What Should You Do Before Moving to the Philippines?

Last verified: 06 May, 2026

Most people who move to the Philippines wish they had prepared more systematically before leaving. The issues are rarely dramatic — they’re paperwork, banking, and logistics that are easy to handle from home and genuinely difficult to sort out after you’ve landed. This page covers what needs to happen before you board, why each item matters, and what happens if you skip it.

Get your visa situation sorted before you land

Citizens of most Western countries — the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most EU member states — don’t need to apply for a visa in advance. You’ll be admitted on arrival under a 9(a) tourist entry for 30 days, extendable at the Bureau of Immigration (BI). You do need two things before you board, though, and both are checked.

First: your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from the Philippines. Most airlines enforce this at check-in independently of what immigration will or won’t say. If your passport expires within 6 months of your planned return date, renew it before you travel.

Second: you need proof of onward travel. Philippine immigration requires it; so do most airlines boarding for Manila or Cebu. The ticket doesn’t have to be non-refundable — a refundable fare or a changeable ticket works fine — but you need something that shows you intend to leave. A lot of experienced expats book a cheap, refundable flight out as a placeholder.

If you’re planning to pursue a longer-term visa — the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) through the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), or a 13(a) spousal visa through the Bureau of Immigration — understand the timing before you go. The SRRV deposit must be made in a Philippine bank in person or through a representative; some of the application can start before departure but most of it happens in-country. The 13(a) visa application is filed at BI after arrival. Neither requires you to do much before you land, but knowing this prevents wasted effort offshore.

If you qualify for Balikbayan privilege — either as a former Filipino citizen naturalized abroad, or as the foreign spouse of a Filipino national — claim it at BI on arrival. It gives you a 1-year visa-free stay with no extensions needed and no fees. Bring documentation of your qualifying status.

Sort out your finances and banking before you go

The single most useful financial step before departure is opening a low-fee international transfer account. Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the most widely used among Philippines expats — it holds multiple currencies, issues a debit card that works at Philippine ATMs, and charges competitive exchange rates. Remitly is a solid alternative for recurring transfers from a home-country bank. Set this up before you leave; account verification can take a few days and is easier from your home country.

Notify your home-country banks and credit card issuers that you’re relocating. The Philippines frequently triggers fraud alerts — cards get frozen, and unblocking them from Manila is a time-consuming hassle. A 10-minute phone call before departure prevents this.

Bring enough cash to cover your first 2–4 weeks. Philippine ATMs work fine with foreign cards but charge fees — typically ₱150–₱250 per transaction — and often cap withdrawals at ₱10,000 per transaction. If you’re drawing from a foreign card every few days, those fees pile up.

For US citizens: some US-based brokerage and bank accounts — including offerings from Charles Schwab and Fidelity — reimburse all ATM fees worldwide, including the Philippines, which cuts a real ongoing cost.

Opening a Philippine bank account in your first weeks isn’t straightforward — it typically requires an Alien Certificate of Registration Identification Card (ACR I-Card), which you can’t get until after 59 days of continuous stay. Plan to manage on your home-country card and international transfer accounts for the first 2 months.

Handle your home-country loose ends

Set up mail forwarding or a mail scanning service before you leave. US-based options like Traveling Mailbox and Anytime Mailbox receive your physical mail, scan it, and make it available digitally. UK and Australian residents should check their postal service’s forwarding options and commercial alternatives.

If voting while abroad matters to you, register before you leave. US citizens can register for overseas absentee voting through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) at fvap.gov. UK citizens can apply for overseas voter registration, subject to a 15-year eligibility window.

Your tax situation deserves real attention before departure. US citizens remain taxable on worldwide income regardless of where they live — relocating to the Philippines doesn’t change your US tax obligations. The picture for Canadian, Australian, and UK citizens is different and turns on whether you’ve severed tax residency. If you have meaningful income, assets, or pension entitlements, talk to a tax professional who works with expats from your country before you go — not after.

On vehicles: importing a personal vehicle to the Philippines is almost never worth it. Import duties run 60–100% of vehicle value plus additional taxes. Most expats who need a vehicle buy one locally. Sell your car or store it.

Get your health and medical prep right

International health insurance must be arranged before you leave. Most providers exclude pre-existing conditions if they were not declared before the policy took effect; some require that you apply before your departure date. The main providers used by Philippines expats include Cigna Global, Aetna International, AXA, and Pacific Cross. Medical evacuation from the Philippines to the US or Singapore runs USD 30,000–80,000 uninsured; many expats choose to include evacuation coverage in their insurance strategy.

For vaccinations, follow the guidance of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Philippines. Philippines-specific recommendations include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis if you’ll be in rural areas. Malaria prophylaxis is currently recommended for Palawan, remote parts of Mindanao, and other specific rural areas; it’s not generally required for Manila, Cebu City, or most urban destinations.

One medication issue deserves more than a passing mention: ADHD medications — Adderall, Ritalin, and similar stimulants — are strictly controlled in the Philippines and are effectively unavailable without a Philippine psychiatrist’s prescription. If you take these medications, bring enough supply for your initial period (a 3-month supply is the practical limit for most customs purposes), carry a letter from your prescribing physician, and have a plan for the transition.

For any other prescription medications, check whether your drugs are available in the Philippines, whether they’re classified as controlled substances under the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) schedules, and what you need to carry them legally across the border. A physician’s letter explaining your prescription is standard practice.

Complete any significant dental work before departure. Philippine dental care is good and significantly cheaper than Western pricing, but establishing a new dentist and completing complex work takes time.

Pack and ship: what to bring, what to leave, what to send ahead

The practical rule: bring what you use daily and buy almost everything else in the Philippines. Electronics, appliances, furniture, and most household goods are available at reasonable prices. Shipping large or heavy items isn’t cost-effective.

Electronics require attention. The Philippines runs on 220V/60Hz. US devices built for 110V need a step-down transformer or must be dual-voltage (check the label — most modern laptops, phone chargers, and tablets handle both). UK, EU, and Australian devices are generally compatible. Philippine sockets are mainly Type A and B (US-style flat pins), with some Type C round pins in older buildings.

On clothing: the Philippines is tropical year-round, so lightweight and breathable fabrics are what you’ll actually wear. The non-obvious item to pack: something warm enough for air-conditioned interiors. Malls, offices, and restaurants are frequently cold in a way that catches people off guard when they’ve dressed for the outdoor heat.

Books and physical media are worth thinking about. English-language bookstores outside Manila are sparse. An e-reader solves this entirely and is worth its weight many times over.

For shipping: the standard method is the balikbayan box — large cardboard boxes accepted by freight forwarders in the US, UK, Canada, and other origin countries. Cost runs approximately USD 50–120 per box; surface shipping takes 4–8 weeks, air is 2–3 weeks. Don’t ship anything you’d be devastated to have stopped at customs. Treat the box as a supplement, not a lifeline.

Line up accommodation for your first weeks

Book short-term accommodation before you arrive. Hotel, Airbnb, or serviced apartment — the type matters less than having something confirmed. Arriving without a plan during Philippine holiday periods or typhoon season is unpleasant and expensive. The Christmas period in particular books up fast.

Serviced apartments are often the best option for your first weeks: month-to-month flexibility, utilities included, no immediate need for local banking. Expect to pay ₱25,000–₱60,000/month for a decent 1BR in Metro Manila or ₱15,000–₱35,000 in Cebu.

Give yourself 2–4 weeks of short-term accommodation before committing to a longer lease. Expat Facebook groups by city (Expats in Manila, Expats in Cebu, and similar) are the most reliable source of leads for expat-suitable rentals. Standard leases run 1 year with 2 months advance; most landlords ask for your passport as primary ID.

Paperwork, documents, and digital copies

Minimum documentation for arrival:

• Passport (valid 6+ months beyond intended stay)
• Return or onward ticket confirmation
• Travel and health insurance documentation
• Proof of funds if asked (a current bank statement is sufficient — BI may ask; they usually don’t, but have it)

If you’re pursuing formal residency — 13(a) spousal visa, SRRV, or any process requiring Philippine legal recognition of foreign civil documents — you’ll need apostilled documents. Apostille must be completed in your home country before departure. In the US, documents are apostilled through the Secretary of State of the state that issued them. Don’t leave this for the last week.

Store digital copies of everything critical in secure cloud storage accessible from your phone. Google Drive, iCloud, or Bitwarden’s document storage all work. If your documents are lost or damaged, you can still function.

Bring original documents, not just copies. Philippine notaries can certify copies of originals for local transactions, but you need the originals present.

Mental prep: what surprises most first-time expats

The adjustment to daily life in the Philippines is real. The specifics are worth knowing in advance rather than discovering through frustration.

Bureaucratic pace. Every official process — Bureau of Immigration, Land Transportation Office, local government — involves queuing, multiple windows, and often multiple visits. This isn’t a malfunction; it’s the system. Build extra time into any administrative task. A 3-hour BI visit is the plan, not the exception.

Power interruptions. Power interruptions — what Filipinos generally refer to as “brownouts” — are more common outside Metro Manila, but they happen everywhere. If you rely on a computer for work, invest in a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). Know whether your building has generator backup and what it covers.

Typhoon season. June through November is typhoon season. Supertyphoons can disrupt power, transport, and internet for multiple days. Many areas are routinely subject to significant flooding. First-time expats often treat typhoon warnings as background noise until one hits. Have a plan: emergency supplies, a contact network, a place to shelter if your area is a flood zone.

Traffic. Metro Manila traffic is among the worst in the world — consistently in the top ten globally. A 5-km commute can take an hour. Where you choose to live relative to where you need to be will shape your quality of life in Manila more than almost anything else.

Filipino time. Appointments, social plans, and informal commitments run on a more elastic schedule than most Westerners are used to. In formal professional settings this is less pronounced; in social contexts it’s very present. The expats who adjust most smoothly are generally the ones who stop treating schedule flexibility as a problem to solve.

Social integration. Expat friends are typically your first social circle — easy to find and they share your context. Building genuine friendships with Filipino neighbors and colleagues happens, but more slowly, and is often mediated through a Filipino partner, coworker, or community connection. Going in with realistic expectations makes the early months less isolating.

The bottom line

Several items on this list — health insurance, banking, medications, and your tax situation — genuinely must be handled before you land. Get those done first. The rest — accommodation, packing, documents, mental preparation — benefit from planning but are more forgiving. The expats with the smoothest arrivals are the ones who sorted the non-negotiables before departure and kept their first-week expectations realistic.

For legal, tax, and financial decisions — particularly US persons navigating worldwide taxation obligations or anyone pursuing formal Philippine residency — consult a qualified professional who specializes in expat situations from your home country.

Last verified: 06 May, 2026. Information changes — if you spot something outdated, let us know.