The neighboring Philippines recently introduced the Digital Nomad Visa, a special long-term residency option designed for digital nomads and remote workers earning income overseas. The policy was announced by President Marcos on April 24, 2025, and went into effect mid-year, attracting significant interest from the United States.
Visa holders can now stay for an initial six months and extend their stay for up to two years. With this move, the Philippines hopes to attract more location-unbound professionals, boost tourism, and boost its digital economy, following in the footsteps of countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia that already offer similar visas.
Through the Philippine Immigration, the requirements for foreign visitors to obtain a Philippine Digital Nomad visa are outlined, some of which are: a valid passport with a minimum of six months validity before expiry, proof that the applicant is working remotely for a client or company outside the Philippines (a contract, invoice, or letter from the employer can be used), proof of stable income, International health insurance that covers medical care and repatriation while the applicant is abroad, a clean criminal record certificate from the applicant’s country of origin (or where the applicant currently resides), and a copy of a recent bank statement to prove the applicant has funds for the initial period of stay.
