TRAVELING TO PROGRAM

We're excited to have you joining us on our program in the 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.

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.

Our Volunteer Coordination Managers will be processing your application and providing all the information you need to prepare for the program. These managers work remotely and can be contacted via the program email account: philippinesrecovery@allhandsandhearts.org

Prior (10-14 days) to your arrival, the Program Team will reach out 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 before the program. It is also the primary source of communication while on the program.