12 Essential Tips for Expats Moving to the Philippines
Sian Victoria © - Palm trees, mountains and the beach at sunset
How to Move to the Philippines: Expat Relocation Guide
Moving out of your comfort zone and to a tropical archipelago consisting of seven thousand islands seems like a dream-come-true idea. The opportunity of exchanging rain for sunshine and beaches with kind locals explains the huge number of people who decide to become expatriates in the Philippines. But moving overseas is not always as easy as buying a one-way ticket and getting a pair of flip-flops.
If you are now exploring expatriate life in the Philippines, you’ll find this list of 12 useful tips to make the whole process as easy as possible. They include information on visas, housing, cultural differences and budgets. If you are about to change your lifestyle completely, retire in paradise or start working remotely, you will definitely need them.
1. Sort Out Your Visa Strategy Before You Fly
One of the first things you need to figure out is how you plan to stay in the country legally over the long term. Most visitors from the UK and Western nations can enter on a standard tourist visa, which usually gives you thirty days upon arrival. The brilliant thing about the Philippines is that you can continually extend a tourist visa at local Bureau of Immigration offices for up to three years without leaving.
If you intend to stay permanently, you should look into special options. Retirees aged fifty and above can apply for the Special Resident Retiree Visa, which offers massive perks including multi-entry privileges and exemptions from certain customs duties. Once you stay longer than fifty-nine days on any visa, remember that you must register for an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card, commonly known as an ACR card. Keep your paperwork organised and always track your extension dates to avoid unnecessary fines.
2. Set Realistic Budget Expectations and Understand the True Cost of Living
Many individuals travel to Southeast Asia with the idea of things being very cheap, but the cost of living in the Philippines is dictated by the lifestyle that you choose to live. Even though locally sourced fruits, street food, and locally produced beers are incredibly inexpensive, imported luxuries will burn through your pockets rather fast.
Things such as dairy products, imported wines, certain types of cereals, and various brands of imported coffee have a significant import tax on them. If you eat in local restaurants and shop from local markets, then you keep your costs very low. However, if you prefer shopping only from high-end supermarket stores in major cities, then your grocery bills might not be much different from those that you were paying before.
3. Pick the Right Location to Match Your Daily Pace
The Philippine archipelago can provide completely distinct lifestyles based on which spot you choose to anchor down at. Popular places for expats to live in the Philippines include Metro Manila and Cebu City, which have all the trappings of a modern metropolis, complete with fancy shopping centres, modern high-rise condominiums and a vibrant nightlife. This is perfect for those looking for world-class hospitals, international schools, or quick business connections.
For the more leisurely traveller, there are coastally located spots such as Dumaguete, Palawan, and Siargao Island with a slower pace of living. Dumaguete, in particular, is a huge favourite among retirees because of its cheap rent, beautiful coastal location, and laid-back vibe. A beach town provides the ideal lifestyle, though one should be aware that smaller islands may not have electricity and internet access round-the-clock. It’s best to spend a few weeks checking out different spots before committing yourself to a long-term rental contract.
4. Rent First Before Even Thinking About Property Investment
Falling in love with an idyllic tropical paradise and wanting to own a piece right away is easy to do; however, the smartest thing you can do is to rent before buying. Getting into property arrangements without having knowledge of the local market is a common mistake made by foreign nationals who are new to the country.
Philippine law strictly prohibits non-citizens from owning land. The only properties that foreign nationals can purchase are condominium units in which local citizens hold sixty per cent of the whole structure.
Renting a house or condo unit for your first year will allow you to experience the full freedom of exploring the place and making sure that you really enjoy it. It is always important to have a tenancy agreement and to see whether there are building management costs in your monthly rental fee.
5. Prepare for Surprising Electricity Bills and Climate Care
Weather in the Philippines is extremely hot, humid, and sunny most of the time. Even though swimming in the sea daily is wonderful, keeping your house cool is quite costly. The Philippines is one of the countries that have some of the highest electricity prices in all of Asia since the majority of its power comes from other countries.
Continuous usage of energy-consuming air conditioners in summer could make the electricity bill shocking for newcomers. To cut down on energy consumption, buy efficient inverter air conditioners. In addition, you could make use of ceiling fans to ventilate the house during the cool evenings.
It is important to take care of your house regarding the humidity as well; therefore, make sure you leave your wardrobe door open sometimes to prevent the development of mould on leather shoes and jackets.
6. Embrace the Mindset of Filipino Hospitality and Patience
Filipinos are famous all over the world because of their remarkable friendliness, hospitality, and perpetual smiles. You will feel welcome right from the start of your visit, but the adjustment to the local rhythm of life demands some patience.
Time perception here is much more flexible compared to that in Western societies. Governmental, bank or mechanic office bureaucracy could take much more time than you expect. Being visibly annoyed or shouting on the street is considered inappropriate and would not speed up anything.
It is an important cultural principle to keep the harmony of society and avoid confrontations. Take every possible delay calmly with a smile on your face and extra free time on your schedule.
Sian Victoria © - Mountains and beach at sunset
7. Master the Local Public Transport and Getting Around Traffic
Travelling in the cities and towns of the Philippines is an experience in its own right. Cities like Manila have gained notoriety because of traffic, which means that it might take up to two hours to cover ten miles during peak hours.
In order to move around easily within cities, use ride-hailing services like Grab to get access to safe cars and taxis. In order to make a trip around the block, there are affordable tricycles and pedicabs that are available almost anywhere.
Jeepneys are the most recognisable method of public transport in the Philippines, operating on designated routes at low prices. Jeepneys are great for budget travelling, but can be cramped. When choosing to drive yourself, be extremely cautious as local traffic requires attentiveness.
8. Secure Comprehensive Health Insurance and Locate Top Hospitals
The healthcare system in the Philippines is a mixed bag for foreigners. The large cities have first-rate private hospitals with advanced equipment and Western-educated, English-speaking doctors.
In contrast, the public healthcare institutions in rural areas may lag in terms of quality and funding. The costs of hospital treatments in the event of a major accident or an acute illness in a private hospital could skyrocket rapidly.
It is crucial to arrange yourself with an international health insurance that is dependable prior to moving here. Ensure that your insurance plan includes coverage for emergency medical evacuation in case you decide to reside on a small island without access to advanced hospital treatment.
9. Set Up Reliable Connectivity and Dual SIM Smartphones
If you need to maintain communication with your family back home or manage an online business, you need a plan. While it is easy to get a high-speed fibre optic connection at the condo tower in the city, you may have a problem maintaining the speed as you move into the rural areas of the islands.
One of the simplest solutions to stay connected with your phone is getting a SIM card as soon as you arrive at your destination. There are two main telecommunication operators: Globe and Smart. Having a phone with two SIM cards will enable you to use SIM cards for both carriers at the same time, allowing you to be connected no matter which of the towers has the best signal in your area.
10. Cash Remains Essential So Keep Local Currency Handy
Although credit cards and online wallets are popular means of payment in malls, luxurious restaurants, and hotels today, in the Philippines, the country still relies on cash transactions day-to-day. Local vendors on the streets, transport providers, small island restaurants, and stores do not accept any kind of cards.
It is recommended to always keep a considerable amount of Philippine pesos in small denominations with you. When you give a large denomination of currency to the tricycle driver or any local vendor, they usually do not have the exact change for you. Also, ATMs in rural tourist destinations usually run out of cash during the long weekend or local fairs in that particular place.
11. Learn Basic Local Language Phrases and Etiquette
One of the languages used in the Philippines is English, and it is very widely spoken all over the country. It makes things so easy for English-speaking expats in the Philippines in terms of day-to-day conversations and doing their work in the country. Despite being so fluent in English, it would be worth the time spent learning some Tagalog or the dialect spoken locally, such as Bisaya.
Words like 'Salamat' for thank you and 'Magandang umaga' for good morning will really make people smile. Showing respect to the elders by using 'Po' and 'Opo' in answering will show that you know their traditions and culture.
12. Build a Diverse Social Network of Expats and Local Friends
Living in a brand-new country can be lonely sometimes if you do not have a network of friends around you. Getting connected with already formed expatriate communities on both the internet and in the local area can help you get a big push in the right direction upon your arrival. Expatriates who have some experience can give you extremely valuable information about local landlords, honest mechanics, competent maids, and immigration procedures.
On the other hand, try not to get stuck in the expatriate bubble as well. Form sincere relationships with your Filipino neighbours, workmates, and business people. Filipinos enjoy coming together for meals, parties, and karaoke on the weekends. Living a local community life can enrich your experience greatly and help you make your new home feel like a proper home.
To conclude
Moving to a foreign nation is an exciting episode full of adventures and new experiences. Moving to the Philippines will be fun and hassle-free according to what has been discussed in this guide. The first thing is to get your visa right, find the right place to live according to your preferences, be adaptable to the Filipino pace of life, and adopt the rich culture of the nation.
All that makes for a great experience in the land of islands. Always remain optimistic, bring your good humour with you, and just go along with the flow. Life in the islands may come with some difficulties at times, but those are offset by the wonderful sunset views, friendly communities, and the natural environment around you.
