Philippines Launches Digital Nomad Visa to Attract Remote Workers

On 24 April 2025, the Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued an executive order to allow the creation of a special visa for digital nomads or foreign nationals to temporarily live or work remotely in the country. 

With Executive Order 86 now in force, the Philippine government will allow foreigners to apply to enter and reside in the country under a specific visa known as a Digital Nomad Visa. Not all details of the visa program have been released, but here is what we know so far.

Executive Order 86 was released with the intention of boosting tourism and the economy in general. It will grant access for foreigners to work remotely and reside in the Philippines for up to a year.

Visa holders may be granted multiple-entry privileges. After residing in the Philippines for a year, they will also have the option to extend the visa for an additional year.

For applicants wishing to work remotely in the Philippines via the so-called Digital Nomad Visa, they must supply evidence of remote work such as membership to a freelance platform or remote income from employers outside the country. They must also show the income is sufficient to sustain living expenses in the Philippines.

Applicants must also be 18 years or older, have a clean criminal record, and hold health insurance coverage for the entire visa period. They must be nationals of countries that already offer a comparable DNV (or equivalent) to Filipino citizens and where a Philippine Foreign Service Post is present; otherwise, they must apply at the nearest country with such a post. They must also avoid taking up employment with a Philippine-based employer and pose no security risk to the country.

It is anticipated that more detailed rules and guidelines will be drawn up in the coming weeks to facilitate the executive order. 

This news comes on the back of the World Economic Forum lauding Filipino efforts to encourage remote work, placing it at number 7 on the fastest-growing remote work locations.