Philippines

South-eastern Asia

Asia

An Asian country with English as a main language, residence by investment and low university tuition, but a long 10-year naturalisation wait.

55
Overall score
Moderate · 97% data coverage
Language
Filipino, English
Currency
PHP
Citizenship
10 years (standard route)
Personal tax
Progressive, up to 35%
Cost of living
$950 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
39
Access
17%
42Residence12%
33Citizenship and passport5%
65
Earning power
25%
59Salary and work12%
70Buying power13%
55
Business and wealth
20%
58Taxes7%
60Business8%
42Investment5%
57
Daily life
25%
54Quality of life18%
64Education7%
46
Rights and institutions
13%
59Freedom6%
35Rule of law7%

Pros

  • English as a main language
  • Residence by investment
  • Low university tuition

Cons

  • A long 10-year naturalisation wait

Best for

StudentsInvestorsEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access
Residence
42
Citizenship
32
Passport
35
Earning power
Salary & work
59
Buying power
70
Cost of living
90
Economy
69
Business and wealth
Taxes
58
Personal tax
36
Corporate tax
29
Business
60
Investment
42
Wealth building
60
Daily life
Safety
57
Healthcare
45
Environment
76
Infrastructure
66
Education
64
HDI
72
Rights and institutions
Freedom
59
Rule of law
35
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Limited
42
Migrant stock0.1% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality0.08 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Limited
32
Years required10 years (standard route)
Dual allowedDepends on route and existing nationality
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 10 years (standard route); qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Limited
35
69 / 198
Mobility
#73
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free35
  • On arrival30
  • eTA4
  • Visa required129

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Moderate
59
Output per worker$23,954 PPP (2024)
Unemployment2.2% (2025)
Participation61.4% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$273 · $735 PPP (2023)
Tech (IT & comms)$420 · $1,130 PPP (2023)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
70
GNI / person$14,460 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$8,313 PPP (2024)
Price level36 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality39.3 Gini (2023)
Inflation1.7% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Excellent
90
Price level36 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$950 / mo (single)
CitiesManila, Cebu, Davao
Economy
Economic strength
Good
69
Output & income
GDP$487.1B (2025)
GDP / person$4,171 (2025)
GNI / person$14,460 PPP (2025)
GDP growth5.7% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation1.7% / yr (2025)
Unemployment2.2% (2025)
Output per worker$23,954 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture8.6% of GDP (2025)
Industry27.0% of GDP (2025)
Services64.4% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Business process outsourcingElectronics assemblyAgricultureRemittance-fed servicesTourism
Top exports
Electronics & semiconductorsMachineryCoconut productsBPO services
TypeLower-middle-income, services- and remittance-led
Key sectorsBusiness-process outsourcing (a global leader), Electronics assembly, Overseas-worker remittances
SummaryA services- and consumption-driven economy powered by outsourcing, electronics assembly and large overseas remittances.
CurrencyPhilippine peso

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Moderate
58
PersonalProgressive, up to 35%
Corporate25%; qualifying smaller companies may pay 20%
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Limited
36
PersonalProgressive, up to 35%
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Low
29
Corporate25%; qualifying smaller companies may pay 20%
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Moderate
60
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality0.08 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.14 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Limited
42
Market cap48% of GDP (2025)
Private credit52% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Moderate
60
Salary & work
Moderate
59
Business
Moderate
60
Investment
Limited
42
Tax friendliness
Moderate
58
Cost of living
Excellent
90

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Moderate
57
Personal safety
Homicide rate4.3 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.58 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.77 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Moderate
45
Outcomes
Life expectancy69.9 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality26.5 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.79 per 1,000 (2021)
Hospital beds0.97 per 1,000 (2021)
Health spending$560 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Good
76
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure22.2 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress27.8% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
66
Digital infrastructure
Internet use67.3% (2024)
Internet resilience62 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed77 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed62 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access98.0% (2023)
Grid losses10.0% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.20 / 5 (2022)
Rail density1.7 km / 1,000 km² (2016)
Air connectivity2,424 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Moderate
64
Attainment
Expected schooling12.8 years (2023)
Mean schooling10.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment47% gross (2024)
Education spending4.0% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$2,000-10,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesFilipino, English
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Good
72
HDI0.720 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy69.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling12.8 years (2023)
Mean schooling10.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$10,731 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Moderate
59
Freedom in the World58 / 100 (Partly free)
Freedom on the Net61 / 100 (Partly free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Limited
35
Rule of Law percentile35 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comASEAN: Member Statesasean.orgUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Philippines visa & immigrationgoogle.comPhilippines tax residency rulesgoogle.comPhilippines citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Philippinesgoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.