Manila: The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is calling on global Filipinos and their international networks to take full advantage of the country's new Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) program.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DNV was established under Executive Order 86, signed on April 24 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. This program creates a legal framework to facilitate the entry of digital nomads or professionals, including foreign nationals working remotely for clients or employers outside the Philippines, allowing them to temporarily reside in the country while continuing their employment from abroad using digital technologies.
CFO Chairperson Secretary Dante Ang II emphasized the growing global trend of location-independent work and how the initiative offers foreigners and returning Filipinos a new way to connect with the Philippines. Ang highlighted the country's digital connectivity, affordability, and cultural richness as key factors in making the Philippines a competitive remote work destination.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently ranked the Philippines as the seventh fastest-growing remote work hub in 2023, showcasing the country's appeal to tech-savvy professionals worldwide. The CFO views the DNV program as an opportunity to strengthen connections between overseas Filipinos and their homeland.
Ang expressed that by encouraging global Filipinos to promote the DNV within their international circles, the Philippines could become a hub for global digital workers, empowering local communities with new economic activity. The DNV aligns with broader national goals of digital transformation and inclusive growth, leveraging the country's strengths, such as its lower cost of living, tourist attractions, and remote work culture.
Eligibility for the DNV requires applicants to be at least 18 years old, show proof of remote work using digital technology and sufficient income generated outside the Philippines, and have no criminal record. Health insurance valid for the DNV period is also required, and applicants must be nationals of countries that offer DNVs to Filipinos and have a Philippine Foreign Service Post (FSP).
Foreigners from countries that offer DNVs to Filipinos but lack a Philippine FSP can apply for the visa in the nearest country with a Philippine FSP. DNV holders can stay in the Philippines for up to one year, with the possibility of renewal for another year, and may enjoy multiple entry privileges during the visa's validity.
The issuance of EO 86 gives additional significance to Republic Act 9225, known as the Philippine Dual Citizen Law, for overseas Filipinos wishing to return and engage in the country's digital economy. This law allows former natural-born Filipinos to reacquire Philippine citizenship without renouncing their foreign nationality, enabling them to stay long-term and enjoy full civil, economic, and political rights.
Ang reiterated the CFO's commitment to bridging global Filipinos with the homeland through opportunities like the DNV, which empower individual lives and the national economy.
