Safety & essentials
Pack a practical emergency go-bag
Choose essentials your household can carry, keep documents and contacts accessible, and test the bag before you need it.
Philippines
Original ExpatShield orientation, published practical guidance, and reviewed creator perspectives for planning life in the Philippines.
Safety & essentials
- Safety & essentials
Prepare your home for emergencies
Check the hazards relevant to your address, learn local instructions and make a practical household plan for evacuation or disruption.
- Safety & essentials
Make a local emergency contact plan
Keep national and local contacts, your exact address and a household check-in plan available when your phone or internet is unavailable.
- Safety & essentials
Avoid common travel and payment scams
Slow down pressured requests, verify people and payment details independently, and keep useful records if something goes wrong.
Everyday life
- Everyday life
Set up mobile and home internet
Check registration, device compatibility and service at your exact address, then build a backup that can survive a local outage.
- Everyday life
Everyday communication and etiquette
Ask clearly, listen for the individual answer and agree practical details without relying on stereotypes about nationality or culture.
- Everyday life
Relationships, family and healthy boundaries
Talk openly about money, privacy, visits and responsibilities so a move abroad does not leave important expectations unspoken.
Money & daily costs
- Money & daily costs
Stress-test your retirement budget
Test higher bills, delayed income and an emergency trip before deciding how much of your retirement income is available to spend.
- Money & daily costs
Open and manage a Philippine bank account
Ask the branch about your status, documents and account access before visiting, then compare costs and recovery arrangements.
- Money & daily costs
Pay with cards, cash and transfers
Compare the pesos you actually receive, keep independent payment options and know how to document a failed transaction.
- Money & daily costs
Build your Philippines monthly budget
Work out recurring costs, annual reserves and setup cash with a transparent example and a blank worksheet you can adapt.
Where to live
- Where to live
Check a rental before paying
Verify the unit and the lessor, inspect the conditions and agree the payment and repair terms before handing over a deposit.
- Where to live
Your rental move-in inspection
Record the condition of the unit, meters and inventory at handover, with a clear list of defects and agreed repairs.
- Where to live
Compare places to live in the Philippines
Use the same trial-stay checklist in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete and a specific provincial location before choosing a home.
Visas & arrival
- Visas & arrival
Extend your Philippine visitor stay
Find your actual authorized date, use the applicable BI checklist and confirm the updated record after your extension is processed.
- Visas & arrival
Philippines visa options for a longer stay
Compare the purpose of your stay with current official visa routes, then prepare questions and documents before making commitments.
Health & wellbeing
- Health & wellbeing
Questions to ask before buying health cover
Compare policy wording, exclusions, renewal and claims arrangements before choosing insurance, an HMO or an assistance product.
- Health & wellbeing
Find hospitals and clinics near your new home
Build a practical care shortlist by checking services, travel routes, appointment access and payment arrangements for your needs.
Travel & getting around
- Travel & getting around
Plan an island or regional trip
Check the last return service, weather, communications and access to essentials before traveling beyond your everyday base.
- Travel & getting around
Plan everyday and inter-island transport
Compare the complete journey, verify terminals and timetables, and keep a workable alternative if a connection falls through.
