Possessing the appropriate documentation is crucial for air travel. However, what about domestic travel within Philippine airspace? Is a passport required to board a domestic flight? In this guide, let’s examine the requirements for domestic flights in the Philippines and other critical things you should know about it.
Do You Need a Passport for Domestic Flights in the Philippines?
For Filipino citizens: all you’ll need is your boarding pass and a valid ID if you want to fly within the Philippines.
For Foreigners who are in the Philippines: A passport is necessary when you fly within the Philippines as a foreigner.
Travel Requirements Domestic Flights Philippines 2024
As for domestic flights in the Philippines, there are several requirements and notices you have to know:
- Travel documents
Get the necessary travel paperwork ready, including IDs, visas, and permits. It should be noted that you are in charge of securing, keeping, and presenting the required travel documentation at the time of booking, check-in, transfer, and arrival.
- Flight status
You can check your flight status by using a dedicated Philippine airline assistant app or calling the hotline for assistance.
- Carry-on baggage
A passenger can take a single piece of carry-on luggage measuring no more than 56 cm by 36 cm by 23 cm (22 in by 14 in by 9 in) and weighing no more than 7 kg (15 lbs).
A passenger is permitted to bring one (1) personal item on board in addition to the complimentary allowance for carry-on luggage.
- Check-in baggage
PAL allows you to check in with free luggage. Pack your bags carefully, keeping in mind the free baggage limit for your booking class, and be sure to report all of your belongings when you check in. Please go to the boarding gate 45 minutes before departure time for domestic travel without checking in bags. You must have a valid ID and a printed copy of your boarding pass.
- Security check-in
For domestic travel, arrive at least two hours in advance of the scheduled departure to allow for immigration and security processing. Before closing, arrive at the boarding gates and check-in counter:
Domestic Flight: 45 minutes before scheduled departure
Boarding Gate: 15 minutes before scheduled departure, except for flights out of Caticlan (MPH) Airport, which closes 30 minutes before scheduled departure.
- Travel Tax
Please make payment at the airport if you did not include the Travel Tax amount when you bought your ticket.
- Travel Tax in Full: PHP 1,620.00
- Standard Reduced Travel Tax: PHP810.00
- For dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), there is a preferred reduced travel tax of PHP300.00.
- Check-in Time
As for different airports in the Philippines, the check-in time is distinct. Check the list here to know the exact check-in time:
| Philippines AirAsia | Online: Check-in begins 14 days in advance of the planned flight departure time and ends 1 day in advance. Airport: Airport check-in opens two hours before to the scheduled departure time of all domestic flights and closes 45 minutes prior. |
| Philippine Airlines | Online: You can check in online starting 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure time of your flight. Airport: Travelers must arrive at the Philippine Airlines check-in counter at least 45 minutes prior to the departure time. |
| Cebu Pacific | Online: online check-in opens 72 hours in advance and closes two hours before departure. At the airport: Use the self-service kiosk to check in for your Cebu Pacific flight four to sixty minutes before the planned departure time. |
| Cebgo | Online: Since Cebgo is a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific Airlines, travelers can use the Cebu Pacific website to check in online for their Cebgo flights. For domestic flights, this service will close one hour before departure. Airport: Travelers leaving from Manila Airport must check in at the Cebgo check-in desk located in the terminal from whence their flight is departing. You can view your ticket or boarding pass to find out the exact location of your flight as well as the opening and closing hours for Cebgo check-in. At the airport: Check-in at least two hours before the departure of your flight. It will be closed 45 minutes before the scheduled departure of the flight. |
| Air Swift | At the airport: Check-in at least two hours before the departure of your flight. It will be closed 45 minutes before the scheduled departure of the flight. Now, Air Swift does not support online flight check-in. |
| Sky Pasada | Airport: Before the flight departs, travelers on Sky Pasada must check in at a specific time. Nevertheless, the selected route and the departure airport will determine the check-in time, just like with baggage. While reserving your ticket, you will receive information regarding the check-in time. Now, Sky Pasada does not support online flight check-in. |
List of Valid IDs for Domestic Flight
Passengers must show a valid ID at the boarding gate and during check-in as part of security procedures. IDs that are broken, expired, or invalid will not be accepted. A passenger may be asked to show more than one identity card as necessary. Here is a list of valid IDs for domestic flights in the Philippines.
| For Filipino citizens | For foreigners | |
| Valid ID | Passport (Philippine & Foreign Issued) * at least 6 months valid from your date of travel Driver license Phil. Regulations Commission ID Philippine National ID SSS ID GSIS e-card Voter’s ID Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID Seaman’s book Government office ID Alien Certification of Registration (I-Card) Company ID (Regulated by BSP, SEC, or IC) Government-owned or controlled corporation ID Unified Multi-purpose ID School ID (Signed by Principal) Senior Citizen Card Postal ID TIN card NBI Clearance Police Clearance Philhealth ID OWWA ID OFW ID National Council of Disability Affairs ID DSWD Certification Barangay Certification NSO Birth Certificate (for children below twelve (12) years old for Philippine domestic travel, accompanied by their parents/parent or an authorized guardian.) | Passport (Valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel) |
Can I Use a Passport for Domestic Flights in the Philippines?
Passengers need to provide one valid ID for domestic flights in the Philippines. It can be a passport or other valid ID mentioned before. It is highly recommended that you prepare one extra valid ID because sometimes a passenger may be asked to showcase another ID as a supplement.
Can I Board a Domestic Flight with an Expired ID?
No. You need to renew your expired ID or take a valid ID for a domestic flight. Or you will be rejected to fly at the boarding gate and during check-in.
How to Renew a Valid ID
If your valid ID, like a passport is expired, you can renew it at the embassy or your local consulate online. Follow these steps to renew your passport in the Philippines:
Step 1. Prepare the required documents.
The following documents are required to renew your passport:
- A barcode-enabled printed passport application packet
- An original passport
- one original data page photocopy
- one valid ID photocopy
- One photocopy and the original Proof of Filipino Citizenship
Step 2. Book an appointment at the Philippines Consulate General website.
Step 3. Go to the local consulate to apply for the renewal of your passport in person.
How to Make a 2×2 Inch Photos for Valid ID Renewal
As mentioned before, ID photos are necessary when you renew your expired valid ID. Your ID photo needs to be taken within the last 6 months. To make a compliant 2×2 inch ID photo, you can use this helpful online AI passport photo maker, AiPassportPhotos. It is professional in making and editing ID photos in the Philippines. Powered by AI, it can recognize your uploaded photo intelligently and adjust the size, background, etc., of your photo. Most of the Philippines ID photos are 2×2 inch, while there are some exceptions to this, like 1×1 inch pictures. But don’t worry. AiPassportPhotos can crop your ID photo to various sizes, including 2×2 and 1×1.
Here’s how to make 2×2 inch photos for valid ID renewal online:
Step 1. Open AiPassportPhotos 2×2 inch photo maker online. Then upload your photo.
Step 2. Wait for the auto photo resizing process. Check the result and press Download to save the resized ID photo.
FAQ
📌Can foreigners use ID cards for domestic flights in the Philippines?
No. Foreigners must use a valid passport for domestic flights in the Philippines.
📌How much cash can you take on a domestic flight in the Philippines?
According to BSP regulations, you are only allowed to carry cash on domestic flights in the Philippines up to PHP 50,000.
📌What not to bring to the Philippine airport?
Poisons and infectious materials such as arsenic, pesticides, weed killers, and products containing live viruses are not allowed. Other potentially harmful items include asbestos, magnetic materials, and things that are offensive or irritating (tear gas, pepper spray, stun guns, tasers, etc.).
📌How to travel on a domestic flight first time in the Philippines?
Take the following things when you first fly domestically in the Philippines.
- Valid ID: Foreign passengers need to have a passport, while domestic passengers should have an ID card (such as an Aadhaar, driver’s license, PAN, or voter ID, etc).
- Tickets: You may need to provide a hard copy or soft copy of your flight ticket, depending on the airport policies.
- Boarding card: You need your boarding card to board the aircraft smoothly.
The Bottom Line
Now you may clear whether you need a passport for domestic flights in the Philippines. Domestic travelers can provide other formats of valid ID, while foreign passengers must provide valid passports. If it is the first time you travel domestically in the Philippines, refer to the helpful information mentioned in this guide to make your travel easier.