Is It Safe to Travel to Philippines in 2026?
Philippines - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands, with a total area of about 300,000 square kilometers.
Is It Safe to Travel to Philippines in 2026?
Philippines is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and unrest associated with ongoing insurgent activities in certain rural and remote regions. Violent crimes, including robberies, kidnappings, physical assaults, and homicides, are common in the Philippines.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
- civil_unrest
- kidnapping
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: ongoing insurgent activities, violent crimes are common, terrorist groups actively recruit Americans.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crime, particularly in urban areas and during nighttime, where robberies and assaults are common.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and crime, but major cities have adequate infrastructure and services for corporate activities.
Families with children should be cautious due to the risk of violent crime and limited healthcare access in rural areas, particularly in regions like Mindanao.
Remote workers can find reliable internet in urban centers, but should avoid rural areas where connectivity is poor and security risks are higher.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Philippines.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Sulu Archipelago
- Marawi City
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel2 regions
▶Marawi City
Do Not Travel due to the risk of terrorism and unrest.
▶Sulu Archipelago
Do Not Travel due to the risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping.
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel5 regions
▶Leyte
Increased risk due to ongoing insurgent activities.
▶Mindanao
Reconsider Travel due to crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping.
▶Mindoro
Increased risk due to ongoing insurgent activities.
▶Negros
Increased risk due to ongoing insurgent activities.
▶Samar
Increased risk due to ongoing insurgent activities.
Philippines has 7 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Philippines
Protect your trip to Philippines — medical care, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation, wherever you're headed.
Mobile data in Philippines
Skip roaming fees — get an eSIM and land in Philippines with data already working.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Philippines has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 5.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 58/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP)
Language
Filipino / English
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Philippines
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Philippines?
▶Is it safe to travel to Philippines right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Philippines?
▶What vaccines do I need for Philippines?
▶Is Philippines safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Philippines?
More Philippines Data
Partly Free — 58/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.