Philippines
Digital Nomad Visa (Executive Order 86): health insurance requirements
Yes: health insurance is required
Created on paper, not yet confirmed issuing. Executive Order 86 (April 2025) authorises a Philippine Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers earning from foreign clients, valid up to a year and renewable once, and it requires valid health insurance for the full stay. As of mid-2026 there is no official confirmation the visa is actually being issued, so most nomads still use extended tourist visas (up to a 36-month total). Verify the status with the Department of Foreign Affairs before relying on it.
The requirements at a glance
| Local-licensed insurer required | No: compliant international IPMI is accepted |
|---|---|
| Accepted proof | Per Executive Order 86, valid health insurance covering the full period of stay. No official minimum coverage amount has been published, and the implementing rules are not yet confirmed. |
Reported terms (from EO summaries, not yet operationalised): age 18+, remote work for foreign employers or clients only, up to one year renewable once, and a reciprocity condition (open only to nationals of countries that grant Filipinos a similar visa). A widely-cited income figure of about US$24,000/year is not officially confirmed. As of mid-2026 there is no official confirmation the visa is being issued; the practical route remains visa-free entry extended up to a 36-month total, or the SRRV retirement visa.
Our take
Two things are solid even amid the uncertainty: the order names insurance as a requirement, and Philippine private hospitals ask for proof of insurance or a deposit before they treat you.
So whether you arrive on the nomad visa or a tourist stamp, insure for real private-hospital costs and evacuation from the islands, rather than waiting for the visa rules to settle.
What happens if you get it wrong
Relying on the nomad visa being available when it may not be issuing yet can derail plans; confirm the current status with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Arriving uninsured can mean paying a cash deposit before a private hospital will admit you, which is the norm rather than the exception here.
Interactive
Verified pricesWhat would it cost in the Philippines without insurance?
You pay, out of pocket
$1,700–$5,000
A standard private surgery; major surgery far higher.
Bars to scale. A flight home is in another league.
That is the bill you carry alone. Insurance exists for exactly this.
See what cover costsTypical private-care estimates for illustration, not a quote. Actual bills vary by hospital, city and severity.
FAQ
Unclear. Executive Order 86 created it in April 2025, but as of mid-2026 there is no official confirmation it is being issued. Most nomads still use extended tourist visas. Check with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Per the order, yes, valid health insurance for the full stay. No official minimum coverage amount has been published.
Not officially confirmed. A figure of about US$24,000/year circulates in secondary sources but is not in the published official terms.
Visa-free entry extended in steps up to a 36-month total, or the SRRV retirement visa for those who qualify.
Often, yes. Private hospitals typically require proof of insurance or an upfront deposit before admission, regardless of your visa.
Reviewed by Lukas Schönberg, Founder & researcher, Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ
Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ (Estonia) is an information and matching platform, not currently registered as a regulated insurance intermediary in any jurisdiction. See /how-it-works for the full disclosure.
Source: officialgazette.gov.phLast verified
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