Philippines
Last update 24 October 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Republic of the Philippines
The Republic of Bulgaria does not have an embassy in Manila. The country is served by the embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Hanoi
Address: No 5 Nui Truc str., Van Phuc Hanoi; P.O.Box 10
Telephone: +84 24 3845 2905
Fax: +84 24 3846 0856
Working hours of the Consular Office: Mon – Fri, 9:00 – 12:00
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/vietnam
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Manila
Mr. Rene L. Ledesma)
Manila, Consular District: territory of the Republic of the Philippines Address: LG 58 Cityland Condo, 62-64 Cale Estacion BRGY Pio Del Pilar, 1200 Makati City, Manila, the Philippines.
Telephone: +63 2 817 5449; +63 2 8894-5127; +63 2 812 1169; +63 2 812 1173; +63 917 842 0624 (Ms Agnes Araud, Assistant to the Honorary Consul)
Fax: +63 2 812 8895
Е-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
The Embassy of the Philippines in Budapest is accredited to Bulgaria.
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Budapest, Hungary
Address: Gabor Aron Utca 58, 1026 Budapest, Hungary
Telephone: +36 1 391 4300
Fax: + 36 1 200 5528
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Honorary Consul of the Republic of the Philippines in the Republic of Bulgaria
Mr. Ognyan Trayanov
Office: 1421 Sofia, 46 Chervena Stena St.,
Telephone: +359 888 799 319 (Mon–Fri, 10:00 –16:00)
Fax: +359 2 986 92 15
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
General information
Security level:
Most journeys are accident-free, but the risk of street attacks, terrorism and kidnappings should be considered. Increased caution to personal safety should be paid in all parts of the country. The instructions of the local authorities regarding order and security should be observed. Travel to the Sulu archipelago and the western regions of the Mindanao island should be avoided. Increased caution is required when participating in street and road traffic, as well as monitoring the forecast and weather changes. The Philippines offers many opportunities for holidays, cultural, ecotourism and more. The information summarized below is intended to draw the attention of citizens to potential risks and certain specifics in the country to raise their awareness for a full and smooth stay in the Philippines.
Healthcare:
It is recommended that citizens have full insurance. Before departure, you should check whether the insurance also covers medical emergencies. It is important to read and check all the details of the health and travel insurance. Treatment not covered by insurance can be very expensive and is at the expense of the person affected.
There are sporadic cases of infectious diseases. More information on necessary vaccinations and other health issues can be found on the World Health Organization's website at: https://www.who.int/ and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/home
Information on the entry regime into the Philippines and the requirements for vaccination against Covid-19 can be found in the ‘Coronavirus — How to travel’ section: https://www.mfa.bg/bg/covid19map/Asia/Philippines
Recommended vaccines and personal hygiene advice:
Maintain a high level of personal hygiene. We advise travellers to wash their hands frequently, be careful when eating raw foods and drink only bottled water. There are no requirements for certain vaccines. For up-to-date information on recommended vaccines you may contact the Regional Health Inspectorates in the country. Yellow fever vaccine is administered at the following Regional Health Inspectorates: Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate; Varna RHI; Burgas RHI; Pleven RHI; Plovdiv RHI; Blagoevgrad RHI and Ruse RHI.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Possession or distribution of drugs, as well as sexual offences, can lead to extremely serious sentences. It is strongly advised not to accept packages or other goods from unknown persons. Luggage must be packed personally and not left unattended. Conditions in detention facilities and prisons are harsh.
Customs requirements:
Customs requirements for the Philippines can be found here: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/ph-philippines-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm
Practical advice:
Bulgarian citizens should take good care of their passports, which should always be with them, or in the hotel checkout. It is highly recommended that citizens always carry a photocopy of the passport page with their personal details, visas and stamps. Citizens should pay attention when choosing a tour operator and to safety conditions when choosing cruises, excursions and similar trips. Particular care should be taken when choosing ferries. They should strictly adhere to all requirements of the Philippine authorities, including compliance with any restrictions placed.
Local currency:
The official currency of the Philippines is the Philippine peso. Credit and debit cards can be used for payments in the cities. In banks, airports, hotels and some shops, euros and US dollars can be exchanged into pesos.
Climatic characteristics:
Travellers are advised to check the current weather forecast. It is necessary to monitor weather conditions at the places of visit. Typhoons and tropical storms occur between June and December, which can cause flooding and landslides and pose health risks. In severe cases, individual islands and settlements may remain isolated for days. The forecast for typhoons and strong tropical storms can be monitored at: www.tropicalstormrisk.com.
the Philippines are located in an earthquake zone. There are a number of active volcanoes. Information on earthquakes, volcanic activity and tsunami warnings can be monitored at: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php.
Travel papers and visas
Since 1 August 2013 Bulgarian citizens can stay in the Philippines without a visa for up to 30 days. In order to enjoy the right to a visa-free stay, Bulgarian citizens wishing to visit the Philippines should have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity before the planned date of departure from the Philippines and a return ticket to Bulgaria, or a ticket to another country they intend to visit.
Competitive service
The country is serviced by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Hanoi.
Bulgarian identity documents:
Applications for passports, Emergency Travel Documents, driving licences and identity cards shall be made in person by the interested citizens. Under Bulgarian legislation, no exceptions to personal appearance at the Embassy are allowed. Citizens should be informed about the possibilities and conditions for submitting an application through the Automated Information System for Electronic Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the following link: https://e-usluga_bds.mfa.bg/ ] . Please note that in order to receive the ready documents requested through the Automated Information System for Electronic Services, you must appear in person at the Bulgarian embassy you have indicated.
In cases of a damaged, lost, stolen or expired passport, Bulgarian citizens can apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) at an embassy of an EU Member State in Manila. The ETD is issued only for the purpose of a single trip to Bulgaria or the country of permanent residence.
Certifications and legalizations:
In order to serve before the Bulgarian authorities, documents issued by the authorities in the Philippines must be provided with an Apostille by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. No subsequent legalization at the Embassy in Hanoi is required. To be used before Bulgarian institutions, the documents must be translated into Bulgarian by a certified translator in the Republic of Bulgaria.
All fees for consular services are payable in euros by bank transfer.