Investment Immigration to the Philippines for a better experience Life in the Philippines:
I. Recommended preparations before going abroad:
1. Luggage: In principle, one large and one small bag. Use a shoulder bag for the smaller one and ensure the larger one is sturdy and locked.
2. Clothing: Prepare sufficient changes of clothes; casual wear is more comfortable. Footwear: Ladies should avoid high heels; flat sandals are best. Do not wear new shoes (to prevent discomfort).
3. Medication: Gastrointestinal medicine, cold medicine, motion sickness medicine, heatstroke prevention medicine, mosquito repellent, medicated oil, and personal habitual medications.
4. Personal items: Towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, slippers, beach shorts, swimwear, umbrella, sufficient film, batteries, and other personal items.
5. Special note: When arriving at or departing from Boracay, please be sure to wear shorts and sandals. Due to tidal changes, you may need to wade ashore, and the water level can reach above the knees during high tide. Additionally, please take care of your luggage to prevent it from falling into the water.
6. The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate, characterized by high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and high humidity. The average annual temperature is 29°C, with annual precipitation of 2000-3000 mm. From March to May, it is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 22-32°C.
II. Precautions for departure and boarding:
1. Items such as video cameras, high-end cameras, and laptops must be declared when leaving the country (use the red channel at customs and keep the second copy of the customs declaration form, as customs will inspect it upon entry). Each person may carry 20,000 RMB and foreign currency equivalent to 5,000 USD when leaving the country. Amounts exceeding this limit require a foreign currency carrying permit issued by the Bank of China.
2. According to airline regulations, checked luggage is limited to one piece per person (20 kg for international flights, 10 kg for domestic flights). Please pay for any excess weight yourself. Valuables and fragile items, including cash, jewelry, and passports, must be carried with you and never placed in checked luggage. However, liquids exceeding 100 ml and various types of knives must be placed in checked luggage.
3. After passing through border control, if you purchase duty-free items, please manage your time and head to the boarding gate as early as possible to avoid missing your flight.
4. Please take your assigned seat on the plane. If you need to change seats, please contact the flight attendants after the plane has taken off and is flying steadily.
5. Smoking is prohibited in aircraft cabins, tourist air-conditioned buses, elevators, and some restaurants. Please follow the instructions and respect the rights of others.
6. When transferring flights, keep your luggage with you and do not carry or watch luggage for people who are not in your group.
7. Please ensure all liquids are placed in checked luggage.
III. Precautions upon arrival:
1. Dining: Most organized breakfasts are Chinese-Western buffets. When using the buffet, please choose appropriately; do not leave excessive food on your plate or pack it to go. If you have dietary restrictions due to religious beliefs, please inform the travel agency before departure so that proper arrangements can be made.
Local specialties: Seafood with rich flavors is the most famous. Restaurants often feature live bands and folk dance performances. Local Filipino cuisine favors vinegar, garlic, and other spicy seasonings.
Representative dishes include: Lechon (roast suckling pig), Sinigang soup, Adobo, Lapu-Lapu fish, etc.
※ To avoid dietary discomfort, it is recommended to carry some common gastrointestinal medications.
2. Accommodation:
The drinks and beverages in the hotel room refrigerator are expensive. If you need to consume them, please check the price first (some hotel rooms have pay-per-view TV, which also requires extra payment) to avoid awkward situations during checkout. Rooms usually do not provide thermos flasks or boiling water. Hotel tap water is not drinkable. Some hotels provide automatic hot water cups for guests; please pay attention to electrical safety.
When leaving the hotel at night, it is best to travel in pairs to ensure safety. Avoid going to quiet places alone. Please carry a hotel business card in case you get lost.
Philippines voltage: Mostly 220V, with flat two-pin plugs. The voltage and plug equipment in the Philippines are basically the same as those in China.
3. Safety:
During your trip, try to carry fewer valuables. Passports and money should be kept in the hotel safe or carried with you; do not leave them in the room or on the tour bus.
The public transportation system in Philippine cities is relatively underdeveloped, mainly consisting of taxis and "Jeepneys" (a type of local private taxi with fixed routes that can carry over a dozen people at once). The capital, Manila, has a light rail system. Inter-provincial travel is mainly by air.
Participating in a tour group is a collective activity. You should adhere to the meeting times and cooperate with the tour leader and guide. Do not leave the group without permission; if you do, you are responsible for your own actions.
Do not force your way through traffic, and do not cross the road randomly.
Lock your door whenever you enter or leave your room, and keep your room key safe. Use room appliances and equipment correctly, do not smoke in bed, and ensure cigarette butts are extinguished. When using the hotel gym and swimming pool, pay attention to self-protection. Please check your luggage before checking out.
Do not linger in areas with danger warning signs. If there are stimulating activities during the itinerary or free time, participate only within your capabilities.
If you are taking a boat out to sea after breakfast, do not eat too much; too much food in your stomach can easily cause vomiting. After eating seafood, do not drink a lot of ice water; the combination of seafood and ice water can be hard on the stomach.
The Philippines has very little pollution and intense sunlight, so please be sure to take sun protection measures to avoid sunburn.
For water activities, you must wear a life jacket and travel in pairs. Safety is paramount; be careful not to swim into deep water. Do not swim after drinking or if you are feeling unwell. If the hotel is adjacent to the beach, guests are strictly prohibited from swimming in the sea during high tide or after dark.
For your own benefit, it is recommended that you purchase personal travel accident insurance before departure. In case of personal accidents abroad, please seek immediate medical treatment and keep hospital diagnosis certificates, all medical expense invoices, personal incident reports, etc., for the insurance company to assess and settle the claim after returning to the country.
4. Customs and Etiquette:
① The Philippines is the largest Catholic country in Asia; please respect local religious beliefs.
② Philippine currency: The local currency is called the Peso. 1 RMB can be exchanged for approximately 5.2 Pesos, and 1 USD can be exchanged for approximately 43 Pesos (exchange rates fluctuate significantly and are for reference only).
③ The Philippines is a tipping country. It is recommended to tip hotel staff 20 Pesos per day. For luggage handling, it is recommended to tip 20 Pesos per piece, and 50 Pesos per piece for oversized or overweight luggage. If the bill already includes a 10% service charge, tipping is optional. The full-trip tour guide tip is 30 RMB per person per day, totaling 180 RMB for the entire trip.
IV. Precautions when returning to the country:
1. You may not bring duty-free electrical appliances, fresh fruits or food, large shells, coral, horn, or items with political connotations, obscene books, newspapers, periodicals, or video products into the country.
2. You may bring 400 duty-free cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco; duty-free alcoholic beverages above 12% alcohol are limited to 2 bottles (under 1.5 liters).
3. Fill out the entry card and health declaration card → pass through quarantine → pass through immigration inspection → collect checked luggage → pass through customs → exit the arrival hall.
