How to Apply for a Philippines Visa in Honolulu

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

Honolulu is the largest city in the state of Hawaii and is the most-populous city in the Oceania region (excluding cities in Australia and New Zealand).  Honolulu has a population of 390,000 people making this city the 56th most-populous metropolitan area in the United States, while the Urban Honolulu Metropolitan Statistical Area (this includes the entire population of the island of Oahu, the island where Honolulu is located) has a population of 975,000.  The state of Hawaii is the only island state in America, and includes 8 main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii (known as the “Big Island”).  There are over 340,000 ethnic Filipinos living in Hawaii, making up nearly a quarter of the state’s population.  Honolulu has dozens of Filipino restaurants, including famous restaurants found in Philippines like Max’s, Red Ribbon, and Jollibee.  The town of Waipahu, located in Metro Honolulu, is home to the Filipino Community Center, the largest Filipino community center in the United States.  Honolulu is also home to the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.  The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers a bachelor’s degree in Philippine Language and Culture, and Leeward and Kapi’olani Community College offer language courses in Filipino (Tagalog). 

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 Tagalog, Cebuano (Visayan), Ilocano, and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) being the most widely spoken among the country’s 110 million residents.  Most visitors from Honolulu will fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila (where there are direct flights on Philippines Airlines), the capital of Philippines and commercial center of the country.  Others may take connecting flights 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.  Manila is also home to a Veterans Affairs hospital, making the Philippines an attractive retirement destination for the 150,000 active duty and military veterans in the Honolulu area.

Obtaining a Philippines Visa from Honolulu 

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 Honolulu, you will fill out the visa application and gather your original passport and supporting documents, and then email them to the consulate in Honolulu for review.  Their email address is honolulu.pcg@dfa.gov.ph.  The consulate will evaluate your documents and then give you further instructions.

Here is the physical address of the consulate in Honolulu:

The Philippines Consulate General
2433 Pali Hwy
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Philippine consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the consulate website with detailed information: Visa (dfa.gov.ph)

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 Honolulu   

If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the Honolulu area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Philippines consulate in Honolulu by calling 808-253-9446.  Filipino citizens requiring a new passport should appear in person at the consulate's office in Honolulu.  More information can be found on the consulate website: Passport (dfa.gov.ph)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Honolulu or anywhere in the state of Hawaii 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 in Honolulu:

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