TRAVELING TO PROGRAM

We're excited to have you joining us on our program in Northern Tacloban, Philippines!

Volunteers are responsible for getting to and from the program on their own. Please be sure to factor in costs when planning your journey. You will find more information about how to travel to the program by reading the information on this page. 

For security reasons, we do not disclose the exact location of our base on this website. However, once you’ve applied and have been accepted, you’ll receive a detailed step-by-step guide on everything you need to know to plan your journey. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! 

While planning your journey please make sure you familiarise yourself with visa and entry requirements. As visa regulations vary depending on nationality, and are subject to frequent change, All Hands and Hearts can not offer guidance. We strongly recommend speaking with your local embassy or looking at your government's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information. 

Please, take the time to familiarize yourself with any medical or vaccination requirements, such as for COVID-19 and other restrictions in your destination country and other countries you may travel to before or after your time on the program as these could be different to the All Hands and Hearts requirement.

Please read our full COVID advice document to learn more about our safety measures, and guidance for staying safe while traveling to the program. You can read more about our safety measures on the Health, Safety and Security page.

Visit the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines to find out what are the entry requirements for your country. 

A tourist ‘Entry Visa’’ is available on arrival at international airports, for citizens from many countries; however, there are a number of countries that require a visa before arrival. See The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs website for a list of countries and their respective visa entry requirements. Please check with the Philippine Embassy in your home country, see here and here, for the best advice. 

The cost of the 30-day tourist visa-on-arrival is free depending on the country you are from. There is an ATM available in the arrival terminal in Manila but we recommend you to come prepared with cash. You should expect the process to take a couple of hours, but it is relatively straightforward. The Entry Visa is granted for a maximum stay of 30 days, after which you can extend the visa from within the country, and a new application must be made upon re-entry.  

At the airport immigration, you may have to show the following: An entry slip given on the plane, a passport and a ticket showing your departure date back to the country you came from or a ticket to another country.

When departing from your location, you may be asked to show the following in order to fly to the Philippines:

Proof of being fully vaccinated: If you are not fully vaccinated , you must show proof of a negative rapid test in order to enter the Philippines taken 24 hours  before your departure date. (Make sure you save your original location departing ticket, some places may ask to see it in order to verify your antigen test before  departure)

Proof of an exit flight ticket out of the country within 30 days from the date of arrival:

• • You must provide proof of an exit ticket, even if you aren't sure when you will leave the Philippines or if you wish to travel after the program. You can always cancel a flight 24 hours after purchasing to get a full refund. Check the conditions of your airline or the website you are purchasing the ticket from.

  • If you plan to stay in the Philippines longer than a month (for program or travel) you must go to the Visa Office in Tacloban to extend a week before your visa expires. You can go later but the price for extending your stay will be higher.

You must register for an eTravel registration to be shown upon flight check-in/boarding and arrival to the Philippines: Following registration, travelers should save a copy of the QR code, which will be required by Philippine immigration authorities.. Make sure not to forget to take a screenshot. Here is the link to register on the eTravel platform: https://etravel.gov.ph/

We recommend you to check these requirements regularly since they are being updated frequently. Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have all the correct documentation for traveling. 

Please note that you are responsible for funding your own travel to and from the program. We provide basic communal accommodation and three meals on workdays, but not on days off. Please make sure to budget accordingly for extras such as meals on your days off, snacks and required breaks if you’ll be staying over 30 days. 

Once your application has been accepted, you will receive everything you need to prepare for the program. If you need to talk with a member of our volunteer coordination team, you can reach them at philippinesrecovery@allhandsandhearts.org. 

Our Volunteer Relations Coordinator, Honey, will give you a call 2 weeks before you arrive to answer any last-minute questions and provide any last-minute support. Please be sure to download the Whatsapp app on your phone as this is not only the primary means of communication prior to the program. It is also the primary source of communication while on the program. 

We will provide the exact location once you've been officially invited to join!