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You are here: Home / Moving to the Philippines / Why Choose The Philippines? Is Thailand a Better Choice?

Why Choose The Philippines? Is Thailand a Better Choice?

2019-05-15 by Dave Starr 7 Comments

Why Choose the Philippines — Is Thailand a Better Choice?

Contents

    • 0.1 (Updated 26 April 2019)
  • 1 Experience Counts For Something
  • 2 Why Choose the Philippines — Ground Rules
  • 3 Why Choose the Philippines — Single or Married
  • 4 With No Host Country Spouse
  • 5 Thailand is easy to enter.
  • 6 Easy To Enter, Not So Easy To Stay.
  • 7 For Single Guys and Gals The Philippines Is Way More Accommodating.
  • 8 Three Years “On Demand”.  It Doesn’t Get Much Easier Than That
  • 9 With A Host Country Spouse, Things Are Different
  • 10 Thailand as Nothing Like This
  • 11 This Thai Marriage-based Visa Is Similar To Certain Philippine Visas, But Way, Way More Restrictive
  • 12 Why Choose the Philippines — Retirees/Pensioners
  • 13 Why Choose the Philippines — Conclusions
(Updated 26 April 2019)

Why choose the Philippines? That’s a very good question. Why choose the Philippines instead of the Kingdom of Thailand for retirement, or just an escape from the western world rat race?

I notice many, many other internet marketing folks as I travel the web who talk extensively about Thailand when the subject of living overseas but earning online comes up.

Mostly the comments are favorable, but the majority come from those who have no real experience with Thailand at all …they just “heard good things” about Thailand.

Experience Counts For Something

I have more experience with this issue than some.

I lived two full years in Thailand, and although it’s been a long time, I love Thailand and I’d go back there in a heartbeat … except that the Philippines just suits my lifestyle better at the moment.

So remember, if I write something here you don’t agree with, fine.  In fact, I hope you will leave me a comment telling me what you disagree with … but do not take anything I say as “hating on Thailand”.  Thailand is a great country for expat living.

I just feel from living in both counties that the Philippines is a much better deal.

My Philippine-born, dual citizen wife also lived and worked in Thailand as well, and if I said, “Thailand tayo” (Thailand, let’s go!) some morning, I am pretty sure she would start packing bags for the trip.

But this series is about the advisability/suitability of the Philippines in comparison to some other countries, so let’s start by exploring the options you would have if you decided to “escape to Thailand

I also published a similar contrast article recently contrasting the Philippines with Malaysia.

Why Choose the Philippines — Is Malaysia a Better Choice?

Why Choose the Philippines — Ground Rules

In order to try to answer this question for the maximum number of readers, I’m going to break the question down to three general categories of potential “overseas escapees”.  We’ll first consider those who are single or married to a spouse who is not a Filipino or former Filipino.

Why Choose the Philippines — Single or Married

With No Host Country Spouse

Why Choose the Philippines
Is This The Philippines or Thailand?

For either the Philippines or Thailand, if you’re a single man or woman, or a married person not married to a Thai citizen or a Philippine citizen, you’re going to have to look at the types of visas available to foreigners “on their own merit”, so to speak.

.In general terms this usually revolves around entering the country on a tourist visa, or visa waiver entry stamp, and extending that form of entry privilege for as long as the rules of that country allow.

One then leaves and returns, staring the whole process over.

Note that I will always be writing about the rules that apply to an American citizen in this article series.

In Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and perhaps some other former British colonies, the rules for a UK passport holder are often more liberal.

Thailand or the Philippines have no “favored foreigner” bias, however, as do many of the former British colonies and territories.

(interestingly enough, Thailand is virtually the only Asian nation who was never controlled, colonized or subject to any Western nation … the present Kingdom goes back to theyear 1238 and the Kingdom also survived the world war two occupation and terror of the Japanese by joining Japan as an ally, under significant duress, of course.)

Thailand is easy to enter.

You fly in and get a 30 Day visitor stamp automatically. If you come by train, from Malaysia, or road from Myanmar (Burma).  you only get an entry stamp for 15 days.

The thirty-day entry stamp may be extended for two weeks, once and once only, for 1900 baht (about $60 USD at today’s rate); it may be cheaper to visit a neighboring territory and return.

You must leave the country at the end of the days shown in your stamp, and return for another entry.

Again, you get 30 days by air, 15 days by land.

However, you can only do this procedure for a maximum of 90 days actually in the Kingdom.  After a total stay of 90 days, a visitor must be outside the country for at least 90 days in order to enter and “restart the clock.”

Easy To Enter, Not So Easy To Stay.

If you apply for a tourist visa before you visit Thailand (has to be done from outside the country), you can purchase a visa that is either single entry, 60 days or double entry – valid for 120 days based over two separate stays.

Again, these tourist visas can be extended at Thai Immigration for 30 days at a time.  Typical cost is comparable to extending in the Philippines.  It will average out to about $2 bucks day, give or take.

So if the thought of all the fol-de-rol it would take to stay more than 90 days in Thailand gives you a headache, join the club.  It’s not easy.

For Single Guys and Gals The Philippines Is Way More Accommodating.

In contrast, the Philippines also allows 30 days upon initial entry.  But at any time before the first 30 days expires, a visitor can visit any of the many Bureau of Immigration offices around the country and extend his or her stay for 30 or 60 days … no questions asked.

So any guy/gal does on arrival gets 30 days, extend that 30 days for an additional 30 at an immigration office, and then extend every 60 days (for a fee) as long as a total of 36 months. Three full years without leaving the country.

The visitor then has to leave the country and can return as early as the next day, and begin the whole 60-day renewal cycle over again.

The costs for visa renewals are complex and often seem mysterious … I’ve done them myself many times and something is always different, so rather than getting lost in the minutia, it’s much easier to say it costs an average of a little under $2 USD per day in the Philippines.

Three Years “On Demand”.  It Doesn’t Get Much Easier Than That

I see the Philippines here as a clear cut winner between the countries.

Thailand requires more trips outside the country, the Philippine lets you stay longer,and requires fewer trips to Immigration.

A definite winner for the Philippines, , says Philly.

Until I did the research for this article I had no idea how restrictive Thai tourist stays had become.

It’s hard to believe how much “good press” I see online for long-term tourist stays in Thailand.  There is significant hassle involved … although as I said in the beginning, Thailand is a lovely place to live, for up to 90 days at a time, that is.

With A Host Country Spouse, Things Are Different

Here there is one striking difference between the two countries.

The Philippine Balikbayan Privilege program:

A Filipino or former Filipino (such as a Filipino who gave up Philippine citizenship for US citizenship and has decided NOT to reacquire his/her Philippine citizenship), can sponsor their spouse (and minor children, if accompanying the parents) for a Balikbayan Privilege (we’ll call it a BB) stamp upon arrival in the Philippines.

The only requirement is that they travel together and that they be legally married … able to produce their marriage certificate.

It’s a great program. 100% free, 100% no-hassle (not even one single form to “fill up”), it exempts the holder from the annual registration/head tax requirements, exempts the holder from purchasing an ACR-I card, and can be continued indefinitely by leaving the country and returning … good for a one year stay, every time. Hard, indeed to beat.

Thailand as Nothing Like This

Thailand has no such program.

Nothing even remotely resembling it.

A foreigner, married to a Thai citizen, may apply for a “Non-immigrant “O” visa, which, if approved, will be good for 90 days, and thereafter may be renewed a year at a time.

The marriage visa can only be applied for from outside Thailand, so if you visit there, fall in love and get married, be prepared to add the time and expense of a trip outside Thailand just to get the process started.

This Thai Marriage-based Visa Is Similar To Certain Philippine Visas, But Way, Way More Restrictive

This is very similar to the Philippine 13-series permanent resident visas, but the Philippine visas can be applied for before or after entry, no out of country visa runs are ever required.

And a huge difference with the 13-series Philippine visa is it will be permanent … as in lifetime living here and coming and going, independently.

Winner:

The Philippines, hands down, especially if you use the Balikbayan Privilege Program. No other country I know of on earth is as easy to enter and stay in if you are married to a Filipina.

Why Choose the Philippines — Retirees/Pensioners

For those readers who are already retired and drawing a pension, annuity (or superannuation for Australians) there is a whole family of Special Resident Retirement Visas available.

Commonly called by their acronym, SRRV, these visas are described here:  SRRV Program

SRRV visas require no Philippine citizen connections, work for single or married folks and, like the marriage-based 13 series visas are permanent.  They allow you (and your spouse and children if you are so equipped)  to stay as long as you wish and come and go as you please.

Best of all for those still too young for conventional US requirements, the age limits for these visas can be as low as 35 years of age … a great incentive for the FIRE advocates out there.

Depending upon the level of SRRV one chooses there are investment requirements, but these are manageable and one can invest in a home to live in or rental income property … plus the investments are fully refundable should the visa holder decide to give up on the Philippines.

Also depending upon which SRRV level is chosen, SRRV holders are allowed to work in the Philippines … the approval of work is often difficult for foreigners otherwise.

Income earned from sources outside the Philippines is normally not taxed by the Philippines and earned income earned by US citizens outside the USA for 330 days per year is covered by the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) which allows a US taxpayer to legally exclude up to $104,000 USD from US taxes.

A pretty sweet deal for those smart enough to see the future and start living in a low cost country, spending in pesos and earning from a high cost of living country, in US dollars.

Why Choose the Philippines — Conclusions

For a tourist-type who just wants to stay with the minimal amount of paperwork, applications and with little or no investment or obligation … the Philippines is much easier and cheaper than Thailand.

You can stay essentially as long as you want in the Philippines, subject to conditions and “visa run” requirements every 36 months, but Thailand actually requires you to leave and stay gone for 90 days at a time.  (of course, you could come visit the Philippines for those 90 days Winking smile ).

If you want to re-enter the Philippines, the very next day is just fine.

For as person married to a citizen of either country, the Philippines is better, faster, cheaper and easier, hands down.

Let us know your own thoughts on Why Choose the Philippines, particularly, if you think I’ve missed reasons that Thailand would be a better choice.

Filed Under: Moving to the Philippines

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dave Starr says

    2019-04-26 at 02:23

    The original copy of these comments was lost, so I am republishing some of them … there are some very interesting “live in Asia” ideas expressed here.

    Reply
  2. Dave Starr says

    2019-04-26 at 02:26

    Originally from reader Joseph:

    I read with interest your articles comparing retiring in the Philippines with retiring in Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and additional input from your readers. What you say makes a lot of sense. I have never been to Thailand, Vietnam, or Malaysia, but I am planning to retire in the Philippines in a few years.My question is: Why do some of the most well-known organizations that promote living overseas seem to advance the other three countries and even China when they talk about opportunities in Asia to the exclusion of the Philippines?

    Reply
    • Dave Starr says

      2019-04-26 at 02:28

      Hi Joseph. Thanks for dropping by. As for your question about organizations promoting retirement ignoring the Philippines, I really don’t know. Tell me what organizations you are talking about … frankly, I find very few people promoting retirement for Americans overseas at all. Mainly only real estate opportunists it seems. But your question certainly remains a mystery.

      Reply
  3. Dave Starr says

    2019-04-26 at 02:29

    From Joseph:

    I was referring specifically to International Living Magazine, one of the oldest and largest organizations promoting living overseas, and Live and Invest Overseas, a newer organization published by Kathleen Peddicord, “considered the world’s foremost authority on overseas retirement”, and her husband Lief Simon. Both these organizations occasionally mention the Philippines but heavily promote Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and sometimes China when they write of living in Asia.

    Reply
    • Dave Starr says

      2019-04-26 at 02:31

      As to you original question about why the Philippines isn’t better thought of by the “overeats living” folks? Not really sure. Some reasons that come to mind is the difference between say, Panama and the Philippines. Panama goes out of their way to solicit foreign residents and investors, the Philippine is pretty much the opposite. The Philippines for Filipinos is pretty much the battle cry.Casting a more critical eye at the two organizations you mentioned, I was unfamiliar with Overseas Living Magazine. I signed up for their mailing service. Haven’t seen enough to form a real opinion yet. As to the Peddicord/Simon folks? They are way, way too heavy into high pressure, high-risk real estate deals to suit me. Lief has an almost religious cult-like following … don’t ever say anything even remotely anti-Lief to one of his disciples (found that out the hard way).I even contacted Kathleen’s office sometime back (she is too distant from readers/investors to answer emails personally, you see). I inquired why they seemed to completely miss the Philipines as a possible Asian destination. The response was an invitation to take a writing test and if I passed, I could write for them, for free, about the Philippines. My pay would be I could promote any real estae deals I brought to the table.Not saying there is anything wrong there, but it’s all not anything that I would care to be involved with.So there are my thoughts on that.

      Reply
  4. Dave Starr says

    2019-04-26 at 02:34

    From Zeke Axelrod:

    As to you original question about why the Philippines isn’t better thought of by the “overeats living” folks? Not really sure. Some reasons that come to mind is the difference between say, Panama and the Philippines. Panama goes out of their way to solicit foreign residents and investors, the Philippine is pretty much the opposite. The Philippines for Filipinos is pretty much the battle cry.Casting a more critical eye at the two organizations you mentioned, I was unfamiliar with Overseas Living Magazine. I signed up for their mailing service. Haven’t seen enough to form a real opinion yet. As to the Peddicord/Simon folks? They are way, way too heavy into high pressure, high-risk real estate deals to suit me. Lief has an almost religious cult-like following … don’t ever say anything even remotely anti-Lief to one of his disciples (found that out the hard way).I even contacted Kathleen’s office sometime back (she is too distant from readers/investors to answer emails personally, you see). I inquired why they seemed to completely miss the Philipines as a possible Asian destination. The response was an invitation to take a writing test and if I passed, I could write for them, for free, about the Philippines. My pay would be I could promote any real estae deals I brought to the table.Not saying there is anything wrong there, but it’s all not anything that I would care to be involved with.So there are my thoughts on that.

    Reply
  5. Dave Starr says

    2019-04-26 at 02:37

    some great info on Vietnam as apossible fi[oirigners base from reader John Miele:

    Dave:I’ve been there about ten times in the last three years (Ho Chi Minh / Saigon, Hanoi, Vung Tau, Da Nang, and Haiphong). Most of my colleagues there are Germans on employment visas, all affiliated with Western-owned businesses operating in the country, but some married to Vietnamese.Yes, it is exotic, and developing rapidly (at one point, around 23% per YEAR… Astounding!). Wages and local employment are largely on par with the Philippines (More people than jobs). Language is a VERY big issue… English is NOT generally pervasive and understood. SKILLED expats with SE Asian experience will have a much easier time finding work at Western wages, due to the rapid growth. By SKILLED, I mean degreed and with skills in demand, like engineering (most of my colleagues). I know there is big demand for English teachers, but I’m not certain how many expats make a living doing that… I think it is regulated pretty stringently, but out of my industry / knowledge. I am positive that shipbuilding and oil / gas are in big demand.Visas are an issue… Unless married to a Vietnamese national, you are returning Vietnamese, or with an employment contract, you enter on a tourist visa (extendable, but unsure of how long…I think I got 30 days. Most just go to Thailand or Cambodia for visa runs). NO retirement visas, but there are investor visas that require substantial investment. Westerners can get Visa on arrival, if sponsored by a Vietnamese travel agency (They normally charge about $50 to do it… otherwise, you go to the Embassy in advance). Multi-entry, one year may be possible if you can show enough reason to go)Big restrictions on land ownership (Judging by the Philippines gripes from Americans, some people will have an issue with this. In Vietnam, ain’t gonna happen). Big restrictions on business ownership unless in specific categories (Think technology and development and employment and big money… Starting an Internet cafe or little shop won’t cut it), and always require Vietnamese partners (If not the government, then ancillary government… Communist, remember?) Big restrictions on where foreigners can live (Though, to be fair, most of the restricted areas are not where most people who lived in the West would WANT to live). The nicer areas can get pricey, and many foreigners live in tower blocks (though usually pretty nice).I never experienced any anti-American / war hatred, etc… On the contrary, the Vietnamese whom I met were intensely proud of their country, wanting to practice English, and very friendly. Food was, in my opinion, some of the best in the world, especially if you stick to Vietnamese (Try Maxim’s in HCMC or the Furama Resort in DaNang).Traffic in every Vietnamese city is chaotic, at best. Official bureaucracy is pervasive, and I have personally experienced very expensive corruption in relation to government contracts there (Think seven figures, US$). That said, low-level corruption seemed to be less pervasive than the RP.Medical care is available at Western standards, but very expensive. Go into the sticks, and it gets spotty. Infrastructure is decent, and getting better every day (Especially in Hanoi, in my opinion… The new Ford campus is mighty impressive).Costs were higher than the RP and Thailand, in my opinion, but cheaper than the US or Europe. There was, most definitely, a foreigner “skin tax” just about everywhere except department stores or malls. As to vices, beer was cheap, tobacco cheap (and smoking EVERYWHERE), and nightlife with young ladies beautiful and probably much like it was during the war (Though illegal now, I don’t think it is enforced very much).Overall, my colleagues normally like living there, though education for kids is an issue (International schools… Local schools are full… MANY Vietnamese parents are forced to send their kids overseas to get educated beyond high school… Not enough slots for everyone domestically). In my opinion, it would be a wonderful vacation (Especially DaNang), but I’m not certain that I would want to live there unless under an employment contract. I can also say with absolute certainty that it would be much greater culture shock and difficulty adapting if living there.ReplyJohn Miele says2011/06/09 AT 04:33Dave:I also want to add that personal income tax in Vietnam ranges from 20% – 40%, depending on income. Corporate taxes are, however, low in order to encourage investment by the big players. Western wages would definitely be near the top end. Overseas remittances are also taxed locally, but I don’t know at what rate… It is a definite issue for those who wish to live there. My Western colleagues live and work there, and they tell me that the tax rate approaches European levels in their circumstances. As a retiree, I don’t know.Additionally, as to costs, inflation is definitely an issue with the rapid growth. My friends tell me (and I have noticed), that things have been getting really expensive, especially rents in Western areas. Something to consider

    Reply

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