Philippine Travel Tax: What Travel Buffs Need To Know Before Traveling

Many Filipinos have the privilege of traveling to different countries. As the matter of fact, according to Visa Inc., the Philippines was included in the list of Asia-Pacific countries with the most international travelers in 2015. The study found that the reason of this surge of Filipinos traveling abroad is because of the rise in middle-class’ affordability to travel [1].

Added to their financial capabilities to travel, there are various promos and seat sales that opens a wider chance for Filipinos to travel. Several countries like Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Iran, Cambodia, and Vietnam were declared visa-free for Filipino tourists, expanding their options for their destinations [2].

But before we travel, there are several obligations we need to fulfill. Besides preparing the needed itinerary and travel insurance, Filipinos must also brace themselves for the travel tax.

The Philippine Travel Tax, or Presidential Decree 1138, is a tariff established in 1977 by the government which obligates every Filipino citizen who will embark on international travels to pay the appropriate travel tax needed. This is regardless of any factors such as the form of payment, and where the airline ticket is issued. However, the travel tax only applies to international trips, not domestic flights [3].

Read: Plan Ahead! Affordable Tips on How to Spend Your Summer Vacation

The law requires every Filipino citizens to pay for the required tax. Foreigners who have resided in the country permanently are also required. If a foreigner stayed in the Philippines for more than a year, they are also required to pay.

Not all Filipinos are required to pay for the taxes. The following individuals who are exempted:

In addition, a house bill was proposed to include senior citizens and persons with disabilities to the list of those who are exempted. The bill is yet to be approved. As of now, senior citizens and PWDs are still obliged to pay the tax [5].

For foreigners, those who are exempted from the rules are:

Read: Travel by Air for Less Than You’d Expect

The rates for the travel tax depends on the flight class. Some travelers might also be qualified to have reduced rates. For first class passengers, the standard rates are at PhP2,700. While for those who are on the economy class, they would only have to pay PhP1,620 for the standard rates. OFW dependents have privileged rates that costs PhP400 for first class, and PhP300 for economy. Standard reduced travel tax is at PhP1,350 for business class while those who are in economy class will have to pay PhP810 [7].

There are various methods of payment for the travel tax. Those who have purchased airline tickets outside of the Philippines can pay directly through any Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) travel tax counter at any airport.

On other hand, those who bought tickets in the Philippines can pay through any travel agency, travel tax counters, and ticketing offices. The travel tax might be also included already in online bookings, depending in some airlines. It’s best to check your purchase to see if the travel tax is included in the breakdown of fees. Those who want to avoid the long queues can now pay online through the newly-launched Travel Tax Payment on the website of TIEZA that accepts credit or debit cards [8].

* Promo dates/Prices may change without prior notice.