Philippines Overview

The Philippines has a lot going for it as a retirement haven for foreign retirees: tropical weather, lush scenery, and great affordability for the cost of living. It has notably a certain familiarity particularly to Americans. It was once colonized by the U.S. and it had the largest U.S. Military Base overseas until its closure over two decades ago. As a result of these military connections, a good number of foreign servicemen have made the Philippines their home in retirement. English is widely spoken. Some of its hospitals are very highly regarded, and visitors from elsewhere in Asia and around the world come to Manila for complex medical procedures. Buying property is officially restricted to those who apply for, and are granted, a special retirement visa, which includes among its requirements an investment of at least $50,000. These type of visa are otherwise not hard to obtain, and include just a proof of income and a clean police record. The people are remarkably friendly to foreigners especially to Americans, Canadians, Australians, British, and Spanish. Even former U.S. General Douglas MacArthur said, "I shall return," during World War Two. So, too, are more and more Americans, particularly former military types, who return to make a home in this wonderful and exotic Southeast Asian tropical paradise called, the Philippines.