Living in the Philippines

Introduction

This guide sets out essential information if you are moving to and living in the Philippines,Philippines. includingRead adviceabout onhow residency,our health,embassy education,in employment,Manila drivingcan and more.help.

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Our general messaging will continue to appear on our travel advice page. You can sign up to get email notifications when this page is updated.information.

Our publication Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide highlights some of the main ways you can help yourself stay safe abroad, and give details on what help the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide if you do get into difficulty.

Emergency Assistance

IfRead yougeneral areguidance oron knowmoving a British national in need of urgent help, for example you’ve been attacked, arrested or someoneretiring has died, please call our 24/7 hotline on +63 (02) 8858 2200.abroad.

YouTo maystay alsoup alertto the local authorities by calling:date:

• Nationalsign Emergencyup Assistance:for 911
• Philippineemail National Police Hotline: 117, +63 (02) 8722 0650 or +63 (0)917 847 5757alerts
• Philippinefollow Redthe Cross:British 143Embassy orManila +63on (02)Facebook 8527and 8385 to 95
• Philippine Department of Health: +63 (02) 8651 7800 local 5003 5004, +63 (0)919 160 1418 or email to callcenter@doh.gov.phTwitter

See

Before listyou of Philippine emergency hotlines.

go

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See also Natural disasters

Before you goCoronavirus

CheckFollow ourthe advice onof foreign travel during the coronavirusPhilippine (COVID-19)Government pandemic and signyour uplocal forauthority. emailYou alertsshould foralso up-to-dateread informationthe onPhilippines localtravel lawsadvice andfor customs,our safetylatest and emergencies.guidance.

See moving or retiring abroad.

Visas and Residency

SeeCheck the entry requirements in our travel advice.

If you need to apply for a visa before travelling to the Philippines, contact your nearest Philippine Embassy.

If you are already in the Philippines, contact the Bureau of Immigration with all visa and immigration matters, including residency requirements.

• 24/7 Hotline: +63 (02) 8465 2400
• Landline: +63 (02) 8524 3769
• Email: immigPH@gmail.com, xinfo@immigration.gov.ph
• Satellite offices: https://immigration.gov.ph/contact-us/other-immigration-offices

You risk a heavy fine, detention and other severe penalties if you overstay your visa.

To find more information on retiring in the Philippines, contact Philippine Retirement Authority or read the FAQs on permanent retirement visa prepared by the Bureau of Immigration.

Local travel

See Safety and Security in our travel advice if you’re planning to travel within the Philippines.

HealthPassports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from the Philippines.

Check the Philippines travel advice for passport validity requirements.

You can get an emergency travel document (sometimes called an emergency passport) if you’re abroad, need to travel and cannot get a passport in time.

Healthcare in the Philippines

See healthHealth in our travel advice.

The Philippines and the UK do not have reciprocal healthcare agreements. You may visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) for useful information about healthcare if you’re planning to visit or move to another country.

See also the guidance on healthcare if you’re waiting to return to the UK.

Make sure to buy comprehensive travel and medical insurance that includes coverage for full hospital admission, air ambulance, medical evacuation for you and your family, and repatriation in the event of death.

The availability of medical care varies across the Philippines, and may not meet the standards of care in the UK. Although adequate in major cities, medical care is limited in more remote areas, and treatment can be very expensive. Make sure to have adequate funds to cover full medical expenses in the absence of a travel and medical insurance.

See the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for advice on qualification for social health insurance benefits.

Most private hospitals in the Philippines have an international liaison department with English-speaking staff who will assist patients, their relatives and insurance companies. See our list of medical facilities in the Philippines and the Department of Health’s list of hospitals.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance or medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

If you are hospitalised in the Philippines, thewe Britishaim Embassyto contact you as soon as possible after being told that you have been admitted to assess how we can contacthelp theyou. hospitalWe will then aim to checkprovide onassistance according to your progressindividual andneeds. wheneverThis possible,may visitinclude visiting you withinif 24you hoursare aftervulnerable. notificationIf ofyou hospitalisation.want, Wewe can also contact your family or friends in the UK through the Foreign, Commonwealth and& Development Office (FCDO) in London.London to tell them that you are in hospital.

If you are suffering from mental illness, we will do our best to help you find the support and advice wherever you are. The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline provides mental health crisis intervention through psychological first aid and processing by phone as well as a portal for referral to other agencies that can provide specific mental health services as needed in various parts of the country on a 24 hours, seven-days a week basis for free. Contact the NCMH Crisis Hotline as follows.

• Hotline: 1553
• Mobile numbers: +63 (0)917 899 8727 (USAP), +63 (0)966 351 4518, +63 (0)908 639 2672

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many individuals in unforeseen ways. Read our guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health.

If you are under emotional stress or pressure, and you would like to speak to someone directly about your feelings, contact the Befrienders Worldwide with the Samaritans, who may be able to give you more immediate emotional support about your wellbeing. You can find more information, including details of their 24/7 UK helpline on their website.

See also Samaritans for additional tips to look after yourself during the pandemic.

GuidanceMedication

If you are on bringinga medicationprescription intofor any medication, you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in the Philippines

NotPhilippines. allCertain UKmedicines prescribedmay medicationnot isbe available in the Philippines.Philippines (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to the Philippines to find out about any alternative medication.

Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines

Penalties for importing and using illegal drugs are severe. Do not carry anything through customs for someone else unless you know exactly what it contains. For more information, you may contact the Philippine Department of Health and Bureau of Customs.

If you need to obtain prescribed medication at a local pharmacy, you should present your original prescription or a letter from your doctor outlining your medical condition, the prescribed medicine and recommended dosage. Please consult with your GP or seek medical advice if you are running low on supplies.

Coronavirus

For information on vaccines if you live in the Philippines, see our COVID-19 travel guidance.

Working and Doing Business in the Philippines

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• UK ‘subject access request’
• Legalised UK documents (eg(including birth certificates, marriage certificates,certificates UKand policemore)
• NBI certificates)clearance, legalisedif beforeyou’ve theypreviously arelived acceptedor worked in the Philippines for employment, including your visa application.
  Philippines.

SeeCheck the Department for International Trade guide (DIT) for information on how UK companies can control risks when doing business in the Philippines. Explore opportunities for exporting to the Philippines in our country guide on great.gov.uk.

Police

Studying certificates

You can apply for a NBI clearance, if you’ve previously lived or worked in the Philippines.

You can apply for a police certificate, if you’ve been asked to provide your UK police records.

EducationPhilippines

The education system in the Philippines is currently implementing the K-12 program that covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (one year of Kindergarten, six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School).

If you plan to study in the Philippines, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. For more information please refer to the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd).

Tax

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Tax

SeeRead the guidance about:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad and
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad.

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Benefits

There is no Social Security system in the Philippines.Philippines for foreign nationals.

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Pensions

SeeRead State Pension if you retire abroad and new State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.

Life certificates for UK state pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

BenefitsMoney and banking

ThereThe currency in the Philippines is nothe Socialpeso Security(PHP).

Most systemATMs and shops in thetowns Philippinesand cities usually accept international credit cards. Cash in sterling or US dollars can be exchanged for Philippine pesos at the airport, in banks, hotels and some shops. Scottish and Northern Ireland bank notes aren’t generally accepted. Buying foreign nationals.currency in the Philippines can be difficult.

See benefitsthe Central Bank of the Philippines for information on UKforeign benefitsexchange ifregulations.

For information on financial support you can access whilst abroad, visit our financial assistance guidance.

Accommodation and buying property

See our guidance for buying property abroad.

Buying property or land in the Philippines is not straightforward and disputes over titles and ownership are abroad.not unknown. It is essential therefore that anyone planning to buy property or land seeks legal advice. See our list of English-speaking lawyers.

Driving in the Philippines

Vehicles in the Philippines drive on the right side of the road and cars have the steering wheel on the left-hand side.

You should always carry a local driving licence or international driving permit if you plan to drive in the Philippines. See Land Transportation Office (LTO) for advice.

Philippine law prohibits children aged 12 or below from using the front seat of a vehicle. A child may be exempted provided they are at least 150cm tall (4’11’’) provided they can be properly secured using a regular seatbelt. Otherwise, children must sit in the back of the vehicle and use a child restraint system or car seat. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in a penalty.

See Driving abroad.

FinanceVoting

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Pets

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Accommodation and buying property

Deaths

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Emergencies

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Deaths

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See whatalso toNatural do after someone diesdisasters and bereavement information for the Philippines

British citizenship

There are different ways to apply for British citizenship (or ‘naturalisation’) based on your circumstances.

• Check if you can become a British citizen
• Apply for citizenship if you have British nationality

Contact UK Visas and Immigration if you’re not sure if you’re eligible or do not know how to apply.

Renewing passports

All passport applications are handled by Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) in the UK.

See overseas British passports applications and get an emergency travel document (sometimes called an emergency passport).

Returning to the UK

If you live in the Philippines and are considering returning to live in the UK (for example on retirement), you should consider how you will support yourself and how non-British members of your family may be able to accompany you.

Please consider the entry requirements, actions you may need to take and your access to benefits to help you make informed choices if you are thinking about returning to the UK.

See also Coronavirus

Exit requirements

Holders of Temporary Visitor Visa who have stayed in the Philippines for six months or more, or holders of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visas with valid ACR I-Cards who are leaving the country temporarily must secure an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) at least 72 hours before leaving the country to avoid being denied departure. You should refer to the Bureau of Immigration website for instructions, and call +63 (02) 8465 2400 for advice if you can settle this at the airport before your departure.

National Insurance

If you have not made full National Insurance (NI) contributions, remember you may not be eligible for state benefits or support. HM Revenue & Customs provide some useful information on returning to live in the UK for non-residents, including how to make NI contributions from abroad.

Healthcare

Your entitlement to free NHS treatment depends on the length and purpose of your residence in the UK, not your nationality. You must be able to show UK residency to be eligible for free treatment, even if you are a British citizen. The Citizens’ Advice Bureau or NHS can provide further information.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

See tax if you return to the UK.

See bringing your pet to the UK.

Other useful information

• Philippines – List of Lawyers
• Philippines – List of Medical Facilities
• Philippines – List of Translators and interpreters
• Philippines – Notarial and Documentary services
• Philippines – Bereavement pack
• Philippines – Prisoner pack

Disclaimer

The information contained in these notes is intended for your general guidance only. While care has been taken in compiling these notes, the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed and, of course, law and procedures may change from time to time. For these reasons, neither Her Majesty’s Government nor any member of the British Consular Section staff can accept liability for any costs, damage or expenses which you might incur as a result of relying on these notes.