PHILIPPINE TRAVEL TAX: How to Pay + How to Apply for Exemption & Refund

There are several ways to settle the travel tax.

Option A: Upon booking your flight

Some legacy airlines automatically include the Philippine travel tax in each booking. Most low-cost carriers don’t, but give you an option to do so.

When booking with Cebu Pacific and AirAsia, the system will ask you if you want to include the travel tax in your payment. It comes with a PHP 50 processing fee.

Option B: At the Airport Travel Tax Counter

This is the most common and my preferred way of paying.

TIEZA has travel tax counters at all terminals of all international airports in the Philippines. At Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, you’ll find a counter at every aisle. Just approach one and present the following:

• passport
• flight booking confirmation

Once paid, you will be handed two copies of the official TIEZA receipt. You can keep the original copy to yourself, but the duplicate copy must be submitted to the check-in agent in order to receive your boarding pass.

If you’re not sure if it’s already included in your flight ticket, check the payment breakdown in your booking confirmation. It should show you the various taxes and fees that you paid for, but look specifically for PH TAX that costs P1620 (P2700 for first class) or equivalent amount in foreign currency.

If you find it, no need to pay at the airport. Otherwise, don’t pay just yet because you might be double charged. Instead, skip the travel tax counter and line up to the check-in counter directly. As you check in, the agent will tell you whether or not the travel tax has been settled. If not, they will instruct you to pay first and return to them with the receipt before they could give you a boarding pass.

Don’t worry, you won’t have to queue up again. Just walk straight to the agent when you come back.

Option C: Via the TIEZA Website

You can also pay online in advance. Just visit the TIEZA Payment Page, fill out the form, and select the most convenient payment method for you.

You can pay through any of the following:

• E-wallet: GCash, GrabPay, Maya, ShopeePay
• Credit card: Visa, MasterCard
• Bank Transfer: BDO, BPI, UnionBank, Metrobank, RCBC, Maybank, Instapay
• Over the Counter: 7-Eleven, Cebuana Lhuiller, Western Union, Bayad Center, EC Pay, The SM Store, Robinsons Malls, etc.

⚠️ Note: The TIEZA website charges a processing fee of PHP 50. In addition, paying via GrabPay and credit card entails additional charge of 1.4% of total amount.