Travel Tax in the Philippines: Everything a Traveler Needs to Know

Headed out of the country? Before you check-in, you’re bound to head over to the travel tax counter to pay your dues. If you’re wondering why though, or if you even have to, then here’s everything you need to know about the Travel Tax in the Philippines.

What is the Travel Tax?

The Philippine Travel Tax is an additional fee you need to pay every time you go abroad.

You can read up on it in even greater detail under the Presidential Decree 1183 (amended), but all you need to know about it is that you are required to pay this fee no matter where you’re headed, or where you bought your ticket.

How much do I have to pay?

Depending on your ticket, your Travel Tax fee will vary. See the table below for a more detailed chart:

Where do I pay the Philippine Travel Tax?

You can pay your travel tax in advance, well before your trip, in several malls like SM. Make sure to look for the Travel Tax Service counter.

Check out the following SM Branches, and one Robinsons branch, that accept travel tax payments:

SM City North EDSA
Government Service Express
The Annex Lower Ground Floor, Beside SM Bowling Center
Tel. No.: (632)533-5026
Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm
SM City Manila
5/F Government Service Center, SM City Manila
Tel. No.: (632) 463-9934
Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm
SM City Cebu
Government Service Center
North Reclamation Area, Cebu City
Monday to Saturday, 10am – 7pm
SM City San Fernando, Pampanga
3/F Government Service Center,
SM City Pampanga, San Fernando, Pampanga
Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm
Robinsons Galleria Travel Tax Counter
Edsa Cor. Ortigas Ave., Ugong Norte, Quezon City
Tel. No.:(632)475-6347
Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm

You can also pay your travel tax on the day of your flight in the NAIA terminal counters. All of them operate 24/7. You need to show your ticket and passport.

• NAIA Terminal 1 Travel Tax Counter
  Departure Lobby, NAIA, Pasay City
  Tel. No.: (632) 879-6038
• NAIA Terminal 2 Travel Tax Counter
  Departure Lobby, Centennial Terminal 2, Pasay City
  Tel. No.: (632) 879-5160
• NAIA Terminal 3 Travel Tax Counter
  Departure Lobby, NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City
  Tel. No.: (632) 877-7888 loc. 8166

Meanwhile, there are also provincial offices and other government offices where you can pay Travel Tax:

Laoag Travel Tax Unit
Departure Lobby, Laoag International Airport
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Telefax: (077) 772-1162
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday, 8am – 9pm
Baguio Travel Tax Unit
Department of Tourism Building
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City
Tel. No.: (074) 442-6226
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
San Fernando, La Union Travel Tax Unit
Mabanag Hall, San Fernando, La Union
Telefax: (072) 607-1963
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
Clark/DMIA Travel Tax Unit
Departure Lobby, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport
Clarkfield, Pampanga
Monday to Sunday, 4am – 1am
Kalibo Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area, Kalibo International Airport
Kalibo, Aklan
Monday to Sunday, 8am – 12midnight
New Bacolod-Silay Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area, New Bacolod-Silay Airport
Brgy. Bagtic, Silay City
Monday to Sunday, 5am – 7pm
Iloilo Travel Tax Unit
DOT Region VI Bldg., Capitol Grounds, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City
Tel. No.: (033) 366-0480
Telefax: (033) 335-0245
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
Iloilo International Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area IIA, Cabatuan, Iloilo
M-T-TH-F-Sunday, 8am – 11pm
W and Saturday 8am – 5pm
MCIA Travel Tax Unit
International Departure Area, Mactan Cebu International Airport
Lapu-lapu City, Cebu
Tel. No.: (032) 236-3481
24/7 Operation
Cebu Travel Tax Unit
Cebu Travel Tax Field Office
Andres Soriano Avenue, cor. P.J. Burgos Street, Mandaue City
Telefax: (032) 253-3532
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
Cagayan de Oro Travel Tax Unit
2nd Floor Lingkod Pinoy Center
Robinsons Cagayan De Oro
Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm
Davao Travel Tax Unit
Door 12, Tourism Complex, Ramon Magsaysay Park, Davao City
Telefax: (082) 221-7123
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
Davao International Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area, Davao International Airport
Sasa, Davao City
Monday to Sunday, 3am – 6pm

How to pay Travel Tax online?

For convenience, you can also pay online. All you need to do is to go to the Online Travel Tax Payment Portal, at the TIEZA website: https://tieza.gov.ph/online-travel-tax-payment-system/

1. Click the link located in the landing page (https://traveltax.tieza.gov.ph/) and Create an Account if it’s your first time using the online portal.
2. Prepare the following information: Your flight details, the type of ticket you have, and your Credit Card information (which is the only accepted mode of payment at the moment).
3. Take the electronic receipt afterwards and bring it with you when you fly. Present it with your travel documents.

Where does that money go?

As per Section 73 of the Republic Act No. 9593, the money earned from the Travel Tax is divided accordingly:

• 50% TIEZA (or the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority)
• 40% Commission on Higher Education’s tourism-related educational programs and courses
• 10% goes to the National Commission for Culture and Arts

Who is required to pay Travel Tax?

If you fall under the following demographic, you are required to pay the Travel Tax:

• Filipino-citizen;
• A foreigner who is permanently residing in the country, OR an immigrant to the Philippines;
• A foreigner who has stayed in the country for more than one year

Who is exempted from paying the Travel Tax?  

• A Filipino citizen who is permanently residing abroad;
• A Balikbayan visitor, or if you’re just in the country for less than one year;
• Overseas Filipino Contract workers

Is there more to travel tax exemptions?

Besides the three listed categories previously mentioned, there are other individuals who are exempted from paying the Travel Tax. Please note that in all these cases, you must bring your Original Passport to qualify for the exemption.

In summary, you are also exempted from the travel tax if you are:

• A foreign diplomat, or a member of the Consular Office/are part of the staff;
• An Official, Consultant, Expert, Employee, or any member of the United Nations (UN), and all its agencies;
• A part of the US Military, including dependents and other US nationals with fares
• A Philippine Foreign Service Personnel officially assigned abroad and their dependents;
• An Official and/or Employee of the Philippine Government traveling on official business (excluding Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations);
• A grantee of a foreign government funded trip;
• A bona-fide Student with approved scholarships by appropriate government agency;
• An infant; up to the second birthday on date of travel;
• A part of Personnel (and their dependents) of multinational companies with regional headquarters, but not engaged in business, in the Philippines;
• Those authorized by the President of the Republic of the Philippines for reasons of national interest;
• A family member of former Filipinos accompanying balikbayans under 1 year of stay in the country
• paid for by the US government or on US Government-owned or chartered transport facilities;
• A crew member of an airplane flying international routes;

I fall under the Travel Tax Exemption — what do I need to avail of it?

Depending on your case, you will more or less need:

1. Original documents required by your embassy or agency, which can be but not limited to: Proof of permanent residency, a copy of your original passport, Certification of Work, an Overseas Employment certificate, and/or a marriage certificate.
2. Travel to the nearest TIEZA Travel Tax Field Office in the Philippines, either in the airports or in the provincial field offices. Show your original documents, complete with photocopies.
3. Pay a PHP 200 processing fee per person. Wait for your Travel Tax Exemption Certificate to be released, and present this to the authorities at the airport upon demand. You can visit the TIEZA website for more information, if you have a very specific case.

How do I get a refund?

Accidentally paid for a Travel Tax? First, check if you qualify for a refund with the list below:

• Unused tickets
• Non-coverage, aka non-immigrant foreign passport holders who are not subject to the Philippine travel tax because they were in the country for less than a year
• Downgraded ticket (from first-class to economy-class)
• Double payment
• Undue Travel Tax
• Offloaded passengers or on cancelled flights
• Tax was paid twice for the same ticket
• Undue taxes

What do you need to present to get a refund?

Depending on your case, prepare the following:

• Original passport, plus photocopies
• The TIEZA Refund Application Form No. 353
• Airline ticket showing travel tax collection
• Any supporting documents that prove your claim, especially if you fell under the previous Travel Tax Exemptions
• The official receipt of your travel tax if you paid directly to TIEZA
• Proof that your ticket was not subject to tax
• Certification from an Airline Authorized Signatory

Now you know your travel tax basics. Make sure you keep them in mind when you plan and book your trips with Traveloka!