How to Apply for a Philippines Visa in Boston

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

Greater Boston is the eleventh-most populous metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 4.9 million people, and includes towns such as Cambridge, Brookline, Quincy, Brockton, Lynn, Newton, Waltham, and Medford.  Boston is one of America’s oldest cities and has a rich history that attracts over 20 million tourists each year.  Known as the “intellectual capital of the United States”, Boston is a center of education that has more than 350,000 college students from around the world, including students from the Philippines.  Schools like Boston University, Harvard, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology all have Filipino student organizations.  There are a few thousand Filipinos living in Greater Boston and about 12,000 throughout the state of Massachusetts.  Although Boston does not necessarily have a strong connection to the Philippines compared to other major U.S. cities, this city (and the city of Springfield) have made one of the biggest contributions in relations between our two countries—the game of basketball.  Basketball was invented in Springfield by James Naismith, and Boston is home of the Celtics, one of the game’s greatest NBA franchises of all time.  Basketball is a national obsession in the Philippines and fans there are just as passionate as those in Boston.

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 Boston will fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the capital of Philippines and commercial center of the country.  Others may fly into Cebu City, which has direct flights from Dubai and most major East Asian cities.  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 gleaming office towers and condominiums, upscale shopping malls, and plenty of swanky bars and restaurants.  Outside of the city, there is no shortage of picture-perfect landscapes.  Tourists from Boston stuck in cold, snowy weather will absolutely love the tropical white-sand beaches of Boracay and El Nido on the island of Palawan.

Obtaining a Philippines Visa from Boston 

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 Boston, you will fill out the visa application and ship your original passport and supporting documents to the consulate in New York City by US Mail or courier service using FedEx or UPS.  Here is their address:

Attn: Visa Section
Philippine Consulate General
556 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10036

When mailing in your documents to the consulate, 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 consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the consulate website with detailed information: Visa - Philippine Consulate General (newyorkpcg.org)

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 Boston   

If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the Boston area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Philippine Consulate General in New York by calling 212-764-6010 or 917-294-0196.  Filipino citizens requiring a new passport must schedule an appointment with the consulate and appear in person at their office in New York City.  More information can be found on the consulate website: Passport - Philippine Consulate General (newyorkpcg.org)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Boston or anywhere in the New England region 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