Philippines – Retirement
Thinking of retiring in the Philippines? Read our guide covering visas, living costs, and healthcare.
philippines
Balikbayan Boxes: The Filipino Tradition Expats Love to Adopt
Understanding the Balikbayan Box Tradition
When one thinks of the Philippines, images of white sandy beaches, colorful festivals, and delicious cuisine might come to mind. But there’s a less-known tradition deeply rooted in the Filipino culture that many expats have
Philippines – Eye Care
Eye care services in the Philippines are delivered through a combination of private clinics, optical retailers, and hospital-based ophthalmology departments. Public funding through the national health insurer, PhilHealth, remains limited but is gradually expanding. While PhilHealth covers selected surgical procedures
Philippines – End of Life Issues
End of life care in the Philippines is influenced by a deeply family-oriented culture, a population that is overwhelmingly Catholic, and a healthcare system in which palliative and hospice services, though expanding, are still limited in reach. Expats are strongly
Philippines – Air Travel
With more than 7,000 islands scattered across its territory, the Philippines is a nation where aviation is not merely a convenience — for many journeys, it is the only realistic option. A mature and competitive domestic network ties together Luzon,
Philippines – Landlines and Mobile Phones
The Philippines carries the international country code +63 and is served by three principal mobile networks — Globe, Smart, and DITO — as well as fixed-line operators including PLDT and Converge ICT. Mobile communication is the backbone of everyday life
Philippines – Visas
The Philippines ranks among Asia’s most open destinations for international visitors, with citizens of more than 157 countries able to arrive without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. For those looking to settle longer, the principal pathways
Philippines – Selling Property
Disposing of real estate in the Philippines follows a structured but demanding sequence that draws in multiple government bodies, most notably the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Registry of Deeds. While the overall framework is navigable, it is
Philippines – Buying Property
Foreign nationals are constitutionally barred from owning land in the Philippines — an absolute restriction without exception — yet they may lawfully acquire condominium units (subject to a 40% foreign ownership ceiling per development), enter long-term land leases running up
Philippines – Work Permits and Working Legally
Foreign nationals who want to work legally in the Philippines are generally required to obtain an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), followed by the appropriate employment visa from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).