Grant of PH visa for digital nomads sought in Senate

MANILA – Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday filed a bill seeking to institutionalize granting of visa to digital nomads, or people who travel while working remotely using digital technologies, in an effort to boost tourism.

Senate Bill 2991 seeks to provide a new visa category for digital nomads valid for one year and renewable for another year.

Villanueva said the measure bids to push for the new type of visa that would allow visitors to stay in the country for a longer period while working for a foreign-based employer or business.

According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Nomad List, the Philippines ranked as the 7th fastest growing remote work hub in 2023.

Earlier, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported a 9.15 percent increase in foreign visitors in 2024, or a total 5.95 million foreign tourists, resulting in a record-high PHP760.5 billion tourism revenues.

“From our pristine beaches, green mountain ranges to our city’s vibrant urban hubs, each location in the Philippines provides unique advantages for remote workers,” Villanueva said in a news release.

Under the proposed measure, applicants need to provide proof of sufficient income generated outside the country, must hold a valid health insurance within the validity of the visa, must have no criminal record in his/her home country and will not be a threat to the Philippines, among other requirements.

Villanueva hopes that with a visa in place, more digital nomads would be attracted to make the Philippines their hub.

At present, there are more than 50 countries that offer this type of visa.

“Digital nomads spend money and therefore, would benefit the economy. The Philippines is a promising destination for those who embrace nomadic lifestyle and leverage technology to work remotely from outside their home country,” Villanueva said.

“While they are not allowed to take local jobs, they can share their knowledge and best practices to the local communities”, he added. (PNA)