Retirement in the Philippines: why it’s attractive, and four places to see out your golden years
- Low living costs, lifetime non-immigrant visas, friendly, English-speaking population, and accessibility make the Philippines appealing for retirees
- A favourite of Chinese pensioners, here are four of the best places in the country in which to retire
Whether you imagine spending your golden years sitting outside a villa with sunset views and sea breezes, or with your feet propped up in a penthouse within a bustling city, chances are you could find your dream retirement home in the Philippines.
Its geographic diversity, tropical climate, relatively low-cost services and facilities and proximity to the rest of Southeast Asia has made the Philippines an appealing option for expats and retirees alike.
Data from the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), a government-owned corporation mandated to develop and promote the country as a retirement haven, shows that there are some 64,512 foreign retirees currently living in the Philippines.
Most of them (83 per cent) are Asians, with people from China topping the list. The US, the UK, Germany, and Australia are also among the top 10 sources of foreign retirees in the country.
Miwa Ryuzo, 82, is a Japanese retiree who has lived in the Philippines for 30 years. He cites its proximity to Japan as one of the reasons why he chose to settle there, as well as the fact that most Filipinos are able to communicate in English.