PBBM approves issuance of PH visa for digital nomads

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Passengers waiting to board their flight. (PCI photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order (EO) 86, allowing the issuance of Philippine visa for digital nomads or foreign nationals seeking to temporarily reside and work remotely in the Philippines.

EO 86 inked by Marcos on Thursday establishes a legal framework to facilitate the entry of digital nomads in the country, to boost Philippine tourism and economy.

Under the EO, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is authorized to issue Digital Nomad Visas (DNVs) to non-immigrant foreigners “who desire to enter and/or stay in the country for a temporary period for the purpose of working remotely using digital technologies, and whose clients or employers are situated outside the Philippines.”

The DFA is also directed to create a database of all DNV holders for monitoring purposes, while ensuring the strict compliance with data privacy requirements under Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

“Foreigners who are issued valid DNVs may enter and/or stay in the Philippines for a maximum period of one year. DNV holders may renew their visas for the same duration, and may be granted multiple entry privileges during the validity of their DNVs,” EO 86 read.

Foreigners applying for DNV must be at least 18 years old; must show proof of remote work using digital technology, sufficient income generated outside the Philippines; and must have an unblemished criminal record.

An applicant must have health insurance valid for the DNV period; must be a national of a country that offers DNVs to Filipinos and where the Philippines has a Foreign Service Post (FSP); must not pose threat to the internal or external security of the Philippines; and must not be employed in the Philippines.

Foreigners who are nationals of countries that offer DNVs to Filipinos but do not have a Philippine FSP may apply for DNV in the nearest country where a Philippine FSP is located.

The DFA is directed to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Tourism (DOT), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in studying and adopting measures to effectively implement the program aimed at attracting eligible foreigners.

The DFA, in coordination with the DOJ, DOT, Bl, and BIR, are tasked to issue the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the order within 30 days from its effectivity.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked the Philippines as the 7th fastest-growing remote work hub country in the world in 2023.

EO 86, a copy of which was released on Friday, takes effect immediately upon the publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.