India will grant free e-visas to Filipino tourists as part of efforts to strengthen the partnership and cooperation between the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the initiative on Tuesday after his bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who is on a five-day state visit to India.
The initiative aims to enhance tourism and promote people-to-people exchanges, coinciding with the resumption of direct flights between India and the Philippines starting in October 2025. This move follows Manila’s implementation of a visa-free entry policy for Indian nationals, which began in June this year.
Marcos welcomed the announcement and expressed gratitude to Modi for the initiative, inviting more Indian tourists to visit the Philippines. “I thank Prime Minister Modi in turn for the introduction of a scheme to grant visa free of charge to Filipino tourists traveling to India,” Marcos stated.
The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing maritime security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting shared interests and past collaborations, including India’s 2024 rescue of Filipino seafarers attacked by Houthi rebels. “We recognize India’s influence as a first responder in this critical area,” Marcos noted, emphasizing that both countries “have high stakes in the future of our Indo-Pacific region and in the world.”