The Philippines are likely to attract the more adventurous expat job seeker and finding work here can be a challenge, although it is not impossible. In order to encourage employers to hire local workers, to combat the country’s 5.2% unemployment rate and ensure that overseas personnel pay taxes, the government has recently overhauled the work permit system, changing some of the regulations. This has become necessary because the number of overseas workers employed in the Philippines has risen sharply since the introduction of the old work permit system.   more ...

You’ve negotiated visas and vaccinations, packed up your home and belongings, and said goodbye to your family and friends. However, once you land in the Philippines, there’s a whole new set of essential steps for you to tackle.   more ...

Are you dreaming of a retirement lounging on a beautiful beach? Or looking to further your banking career in Manila’s rising skyline? Whatever your reasons for arriving in the Philippines, make sure you get the paperwork right to avoid unnecessary problems.


Obtaining A Visa

Many people stay in the Philippines for the short to medium term. With a tourist visa obtained at the airport, you can stay for 30 days. Before it expires, you can apply for an extension which will last for another 59 days, or if you apply in Manila you can request an extension of six months. You can keep renewing your tourist visa for a total of 16 months; at that point you must either apply to stay longer term or leave the country. The downside to using a tourist visa to stay in the Philippines is that you can’t work on this permit.   more ...

Medical tourism is gaining prominence with people from around the world. Many people, especially those from the US, UK, Canada and Australia, travel to certain Asian and European countries to undergo long-term treatment or take advantage of an inclusive system with lower rates. Here, patients can spend a mere fraction for their treatments than what they would back home.   more ...

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at the Philippines and some of the social media accounts you should be following if you’re thinking of moving there.   more ...

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at the Philippines and some of the blogs that might be useful for expats there.   more ...

While expats may realise that the Philippines is spread across lots of islands, they may not appreciate that around 12% of the population consists of indigenous peoples. There are estimated to be between 14 and 17 million indigenous residents, mainly spread over the northern Luzon region as well as in Mindaneo.   more ...

The Philippines, a group of 7,107 islands, has become a popular expat destination for people from all over the world because of its beauty, climate, modern infrastructure, standards of living and safety measures. Moreover, the cost of living in this country is relatively low compared to western countries. Many people from the US, Canada, Australia and Europe have moved to this Island country to open up their business, seek employment or retire.   more ...

The Philippines, a collection of more than 7000 tropical islands in the Pacific, has been gaining a lot of popularity as an expat destination for more than a decade now. This country boasts friendly people, modern infrastructure, low living costs and warm climate. There is also plenty to see and do for people of all ages.

However, moving to a new place isn’t a piece of cake. Most of the time, settling down in a foreign land takes some getting used to and this island country is no exception.   more ...

Living in the Philippines can be a wonderful experience for expats of all ages from any part of the world. This country offers modern infrastructure and high standards of living at relatively low costs. What makes the Philippines so special though is its hospitable, friendly, optimistic and fun-loving people. Most of the tourists and expats find it quite easy to make friends and get integrated with the locals. However, adjusting to a new country and culture can take a while.   more ...