Moving and Living in
Philippines
Since 1969, OSS have provided complete global door to door moving services. That’s 50 years of specialist international moving, and over 200,000 moves.
Moving and Living in The Philippines
Its famous for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The Philippines is home to world-renowned natural wonders such as underground rivers, incredible spots for diving. Let’s not forget its unique food and vibrant festivals.
The Philippines is an island country located in the Western Pacific Ocean. The archipelago consists of more than 7,000 islands and islets. With a tropical climate, those moving to the Philippines are often seeking year round warmth and sun. Even during the rainy monsoonal season, the country is still characterised by its summer temperatures and climate. Activities like waterfall tours, food adventures and surfing still available year round.
Filipinos are well renowned for their warmth and hospitality, often ranked as the ‘friendliest country in Asia’. The language barrier is not a problem. English is one of the country’s official languages and is well spoken.
A destination for budget travelers, cheap accommodation, food and itinerary adventures are all affordable whilst also offering luxury accommodation and day trips for those not travelling with a budget.
The Philippines is famous for its beautiful white beaches surrounded by restaurants, hotels and diving spots. Particularly White Beach on the island of Boracay. Its known for its fire shows and live music that happens when the sun goes down. Island hopping is a significant tourist drawcard. With stops including Pagsanjan Falls, a three tier waterfall in the province of Laguna, visiting the starfish at Honda Bay and diving at Tubbataha Coral Reef.
The Banaue Rice Terraces, known as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, are over 2,000 years old. They are used as an irrigation tool by locals who plant and harvest vegetables and rice. Within the capital city of Manila, is the San Agustin Church. It was built during the Spanish Colonial Period and has withstood major earthquakes. Its rich history and magnificent architecture constantly attracting tourists.
Famous for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, the Philippines is home to world-renowned natural wonders such as underground rivers, incredible spots for diving, as well as its unique food and vibrant festivals.
Moving your household goods to the Philippines
Can I pack my own goods when I move to the Philippines?
It is recommended that you do not ship items to Philippines which have been “owner packed” as they will attract stringent inspection by Customs on arrival. It is advisable to have your goods packed by your moving company to ensure the clearance process can be conducted with a minimum of fuss.
Can I move to the Philippines with pets?
It is recommended to send your pet through a registered pet transportation agent who will be able to contact all the relevant agencies in the Philippines.
How do I move my car to the Philippines?
Moving motor vehicles and motor bikes to the Philippines is possible provided Customs criteria are met.
This service is usually depot to depot, meaning the motor vehicle will be collected by you from our partners depot in the Philippines following customs clearance.
Customs may require evidence that the owner of the vehicle has lived abroad for 12 months or longer, so a copy of your passport with date stamp showing arrival in the Philippines, or copy of lease or rental agreement on in the Philippines would be sufficient.
How do I move my boat to the Philippines?
Moving a boat to the Philippines has similar requirements to moving a car to the Philippines when it comes to registration requirements and process.
Customs and Quarantine in the Philippines will have a special interest in the boat due to its exposure to marine life, however as Australia has a fairly clean marine environment, your boat should pass customs and quarantine without any problem.
What insurance should I have when moving to the Philippines?
OSS offers a full range of moving insurance options depending on your needs.
Although your shipment to the Philippines will be packed to export standards (designed to withstand the longest journey), the small cost of insurance gives you complete peace of mind with regard to the exposure and rigours that are always inherent when moving from one side of the world to the other.
Ask us about MoveCover, our Marine Transit Insurance product
How long will my move to the Philippines take?
When moving your household goods to the Philippines by sea freight, this will typically take 6 – 8 weeks for an FCL service. For services such as LCL and shared container services (i.e. groupage), these will take longer to reach your destination as your goods will need to be consolidated with other consignments heading to the same destination. Please discuss these options & shipping times with your removal consultant, as shipping times will vary greatly for each destination when using this type of service over an FCL service.
Restricted and Prohibited items when moving to the Philippines
When looking to relocate to the Philippines you will need to consider the extensive list of restricted and prohibited items. The following PDF has an extensive list of prohibited and restricted items when moving to the Philippines: Moving to the Philippines – FIDI Guide
Tax implications when moving to the Philippines
Electrical Goods and Compliance when moving to the Philippines
In Philippines the power plugs and sockets are of type A,B,C. Plug type A has two flat parallel pins, plug type B has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin and type C has two round pins. The Philippines operates on a 220V supply voltage and 60Hz.
Visa and Immigration Information
When travelling or moving to the Philippines, make sure your passport and visas are correct and valid. Check these links to find out some of the latest requirements.
Consulate / Embassy in Australia
Contact the Filipino Embassy by visiting 1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Australia. Phone +612-6273-2535 Fax +61262733984 or follow this link to the Embassy website: https://www.philembassy.org.au/
Visa Information
General visa information can be found here: https://www.philembassy.org.au/consular/visa
Passport Information
General passport information can be found here: https://www.philembassy.org.au/consular/passport
Immigration Information
Follow this link for immigration information and related services: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home.html
Citizenship Information
A guide to citizenship: https://philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/Visas_and_citizenship.html