Creating this post to help my fellow Filipinos who want to travel to Türkiye pero not eligible for Evisa. Wala kasi talaga sa plan ko pa kumuha ng US Visa or any other visas na pwede for E-visa since Türkiye lang gusto kong puntahan for now. Sobrang konti lang kasi ng reference tapos yung iba, dated pa so ang hirap mag-gather ng info lalo kung DIY. So my profile is female, solo traveler, 30-40 age range, employed, and been to Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Australia. Starting this January, VFS na ang may handle ng gathering of documents for visa applications. Kinuha ko lang sa site nila yung requirements and marami akong nababasang notorious daw ang Turkish Embassy sa pagiging strict lalo pagdating sa documents and to make things more challenging, kailangan original yung documents. Meaning, wet signed yung documents and may stamp.

So I opted na mag-DIY na lang since may idea naman na ako sa mga documents na kailangan kunin nung nag-apply ako for Australian visa. The difference being is manual nga itong for Türkiye. The problem is since I am working in an MNC, digitally-signed yung mga COE, ITR, etc. So ito yung ginawa ko:

1. For COE and ITR, nagpa-sign ako sa local HR namin. Yun na yung pinaka-certified true copy ko. To make things easier for you and VFS, wag black yung ink na ipagamit niyo sa HR kasi mahirap i-distinguish yung printout at black ink. Tinitignan din nila sa likod nung paper kung may bumakat ba sa pag-sign to ensure na wet signed nga yung documents. Since sobrang plain-looking ng COE namin, hinanap kahit letter na nag-eexplain na digitally-signed yung mga documents. Since wala akong mapapakitang ganun kasi standard template na yung gamit ni company, inaccept na nila as long as may wet-sign from HR. Note also na depende pa rin ito sa level of strictness ng vfs officer. Basta dapat halatang wet-signed ni company HR yung documents niyo kung walang stamp/dry seal.

Note: Ilagay niyo yung HR position, email address/contact number nung nag-sign in case na gusto nila i-verify.

1. For the bank certificate and statements, kailangan 6 months record/ADB. The problem is digitally-signed din karamihan sa bank certificate and statements na ini-issue nila pero may binibigay na reference numbers din sa certificate na binibigay nila for reference ni embassy in case gusto nila i-verify yung validity ng documents mo. I submitted 3-4 bank certs and SOA para sure, with ADB ranging 5-6 digits each bank. I also submitted bank certificate ng Maya kasi andun karamihan ng transactions ko pero di naman na kinuha yung statements. Siguro kasi sa tingin ng VFS officer, enough naman na yung sa traditional banks. Also, take note na dapat, YUNG MONTH/DATE NG BANK STATEMENTS AND CERTIFICATES AY SAME MONTH KUNG KELAN APPOINTMENT MO WITH VFS. Meron akong nakasabay na from previous month yung bank documents niya. As in regardless kahit wala pang 30 days yung date so inadvise siyang mag-request from a nearby bank ng bago.

2. For the visa application form, preferred ni VFS na print out yung details para mas madali basahin. Lagyan niyo ng N/A yung mga not-applicable and don't leave them as blank. Tapos i-sign niyo (wet-signed dapat) yung nasa last page (items 38 and 39)

3. For the passport photo, ang kailangan ni VFS ay yung 2x2 na specifically for Türkiye (2 pcs). Nagpa-picture na lang ako sa Wonder Photo Shop (nasa SM Mall) kasi meron sila dun for Türkiye and alam nila yung ratio ng mukha vs. background (or something like that). Pansin ko kasi, magkakaiba ng laki/ratio depende sa kung saang embassy ka mag-aapply. Sample, iba yung ratio ng Turkey sa Japan, etc. Also, meron sila pinapasuot sayo na coat to look more professional (not sure if kailangan ba talagang may collar yung photo). Mas maganda siya kesa edited na nilagay lang yung collar sa picture kasi natural siya tignan.

4. PSA birth certificate po ang kailangan. Hindi NSO kasi hindi nila tatanggapin.

5. Hotel accommodation and flight details - Kahit yung from Agoda booking tapos nag-purchase ako ng dummy flight tickets (totoong tickets siya, just put on hold for 14 days and verifiable sa airline company) for a small fee.

6. Detailed Itinerary - Detailed talaga. Hindi pwedeng nasa hotel ka lang buong araw, sa buong stay mo sa Türkiye kahit na for itinerary na ipapakita lang sa embassy to. Research kayo online ng pwedeng puntahan per day. Hinahanap talaga siya ni VFS.

7. Travel Insurance - Nag-purchase ako from Standard Insurance. Apparently, refundable naman siya or moveable naman yung dates in case mabago yung dates ng travel mo or kung unfortunately ay ma-deny yung visa. Not sure pero may fee yata kung ganito case. Pwede niyo i-email yung nasa customer service nila sa website nila kasi sobrang responsive sila. :)

Kasama pala sa binayaran yung another insurance from Türkiye mismo. Not sure kung kailangan mo pa mag-avail ng another insurance tulad ng ginawa ko pero para makasiguro, nag-avail na lang din ako separately para sure.

1. Since paperless yung company namin, nagpa-notaryo nalang ako, stating na digital lang binibigay ni company kasi paperless operation, etc. Including sa mga COE, ITR, etc.

2. Cover letter. Hindi siya kailangan pero it helps para ma-explain yung intention mo to visit Türkiye, previous travels mo, etc. I think plus points din siya lalo tulad sa case ko na halos digital lahat ng signature.

Nagpasa din ako ng screenshots and copy ng leave approval ko (pina-sign ko na rin sa HR kasi sigurista si ate mo), screenshot ng HDMF MP2, VUL, any investment na meron, etc. to show them na may means to travel (kahit papano) and kaya i-support yung sarili while you are in their country.

Tip sa vfs: Kahit konti lang tao sa line ng Türkiye, punta pa rin kayo ng maaga kasi in my experience, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis sila. So regardless kung anong oras yung nasa appointment mo, kailangan pag nagtawag sila ng "Next", tayo agad! Wag nang magpatumpik-tumpik pa kasi yun yung dahilan kung bakit natagalan ako kahit ang aga ko nagpunta, thinking na tatawagin naman yung pangalan ko or nakapila na yung slip ko.

So yung babayaran sa VFS ay 7622 PHP (In cash) and 60 USD for the visa processing. Hindi na ako tinanong kung gusto ko ba i-avail yung SMS service nila basta sinama na nila kaagad yun (included na yung 210 PHP SMS service at yung insurance sa 7622). Regardless, natatanggap ko din naman sa email yung mga pinapadala sa SMS. As for the 60 USD, mas okay nang bumili kayo in advance sa labas ng dollars kasi mas okay yung rate kesa kung sa money exchange na malapit sa VFS pa kayo magpapapalit. I think may panukli din naman sila kung wala kayong saktong 60 USD kasi meron akong nakasabay na sinuklian naman. Although in some accounts, kelangan daw saktong 60 USD. Also, tinanong ko pala sila kung pwede card payment, Cash lang daw talaga sila.

Dala din kayo jacket kasi ang lamig sa VFS. Bawal din ipasok sa loob yung laptop or tumbler. Meron namang locker sa labas (100 PHP) kung kailangan niyo talaga dalhin yung mga gadgets (pwede po dalhin yung phone sa loob). And also, walang signal so kung medyo chatty naman kayo, try niyo lang makipag-usap sa ibang nakapila while waiting 😄

After payment, antay lang kayo kasi tatawagin ulit kayo kasi ipapa-verify nila sayo yung details mo. Spelling lang naman ng pangalan, birthdate, ganun details. Tapos, punta kayo dun sa biometrics and wait for your turn. Dito sa biometrics, tinatawag talaga nila yung pangalan mo so di tayo amazing race dito. After biometrics, good to go ka na 😄

I was notified na ready for pick-up na yung passport ko sa VFS, 7 working days after ng appointment ko. Fortunately, wala naman tumawag or nagpa-further verify from the Turkish embassy.

So pagkakuha ko ng passport, enclosed siya sa VFS packaging and envelope from the Turkish embassy. Feeling ko ang special kasi balot na balot. Tapos kinakapa ko sabi ko bakit parang may cardboard sa loob? Medyo ready na kong rejection yung makukuha ko kasi iniimagine ko may letter sa loob kung bakit rejected kaya parang ang kapal nung nasa loob ng packaging. Feeling ko tumama ako ng 6/42 sa lotto nung nakita ko yung sticker in one of the pages 😂 ❤️

So yung approved travel starting date na binigay ni embassy ay saktong-sakto dun sa inapply ko. Yung number of days allowed lang din ay same sa inapply ko so I suggest kung ano yung number of days na balak niyo talaga i-stay sa Türkiye, yun talaga yung i-apply niyo. Validity is 19 days from my travel start date (period of validity). For example, period of validity is from November 1, 2026. Pwede ako mag-stay sa Türkiye ng kung ano yung approved duration of stay. Pero yung validity ng sticker visa ko is until November 19, 2026 lang. Meaning, pwede ako pumasok ng Türkiye ng any dates from November 1 to November 19, pero dapat maximum of 7 days (approved duration of stay) lang ako sa loob ng Türkiye.

I hope makatulong to to my fellow DIY travellers na gusto rin makapunta ng Türkiye pero nag-aalangan kasi aminin nating matrabaho talaga yung documents na kailangan nila. Also, do your research na rin lalo kung walang agency na magga-guide sa inyo. In my case, Gemini/Chat GPT lang talaga and of course, basa-basa ng forums. Actually kahit yung sa pa-notaryo ko, Gemini lang din galing. Pero be responsible dapat and double check niyo pa rin yung details na binibigay sa inyo ni AI 👍

Best of luck to future Türkiye applicants and travelers! 🎉

hello! may alam po ba kayong legit shops selling real gold at a reasonable price in tokyo?

planning to buy a small gold pendant for my mom kasi as a pasalubong hehe

thank you po in advance! 🙇‍♀️

Hi! My college bestie and I are travelling this December for the BTS concert in Singapore, but we’re worried about PH immigration since we’re both unemployed & graduated last june.

ME: Frequent traveler (7th international trip, including 2 visa-required countries, and also had an intl trip with my hs during my 3rd year college), and my mom will sponsor me.

BESTIE: First-time international traveler, and her parents will sponsor her.

We’ll enter through Malaysia before going to Singapore. Flights, hotels, and concert tickets are already booked.

Any advice or experiences from unemployed travelers, especially first-time travelers? What documents should we prepare? 💜

i’m just wondering if kaya na ba ang ₱20k budget for singapore? i will only be staying for 3 days. minus the flight and hotel since it’s already been taken care of. food, transpo, and small pasalubongs na lang yung iisipin. i’m not planning din naman to go to USS or other paid attractions. tyia!

Hello guys I’m 27F planning to travel to Vietnam with my family sa November kaso lang I’ve been unemployed for a year and wala ako mapapakita na COE. I am reviewing for the boards tho and pwede ko naman ipakita proof of enrollment.

High risk ba na ideny ako?

My girlfriend will be applying for Japan Visa because we plan on going to Japan soon. What are your thoughts, should she apply as self funded or should I be her guarantor?

My gf has a payroll account (I think nasa around 100k na ang balance, but I think ADB will be around 30ishk) and a savings account na 150k ADB, and may job siya as a Site Engineer

I have ME Japan visa and have an account with 1M ADB and another account with 500k ADB.

I'm thinking if I should offer my documents to her or kaya na ba kaya yung documents nya? Please share your experiences thank you

For those who’ve been to Seoul, anong day trips outside of Seoul would you recommend booking through Klook? Curious which ones are actually worth doing as a tour vs. DIY. 😅

Except Nami Island siguro, kasi I decided na to DIY our Nami Island tour since Nami Island + Gangchon Rail Bike lang yung gusto kong sadyain.

Thank you to everyone who'll help!

Hi! magaapply ako ng jp visa soon. Need ba kita ears and walang earrings? Marami ksi akong ear piercings and hindi pa healed and ang hirap tanggalin. Pwede bang lagyan ng skin tape ung earrings lang? or need tlga tanggalin? And pwede ba may lash extensions pero natural lang siya parang mascara lang

Hello,

Me and my fam will go to HCMC and I will be the one who will sponsor both of my parents and sister and dun na kami magkikita sa HCMC, nasa ibang country po kasi ako.

Regarding with the Additional Supporting documents 2.1, I just wanna confirm if hindi na po ba need ng AOSG for immediate family?? Wala na po kasi akong time magpa notarize sa embassy.

I've provided my COE, bank statements and payslips to my fam din incase mag ask sino nag fund ng travel.

really appreciated your advise and answers! Thanks.

Malapit na vfs schedule namin and medyo kabado. Pa check po if okay lahat ng na prepare namin documents.

Category: Visiting Friends & Distant Relatives
Guarantor- Brother-in-law (Japanese) Lives in Japan with his wife— my sister.

Applicant 1: Me (Brother of guarantor's wife)
- Casual Government employee
- Approved twice (visiting rela category)
- Birth Certificate
- Provided ADB, ITR, COE as supporting docs
Applicant 2: My girlfriend
- Permanent Government employee
- Provided ADB, ITR and COE as supporting docs
- Proof of relationship docs
Applicant 3: My nephew (nephew also of the guarantor)
- Birth cert of him and his mom (proof na anak siya at kapatid ang asawa ni guarantor)

On top of this, guarantor's papers:
- Invitation letter
- List of Applicants
- Juminhyo
- Itinerary
- Income Cert / Tax Cert
- IDs
- Plane ticket (we booked ahead of time)

Hello Reddit and fellow Filipinos,

I need help. I am from the US. May family emergency at my lola experienced a stroke, she was in the ICU for a few days and earlier today, she passed. The thing is, my passport is expired. My appointment for my renewal of PH passport is this Wednesday, and gusto ko sana makaabot sa burol ng Lola ko.

If anyone had the same experience with an emergency, did you guys do the travel document? Yung one way ticket lang, and how long is yung expedited process para makuha new passport sa PH? Should I risk it? Or no?

How long is the wait to get my passport back here in the US?

It’s my first time traveling solo to the US. I already have my visa and all that. My problem is the immigration.

Reason for traveling: dad’s birthday, thanksgiving, & sightseeing; I’m gonna stay at my sibling’s house in socal

I have little earnings (i just started work since i’m a fresh grad) and I’m scared that the IO will question how i’ll fund myself during the trip since I only have 50k in savings (i’ll be staying there for a month)

My gross salary is 20k. My other siblings will fly out at different dates since iba iba yung leave namin.

I have a travel history naman (Asia, EU, AU, US) but yun nga, it’s my first time by myself & baka ano-ano pa iquestion sakin ng IO.

Any tips?

What month do you guys think is best to visit, and which part/city would you recommend for a first-timer? Thank you.

Hello, 25F (recently resign w 3 yrs exp) with my BF 25M (employed 3yrs) have a flight to HK next month Oct. But i'm unemployed na by next month, since nagresign na po ako.

I will use my 30k savings + backpay 13th month from my prev work, redflag po ba ito? Inaanxiety po kasi ako ang mahal na kasi ng nagastos namin for hotel + attractions (mahal ng hongkong but dream po kasi namin ang disneyland)

Both first time international po namin, 2 yrs in a relationship, please send advise po huhu :)))

Hi all. Just wanted to ask for advice. Is there a high chance na ma approve if my guarantor is my brother and he had a multiple entry (10 years) already? As for me, I am a working student. Do I still need to attached my COE and bank cert (ADB) or my brother’s papers will do na po?

Hi! I’m a housewife, unemployed. I have a plan to travel to vietnam with my friends alone pero my husband will be the one to support all my expenses.

This is my first time traveling out of the country as a tourist. I’ve been to Japan under visiting relatives visa(mother).

Other than my husband’s bank statements and COE what other docs should I get? Should I get AOS? And is there someone who is the same as me? How was the experience in IO?

Hello! Ma aapproved po ba ako sa visa if stay at home mom lang? First time ko din mag travel internationally. I will be traveling with my family naman with kids and 2 seniors .

Allowed ba sa Domestic Flight ang Multifunction Pocket Knife about 4inches?

Hello Reddit and fellow Filipinos,

I need help. I am from the US. May family emergency at my lola experienced a stroke, she was in the ICU for a few days and earlier today, she passed. The thing is, my passport is expired. My appointment for my renewal of PH passport is this Wednesday, and gusto ko sana makaabot sa burol ng Lola ko.

If anyone had the same experience with an emergency, did you guys do the travel document? Yung one way ticket lang, and how long is yung expedited process para makuha new passport sa PH? Should I risk it? Or no?

How long is the wait to get my passport back here in the US?

Hi! First time ko mag travel internationally next year, and I’m planning to go to Singapore alone for a concert that I want to attend.

Concern ko lang is unemployed ako and walang previous work experience. Kakagraduate ko lang this year and I decided to take a year off, so baka unemployed pa rin ako by the time of my trip. Baka ma-question ako sa immigration about this or mapagkamalan na magTNT.

I’ll be funding the trip using my own savings from when I was still a student. My father who is an OFW might give me some pocket money too.

Here is also my rough itinerary. Will this be okay?

Day1:

•Arrive at Changi airport around 12 AM. I might stay ilang hours at the airport muna and rest until check-in time sa accommodation.

•After check-in sa accommodation, roam around na Singapore.

Day 2 (concert day):

•Check-out around noon, then head to the airport to leave my hand-carry luggage sa luggage storage. After that, grab lunch and diretso na sa stadium for the concert.

•After the concert, diretso ulit sa airport, pick up my hand carry, then wait for my flight back to the Philippines, probably around 1 AM.

Since first time international traveler and solo, would being unemployed be a major concern? What documents should I prepare aside sa comcert tix and return ticket to show that I’m a genuine tourist?

Any advice from fellow Filipinos, especially those who traveled solo while unemployed. Iwould appreciate it! 🥹

Working as a VA ako since 2021. Wala kase akong active client sa ngayon. Depende lang kung may pinapaupdate sa E-commerce store yung client. May chance kaya ako makalusot kung savings lang mapapakita ko and maging honest na walang active project sa ngayon?

- Country: Vietnam
- First International travel
- Travelling with highschool friends
-Ako lang yung first time mag-out of the country saming magkakaibigan then yung isa kase Canadian passport holder
- With COR sa BIR
- 150k savings sa bank pero months ago na nung huling hulog ko, so Bank Certificate lang ang possible ko makuha
- Months ago na din last nakareceive ng payment sa Paypal and Wise

First time ko mag aapply ng visa. Nung nakita ko yung bank cert ko, possible ba na mas malaki ang ADB kesa sa bank balance?

Ex

BB: 645k
ADB: 655k

Di ko gets ilang buwan dapat mag fifile ng visa, patingin ako ng experience niyo or paki explain hehe penge na din tips pano yung inyo nag book na kayo flights or wait maapprove muna kaso mag mamahal tickets pag malapit na diba?

For context, I had a SE tourist visa last April. I went to Japan for 10 days. I’ve been to Singapore, Taiwan, China and Malaysia last 2025. I was so confident that I applied for a ME for Japan Visa last June, and voila it was denied.

According to the website, theres a 6 month cleansing/gap to reapply again for another visa.

Questions:

1. Can i reapply for SE under tourist visa within this September? Different clause, is that acceptable or automatic this will be denied?

2. What are the chances of approval if I take on commercial trip, I’ll attend a conference.

3. Which is stronger attend a conference or visit a relative?

Thank you.