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TIME __ 2:02 pm
Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.8165

Introduced by Representative FRANCISCO JOSE “BINGO” F. MATUGAS II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Covid-19 pandemic forced employees to work from home or work
remotely for safety reasons. Even before the pandemic, however, there has been a
growing number of workers who preferred to work outside of the office wherever
there was an internet connection. The rapid development of telecommunications
technology coupled with employees’ desire to seek work-life balance has given rise to
a new breed of workers ~ the digital nomads. Thus, even after the lockdowns many
employees have chosen to, not just work from home, but from tourists’ destinations
where they can work while exploring the beauty of the place.

Ina 2020 study done by the MBO Partners,’ it was noted that “the population
of the digital nomads in the US also rose dramatically —with an increase of nearly 50%
from 2019.”

Many countries have taken advantage of this phenomenon by providing what
is known as a “digital nomad visa” ~ a visa that gives a visitor the right to stay in a
country and work remotely for a foreign-based employer or business. The digital
nomad visa has come about because “governments at all levels realize that digital
nomads spend more money than tourists, don't put much strain on public services,

' COVID-19 and the Rise of the Digital Nomad retrieved from https://s29814.pedn.co/wp-
content/uploads/2021/05/MBO-Partners-Digital-Nomad-Report-2020.pdf

DATE May 17, 2023

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create jobs for locals - and even start local businesses.”? To date, there are 54 countries
offering some type or form of a digital nomad visa.’ The Philippines is not one of them.

The provision of a digital nomad visa can help jumpstart the local economy
affected by the pandemic especially the tourism industry by allowing digital nomads
to stay longer and spend more in the country. As aptly stated in an article appearing
in Harvard Business Review, “[i]n summary, digital nomads invest their time and
money in the local economy, without taking local jobs, and build bridges with local
knowledge workers - a win-win for both remote workers and local communities.”*

It is believed that the number of digital nomads will continue to grow, and we
can take advantage of this phenomenon by providing these types of workers a legal
way to stay and work from our country.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

FRANCISCO JQSE F. MATUGAS II
Surigao del Norte, First District
(Siargao Island)

2 https://www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/digital-nomads/

> https://nomadgirl.co/countries-with-digital-nomad-visas/

4 “How ‘Digital Nomad’ Visas Can Boost Local Economies by Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury retrieved from
https://hbr.org/2022/05/how-digital-nomad-visas-can-boost-local-economies.



Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives

Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.8165

Introduced by Representative FRANCISCO JOSE “BINGO” F. MATUGAS II

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NEW VISA CATEGORY FOR DIGITAL NOMADS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be referred to as the “Digital Nomad Visa
Act.”

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms, As used in this Act:

a) _ Alien refers to an individual who is not a citizen of the Republic of the
Philippines;
b) _ Digital Nomad refers to an individual who works remotely using digital

technologies while travelling to different countries;

° Digital Nomad Visa refers to the visa granted by the Bureau of
Immigration to a person to whom this Act applies.

SEC. 3. Digital Nomad Visa. An alien who is employed in a country other than the
Republic of the Philippines may, upon making an application to the Bureau of
Immigration, be granted a Digital Nomad Visa to work in the Philippines for a period
of twelve (12) months, renewable for another twelve (12) months, subject to the
following conditions:

a) Said individual must be at least 18 years old;


b) _ Said individual is a digital nomad as defined in Section 2;

° Said individual can show proof of sufficient income and that said
income is generated outside of the Philippines;

d) Said individual holds a valid health insurance valid for the period for
which the Digital Nomad Visa is granted;

) Said individual must not have a criminal record in his home country and

will not be a threat to the Republic of the Philippines;

f) Said individual will pay a fee to be determined by the Bureau of
Immigration to cover the cost of processing and issuing the visa;

g) Said individual will pay a reasonable Entry Fee and Exit Fee, the amount
of which will be determined by the Bureau of Immigration.

SEC. 4. Effect of Grant of Visa. An alien who has been granted a digital nomad
visa shall not be deemed a resident of the Philippines for taxation purposes and the
income they receive from their employer abroad, while in the country, shall not be
considered income from Philippine sources.

SEC. 5. No Employment in the Philippines. An alien who has been granted a
Digital Nomad Visa shall not be employed in the Philippines.

SEC. 6. Revocation of Visa. The Bureau of Immigration may revoke the Digital
Nomad Visa if the holder violates any of the terms or conditions of the visa, or if it is
determined that the holder no longer meets the qualifications established in Section 3
hereof.

SEC. 7. Digital Nomad Visa Register. A register of all individuals issued a Digital
Nomad Visa shall be maintained by the Bureau of Immigration and shall contain such
information as the Bureau may deem necessary.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. The amount necessary to cover the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations
of the Bureau of Immigration. Thereafter, the funding shall be included in the annual

General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Bureau of Immigration, shall,
in consultation with stakeholders, issue within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the rules and regulations necessary to effectively implement its provisions.
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any portion or provisions of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, proclamations, rules,
regulations, and other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

h) SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following,

its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.