MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced the temporary suspension of e-visa applications in China through its Philippine e-Visa System.
In an advisory dated November 30, the DFA stated that the suspension would be in effect “until further notice.”
Visa applicants in China are advised to reach out to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate for lodging their applications and further inquiries.
The DFA initiated the e-visa beta testing in Shanghai, China, targeting Chinese tourists in August. Later, on November 13, the agency expanded the test to all seven foreign service posts in China, with plans to include India before the year’s end.
According to the latest data from the DFA, its embassy and consulates in China issued a total of 1,739 Philippine e-Visas from August 24 to November 6. During this period, the agency noted that e-visa applicants navigated the system with general ease and received necessary support for minor technical difficulties.
The DFA mentioned ongoing refinements to the system with assistance from the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Despite the successful beta testing, the DFA has not provided specific reasons for the suspension when queried. Applicants are encouraged to stay updated on developments through official channels.
(ai/mnm)