How to Apply for a Philippines Visa in San Diego

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

San Diego is America’s 17th-most populous city and is the third-most populous urban area in California.  This metropolis of 3.3 million residents shares a 15-mile border with Mexico, where just to the other side sits Tijuana—Mexico’s sixth-most populous city.  San Diego is well known for its mild Mediterranean climate that attracts over 35 million visitors each year.  This is a city that has nearly year-round perfect weather, plenty of scenic vistas, and miles of spectacular beaches.  The San Diego metropolitan area includes cities such as Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, San Marcos, Santee, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, Vista, and Encinitas.  San Diego is home to the largest Pacific Islander population in the country, including over 200,000 people with ethnic heritage from the Philippines.  Filipinos first set foot in San Diego in the 18th century as sailors working for the Spanish expeditions.  In the early 20th century, the first Filipinos joined the U.S Navy where they would make many contributions.  They also played a major role in establishing San Diego’s Filipino American community.  Today many Filipinos live in the Mira Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, which is only a few miles from the old Miramar Naval Air Station.  There are also Filipino communities in National City and Oceanside.

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 San Diego will fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila (where there are direct flights on Philippines Airlines from LAX), 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 240,000 military veterans in San Diego.

Obtaining a Philippines Visa from San Diego 

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 San Diego, you will fill out the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to their consulate located in Los Angeles.  You can also send your application by US Mail or courier service using FedEx or UPS.  Here is their address:

The Philippines Consulate General
3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550
Los Angeles, California 90010

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 Los Angeles California (philippineconsulatela.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 San Diego   

If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the San Diego area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Philippines consulate in Los Angeles by calling 213-268-9990 (the number for non-emergency inquiries is 213-639-0980).  Filipino citizens requiring a new passport should appear in person at their office in Los Angeles (by appointment only).  More information can be found on the consulate website: Passport – Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles California (philippineconsulatela.org)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California 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 San Diego:

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