Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has signed a new executive order, officially approving the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to launch a special visa for "digital nomads." This new policy will allow remote workers from around the world to temporarily enter the Philippines as non-immigrants and work online in the country.
"Digital nomads" typically refer to individuals who work remotely via the internet, without being tied to any fixed employer or company.
Visa applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old;
- Must provide valid proof of remote work, with income sources from outside the Philippines;
- Must have no criminal record;
- Must have health insurance covering the duration of the visa;
- Must be from a country that offers a similar visa policy and where the Philippines has diplomatic representation;
- Must not work for a local company in the Philippines;
- Must not pose a national security risk.
The implementation of this visa will be led by the DFA, with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Tourism (DOT), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) jointly overseeing its regulation. The DFA will establish a database of visa holders and ensure compliance with the Data Privacy Act (RA No. 10173) and other relevant regulations.
The Philippine government states that this new policy aims to attract compliant and economically capable remote workers for short-term residence in the Philippines, not only to boost local consumption but also to drive tourism development, without directly competing with the local job market.
This move makes the Philippines one of the countries, following Thailand, Indonesia, and Portugal, to officially launch a visa system specifically for remote work, significantly enhancing its competitiveness in the global digital nomad economy.
