can’t verify that it’s already paid for, don’t pay but lest you be charged twice. As an alternative, skip this step and queue up on the verify in counters for now.
4. Test in in your flight or drop luggage.
On the flight information board or display, discover the verify in counters to your flight. These screens are positioned in the course of the departure corridor for NAIA Terminals 1 and a pair of. At NAIA Terminal 3, you’ll discover a number of screens close to the doorway gates.
Proceed to the assigned verify in counter and fall in line. Enterprise-class passengers have their very own queue, whereas economy-class passengers have two selections:
- On-line check-in or Bag Drop: That is for economic system passengers who’ve already checked in on-line. This queue tends to be shorter and transfer a lot faster. It’s typically labeled “bag drop” as a result of when you’ve already checked in on-line, all you’re checking in at this level is your baggage.
- Common check-in: That is for economic system passengers who didn’t verify in on-line. This queue is commonly for much longer and slower.
When you attain the counter, current your passport and visa (if relevant). If you happen to’re a bunch or household, everybody needs to be current. The check-in agent will verify and match the passport to the passenger. Then, they are going to instruct you to place your luggage on the weighing scale one after the other.
Be sure you’re accustomed to the bags coverage. The agent will ask you questions in regards to the content material of your luggage. It’s much more difficult however in a nutshell:
- Harmful, flammable, and corrosive objects are prohibited.
- Devices with batteries will not be allowed for check-in and should be hand-carried (carry-on).
- Liquids in 100ml containers or smaller are allowed for check-in and hand-carry.
- Liquids in containers bigger than 100ml should be checked in.
As soon as all luggage have been checked in, the agent will verify the system in case your journey tax had been settled.
- If journey tax is already included in your flight reserving, you’ll be handed a boarding move straight away.
- If journey tax just isn’t but paid, the verify in agent will ask in your TIEZA official receipt. If in case you have it already, simply hand it over. If you happen to don’t have one but, you’ll be instructed to proceed to the journey tax counter, pay, after which come again to them to obtain your boarding move. Don’t fear, you gained’t have to queue up yet again. When you’ve settled the tax, simply return straight to the agent that checked you in and hand her your receipt.
As soon as all the pieces is so as, the check-in agent offers you a boarding move.
5. Clear Immigration inspection.
Upon entry to the Immigration Space, the workers will verify your passport and boarding move. Then, fall in line once more.
If you happen to’re pregnant, senior or PWD or touring with one, there’s a devoted precedence lane. Just one companion is allowed.
When it’s your flip, method the Immigration counter and hand over your passport and boarding move. In case your vacation spot requires a visa, the officer will even ask to see it.
The officer will even ask you to step again somewhat and face the digital camera as they take a photograph of you. Whereas all that is occurring, they will ask you questions on your background and your journey.
A number of the common questions are:
- The place are you going? Inform the officer your vacation spot nation.
- What’s the aim of your journey? Leisure/trip, enterprise, visiting somebody?
- When are you coming again to the Philippines? Be sure you know your return date.
But when it’s your first time touring overseas, it’s seemingly that they ask extra, together with:
- What’s your occupation within the Philippines? It’s possible you’ll be requested for proof of your reply resembling firm ID or Certificates of Employment for workers or enterprise registration paperwork for self-employed vacationers. If you happen to’re a authorities worker, you need to have a Journey Authority with you.
- Who’s funding your journey?
– If it’s self-funded, you could be requested to current proof that you possibly can financially assist the journey. This is the reason some vacationers deliver a financial institution certificates. One in all my teammates was requested to open her banking app on the spot.
– If another person is paying in your journey in any means, you could be required to submit an Affidavit of Assist and Assure (AOSG) and proof of relationship with the sponsor.
⚠️ REMINDER: Strategy the Immigration counter one by one. You can be evaluated individually. That stated, in my expertise touring with my teenage nephew and senior mom, there have been a number of cases when the officer requested me to hitch in and so they processed us on the identical time. However by default, it’s best to method the counter individually.
If you happen to’re nervous about your dependent, allow them to go first. Anybody who makes it previous the counters is NOT ALLOWED to return or wait and linger on the close by areas. If you happen to let your dependents go first, you’ll be able to keep in line and help them ought to they want something from you.
This complete immigration course of is so nuanced and sophisticated, it deserves its personal article. We’ll write extra detailed articles about it quickly, however for now, you could refer to those posts:
✅ HOW TO AVOID GETTING OFFLOADED
✅ SHOW MONEY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
⚠️ Taking photographs and recording movies are strictly prohibited. This coverage just isn’t unique to the Philippines. All international locations I’ve been to have this rule.
6. Undergo Safety Test.
Instantly after clearing Immigration checks, proceed to the safety verify space. There’s likelihood you’ll be lining up right here once more. Whereas ready in your flip, put together for a easy inspection.
- Take your laptop computer out of your bag.
- Empty your pockets and put them in your bag.
- Take away your belt.
- Take away your footwear, when required. (This isn’t applied on a regular basis.)
Liquids are solely allowed in 100ml containers or smaller. In any other case, they might be confiscated.
Put your belongings on a tray and let it move via the x-ray machine. You’ll additionally have to stroll via the physique scanner. If it makes a beeping sound, the safety officer could frisk you.
If each factor is OK, get your luggage and different objects once they make it to the opposite aspect.
7. Discover your gate and look forward to boarding.
Past the safety space, you’ll discover retailers and eating places. If you happen to nonetheless have time, you’ll be able to stroll round or have a meal/drink. However my suggestion is to search out the gate assigned to your flight first.
At this level, it’s greatest to take one other take a look at your boarding move. On this piece of paper, you’ll discover essential particulars about your flight, together with:

- Gate quantity. That is the gate that might be used to board your flight.
- Boarding time. Try to be on the gate by this time, normally 20-Half-hour earlier than your scheduled departure time.
- Zone quantity. Airways normally let passengers board the airplane by batch or by zone. Wait in your zone to be referred to as. Typically, that is achieved by row, as a substitute of by zone.
- Seat quantity. Your assigned seat contained in the plane.
Take note of the flight data screens and bulletins. Typically, the gate task and boarding time change as a result of the flight is delayed or different causes. In rarer circumstances, the flight can go away sooner than scheduled. Keep away from utilizing your earphones or headset as you may miss these bulletins.
8. Board the plane.
As soon as your zone or row is known as for boarding, fall in line. The workers will verify your passport once more and scan your boarding move.
Contained in the plane, search for your assigned seat. Your boarding move signifies your alphanumeric seat quantity. The quantity tells you your row and the letter your seat place: aisle, center, or window. Test the labels on the overhead compartment. Please don’t take different passengers’ seats.
If in case you have a carry-on bag (hand-carry), stow it contained in the overhead compartment. You’ll be able to place your smaller bag beneath the seat in entrance of you.
That’s it! Fasten your seatbelt and luxuriate in your flight.
The place to Keep Close to NAIA (Manila Airport)
If you happen to’re in search of a lodge or house near the airport, listed below are some prime suggestions on varied on-line reserving web sites.

Seek for extra Manila Motels!
Updates Log
2024 • 5 • 10 – Unique publication