THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the suspension of its e-visa application in China was to allow further improvement in its “future operations.”
The system is undergoing a period of re-assessment after more than three months of beta testing, the DFA added.
“This is to inform the public that the Philippine e-Visa system, which has undergone a period of beta testing in Philippine Foreign Service Posts in China, is currently undergoing a period of re-assessment with the aim of improving future operations, including for its payment processing systems,” it said on Friday, Dec. 1.
It added, “Applicants in China are advised to contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General in lodging their visa applications and for further inquiries.”
The DFA announced on Nov. 30 the suspension “until further notice” of its e-visa operations in its embassy and consulates across China.
“Visa applicants in China are advised to contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate by visiting the Directory at https://dfa.gov.ph/about/dfa-directory/our-foreign-service-posts-dfa in lodging their applications and for further inquiries,” it said.
The agency started the e-visa beta testing with Chinese tourists in Shanghai, China in August this year.
On Nov. 13, the agency said it expanded the test to all its seven foreign service posts in China as it prepares to include India before the end of the year.
Based on the latest available data, DFA’s foreign service posts have issued a total of 1,739 Philippine e-visas from Aug. 24 to Nov. 6. (PNA)/PN
