Philippines
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
PHP
Region
Southeast Asia
Local time
UTC+8
Asia/Manila
Economy
Population
115.84M
GDP (current US$)
$461.62B
GDP per capita
$3,985
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
VAT
12%
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline national rates only — surcharges, local taxes and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
An English-speaking market where almost every obligation has a national and a local half: registering a company is only the start of getting permits, and working legally needs a labour permit and an immigration visa from two different agencies. Foreign ownership is capped by activity rather than by a single rule.
Best for
Companies building English-language service or support operations, employers hiring locally at scale, and founders whose activity sits outside the restricted list.
Who this may not suit
Anyone expecting a single registration to make them operational, or a foreigner planning full ownership of an activity the negative list restricts.
Main routes in
Employment: permit plus visa A DOLE employment permit and an immigration visa are separate steps with separate tests. Register a company Check the foreign-equity limit for your activity before choosing a structure. Open a bank account Usually follows registration, since banks ask for the registration and tax documents.
Key trade-offs
- National registration does not make a business operational: local permits and tax registration are a second layer with their own renewals.
- How much of a company a foreigner may own depends on the activity, so the structure has to be settled before incorporation, not after.
- Employment is protective: security of tenure and statutory thirteenth-month pay are part of the cost base, not optional extras.
First steps
- 1 Check the foreign-equity limit for your intended activity before choosing a structure or a partner.
- 2 Budget the local layer from the start: barangay clearance, the mayor's permit and BIR registration all precede lawful operation.
- 3 If hiring a foreign national, plan the labour permit and the visa together — one does not substitute for the other.
What changes often
- · Which activities the Foreign Investment Negative List restricts
- · Minimum paid-in capital rules and the conditions that reduce them
- · Local permit fees and renewal calendars, which are set city by city
Equity limits, capital rules and permit steps are revised — confirm the current position with the SEC and the relevant local government before committing. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ↗
Major cities
All cities (1) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in Philippines — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the Philippines healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in Philippines — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in Philippines — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in Philippines, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in Philippines — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in Philippines — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in Philippines, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to Philippines — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Philippines — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in Philippines as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.