How to Apply for a Philippines Visa in Philadelphia

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

Philadelphia is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania and is one of the oldest cities in the United States.  Founded in 1682 by Englishman William Penn, a social reformer and champion of liberty, he named the city Philadelphia using the Greek term meaning “brotherly love”.  Philadelphia has the nickname “City of Brotherly Love” and is nowadays more casually known by locals and non-locals alike as “Philly”.  The Philadelphia metropolitan area has over 6 million people and includes cities and towns in the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, in addition to Pennsylvania.  The area is well known as a center of higher education and has more than 80 postsecondary institutions including Temple University, Drexel, Villanova, and University of Pennsylvania, whose Penn Language Center offer courses in the Filipino (Tagalog) language.  Historically, Philadelphia was also an important city for the nation’s military and had the country’s first naval shipyard.  Filipinos were allowed to join the U.S. Navy starting in 1901 and have found a home in Philadelphia ever since.  There are now over 35,000 Filipinos living in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the city is home to the Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, one of the oldest Filipino organizations in the United States.

The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia made up of over 7,100 islands in the western Pacific Ocean.  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), therefore many Filipinos have strong knowledge of American culture and speak fluent English.  There are about 180 indigenous languages and dialects spoken throughout Philippines, with Filipino, Cebuano (Visayan), Ilocano, and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) being the most widely spoken among the country’s 110 million residents.  Manila is the capital of Philippines and commercial center of the country.  Although many parts of the city suffer from extreme poverty and crime, this is also a city with a rich tapestry of old and new that includes colonial-era landmarks built by the Spanish, along with gleaming office towers and upscale shopping malls.  Many tourists from the Philadelphia area come to Philippines to enjoy the country’s natural beauty and tropical beaches, but this is also a fast-growing economy and popular destination for American entrepreneurs and internet-based businesses that require low-cost English-speaking employees to manage various customer service and marketing tasks.

Obtaining a Philippines Visa from Philadelphia 

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 Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia   

If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania 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