Do you have any tips or more articles for a family of 4 (parents plus 2 kids, age 3 and 6) I was born in Philippines and became US Citizen. My RP passport has been expired for 10+ years. My wife is US. We are thinking of living in the Philippines for a year or 2. Maybe landing/staging in Manila for a couple of months before deciding which province.

Hi Alain,

I don't have anything specific for families with kids. However, the one thing I always caution expat families with minor children is to have a plan for their education. If you don't plan on homeschooling, then you will want to enroll your child in private school or one of the international schools. Private school will cost between $8000 to $17000 per child per year. Some of the more selective International Schools can cost over $25000 per year.

You should also look into getting dual citizenship. I did mine over a Saturday in the US. Getting your RP passport back is convenient and doesn't really come with any drawbacks.

Questions, let me know. Cheers,

Marco

Thank you. What are the advantages of getting dual citizenships; are my wife and kids eligible?

Do you still need a one health pass to enter Philippines

Hi Peter,

As of the latest update (May 30th), the One Health Pass is still required. The good news is it is free and easy to complete. Ensure you use the official government site. There are scam sites out there that charge.

https://onehealthpass.com.ph/Registration/Step-1

Cheers,

Marco

Great Article! Very informational!

Thanks, Michelle,

I appreciate the kind words.

If you have questions, please let me know.

Cheers,

Marco

I wish to respectfully note that the power in the Philippines has a frequency of 60 Hertz
not 50 Hertz.

Hi Dave,
That may have been the most respectful way someone has corrected a mistake on the internet. Usually, this kind of stuff devolves into name-call and idiocy accusations 🙂

Cheers, Dave. I appreciate the correction. I respectfully acknowledge my mistake.

Marco

Marco - your site is one of the most informative I've researched, thanks! I've been dating a lady from Cebu City for awhile and I'm considering marriage & moving there permanent. I'm retired and my social security is around $1,400 a month. What kind of lifestyle can I expect on that without exhausting my monthly retirement?

Hi Tony,

I'm glad you found the information useful. Cebu is great. You get the combination of city living and close proximity to nature that is missing from Metro Manila. That said, it's getting more popular, which brings traffic (bad, but no where as bad as Manila) and higher prices. Cebu is 2nd or 3rd most expensive city to live in the Philippines. Most expats can enjoy a 1-bedroom Western-style condo, frequent meals out, and an active social life for roughly $1200 to $1400 per month. Your biggest expenditures will be rent and healthcare, depending on if you want to rely on PhilHealth or a private plan.

Here are two articles that will be of interest.

For a review of the best places for expats to live: https://nomadicfire.com/best-places-to-live-in-the-philippines
For a some recommendations of how to handle healthcare: https://nomadicfire.com/best-expat-medical-insurance

Let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers,

Marco

I am an American living in Japan and my daughter has a Filipino boyfriend. I have a nice pension from the Veterans Administration but it is poverty level survival in Japan unless I work. I don't want to work anymore unless I am working to make the world better or doing something I love. I am 50 and I have served my capitalist overlords long enough. I'm done. The Philippines looks really good about now. I have $2200 a month. Every day that I work, now that I know about the retirement visa, is a travesty.

Hahaha...Nicely phrased Matthew.

The Philippines is great, especially for Americans who served in our military. Did you see that former US service members over 50 years old get special pricing for the Philippines SRRV Retirement Visa?
You can read about the details in my article below. Look for the heading "What is the SRRV EXPANDED COURTESY?"

https://nomadicfire.com/philippines-retirement-visa

If you want help with the visa, drop me a line.

https://nomadicfire.com/philippines-visa-consultation

Cheers,

Marco

Hey Marco thanks I found your info helpful.i just got back from Luzon, caguyan valley alcalay.where I just got married after a 4 year ldr.i plan to bring her here to the US with me.but would like to one day retire there.she has some property an a lot.an would like to consider retiring their after saving an being here with her awhile.i work an maybe one day come to live their.what would be the best course to take etc.an most important to know.can I build a place on her lot or anywhere or even start a business perhaps.nybthe way I loved it there.and Santa ana.any advice?I'm middle class an she works abroad at the moment.but she was a teacher before an I'm a welder fabricator.i don't need to have the best.being content is fine.

Hi John,

Good to hear you enjoyed the country and found someone to share your life with. You have a fair amount of questions, so I'll try to answer them one at a time.
1) You can build a house on her property, but as a reminder, foreigners cannot own land in the Philippines. With everything under her name, you don't have much protection. I would suggest speaking with an Attorney to ensure your bests interests are covered.
2) You have three visas to choose from if you want permanent residency once you retire.

- SRRV- the Philippines retirement visa
- 13a- the marriage visa
- SIRV- the Philippines investment visa, if you want to start a business.

Each visa has its pluses and minuses. Drop me a line if you want help choosing the best visa for your situation.

https://nomadicfire.com/philippines-visa-consultation

Cheers,

Marco