SEN. Joel Villanueva yesterday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to include in the list of priority measures Senate Bill No. 2991 or the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) bill to institutionalize the grant of visas for digital nomads, people who travel while working remotely using digital technologies, to boost Philippine tourism.
Villanueva made the pitch after Marcos issued Executive Order No. 86 last week, which allows the Department of Foreign Affairs to issue DNVs to non-immigrant foreigners seeking to temporarily reside in the Philippines for remote work using digital technologies.
He said institutionalizing the grant of DNVs will make the country a thriving hub for digital nomads, given the favorable work environment in the Philippines.
“We have been advocating for the DNV because of its potential to boost tourism and create job opportunities…We call on the President to make our bill on digital nomad visa a priority measure,” Villanueva said, adding that having such a law will woo more foreigners to work remotely from the country.
Villanueva filed SB No. 2991 in February after observing during his past trips to the country’s tourist destinations that a new type of visa category should be granted to allow foreigners to stay in the country for a longer period while working for a foreign-based employer.
According to the proposed measure, Villanueva said applicants need to provide proof of sufficient income generated outside the country, must hold a valid health insurance within the validity of the visa, must have no criminal record in his/her country, and will not be a threat to the country, among other requirements.
He said the DNVs will be valid for one year, which can be renewed for another year.
Villanueva said that digital nomads cannot be allowed to take local jobs but “can share their knowledge and best practices to the local community.”
Once the proposed measure is signed into law, Villanueva said he is confident that more digital nomads would be enticed to make the Philippines their work hub.
At present, there are more than 50 countries offering this type of visa.
“Digital nomads spend money and therefore, would benefit the country. The Philippines is a promising destination for those who embrace a nomadic lifestyle and leverage technology to work remotely from outside their home country… We must show our foreign visitors that they can work from paradise,” he added.
Last week, Marcos issued EO No. 86 to establish a framework to facilitate the entry of digital nomads by authorizing the DFA to issue DNVs to non-immigrant foreigners who wish to temporarily enter or stay in the country for purposes of working remotely using digital technologies and whose clients are situated outside the country.
Among the conditions for foreigners to be granted DNVs include that the applicant must be a citizen of a country that offers DNVs to Filipinos and where the Philippines has a Foreign Service Post (FSP), must not pose threat to the internal or external security of the Philippines, and must not be employed in the Philippines.
Foreigners who are citizens of countries that offer DNVs to Filipinos but do not have a Philippine FSP may apply for DNV in the nearest country where a Philippine FSP is located.
Foreigners who are holders of valid DNVs may enter and/or stay in the Philippines for a maximum period of one year and may renew their visas for the same duration. They may also be granted multiple entry privileges during the validity of their DNVs.
The DFA, in coordination with the DOJ, DOT, BI, and BIR, shall issue the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the order within 30 days from its effectivity.
