How to Apply for a Philippines Visa in Charlotte

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

Charlotte is the 23rd-most populous city in the United States and is the most populous city in the state of North Carolina.  The Charlotte metropolitan area is a sixteen-county region that stretches into the state of South Carolina and includes the towns of Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Indian Trail, Mooresville, Monroe, Salisbury, Matthews, Statesville, Rock Hill (SC), and Fort Mill (SC).  Known as the Queen City, this metropolis of 2.6 million people has been one of the country’s fastest-growing cities the past two decades.  Charlotte’s youthful population, low cost of living, and geographic location in America’s Sun Belt, have made it an attractive destination for business investment.  Charlotte and the state of North Carolina have become an important financial center and is the headquarters of several large banks.  There is a strong link between Charlotte and Philippines when we consider that some of these large banks have operations in Philippines to handle their customer service and back office administration.  North Carolina is also home to several military bases, and the Philippines is a popular retirement destination for many American veterans.  Residents of Charlotte interested in trying Filipino food before their trip to Philippines can check out Joel’s Asian Grill in Mooresville.

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 and maintained two large military bases there for over a century (Naval Station Subic Bay and Clark Air Base).  There are about 180 indigenous languages and dialects spoken throughout the 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 Charlotte 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 provides easier access to the beaches and scuba diving on the island of Bohol.  Although there are areas of extreme poverty in Manila and Cebu, these cities also have gleaming office towers and condominiums, upscale shopping malls and grocery stores, and plenty of swanky bars and restaurants.  Outside of these cities, there is no shortage of picture-perfect landscapes throughout the Philippines.  Palawan has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world and Boracay is one of the premier vacation destinations in Asia.

Obtaining a Philippines Visa from Charlotte 

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 Charlotte, 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 Charlotte   

If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the Charlotte 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 Charlotte or anywhere in the state of North Carolina 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