Before You Fly to the Philippines: Documents and Checklist for Students
Your course is booked and your flight is coming up. Before you fly to the Philippines, a handful of documents and small preparations make the trip smooth: at check-in, at immigration, and on your first day on Boracay. This checklist covers everything students ask us about, in the order you will need it.
Rules change, so treat this as a guide and confirm the current requirements for your passport with the Philippine embassy or consulate in your country, and with your airline.
The checklist at a glance
- Passport valid for your whole stay
- eTravel registration done within 72 hours before arrival
- Visa rules checked for your nationality
- Proof of onward or return travel
- Travel insurance
- Your quote or booking confirmation and the school address
- Passport ready for your Special Study Permit
- Money and cards
- An unlocked phone for a local SIM
- A plug adapter
- Medicines in their original packaging
- Copies and photos of your documents
1. Passport
Your passport must be valid for your whole stay, and many airlines and immigration officers expect at least six months' validity beyond your arrival date. If your passport runs out within the year, check the rule for your route before you book flights. Keep your passport somewhere safe during your stay and carry a copy or a photo of the main page when you go out.
2. eTravel registration
Every traveller to the Philippines registers online before arrival. It is free, takes a few minutes and is done within 72 hours before you land, on the official site etravel.gov.ph only. You receive a QR code to show at boarding and on arrival. Our guide to registering for eTravel walks you through it and warns about fake paid sites.
3. Visa rules for your passport
Many nationalities receive a free 29-day tourist visa on arrival, which can be extended on Boracay if you stay longer. Some nationalities need a visa before they travel. Check the rules for your passport before booking, and read our Special Study Permit and visa guide for the extension steps and costs.
4. Proof of onward or return travel
Airlines and immigration officers commonly ask visitors arriving on a tourist visa for proof that they will leave the country, usually a return or onward ticket. Have it ready on your phone or on paper. If you plan to extend your stay, you can still show your original return date and extend your visa on the island later.
5. Travel insurance
Insurance is not included in our prices, and we strongly recommend it for any stay abroad. Choose a policy that covers medical care, and check whether it covers the activities you plan, such as diving or water sports. There are several medical clinics on Boracay, and our office can advise you which to visit.
6. Your booking papers and the school address
Save your personal quote or booking confirmation on your phone and print a copy. Keep the school's address with it: immigration forms and taxi drivers ask where you are staying. You will find our address, office hours and phone numbers on the contact page. If you booked airport pickup, keep the confirmation handy for Caticlan airport.
7. Your Special Study Permit
Every student in the Philippines needs a Special Study Permit, which costs about $200. Our office prepares the documents and helps you through the process on Boracay; you will need your passport, and our team will tell you if anything else is required for your case. There is no need to arrange it before you fly.
8. Money and cards
The currency is the Philippine peso. Exchange rates are better at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport than on the island, so changing some money there is a good idea. ATMs all around Boracay accept foreign cards, though most charge a fee, and the main banks are BPI, BDO, Metrobank and PNB. Some places accept credit cards; smaller shops, tricycles and markets run on cash. Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked. Our post on what a month costs helps you plan your budget.
9. Phone and SIM
If your phone is unlocked and compatible, buy a local prepaid SIM for calls, texts and data. The two main networks are Smart and Globe. The whole campus has free Wi-Fi for students, so a SIM is mainly for getting around the island.
10. Plug adapter
The Philippines uses 220 volts, and most sockets take the flat two-pin plugs common in North America (types A and B). If your devices use a different plug, bring an adapter, and check that your chargers accept 220 volts; most phone and laptop chargers do.
11. Medicines
If you take prescription medicine, bring enough for your stay in its original packaging, with the prescription or a letter from your doctor. Tap water on Boracay is not safe to drink; bottled water is sold everywhere, and the school has water dispensers on campus and at the dorm.
12. Copies and photos
Photograph your passport, visa pages, insurance policy, booking confirmation and tickets, and keep the photos in your phone and in cloud storage. A paper copy of your passport's main page is useful too.
What else to pack
Clothes are easy: beachwear and towels are sold on the island, and a sweatshirt helps on cooler nights. Our packing checklist for Boracay covers the rest. For the journey itself, read how to get to Boracay, and if you haven't booked yet, how to book your course explains every step.
FAQ
Do I need to print anything?
Phone copies are usually enough, but a printed copy of your passport's main page, your booking confirmation and your return ticket is a sensible backup if your phone dies or is lost.
Can I get the Special Study Permit before I arrive?
No, and you don't need to. Our office prepares it with you on Boracay. Just bring your passport.
What if my passport expires in a few months?
Check the validity rule with your airline and the Philippine embassy before you book. Renewing early avoids problems at check-in.
Should I buy pesos before I travel?
You can, but the rates at Manila airport are better than on the island, and ATMs on Boracay accept foreign cards. Carry some cash for your first day.
Questions about your documents? Message us and we'll reply within one working day.
