Hey Joe! Tropical Island Dreaming

When you are ready to move how do you send the stuff you really can’t live without? There are several methods of shipping goods to the Philippines. If you have a lot of household goods you might want to send an entire container. Unless you have an exemption be prepared to pay an import duty on your stuff. This can amount to several times the actual cost of shipping depending on what you have sent. Be sure you deal with a reputable company that will clear the container through the customs yard for you.

If you have less you might just ship a few (or quite a few) boxes. You can send boxes through the post office or through a number of commercial package companies. (Like DHL or FED EX) These methods tend to be costly because they are sent by air. You do get your stuff faster that way. If you don’t have a lot to send or if you have some things you will need right away you might want to use this method.

Another common way to send your stuff. (Or just to send goodies to your friends and family) is via Balikbayan boxes. These are available in several sizes (custom sized boxes are also accepted by many of the carriers) and travel by surface shipment so the weight of the contents doesn’t usually affect the price. The time it takes to arrive varies due to where it is sent from and where it is going to. From the west coast of the US to Manila is normally three to four weeks. (Don’t ship cheese)     There a number of companies who ship these boxes so you should be able to find a convenient carrier in most parts of the US. Many countries in Europe also have carriers that will ship these kinds of boxes.

So what are you waiting for? Get a box pack your stuff and get over there. 

I ask these questions then when I start to write I realize how the heck do I answer this?  There have to be as many answers to this question as there are people moving there. This goes back to the scouting trips I mentioned before. Look through the stores markets and supermarkets and see what is there. Then decide what you didn’t see that you really can’t do without. With imported goods this can be tricky because you might see it on the shelves once then never see it again.

For sure if you have hobbies or interests that require special items that would have to be imported It wouldn’t hurt to stock up. For those who like cooking I have been told that quality cookware and gadgets can be very hard to find. Most spices are generally available but you may have to learn the local name and acquire it at one of the open markets.

If you like to read there are local bookstores but in many the selection is fairly small. So it wouldn’t hurt to bring along a few extra. Electronic items can be quite pricey especially computer and home entertainment items. If you bring your own remember the local power is mostly 220 VAC so you might need power converters.

The selection of products available is sometimes very limited. I recently purchased a camera for a friend because the model he wanted was either not available or was too expensive. Many online merchants will not ship to the Philippines. If they do you may find you have to pay an import duty to receive the shipment. Sometimes just a small amount but for many electronic items the duty is 100% or more of the value.

Generally most items or a reasonable substitute are available in local stores you might just have to spend some time looking around.  If anyone else has some examples of hard to find items I would like to hear them.

26 April 2009

Some other items that it would be a good idea to bring is quality sheets and linens. Good quality ones can be quite expensive and hard to find. The lower quality are still expensive and well… Low quality.

Clothing is usually readily available but if you wear large sizes they can be very hard to find. Clothing can be custom made there pretty cheaply however shoes, socks, and under garments are another story.

That is a question I am sure many have pondered. If you are really fond of your car you might consider it but be prepared. In addition to the cost of shipping the vehicle the import duties can be substantial. They base the duties on the cost of the car from a valuation list they have. Not what you actually paid for it.  I have a item at the bottom of the page that explains import duties for vehicles.

Another issue to consider is if your vehicle is not a model that is common in the Philippines you may have trouble getting spare parts. The parts stores and dealer stocks have a limited selection of parts. Unless you have friends outside the country who can ship the required parts you may have to wait a long time to get the required parts I’ve know people who waited two months for special order parts.

 In addition to the taxes and duties there are quite a few documents required. I didn’t list them all here if you are still interested in shipping your vehicle check with the Bureau of Customs for the latest requirements. Most will find it easier to acquire a vehicle in the Philippines.

MOTOR VEHICLES

* Gasoline-fueled cars limited to 2,800 cc not over 1,500 kgs
* Right-hand driven vehicles not permitted
* Autos five years old or older not permitted
* Banned/unauthorized motor vehicles subject to seizure; owner subject to penalties (In some cases they actually crush the car)
The import taxes are as follows:

a. New – 100% duty on the value of your car (This is 100% 0f the cars value from their valuation list plus other duties such as VAT, gas guzzler tax, etc.)
b. less than 2 yrs old – 90%
c. less than 3 yrs old – 80%
d. less than 4 yrs old – 70%
e. less than 5 yrs old – 60%

As I said before none of that duty includes the cost of shipping the car to the Philippines.

25 January 2009

If you are still interested in shipping your car I recommend you deal with a reputable broker who will clear the car through customs and deliver it to you. If it is just delivered to the dock then you have to clear it through yourself. Unless you have connections in the customs office this could turn out to be considerably more expensive.  I did not try to post shipping rates because they vary from company to company.

If you need to know exactly what documents are required there is a link to the Philippine Government website on the links page. You want the site for the Bureau of Customs. The paperwork requirements also change so it is best to check the website for the latest information.

07  August 2009

To answer another question many people have been inquiring about the cost for shipping a car. From the Port of Los Angeles this is around $2000. This includes moving it out of the customs area.  This doesn’t include transporting the car to Los Angeles and it does not include the taxes and fees paid to the government which will be much more. Hope that helps with planning.

Residents of most western countries do not require a visa for entry into the Philippines. Your passport will be stamped with a visa valid for 21 days. If you are married to a Philippine citizen who resides abroad you can get a stamp valid for one year. If you visit a Philippine Embassy or consulate or embassy in your home country you can obtain a visa valid for 59 days.

Both the 21 day and the 59 day visas can be extended for up to two years. After that you will be required to leave the country and re-enter. These are tourist visas and many people reside in the Philippines for years on these type of visas. Departing every year or so then returning to begin the process again. With this type of visa you cannot be legally employed in the Philippines. You also have to extend the visa every 59 days. There are fees for these extensions which you need to keep in mind when you are figuring your budget.

The Philippine Retirement authority also offers a retirement visa which allows multiple entrys and exits and you can stay in country as long as you like without having to leave. There is an investment deposit required for this type of visa. You can contact the Philippine Retirement Authority for detailed information as the requirements have changed several times. A link is located on the Useful Philippine Links Page of this Blog.

There also residency visas which can be obtained. With these visas you do not have to exit the country to renew. Mostly they go to spouses of Philippine citizens but some are also available by application.

A street in Olongapo City 1985

If you are thinking about choosing the Philippines as a place to retire it is important to learn as much as you can before you make the big move. There is information available in books and on the web that can give you important information but the best source of information is to go there yourself and look that is where you can really get a good idea if the Philippines is the right place for you.

Some people may already have friends or family living in the Philippines and so already have a good idea of where they would like to settle if you don’t and especially if you have never traveled there before a good look around is very important. It is a good idea to visit several areas if possible to get a better idea of what there is available.

Visits for a few weeks at a time is not the same as living there full time you’ll find even if you have been there many times there is a lot new to discover when you settle there. For this reason unless you have absolutely decided on where to live it is better to rent for at least few months than to purchase something right away. Actually in most cases as a foreigner the only residence you could purchase would be a condo. Since foreigners are not permitted to own land.

There is quite a difference between the various regions of the Philippines from the Pine covered mountains of Baguio to the sandy beaches of Boracay. Between the hustle and bustle of Manila to the quieter pace of Cebu City. You will encounter different customs and languages. English is widely spoken and Filipino is officially the national language but you will also encounter numerous local dialects. As well as various different fiestas and celebrations.

A trip or two to see the sights should at least give you an idea where to settle first and allow you to meet some of the wonderful people who live in the Philippines.

  Welcome to the new site everyone. Sorry I lost the previous comments in the move. I am making this site separate from the blogging posts I was making before, since the two are really not related.

  That site still exists as a test site if anyone wants to see it. I am still making posts there relating to my blogging experience and I will try new themes and ideas there first to be sure they work. Just click on the Adventures in Blogging link on the right.

  I am still new to this stuff so I hope everyone will bear with me. The content here is still in the formative stage. My previous posts on retiring in the Philippines were rather general in nature. I will try to make the following posts contain more specific and useful information. Please feel free to make comments and ask questions.

 That has been my goal for a number of years. There are many people who do just that. The reasons why are legion. A big one on my list is you can get more bang for your buck here than in the US. It is possible to live comfortably in the Philippines on what might be a starvation income elsewhere.

  That doesn’t mean everything is cheaper there, as a mater of fact prices on imported items are comparable or higher than you would find in the US. So you have to shop wisely. Depending on your budget and lifestyle. Housing can run from as little as $100 a month to several thousand. The electric rate is high but if you don’t run a lot of appliances your monthly bill is usually quite reasonable.

  I’ll be adding new categories and posts to discuss this plan and what you can to to prepare if your retirement is still a ways off. I plan to make the move within the next year to 18 months. I’d also like to hear your thoughts especially those who have already jumped the pond.

Not everyone prepares in advance for the big move some just show up. However if you don’t have firsthand knowledge of the Philippines and the lay of the land you can be in for a very rocky start. Quite a number of people who have chosen this way end up returning to their place of origin very disappointed about their experiences.

  One thing that is very important is research. Read as much as you can especially about the area where you plan to stay. Join Forums and chat groups so you can communicate with people who have already done what you plan to do. Read my blog. Just trying to stick a little commercial in here.

  If possible make a couple of field trips to scout out the lay of the land for yourself. If you are not sure where you want to settle you can travel to several areas and see what they have to offer. No matter what you read or hear you are the best judge of the situation that is right for you.

  The Philippines is the most westernized of Asian countries but it is still an Asian country. Don’t expect everything to be just like home. If you want to retire and live in the Philippines you have to be prepared to make some adjustments.