The Case to Move to the Philippines in 2025

If you’re considering a move to the Philippines from your native country, you’re not alone. And the Philippine government knows it.

It’s now easier than ever before to move to the Philippines — or at least, get your residency and citizenship there. From the capital city of Manila to the Puerto Princesa National Park, the Philippines has a gorgeous landscape, a tropical climate, and a relatively low cost of living.

In this article, we’ll explore why Americans, Canadians, Brits, and Western Europeans are increasingly moving to the Philippines for a lifestyle upgrade and what attracts them to this South East Asian chain of islands when so many other options exist.

3 Reasons Westerners Are Leaving Their Countries

Last month, I met a former London hedge fund manager of retirement age in a café in the buzzing center of Manila. “I looked at every popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia,” he told me, “but the Philippines has it all: Urban convenience and natural beauty.” I don’t disagree.

Like many non-resident foreign nationals, he discovered that the path from a tourist visa to permanent resident status was surprisingly smooth.

High Cost of Living & Inflation

The investment migration industry, which is estimated at a $25 billion space, is set to explode. Why? Westerners have now entered the market and want to leave their high-cost, high-tax, high-inflation, crime-ridden, regulation-happy native countries for greener pastures elsewhere.

Retirees are finding that their retirement funds and pensions don’t go as far as they planned.

Safety & Social Concerns

Crime has skyrocketed in Europe and North America, and more people are immigrating within their own country to avoid urban centers’ drug crises and homelessness chaos. Also, elections in 2024 across the world have stoked even more controversy than existed before. The social and political climate in Western nations has reached a boiling point.

I recently met with a European family who moved to Cebu City with permanent residency (we’ll discuss this below) after watching their home country’s peaceful streets transform into weekly protest zones. They talked about deepening political division, shrinking personal freedoms, expanding surveillance, and in general, rising tensions in their native country.

So they escaped to the Philippines for safety and peace of mind.

Declining Quality of Life

“I was making seven figures in New York,” another client shared with us. “But now that I’ve retired, I couldn’t even afford a three-bedroom apartment in the city.”

For many, the math simply doesn’t work anymore in major cities. Housing costs in some cities now consume up to 50% of after-tax income. Inflation has made groceries and daily life wildly expensive. And work-life balance is a distant dream.

We hear every day another story of Americans, Canadians, and Western Europeans sadly being priced out of their native countries.

6 Reasons to Move to the Philippines

Strategic Position in the Asian Century

According to economists and geopolitics experts, Asia is set to dominate the 21st century. And the Philippines is at the center — or at least a benefactor — of its growth.

Tucked away in South East Asia, it’s positioned at the crossroads of the world’s most dynamic economic region. The Philippines has direct access to other Southeast Asian countries via the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea, important global trade routes, and natural beauty because of its geography and tropical climate.

Unmatched Economic Benefits

The Philippines is unique. Only two countries in the entire world have banking secrecy laws: Switzerland and the Philippines. Thus, major banks in the Philippines can offer their clients sophisticated private banking services.

Resident non-Filipino citizens enjoy zero tax on foreign-sourced income. So if you earn revenue, pension, or personal income outside of the Philippines, it’s exempt from local taxes. And depending on where you’re from and where you live in the Philippines, cost of living can be 50–70% lower than most major Western cities.

So while most consider an international move expensive, moving to the Philippines could actually make you money.

Lifestyle That Western Money Can Afford

Perhaps the greatest benefit of life in the Philippines, the country offers something increasingly rare: A high quality of life that’s actually attainable for everyone — from retirees and their families to wealthy investors.

The local currency, the Philippine peso, is relatively weak compared to stronger Western currencies. So local goods can be noticeably more affordable than those in your native country.

In increasingly popular cities like metro Manila and Davao City, you’ll find:

• English as one of the official languages (widely spoken by most Filipinos)
• International schools (private schools) rivaling Singapore’s, Hong Kong’s, and Malaysia’s best
• Modern amenities and convenient urban environments
• Warm reception and hospitality that makes integration effortless

World-Class Infrastructure

As evidenced by its investment in the special economic zone of the Freeport Area of Bataan, the Philippine government is investing heavily in making the country another business and innovation hub in Southeast Asia.

To compete with regional counterparts like Singapore and Malaysia, they’ve invested in a smooth transportation network in their sprawling urban environments, top-tier health care, and smart city initiatives all around the country.

Major Cities and Their Unique Appeal

Apart from Indonesia, the Philippines is the most populated country in the Pacific Ring region. Each of the following top cities offer something special:

Manila

• The most populated country’s buzzing financial heart
• Modern infrastructure rivals Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur
• Premium shopping malls and public transportation

Cebu City

• Popular among Filipino citizens and fellow expats alike
• City center living meets beach lifestyle
• Growing tech industry

Davao City

• Excellent healthcare system
• Warm hospitality
• Access to urban and rural areas

Angeles City

• Emerging expat destination
• Low cost of living
• Close to offices of major international organizations

The Philippines is at a unique stage in its growth: While other Southeast Asia nations struggle with barriers like language (most Filipinos speak excellent English) and byzantine education systems, the Philippines has invested in its future.

Plus, the country welcomes foreign nationals and investors with open arms.

And natural disasters? Modern building codes and early warning systems in top cities have prevented them from making too large of a lifestyle or economic impact.

Business and Employment Opportunities

While most applicants for the FIV residency program either work remotely or don’t seek full-time, in-person employment in the Philippines, employment and job opportunities are abundant.

The alien employment permit and work visa process is straightforward with employment opportunities across various sectors. Even the animal industry is booming, with many new residents finding success in agribusiness.

For entrepreneurs and investors in the Philippines, talent is also abundant. Filipinos have dominated the virtual assistant and remote work industry for decades. And now, a highly educated, English-speaking population has made the Filipino citizen labor market quite strong — whether working remotely or in person.

How to Move to the Philippines with the FIV Residency Program

If you want to move to the Philippines and remain as a resident (a tourist visa is restricted to 30 days per visit), the Philippines offers several visa types (including a retirement visa, student visa, work visa, etc.). However, most of these visas (namely, the Special Resident Retiree Visa (SRRV)) do not offer permanent residency or allow family member inclusion.

Of all visa categories, the Free Area of Bataan Investor Visa (FIV) offers particularly strong benefits:

• Immediate permanent resident status
• Clear path to dual citizenship (rare in East Asia)
• Simple visa application process and approval within a week
• No monthly fee or monthly pension requirements
• Low investment threshold compared to its competitors
• Premium bank account access
• Smooth transition support
• Family member inclusion

All that’s required from you is an affordable investment of US$75,000.

Relative to other residency by investment programs in comparable countries, FIV investors have a few advantages: They don’t have to invest as much money (Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong have much higher investment thresholds), and they can include their family members in the application for minuscule costs.

Making a Smooth Transition to the Philippines

In order to apply for the FIV program and get immediate permanent residency in the Philippines (schedule a free consult with our team first), you must provide the following documentation:

1. CV, valid passport, and birth certificates for each member of the family
2. Police clearance certificates (the Filipino government has a stern stance on illegal drugs)

Net worth reporting not necessary.

Banking and Finance in the Philippines

The Philippines offers multiple top-tier banking options with major banks in Philippine peso- and American dollar-denominated accounts. Plus, through the FIV program, permanent residents have special investment privileges that tourists do not.

Integration Tips

Most Filipinos are exceptionally welcoming to newcomers. Unlike other countries who may take a more hostile approach to foreigners in their territory, the local Tagalog language literally doesn’t even have a negative word to describe foreigners.

Our team comprises natural-born Filipinos who serve as cultural bridges, helping new arrivals navigate moving to the Philippines — from a spouse visa and the local education system to public transportation and shopping malls.

Moving to the Philippines: Your Next Steps

As a growing expat destination, the Philippines offers what few other countries can: A mixture of investment opportunities and lifestyle upgrades. Whether you’re drawn to the chance at dual citizenship or the natural beauty of the tropics, your move to the Philippines could be just a few weeks or months away.

The FIV Process

1. Schedule a consultation call and pay the application fees
2. Collect necessary documentation
3. Your application and documentation will be submitted for pre-approval
4. Deposit the required investment
5. Travel to the Philippines for a rapid five-day onboarding procedure
6. If applicable, plan your relocation (you don’t need to live in the Philippines to maintain your residency)

Whether you desire permanent resident status in South East Asia or are just exploring visa types for a potential move to the Philippines, 2025 has presented you with an unprecedented opportunity.

With its top-tier education system (private schools are great!), tropical weather, bustling cities, affordable cost of living, and English-speaking workforce, the Philippines makes for a great next home and new country — compared to any other foreign country in the region.

For those ready to move to the Philippines, the path is clear. Contact us to discuss the details of the program or join our email list for updates and news.

Visit: PhilippinesFIV.com

Email: hello@philippinesfiv.com

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