How to Apply for a Philippines Visa in Atlanta

UPDATED November 26, 2022 (Please see information below under "Other things to consider")

Atlanta has a population of over 6 million people, making it the 9th most populous metropolitan area in the United States.  Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, which is the 8th most populous of the 50 states.  The city and surrounding area—known as the Atlanta metropolitan area—is also the commercial capital of the Southeast United States and has the third-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the country.  The metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Roswell, Alpharetta, Marietta, Duluth, Norcross, Tucker, Lithonia, Decatur, Mableton, Clarkston, Conyers, and others.  Atlanta is a diverse and international city with an estimated population of 15,000 Filipino citizens and about 45,000 Filipino Americans.  Filipinos have been in Atlanta for decades working in the healthcare industry but nowadays also work in various other fields throughout corporate America doing office administration, accounting, engineering, and computer science.  Atlanta is home to the Filipino American Association of Greater Atlanta and the Atlanta Filipino Student Association.  Atlanta even has a Filipino grocery store (Manila Mart in Doraville) with imported products from the Philippines and a Filipino restaurant (Estrellita in Grant Park) and a few pop-up restaurants.

The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia made up of over 7,100 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, located about 1,500 miles west of Guam (a U.S. territory).  The Philippines was a territory of the U.S. from 1898 – 1946, so English is spoken fluently by most educated Filipinos, and understood by the majority of its people.  There are about 180 indigenous languages and dialects spoken throughout Philippines, with Filipino (Tagalog), Cebuano (Visayan), Ilocano, and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) being the most widely spoken among the country’s 110 million residents.  Most visitors from Atlanta will fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the capital of Philippines and commercial center of the country.  Metro Manila is a mega city of nearly 13 million residents.  Although many parts of the city suffer from extreme poverty and crime, this is also a city with modern buildings, upscale shopping malls, and plenty of swanky bars and restaurants.  Outside of the city, Philippines offers unlimited opportunities for visitors to relax and find their own slice of paradise.  The island of Palawan has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world, and Boracay is one of Asia’s top tourist resort destinations.  When it’s time to cool off, visitors can enjoy the fresh air and rolling hills of Baguio.         

Obtaining a Philippines Visa from Atlanta 

Visas for the Philippines are issued by the government of the Philippines in the United States.  The government of the Philippines is represented by their embassy located in Washington, D.C. along with seven consulates located throughout the United States.  To apply for a visa from Atlanta, you will fill out the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to the embassy in Washington, D.C.  You can also send your application by US Mail or courier service using FedEx or UPS.  Here is their address:

Embassy of the Philippines
1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

When mailing in your documents to the embassy, you should include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS prepaid envelope so the consulate can return your passport and visa to your home or office.   

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Philippines embassy website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the embassy website with detailed information: https://philippineembassy-dc.org/visa/

Other things to consider: 

  • U.S. citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 30 days if they are traveling for tourism, pleasure, short-term business meetings, or visiting family.
  • U.S. citizens should have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of their date of arrival into the Philippines, AND an onward/return ticket that shows they are leaving Philippines within 30 days (if traveling to the Philippines without a visa) AND proof of accommodations for at least 2 nights.
  • Pre-departure COVID testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers.  For unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers, a laboratory-based rapid antigen negative test result within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin is required for entry to the Philippines.
  • The Philippine government requires all arriving passengers to complete a BOQ electronic Arrival Card (eArrival Card) .  You can register up to three days in advance of your departure for the Philippines through the website.  Remember to save a copy of the transaction number and QR code, which will be required by Philippine immigration authorities.
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.
  • Please visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines for the latest information: COVID-19 Information | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (usembassy.gov)

Emergency Assistance for Filipinos in Atlanta   

If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the Atlanta area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Philippines embassy in Washington, D.C. by calling 202-467-9300 or 202-368-2767.  Filipino citizens requiring a new passport must schedule an appointment with the embassy and appear in person at their office in Washington, D.C.  More information can be found on the embassy website: https://philippineembassy-dc.org/passport/.

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Atlanta or anywhere in the state of Georgia and have difficulty applying for a visa for the Philippines or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Philippines visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Philippine government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Philippines visa services for our customers:

  • Philippines Tourist Visa
  • Philippines Business Visa
  • Philippines Retirement Visa (SRRV)
  • Philippines Hotel Accommodations
  • Philippines Organized Tours