A Step-by-Step Checklist for Expats and Retirees
Moving to the Philippines involves much more than buying an airline ticket and packing your bags. Use this checklist to organize the financial, medical, immigration, housing, and everyday details of your move.
You may not need every item on this list. Check the items that apply to your situation and begin as early as possible.
6–12 Months Before Moving
Decide Where and How You Want to Live
☐ Decide on your approximate moving date
☐ Research possible Philippine cities
☐ Compare cost of living between locations
☐ Research healthcare in your preferred cities
☐ Check proximity to major hospitals
☐ Consider airport access
☐ Research weather and rainy seasons
☐ Consider traffic and transportation
☐ Decide whether you want a large city, smaller city, or provincial lifestyle
☐ Plan an extended scouting trip if possible
☐ Consider renting in more than one city before settling permanently
Build Your Financial Plan
☐ Calculate your expected monthly retirement income
☐ Create a realistic Philippine monthly budget
☐ Establish a separate relocation fund
☐ Maintain an emergency fund
☐ Keep enough money available for an emergency flight home
☐ Review Social Security or pension arrangements
☐ Review retirement and investment accounts
☐ Check how your banks handle customers living overseas
☐ Research international ATM and foreign-transaction fees
☐ Obtain a second debit or credit card for emergencies
☐ Check expiration dates on all credit and debit cards
☐ Decide how you will transfer money to the Philippines
☐ Begin tracking the peso exchange rate
3–6 Months Before Moving
Passport, Visa, and Documents
☐ Make sure your passport has sufficient remaining validity
☐ Research current Philippine entry requirements
☐ Research the visa you expect to use
☐ Research current visa-extension procedures if applicable
☐ Investigate retirement residency options if interested
☐ Check current Philippine Bureau of Immigration requirements
☐ Obtain certified copies of important documents if needed
☐ Make digital copies of important documents
Create a document folder containing:
☐ Passport
☐ Birth certificate
☐ Marriage certificate, if applicable
☐ Divorce documents, if applicable
☐ Driver’s license
☐ Social Security or pension information
☐ Retirement-account information
☐ Insurance documents
☐ Tax records
☐ Medical records
☐ Prescription list
☐ Vaccination records
☐ Emergency contacts
☐ Estate-planning documents
☐ Store encrypted digital copies online
☐ Give a trusted person access instructions for important documents in an emergency
Healthcare Preparation
☐ Schedule a complete medical checkup
☐ Schedule a dental examination
☐ Schedule an eye examination if needed
☐ Obtain copies of important medical records
☐ Get a current medication list
☐ Record generic names of prescription medications
☐ Ask your doctor about obtaining an adequate medication supply for the move
☐ Research whether your medications are available in the Philippines
☐ Research hospitals in your intended city
☐ Research specialists you may need
☐ Review your current health insurance
☐ Determine whether your insurance covers treatment outside your home country
☐ Research Philippine or international health insurance if needed
☐ Understand emergency and hospitalization payment requirements
☐ Consider medical evacuation coverage if appropriate
Decide What Happens to Your Home and Belongings
☐ Decide whether to sell, rent, or keep your current home
☐ Review your lease termination requirements if renting
☐ Begin sorting your possessions
Create four categories:
☐ Bring
☐ Sell
☐ Donate
☐ Discard
☐ Begin selling unwanted furniture and household goods
☐ Donate items you do not want to sell
☐ Decide whether you will ship anything internationally
☐ Compare shipping costs with replacement costs in the Philippines
☐ Identify sentimental items you definitely want to keep
☐ Consider storing irreplaceable items rather than shipping them
60–90 Days Before Moving
Banking and Money
☐ Confirm your primary bank account will remain available overseas
☐ Establish a backup bank account if needed
☐ Obtain a backup debit card
☐ Obtain a credit card without foreign-transaction fees if possible
☐ Set account alerts for transactions and withdrawals
☐ Enable multi-factor authentication
☐ Determine how banking security codes will reach you overseas
☐ Decide whether to keep your current phone number
☐ Research international money-transfer options
☐ Make sure emergency savings are immediately accessible
☐ Do not keep all of your money in one account or institution
Mail, Phone, and Online Accounts
☐ Decide how you will receive mail after moving
☐ Set up a mail-forwarding or virtual-mailbox service if needed
☐ Update important mailing addresses
☐ Determine which accounts require your current phone number
☐ Consider keeping a low-cost home-country number
☐ Update account recovery information
☐ Set up a password manager
☐ Review important subscriptions
☐ Cancel subscriptions you will no longer use
☐ Review cloud storage and online backups
30–60 Days Before Moving
Housing in the Philippines
☐ Book temporary accommodation for your arrival
☐ Avoid signing a long-term lease based solely on photographs
☐ Research neighborhoods within your preferred city
☐ Create a list of apartments you want to inspect
☐ Research typical rental deposits and advance-rent requirements
☐ Determine your maximum housing budget
☐ Decide whether you want furnished or unfurnished housing
☐ Research internet availability in potential neighborhoods
☐ Check proximity to grocery stores and pharmacies
☐ Check proximity to hospitals
☐ Research transportation options
Travel Planning
☐ Purchase your airline ticket
☐ Verify Philippine entry requirements again before departure
☐ Check airline baggage allowances
☐ Purchase additional baggage if necessary
☐ Review prohibited and restricted items
☐ Arrange transportation to your departure airport
☐ Arrange transportation from the Philippine airport
☐ Save your temporary accommodation address
☐ Save your flight itinerary offline
☐ Provide your itinerary to someone you trust
2–4 Weeks Before Moving
Final Home-Country Tasks
☐ Confirm home sale or lease arrangements
☐ Cancel or transfer utilities
☐ Cancel internet service
☐ Cancel unnecessary insurance policies
☐ Cancel local memberships
☐ Forward your mail
☐ Update important financial accounts
☐ Pay outstanding bills
☐ Return borrowed or rented equipment
☐ Dispose of items that cannot be shipped
☐ Confirm arrangements for anything being stored
☐ Back up computers and phones
☐ Scan any remaining important documents
Packing Checklist
Carry-On Bag
Never put your only copies of essential documents or necessary medications in checked luggage.
☐ Passport
☐ Wallet
☐ Airline itinerary
☐ Visa or immigration documents if applicable
☐ Debit cards
☐ Credit cards
☐ Emergency cash
☐ Prescription medications
☐ Medical information
☐ Phone
☐ Laptop or tablet
☐ Chargers
☐ Power bank
☐ Eyeglasses
☐ Emergency contacts
☐ One change of clothes
☐ Basic toiletries
Checked Luggage
☐ Lightweight clothing
☐ Comfortable walking shoes
☐ Sandals
☐ Swimwear
☐ Personal items
☐ Additional medications where permitted
☐ Difficult-to-find clothing sizes
☐ Specialty hobby items
☐ Important keepsakes
☐ Electronics you genuinely need
Think Twice Before Bringing
☐ Heavy winter clothing
☐ Large appliances
☐ Ordinary furniture
☐ Large quantities of household goods
☐ Items that are inexpensive to replace locally
Final Week Before Departure
☐ Reconfirm your flight
☐ Reconfirm temporary accommodation
☐ Check Philippine entry requirements one final time
☐ Check passport and travel documents
☐ Confirm airport transportation
☐ Check baggage weight
☐ Charge electronics
☐ Charge power banks
☐ Download offline copies of important documents
☐ Download offline maps if desired
☐ Notify appropriate banks of international use if required
☐ Make sure you can access your accounts from overseas
☐ Have some accessible emergency money
☐ Leave copies of important information with someone you trust
☐ Get a good night’s sleep
Arrival Day in the Philippines
☐ Complete required immigration procedures
☐ Collect your luggage
☐ Obtain some Philippine pesos if needed
☐ Get safely to your temporary accommodation
☐ Contact family or friends to confirm arrival
☐ Secure passport and important documents
☐ Rest
Do not try to accomplish everything on your first day.
You just moved to another country.
Your First Week
☐ Obtain and register a Philippine SIM as required
☐ Set up mobile data
☐ Learn your immediate neighborhood
☐ Locate a supermarket
☐ Locate a pharmacy
☐ Identify the nearest reputable hospital
☐ Learn local transportation options
☐ Try Grab or other available transportation services
☐ Locate a nearby ATM
☐ Learn where to exchange money safely
☐ Begin viewing long-term rentals
☐ Compare neighborhoods
☐ Start tracking actual daily expenses
Before Signing a Rental Lease
☐ Inspect the property personally
☐ Read the entire lease
☐ Verify the landlord or authorized representative
☐ Confirm monthly rent
☐ Confirm security deposit
☐ Confirm advance rent
☐ Understand when the deposit is refundable
☐ Confirm who pays utilities
☐ Check water pressure
☐ Check air conditioning
☐ Check electrical outlets
☐ Check mobile signal
☐ Verify internet availability
☐ Ask about flooding
☐ Check security
☐ Check noise levels
☐ Visit the neighborhood at night
☐ Check transportation availability
☐ Check grocery-store distance
☐ Check hospital distance
☐ Photograph the condition of the property before moving in
☐ Obtain receipts for deposits and payments
Your First 30 Days
Establish Your New Home
☐ Move into long-term housing when ready
☐ Arrange electricity and water if necessary
☐ Set up home internet
☐ Purchase basic household supplies
☐ Buy bedding and towels if needed
☐ Purchase cooking supplies
☐ Arrange drinking-water delivery if appropriate
☐ Learn garbage collection procedures
☐ Locate laundry services if needed
Money
☐ Determine your actual monthly spending
☐ Establish a regular money-transfer routine
☐ Learn local ATM fees
☐ Consider opening a Philippine bank account when appropriate
☐ Explore digital-payment options if eligible
☐ Keep emergency money separate from normal spending
Healthcare
☐ Identify your preferred hospital
☐ Find a local doctor if needed
☐ Find a dentist
☐ Locate a reliable pharmacy
☐ Confirm medication availability
☐ Finalize health-insurance arrangements
Immigration
☐ Record the expiration date of your authorized stay
☐ Set reminders well before immigration deadlines
☐ Complete extensions or other immigration requirements when necessary
☐ Keep copies of immigration receipts and documents
Your First 60–90 Days
☐ Review your actual cost of living
☐ Compare actual expenses with your original budget
☐ Decide whether you like your neighborhood
☐ Decide whether you like your city
☐ Explore another Philippine city if you are uncertain
☐ Build a regular healthcare routine
☐ Develop a weekly routine
☐ Join local or expat groups if interested
☐ Meet your neighbors
☐ Explore hobbies and activities
☐ Learn some basic Filipino or the local language
☐ Take your first local weekend trip
☐ Review your emergency fund
☐ Review your banking setup
☐ Review your insurance
☐ Review your visa strategy
☐ Decide whether you really need a car
☐ Avoid rushing into buying property
☐ Give yourself time to adjust
Your Emergency Checklist
Keep this information somewhere accessible:
☐ Passport copy
☐ Visa/immigration information
☐ Emergency contacts
☐ Medical conditions and medications
☐ Insurance information
☐ Hospital contact information
☐ Bank emergency numbers
☐ Credit-card emergency numbers
☐ Home-country embassy or consulate information
☐ Backup debit/credit card
☐ Emergency cash
☐ Money available for an emergency flight home
Before You Call the Philippines Home
After several months, ask yourself:
☐ Is my monthly budget working?
☐ Am I comfortable with my healthcare options?
☐ Do I like my city?
☐ Do I like my neighborhood?
☐ Am I comfortable with the climate?
☐ Is transportation manageable?
☐ Do I have reliable internet and communication?
☐ Have I developed friendships or a social routine?
☐ Is my visa strategy working?
☐ Do I feel financially secure?
☐ Can I imagine living here five or ten years from now?
If you cannot check every box, that does not mean the move was a mistake.
It may simply mean you need a different apartment, neighborhood, city, or plan.
The advantage of renting and remaining flexible during your first year is that you have time to figure that out.
One Final Box
☐ Enjoy your new life in the Philippines.
You spent months—or perhaps years—planning the move. Once the important pieces are in place, give yourself permission to stop treating retirement like another project that needs to be completed.
Explore your neighborhood.
Try Filipino food.
Meet people.
Take weekend trips.
Sit somewhere with a cup of coffee and realize that you actually did it.
You moved to the Philippines.