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How much does it cost in legal fees and other financial considerations to become an expat in the Philippines?
jasontrader
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It depends. First of all – you don’t need legal fees. If you speak a little English – it’s very easy to do everything yourself. If you want just to stay in the Philippines as a tourist (I.e. no work) – you can go extending your stay every two months up to three years. A short visit to Immigration, $50–100 – and you are good for another two months. After three years – exist the country for a day and go back. If you want to have more rights, such as ability to work legally, you have at least four options: Marry a Filipino and get 13a visa. Around PHP 9,500 will give you residency for a year, and another PHP 9,500 – indefinitely.Get a quota visa. Every year 50 foreigners from each country are granted residency. You will need to prove that you have money or special skills.Get an investor visa. Requires $100k investment if I’m not mistaking.Get a retirement visa. It has a minimal age a also requires you to show some money (such as bank account or purchased property).Options 2–4 would cost around PHP 20,000. You will also find attorneys/fixers who offer you to do the same for PHP 100,000–300,000. Avoid this. First, it’s unreasonably expensive (very easy to fill up a form yourself). Second – sometimes you get a visa that turns out not to be in a system if you have to deal Immigration later (i.e. fake).
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Philippines is one of the least bureaucratic countries. All relevant offices in each town are in one building, and you can everything get done in few minutes. and the fees are ridiculous. something like around one to four dollars. I had my child registered, my residence extended, all other papers cleared in one morning (carry profile pictures of yourself)