Travel Tax & Terminal Fees Explained

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What Are the Travel Tax and Terminal Fees?

When you fly out of the Philippines, the government and the airport authority collect two separate departure fees. Many first-time visitors are caught off guard at the airport check-in counter when they are told they cannot proceed to immigration until these fees are paid. Here is exactly what you owe, and who is exempt.

💡 The Short Answer: Almost all foreign tourists must pay the Philippine Travel Tax (₱1,620) before checking in for an international flight. The Airport Terminal Fee (approx. ₱700-₱900) is usually already included in the price of your airline ticket, but you must verify this.

The Two Departure Fees

💰 1. The Philippine Travel Tax

₱1,620 PHP (approx. $28 USD)

  • Who collects it: TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority).
  • Where to pay: At the TIEZA counter inside the airport terminal, before you go to your airline check-in desk. They accept cash and credit cards.
  • Can I pay online? Yes, via the official TIEZA website up to 24 hours before your flight, which saves you 20 minutes of queuing at the airport.

🏢 2. The Airport Terminal Fee

₱700 - ₱900 PHP

  • Who collects it: The airport authority (e.g., NAIA, Mactan-Cebu, Clark).
  • Where to pay: For most major international airlines (Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Emirates), this fee is already included in your ticket price. Check your e-ticket receipt for "PH Tax/Terminal Fee Included."
  • When to pay cash: If you are flying out of a smaller provincial international airport, or on a budget charter, you may still have to pay this in cash at a dedicated counter before security.

✅ Who is EXEMPT from the Travel Tax?

  • Balikbayans: Former Filipinos (and their foreign families) who enter on the 1-year Balikbayan privilege stamp and stay less than 1 year.
  • Short-term tourists: Foreign tourists who stayed in the Philippines for less than 1 year (Note: You still need an ECC if you stayed over 6 months, but you do not pay the travel tax unless you hit the 1-year mark).
  • OFWs: Overseas Filipino Workers with valid OEC documentation.
  • Diplomats: Foreign diplomats with official 9(E) visas.

🗣️ The Reality: What Departing Travelers Wish They Knew

  • The 1-Year Trap. If you extended your tourist visa continuously and stayed for 364 days, you pay zero travel tax. If you stayed for 1 year and 1 day, you suddenly owe ₱1,620 at the airport counter. Watch your calendar.
  • Have pesos ready. While TIEZA counters at NAIA accept credit cards, the card machines frequently lose internet connection. Always keep ₱2,000 in cash reserved for your departure day.
  • Keep your TIEZA receipt. After paying the travel tax, they will hand you a physical receipt and stamp your boarding pass. Do not lose this; the immigration officer right after the TIEZA counter will ask to see it.

🗺️ Ready for the Airport? Read These Next:

Did I Stay Over 6 Months? Check If I Need an ECC → General Tips for Navigating Philippine Bureaucracy →

Did your airline include the terminal fee?

Which airline did you fly, and did you have to pay the terminal fee separately at the airport? Share your ticket details to help others budget accurately.

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