Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Visas, Residency & Expat Life
Updated for 2025–2026 with current Bureau of Immigration and PRA fee schedules.
🏖️ Tourist / Visitor Visa (9a) Short-term
Up to 30 days initially, extendable to 36 months total at Bureau of Immigration offices.
Thirty days on arrival without a visa. A first extension — the 29-day "visa waiver" — takes you to 59 days: ₱2,160 on the regular lane (about three working days) or ₱4,160 express at the BI Main Office (BI Citizen's Charter 2026; other offices list slightly different totals). Past 59 days you keep extending at a Bureau office, subject to BI approval, and you must hold an ACR I-Card; later fees vary by length and stage of stay, so check the Bureau's current fee schedule (fees re-checked October 2026). The ceiling for visa-free nationals is 36 months of continuous stay from the latest arrival; nationals who need a visa get 24 (BI FAQ). Leaving after six months or more requires an Emigration Clearance Certificate first.
Do you need a visa at all? US citizens do not need one for the 30-day stay (Philippine visa policy). Visa requirements follow your nationality, not where you live, so someone who lives in the US but holds another citizenship may still need a visa. Since August 10, 2026, people who do can apply online for a temporary visitor (9(a)) e-Visa at evisa.gov.ph through the Philippine embassy or consulate that covers where they live; the consulates in San Francisco and Chicago say the e-Visa is issued digitally and that both it and the traditional visa sticker are valid entry visas. The consulates also say e-Visa holders cannot extend their stay and the e-Visa cannot be converted to another visa type; anyone coming to study or work applies for a regular visa instead (Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, checked October 2026).
Beyond that it is a long-stay visa: 13(a) for spouses, the SRRV for retirees, or the Digital Nomad Visa — all below. The Bureau's fee table is dated March 2014 and "may change without prior notice"; treat the pesos as published figures, not a quote. Step by step: our extension guide.
- ✔ Most popular entry path
- ✔ No minimum deposit required
- ⚠ Extension fees apply (from ₱2,160 per extension; see above)
- ⚠ Not a permanent solution for long-term residents
- ⚠ BI has stepped up enforcement in 2026 against foreigners working on a tourist visa and overstayers — if you're earning locally, get the right visa first
🏡 SRRV Retirement Visa Long-term
Special Resident Retiree's Visa. Age 40+ (as of Sept 2025). Permanent residency with indefinite stay, subject to maintaining SRRV requirements.
- ✔ Indefinite stay while SRRV status is maintained. PRA charges an annual fee of US$360 for SRRV Classic, covering the principal applicant and two dependents.
- ✔ Multiple entry, duty-free import of household goods
- ✔ Principal applicants age 40+ (expanded program)
- 💵 Deposit varies by SRRV category, age bracket, and pension status. Check PRA's current schedule for exact amounts
- 💵 Principal processing fee: US$1,500 (PRA's SRRV page, October 2026)
- ⚠ Deposit and fee requirements change — always verify with PRA directly →
💻 Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) EO 86 — 2025
Created via Executive Order No. 86 (signed April 2025). Designed for remote workers employed by or earning from companies outside the Philippines. See our Digital Nomad Visa guide for the current status, income requirements, and application steps, and confirm with the Department of Foreign Affairs or a Philippine embassy or consulate before applying.
- ✔ Up to 1 year, renewable once (2 years max)
- ✔ Multiple-entry privileges
- ✔ Legal framework for remote workers (previously a grey area)
- 💵 Expected to require proof of sufficient foreign income, health insurance, and clean criminal record
- ⚠ May not engage in local employment. Applications go through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine embassies and consulates — check our DNV guide for the current status.
💍 13a Spouse / Immigrant Visa Permanent
For foreign nationals married to a Filipino citizen. The usual long-term route for foreign spouses.
- ✔ Amendment to permanent status after the probationary period (typically one year)
- ✔ No deposit requirement
- ✔ Work rights (unlike SRRV)
- ⚠ Requires a marriage certificate and the Bureau's checklist documents — clearances, and a quarantine medical clearance only for some nationalities
🏢 SIRV / SRRV Investor Visa Investment
Special Investor's Resident Visa — for those investing $75,000+ in BOI/PEZA-registered enterprises.
- ✔ Permanent residency for investor + dependents
- ✔ Multiple entry privileges
- ⚠ Higher financial threshold
- ℹ Best with legal assistance
🎓 Student / Missionary / Other Special
Various long-term visas for students, missionaries, journalists, and others with documented purpose.
- ✔ Tied to enrollment, organization, or accreditation
- ✔ Extensions available through BI
- ℹ Visit Bureau of Immigration →
📖 Visa Deep Dives
Detailed blog guides for each visa type — step-by-step processes, fees, and practical tips.
Step-by-step extension process + BI e-services SRRV Retirement Visa
Categories, eligibility, and PRA process 13A Marriage Visa
Probationary to permanent for American spouses Digital Nomad Visa (EO 86)
Requirements, costs, and best cities Balikbayan Privilege
One-year stay for Filipino-Americans SE Asia Visa Guide
Every country's rules for Americans
💡 Practical Tips from Long-Term Expats
Don't plan to work locally
Most professional jobs are restricted to Filipino citizens. Plan to work remotely, freelance, or have retirement income before moving.
Check internet before signing a lease
Fiber is excellent in cities, spotty in provinces. Ask neighbors — don't rely on landlord assurances. PLDT, Globe, and Converge are the main providers.
Foreigners can't own land
Foreign nationals cannot own land in the Philippines. You can own a condo unit (up to 40% foreign-owned building). Long-term leases (up to 50 years) are an alternative.
Electricity is expensive
Power costs are among the highest in Asia — about $0.18–0.22/kWh. Budget for AC usage carefully. Running AC year-round in a 1BR can easily add $50–150/month to your electricity bill — often the single line item expats underestimate most.
Get private health insurance
PhilHealth may be required for some foreign residents depending on visa or residency status. Coverage is based on fixed case-rate benefits, which can cover only a small share of a private-hospital bill. Treat PhilHealth as a floor under private cover, not a substitute for it.
Traffic in Manila is real
Metro Manila ranks among Asia's worst traffic cities. Most long-term expats choose to live in BGC, Makati, or Pasig to minimize commute, or move to Cebu/Davao entirely.
Build up a local emergency fund
Typhoon season runs June–November. Having 3–6 months of cash reserve locally is smart. Power outages and flooding can disrupt daily life in some areas.
Learn basic Filipino (Tagalog)
English gets you everywhere, but even 20 Tagalog phrases earns enormous goodwill. "Salamat" (thank you), "Magkano?" (how much?), and "Saan?" (where?) go a long way.
Budget serious time for any government paperwork
This one comes from firsthand experience. Getting IDs, registering documents, transferring titles, or handling anything at a Philippine government office is rarely a one-trip affair. Offices frequently don't share data with each other — so expect to visit multiple agencies, collect different sets of requirements from each, and in many cases be told to come back tomorrow.
The process is the same even for Filipinos. A Filipina navigating ID renewals or civil registry documents can easily make 3–5 trips across different offices for what should be a straightforward task. The cultural term is palakasan — things tend to move faster when you have a personal connection inside the relevant office. As an expat without that network, your main tools are patience, a complete folder of every document you could possibly need, and not booking any flights around a government deadline.
Travel & Health Insurance for Nomads & Expats
SafetyWing is one travel-medical provider; get a direct quote and check what a plan covers. It is travel or emergency-style coverage rather than full long-term expat insurance.