How to Apply for a Philippines Visa in Seattle

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

Seattle is the largest city in the state of Washington and is also the largest city in America’s Pacific Northwest region.  Known as the “Emerald City”, Seattle is situated in a magnificent natural environment along the Puget Sound, surrounded by evergreen forests, mountains, and water.  The Seattle metropolitan area (the fifteenth-largest metropolis in the United States) has a population of 4 million people and includes the cities of Tacoma, Bellevue, Kent, Everett, Renton, Kirkland, and Redmond.  The area is home to several famous companies such as Nordstrom, Costco, Amazon, Microsoft, Expedia, Redfin, Zillow, and Starbucks.  This base of companies makes Seattle an attractive destination for jobseekers from around the world, including workers from the Philippines.  Immigrants from the Philippines have a long history in Seattle that goes back over 100 years starting when the first Filipinos came to the city to study at the University of Washington.  Nowadays there are over 100,000 Filipinos and Americans with ethnic heritage from the Philippines living in the Seattle metropolitan area.  Seattle is home to several Filipino cultural and community organizations that host annual festivals and events like the Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, Pista sa Nayon, and the Diwa Filipino Film Festival. 

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 also a territory of the U.S. from 1898 – 1946 and maintained two large military bases here for over a century (Naval Station Subic Bay and Clark Air Base).  An estimated 90% of Filipinos speak English due to these historical ties with the U.S.  There are also 180 indigenous languages and dialects spoken in the Philippines, with Tagalog and Cebuano being the most common.  Most visitors from Seattle will fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the capital of Philippines and commercial center of the country.  Others may take connecting flights into Cebu City, or cities such as Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan, or Davao City on the island of Mindanao to visit nearby resorts on Samal Island.  The seaport of Dumaguete often ranks among the world’s top retirement cities, with beach resorts, scuba diving, snorkeling, and dolphin and whale watching.  Subic Bay, known for its abundance of beaches, tropical gardens, and camp sites, is another great location for Americans contemplating retirement.  Mountain hiking is a major attraction in Baguio and Tagaytay, and both great places to escape the heat. 

Obtaining a Philippines Visa from Seattle 

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

The Philippines Consulate General
447 Sutter Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, California 94108

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 - Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco (pcgsanfrancisco.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 Seattle   

If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the Seattle with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Philippines consulate in San Francisco by calling 415-269-2090 (the number for non-emergency inquiries is 415-433-6666).  Filipino citizens requiring a new passport should appear in person at their office in San Francisco (by appointment only).  More information can be found on the consulate website: Passport - Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco (pcgsanfrancisco.org)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Seattle or anywhere in the state of Washington 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 Seattle:

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