
Flying worldwide for the primary time? Right here’s your entire 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 could current each step of the best way.
The concept of touring overseas will be nerve-wracking particularly for first timers. The airport course of alone will be fairly overwhelming for the uninitiated. There appears to be plenty of steps, plenty of queuing, and plenty of paperwork that you could put together upfront. However don’t fear, on this article, we’ll take you thru your entire 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 file. By finishing this way, you’re telling the federal government the place you’re going, what you’ll be doing in your vacation spot, and if you end up coming again. It’s the digital alternative of the paper Immigration departure card.
It’s essential 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 often accomplish this on my option to the airport.
If it’s your first time, you’ll should create an account first utilizing a sound electronic mail handle. After getting an account, you’ll be able to add a visit and enter your journey particulars.
We’ve 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 finished 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.
Word that the Philippines isn’t the one nation implementing a digital border management kind. Singapore and Japan have one thing comparable, too.
2. Make your option to the correct airport terminal.
Most worldwide airports exterior 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.
How one can decide which terminal you need to go to? Verify your reserving affirmation. It’s often 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 situated. At Terminals 1 and a couple of, if you happen to’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 components are accessible for non-passengers and well-wishers. The “mall space”, which is occupied by a big selection of eating places and outlets, can also 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
Word that not all vacationers are required to pay this. Some are eligible for a diminished or discounted fee or full exemption. To examine if you happen to’re certified, go to this web page first: TRAVEL TAX EXEMPTION & DISCOUNT!
Should you’re a bunch/household, a consultant can do that step alone to keep away from crowding.
After fee, 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 examine in agent in a while.
However earlier than you pay, examine if the journey tax is already paid for if you booked your flight. Some airways — often legacy carriers — routinely embody this upon reserving. To make sure, examine the breakdown of fee 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 strategy the TIEZA counter to pay once more. Skip this step and head straight to the examine in counters.
- Should you can’t affirm that it’s already paid for, don’t pay but lest you be charged twice. As a substitute, skip this step and queue up on the examine in counters for now.
4. Verify in on your flight or drop luggage.
On the flight information board or display screen, discover the examine in counters to your flight. These screens are situated in the course of the departure corridor for NAIA Terminals 1 and a couple of. At NAIA Terminal 3, you’ll discover a number of screens close to the doorway gates.
Proceed to the assigned examine in counter and fall in line. Enterprise-class passengers have their very own queue, whereas economy-class passengers have two decisions:
- 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 if you happen to’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 examine in on-line. This queue is usually for much longer and slower.
When you attain the counter, current your passport and visa (if relevant). Should you’re a bunch or household, everybody must be current. The check-in agent will examine 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 aware of the bags coverage. The agent will ask you questions in regards to the content material of your luggage. It’s much more sophisticated however in a nutshell:
- Harmful, flammable, and corrosive gadgets are prohibited.
- Devices with batteries are usually not 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 examine 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 cross instantly.
- If journey tax isn’t but paid, the examine in agent will ask on your TIEZA official receipt. If in case you have it already, simply hand it over. Should you 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 cross. Don’t fear, you gained’t have to queue up over 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 every part is so as, the check-in agent gives you a boarding cross.
5. Clear Immigration inspection.
Upon entry to the Immigration Space, the workers will examine your passport and boarding cross. Then, fall in line once more.
Should you’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, strategy the Immigration counter and hand over your passport and boarding cross. In case your vacation spot requires a visa, the officer may even ask to see it.
The officer may even ask you to step again a bit and face the digital camera as they take a photograph of you. Whereas all that is occurring, they’ll ask you questions on your background and your journey.
A number of the standard 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? You could be requested for proof of your reply comparable to firm ID or Certificates of Employment for workers or enterprise registration paperwork for self-employed vacationers. Should you’re a authorities worker, you will 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 can financially assist the journey. Because of this some vacationers carry a financial institution certificates. Certainly one of my teammates was requested to open her banking app on the spot.
– If another person is paying on your journey in any method, you could be required to submit an Affidavit of Help and Assure (AOSG) and proof of relationship with the sponsor.
⚠️ REMINDER: Strategy the Immigration counter separately. 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 similar time. However by default, you need to strategy the counter individually.
Should you’re anxious 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. Should you 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 images and recording movies are strictly prohibited. This coverage isn’t unique to the Philippines. All international locations I’ve been to have this rule.
6. Undergo Safety Verify.
Instantly after clearing Immigration checks, proceed to the safety examine space. There’s a superb likelihood you’ll be lining up right here once more. Whereas ready on 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 could be confiscated.
Put your belongings on a tray and let it cross 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 gadgets once they make it to the opposite aspect.
7. Discover your gate and look forward to boarding.
Past the safety space, you’ll discover outlets and eating places. Should you nonetheless have time, you’ll be able to stroll round or have a meal/drink. However my advice is to seek out the gate assigned to your flight first.
At this level, it’s finest to take one other have a look at your boarding cross. On this piece of paper, you’ll discover vital particulars about your flight, together with:

- Gate quantity. That is the gate that will likely be used to board your flight.
- Boarding time. Try to be on the gate by this time, often 20-Half-hour earlier than your scheduled departure time.
- Zone quantity. Airways often let passengers board the aircraft by batch or by zone. Wait on your zone to be known as. Generally, that is finished by row, as an alternative of by zone.
- Seat quantity. Your assigned seat contained in the plane.
Take note of the flight data screens and bulletins. Generally, the gate project and boarding time change as a result of the flight is delayed or different causes. In rarer instances, the flight can depart 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 known as for boarding, fall in line. The workers will examine your passport once more and scan your boarding cross.
Contained in the plane, search for your assigned seat. Your boarding cross signifies your alphanumeric seat quantity. The quantity tells you your row and the letter your seat place: aisle, center, or window. Verify 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 may place your smaller bag underneath the seat in entrance of you.
That’s it! Fasten your seatbelt and revel in your flight.
The place to Keep Close to NAIA (Manila Airport)
Should you’re on the lookout for a lodge or house near the airport, listed below are some prime suggestions on varied on-line reserving web sites.

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