Frequently Asked
Questions

Not in practice. The Philippines announced one through Executive Order No. 86 in 2025, but more than a year later it has not been made operational: there is no published list of qualifying countries and no usable application process. We do not advise waiting for it. The route that works today for remote workers is the tourist extension, valid for up to 36 months, and for those 40 and over, the SRRV.

Citizens of the UK, US, Australia, Ireland, and most EU countries are legal from the moment they land, an initial 30-day visa-free admission is automatic. From there, formal documents take time: TIN registration within 2–4 weeks, ACR card after 60 days of continuous stay, and with an SRRV the BIR's yearly certification of your resident alien status. SRRV and SIRV applications typically take 4–12 weeks.

Holders of SRRV, SIRV, 9G, or 13(a) visas qualify as Resident Aliens through their visa status, not through days spent in-country. This is the most flexible position and the one we recommend. Those relying purely on tourist status to establish tax residency need more than 183 days in a calendar year.

For the Philippine bank account: yes. The bank opens it in branch and only with you there. Everything else, apartment search, lease, residence registration, TIN and the confirmation letters, we handle without you while you are still at home. The bank appointment is not urgent: many clients let the address and the tax number run first and come when it suits their own travel. The ACR card follows from 60 days in the country, so it is a consequence of time here rather than an appointment you book.

For a time the BIR issued TRCs to our SRRV clients in practice. Today it applies its published rules strictly, and those rules reserve TRCs for Philippine citizens and Philippine companies. You will rarely need one: tax residence is a question of fact, and tax offices and banks weigh the evidence. For SRRV holders we obtain the BIR's certification of your resident alien status every year, an official document confirming that you are taxed in the Philippines on Philippine-source income only. Anyone you show it to can verify it with the issuing office.

Tax residence is a question of fact. Where you keep a home you actually use and where you actually spend your time decides it, under most tax systems and under the treaties. Tax offices weigh evidence: a lease in your name, a residence certificate, your BIR registration, your travel record, and for SRRV holders the BIR's certification of your resident alien status. A TRC is one document among many, and in practice it rarely decides a case. More on the residency certificate

A Resident Alien holds a qualifying long-stay visa or spends more than 183 days per year in the Philippines. They pay Philippine income tax only on Philippine-sourced income, foreign income is fully exempt. A Non-Resident Alien on short stays pays a flat 25% on any Philippine-sourced gross income with no deductions. Resident Alien status is far more advantageous and is what we help all clients achieve.

For Resident Aliens: foreign dividends, interest, capital gains from foreign securities, and crypto gains from foreign exchanges are fully exempt from Philippine tax. Only Philippine-sourced investment income is taxable, for example, dividends from a Philippine company (10% withholding) or interest from a Philippine bank account (20% withholding).

Your obligation to report foreign accounts depends entirely on your home country's rules, not the Philippines'. If you are genuinely no longer tax-resident in your home country, those reporting obligations change. We do not provide home-country tax advice, but we work alongside your existing advisers.

The Georgian account is part of your Davao setup, because the Davao address and phone number are what the bank asks for. For a standalone Georgian account, FreedomBanking Plus opens it for you.

In general, no. Most Philippine banks require personal presence for identity verification and account signing. We minimise the time required by preparing everything in advance, but the in-person visit is necessary.

Yes. Most visa programmes accommodate spouses and dependent children. SRRV and SIRV applications can include family members. We advise on the most appropriate approach.

Davao is consistently ranked among the safest cities in Asia. Crime rates are significantly lower than Manila and lower than most European capitals. Expat residents consistently report feeling safer in Davao than in the cities they came from.

Because they do not work. Tax authorities and banks have seen every version of a postal address pretending to be a residence. They reject it. When they do, the consequences fall on the client. We help build the real thing, at a cost that is lower than most people expect. A good furnished apartment in Davao City costs less per month than a single night in a decent London hotel.

As a foreigner you can own a condominium unit outright, but not land. Prices start from approximately $52,000 for a studio. We work with trusted local property lawyers and can guide you through the purchase process.

We provide practical guidance and service delivery. For complex cross-border tax or legal questions in your home jurisdiction, we work alongside your existing advisers. We have relationships with local Philippine lawyers and tax accountants and can facilitate introductions.

Because reading about the Philippines and actually navigating its administrative system are two entirely different things. The Bureau of Immigration, the BIR, the PRA, and the banking system all require in-person presence, local knowledge, and the patience to follow up when something stalls. Tim and our Davao team do this every day. That is the service.