Move to Philippines

Thousands of islands, warm people and English spoken almost everywhere

The Philippines is one of the easiest places in Asia for a long stay: most passports get 30 days visa-free, and the tourist stay can be extended step by step up to 36 months in total. A digital nomad visa was created in April 2025, but its rules and a way to apply have not been published yet. Retirees aged 40+ can get the SRRV retirement visa with a bank deposit.

Routes we checked
4
Digital nomad visa
Not in our data
Language
Filipino, English; English widely spoken
Currency
PHP
Last checked
30 October 2026

Work permitStudent visaRetirement visaInvestment and golden visa

Ways to live in the Philippines

These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.

Programme details are shown in English.

Work permit Work permits →

Pre-arranged Employment Visa (9G)

For foreigners who have a job lined up with a company in the Philippines.

What you need
A lawful job with a Philippine employer and the Bureau of Immigration documents, including a hearing.
How long
1, 2 or 3 years
Renewable
Yes
Cost
from PHP 10,130 for 1 year, plus USD 50–150 for the ACR I-Card
How to apply
Bureau of Immigration
Family
Family members can come with you

Official page

Student visa Student visas →

Student visa (9F)

For foreigners aged 18 or older enrolling in a course above high-school level at a Philippine university or college.

What you need
Age 18+, admission to a university, college or seminary, and the Bureau of Immigration checklist documents.
Renewable
Yes
Cost
PHP 9,720 plus USD 50 for the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR I-Card)
How to apply
Bureau of Immigration main office or authorised immigration offices

Official page

Retirement visa Retirement visas →

Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV Classic)

Multiple-entry resident visa from the Philippine Retirement Authority for people aged 40+ who place a deposit in a Philippine bank. You can live in the country indefinitely while the deposit and annual fee are kept up.

What you need
Age 40+ and a bank deposit: from $15,000 (age 50+ with a pension of at least $800 a month) to $50,000 (age 40–49 without a pension). Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included.
Income
from about $800 a month
Savings
about $15,000
How long
Indefinite, as long as the deposit is maintained and the annual fee paid
Renewable
Yes
Cost
$1,500 application fee plus $300 per dependent; $360 annual fee (applicant + 2 dependents)
How to apply
Through the Philippine Retirement Authority (register online at pra.gov.ph), usually while in the Philippines
Family
Family members can come with you
Path to permanent residence
It is itself a permanent-type resident visa, but it is not a route to citizenship.

Official page

Investment and golden visa Investment and golden visas →

Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG)

For foreigners who run a business in the Philippines and actually employ at least 10 Filipinos.

What you need
A lawful, sustainable business that employs at least 10 Filipino workers.
Renewable
Yes
Cost
PHP 29,330 per person plus USD 250 for the ACR I-Card
How to apply
Bureau of Immigration main office
Family
Family members can come with you

Official page

Cost of living

Monthly amounts in US dollars.

One-bedroom flat$170
Two-bedroom flat$350
Bills$60
Typical local salary$790

Cities to consider

Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.

What life is like

Programme details are shown in English.

Why people move

Island life is the draw: diving in Palawan and Cebu, surfing in Siargao, beaches within a short flight. Filipinos are famously hospitable, and expats mix between Manila's business districts, Cebu and quieter coastal towns.

Day to day

Getting around means domestic flights and ferries, plus jeepneys and ride-hailing in cities. Private hospitals in Manila and Cebu are solid. Mobile wallets are widespread, but internet speed varies by island. English is used in business and daily life.

Trade-offs

Typhoons and flooding hit every rainy season. Manila traffic is among the worst anywhere, and power cuts and patchy infrastructure are common outside the big cities.

Before you move: visa-free entry

Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:

Visa rules for every passport

Questions

Does Philippines have a digital nomad visa?

Not among the routes we have checked. Remote workers usually come as visitors within the visa-free limit or use one of the other routes on this page.

How can I move to Philippines?

The routes we have checked are: Work permit, Student visa, Retirement visa, Investment and golden visa.

Can I retire in Philippines?

Yes, through: Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV Classic).

When was this information checked?

The residence routes for the Philippines were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.

Sources and last check

Residence routes for the Philippines were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.

This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.

Other countries in Southeast Asia