Philippines opens doors to digital nomads with new visa program

The Philippines is welcoming remote workers from around the world with the launch of its new Digital Nomad Visa program, giving foreigners a chance to live temporarily in the country while working for employers based abroad.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formalized the move by signing Executive Order No. 86 on April 24, 2025. The order authorizes the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to issue visas to non-immigrant foreigners seeking to work remotely from the Philippines using digital technologies.

“The DFA is hereby authorised to issue Digital Nomad Visas to non-immigrant foreigners who desire to enter and/or stay in the country for a temporary period for the purpose of working remotely,” Marcos stated in the executive order.

The DFA will work alongside the Department of Justice, the Department of Tourism, the Bureau of Immigration, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to roll out the program. These agencies are also tasked with ensuring compliance with data privacy laws by maintaining a database of visa holders.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have proof of remote work and sufficient income from outside the Philippines, possess valid health insurance, and hold citizenship from a country that also offers digital nomad visas to Filipinos. They must also have no criminal record, pose no security threat, and must not take up local employment.

With this move, the Philippines joins the growing number of countries embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, tapping into the expanding global community of remote workers who thrive on flexibility and mobility.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *