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Philippines Digital Nomad Visa 2025

🇵🇭 Philippines Digital Nomad Visa 2025: 12-Month Remote-Work Pass to 7,600 Islands

Remote professionals have a brand-new reason to add the Philippines to their bucket list. In May 2025, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed an executive order creating the country’s first Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)—a one-year residence permit that lets you work online from any of the archipelago’s 7,641 islands, with the option to renew for another 12 months.

Table of Contents

What Makes the Philippine DNV Stand Out?

  • 12-month stay, renewable once for a total of 24 months, topping the standard 30-day tourist stamp. Visaliv
  • Mild income bar compared with neighbors like Thailand and Indonesia (official threshold to be finalised, but draft guidelines point to US $2,000–US $3,000 monthly). euronews
  • Zero local tax on foreign-sourced earnings for your first 183 days, thanks to the Philippines’ territorial tax system (seek professional advice if you invoice Philippine clients).
  • No quota—applications will be processed year-round through Philippine embassies, consulates, and the Bureau of Immigration’s online portal once it goes live. KPMG

Eligibility Checklist

General Requirements

  1. Age: 18 years or older.
  2. Work Status: Employed or self-employed outside the Philippines; proof of remote income (employment contract, client invoices, or payslips).
  3. Minimum Income: Draft rules propose US $24,000–36,000 annual verified through bank statements or tax returns.
  4. Health Insurance: Coverage valid for the entire stay (minimum €30,000 recommended).
  5. Clean Criminal Record: Police certificate from your country of residence issued within six months.
  6. Valid Passport: At least 18 months’ validity left on arrival.

Required Documents

DocumentNotes
Application formAvailable online once portals open
Passport bio page copyNotarised or apostilled
Proof of remote workEmployment letter or client contracts
Bank statements (6 months)Must reflect the income threshold
Health-insurance certificateEnglish version
Police clearanceApostilled, with English translation if needed
Passport-size photoRecent, white background

Step-by-Step Application Process

  1. Pre-screen online – upload basic data and documents to the Bureau of Immigration’s DNV platform (launch expected Q3 2025).
  2. Pay the processing fee – draft schedule: ≈ ₱25,000 (≈ US $450). Exact figure will appear in the implementing rules.
  3. Attend a virtual or consular interview – confirm remote-work status and health-insurance coverage.
  4. Receive provisional approval – within 30 days, according to KPMG’s briefing.
  5. Travel to the Philippines – present your approval letter at the port of entry to get a one-year DNV sticker in your passport.
  6. Renew (optional) – apply 30–60 days before expiry; prove continued remote income and insurance.

Costs at a Glance

FeeAmount (proposed)
Application processing₱25,000
I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration)₱3,000
Annual report (if staying into year 2)₱310

Note: Final fees will be confirmed when the Bureau of Immigration releases the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Tax News

Where to Base Yourself

LocationWhy It Works for Nomads
Cebu CityInternational airport, beach weekends on Mactan, thriving tech scene
SiargaoSurf-meets-startup vibe, fibre-optic rollout completed 2024
Iloilo CityLow living costs, café culture, English-proficient locals
BaguioCool mountain climate, reliable 5G, creative coffee shops
Makati / BGC (Manila)Co-working hubs, direct flights everywhere, expat community

Tax & Banking Tips

  • First 183 days: foreign income is generally tax-exempt under the territorial system. After that, you may trigger resident-alien status—consult a Philippine tax adviser.
  • Open a local bank account only if required; Wise and Revolut work fine for most payments.
  • Pay in peso, earn in dollars—the current USDPHP rate favours freelancers billing in USD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my spouse and kids?
Yes. Dependants receive “special resident visas” tied to your DNV approval. Each pays a smaller processing fee and must show private medical insurance.

What happens if I pick up local freelance gigs?
You must apply for a separate Alien Employment Permit; otherwise, stick to foreign-sourced income only.

Is there a path to permanent residency?
No direct conversion, but time spent on a DNV counts toward the 13a marriage visa or investor visas if you later qualify.

Final Thoughts

With fast fibre, English-speaking communities, and a low cost of living, the Philippines’ Digital Nomad Visa 2025 could become the region’s most attractive remote-work permit. Start gathering your documents now so you can be among the first wave of nomads enjoying sunsets in Palawan while your clients wake up on the other side of the globe.

For official updates, bookmark the Bureau of Immigration’s DNV page:
https://immigration.gov.ph/digital-nomad-visa

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