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Americans in Manila

Everything you need to move to, rent in and enjoy Manila as an American, and how it fits with your US taxes, money and paperwork.

Official US

Embassy

U.S. Embassy Manila

Passports, citizenship, voting help, notarials and emergency help for U.S. citizens in the Philippines

1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000

Website · Map · +63 2 5301 2000 · ACSInfoManila@state.gov

Your community group

ExpatStateside Philippines: Americans in the Philippines

Free group for Americans in the Philippines: questions, tips, meetups, Thanksgiving and the Super Bowl.

Opening soon

Vote from ManilaRegister and request your ballot with one form, the FPCA. Send a new one every January.

How to vote

Manila Partners

Global partner · online

The emotional move

A move abroad changes more than your address. Katharina Bergauer (innsicht) supports individuals, couples and families before the move and until everyone feels at home. Online, in English or German.

Book a first conversation

Katharina Bergauer

innsichtEintragungsnummer: 17784

Open

Your business here: partner in Manila

Do you help Americans in Manila with property, business setup, relocation or schools? One partner per category, no competitor next to you.

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Every partner is personally vetted by us and featured through a paid subscription across our magazines. Our guides are written independently. Meet all our partners

Guides for life in Manila

Basics

Cost of living in Manila vs Honolulu: what your dollars really buy

A Metro Manila family spends about USD 6,050 a year on average. A Honolulu household spends about USD 75,000. Here's what that gap means for rent, food, getting around and healthcare.

Basics

ACR I-Card and annual report: the Philippine paperwork every resident American owes

Live in the Philippines on a visa and you carry an ACR I-Card and report to immigration every January or February. Here's who needs what, what it costs and what happens if you're late.

Basics

Typhoon season in Manila: storm signals, floods, outages and how to get your home ready

Manila gets typhoons the way Florida gets hurricanes: often enough that you need a plan. Here's how to read PAGASA's storm signals, what floods do to the city, and what to stock.

Money and work

Philippine taxes for Americans: Philippine-source income, the 1976 treaty and your US return

As a foreigner in the Philippines, you're generally taxed only on Philippine-source income. Uncle Sam still taxes everything. Here's how the two returns fit together.

Money and work

Banking in the Philippines as an American: accounts, IDs, GCash and the IRS

A passport or ACR I-Card gets you in the door at a Philippine bank. Here's what to bring, how e-wallets fit in, how to move dollars over, and what Uncle Sam still expects.

Money and work

VA benefits in the Philippines: the Manila office, the clinic and the Foreign Medical Program

The Philippines is home to the only VA clinic outside the US. Here's who can use it, how the Foreign Medical Program pays for care, and how claims and C&P exams work from Manila.

Home

Renting in Manila: condos, post-dated checks and the fine print

Most Americans in Manila rent a condo in BGC, Makati, Ortigas or Alabang. Expect a year's lease, advance rent and a deposit, and a stack of post-dated checks.

Home

Owning property in the Philippines: condos yes, land no (with a few exceptions)

Americans can buy a condo in Manila but not the land under a house. Here's how the condo cap, long leases, former-Filipino rights and dual citizenship actually work.

Moving and visas

Moving to Manila as an American: the visa routes that actually work

Americans can land in Manila without a visa and extend for months. Staying for good takes the SRRV, a 13A through marriage or a 9G work visa. Here's how each route works.

Moving and visas

The SRRV: how Americans retire to the Philippines on a deposit

The SRRV gives Americans 40 and older permanent residence in the Philippines in exchange for a dollar deposit. Here's what each option costs, what you get and what to check first.

Moving and visas

The 13A visa: how Americans married to Filipinos get permanent residence

Married to a Filipino? The 13A visa gives you a year on probation, then permanent residence. Here's the paperwork, the fees and how the Bureau of Immigration process works.

Health

Healthcare in Manila: private hospitals, PhilHealth and the insurance you'll actually need

Manila's top private hospitals are good, but you pay as you go and Medicare doesn't come with you. Here's how the system works for Americans and how to cover yourself.

Health

PhilHealth and private hospitals in Manila: what foreigners can join and what it really covers

PhilHealth is open to foreigners who live or work in the Philippines, but it pays only part of a private hospital bill. Here's how it fits with HMOs and Manila's big private hospitals.

Schools and study

Schools in Manila: American-style international schools, fees and the Philippine K-12 system

Manila has one of Asia's oldest American-founded schools and a handful of strong IB options. Here's what they cost in 2026-27, how local schools work and what to plan for college.

Getting around

Driving in the Philippines with a US license: the 90-day rule, LTO conversion and Manila traffic

Your US license works for your first 90 days. After that you need a Philippine license, and in Manila you'll also need to learn number coding and plenty of patience.

Getting around

Getting around Manila: Grab, the MRT and LRT, jeepneys and the EDSA crawl

Manila traffic makes LA look tame. Here's how Americans actually get around: Grab for door to door, the trains for beating EDSA, beep cards, jeepneys and what's still being built.

Community

American life in Manila: Thanksgiving, the Fourth and finding your people

Around 375,000 Americans call the Philippines home. Here's where to find them in Manila: holidays, AmCham, churches, veterans, both party groups and the US Embassy.

Community

Filipino-American families in Manila: the balikbayan privilege, dual citizenship and the famous boxes

Married to a Filipino, or a former Filipino yourself? Here's how the balikbayan privilege, RA 9225 dual citizenship, US paperwork for the kids and balikbayan box customs rules fit together.

Going out

American food in Manila: burgers, warehouse clubs, game day and Thanksgiving turkey

Manila may be the easiest city in Asia to eat like an American. Here's where to find US chains, Costco-style warehouse clubs, NFL games at breakfast time and a Thanksgiving turkey.

Going out

Nightlife in Manila: Poblacion, BGC, Malate and how to get home safe

Manila goes out late, from award-winning Makati cocktail bars to BGC's big clubs. Here's where to go, when things open, and the scams and spiking risks to know before your first night out.

America in Manila

The embassy or consulate, business groups, clubs, sport, schools, churches and a taste of home. Checked 2026-11; tell us if something has changed.

Official US

Embassy

U.S. Embassy Manila

Passports, citizenship, voting help, notarials and emergency help for U.S. citizens in the Philippines

1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000

Website · Map · +63 2 5301 2000 · ACSInfoManila@state.gov · Facebook · Instagram · X · LinkedIn · YouTube

Commercial Service

U.S. Commercial Service Philippines

U.S. Department of Commerce trade office helping American companies do business in the Philippines

U.S. Embassy, 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila 0930

Website · Map · businessphilippines@trade.gov

Memorial

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

Largest U.S. World War II cemetery abroad, with 16,859 burials and 36,286 names on the Tablets of the Missing

McKinley Road, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634

Website · Map · +1 703 584 1501

Business and networking

Chamber

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham)

Business network for U.S. companies and U.S.-Philippine trade and investment

2nd Floor, Corinthian Plaza Building, 121 Paseo de Roxas corner Gamboa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City 1229

Website · Map · +63 2 8818 7911 · amcham@amchamphilippines.com · Facebook · X · LinkedIn

Clubs and associations

Association

American Association of the Philippines

Nonprofit linking Americans and Filipinos: scholarships, medical missions and the George Washington Charity Ball

178 Salcedo, Makati 1229

Website · Map · +63 2 892 5198 · info@americanassociation.org.ph · Facebook

Club

American Women's Club of the Philippines (AWCP)

FAWCO member club since 1979: newcomer support, social events and charity programs

AWCP Office, Church of the Holy Trinity, 48 McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City

Website · Map · +63 2 8817 7587 · info@awcphilippines.net · Facebook · Instagram

Club

Manila Elks Lodge 761

Long-standing American fraternal lodge and clubhouse with veterans programs

7th Floor, Corinthian Plaza Building, 121 Paseo de Roxas, Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229

Website · Map · +63 2 8477 1489

Party groups abroad

Listed side by side for information. We are nonpartisan.

Party

Democrats Abroad Philippines

Official Democratic Party country committee for Americans in the Philippines; voter registration help

Website · Map · Instagram

Party

Republicans Overseas

Worldwide Republican organization for Americans abroad; Philippine chapter chair appointed in 2024

Website · Map

Schools and universities

School

International School Manila

Preschool-Grade 12 school founded in 1920, WASC-accredited, offering the IB Diploma

University Parkway, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634

Website · Map · +63 2 8840 8400 · Facebook · Instagram · LinkedIn · YouTube

International school (AP)

Reedley International School

Pre-K to Grade 12; American standards in language arts and social studies, AP in senior high; WASC accredited, CIS and EARCOS member.

2 C. Caparas St., Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City 1604

Website · Map · +63 917 507 9306 · Facebook · Instagram · X · YouTube

International school (WASC)

Brent International School Manila

Episcopal college-prep day school, nursery to Grade 12, IB program; WASC accredited. Campus is in Biñan, Laguna, south of Metro Manila.

Brentville Subdivision, Barangay Mamplasan, Biñan, Laguna 4024

Website · Map · +63 2 8779 5140 · Facebook · Instagram · X

Christian international school (WASC)

Faith Academy

Christian school (elementary to high school) mainly for missionary families, also open to business and diplomatic families; ACSI and WASC accredited. In Cainta, Rizal, east of Metro Manila.

Penny Lane Street, Valley Golf Subdivision, San Juan, Cainta, Rizal 1900

Website · Map · +63 2 8651 7100 · vanguard@faith.edu.ph

International school (WASC)

Southville International School and Colleges

Kinder to Year 12 with the IB Diploma; K-12 accredited by WASC; also offers college degrees.

1281 Tropical Ave. cor Luxembourg St., BF Homes International, Las Piñas City

Website · Map · +63 917 853 2450 · pr@southville.edu.ph · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube

US study advising

EducationUSA Philippines (Fulbright PAEF)

Official US government advising on study in the US, run with the Philippine-American Educational Foundation; holds an annual US university fair in Makati.

20th Floor Greenfield Tower, Williams cor. Mayflower Streets, Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City 1550

Website · Map · +63 2 8812 0919 · Facebook · Instagram · X · YouTube

International school (AP)

Everest Academy Manila

Catholic international school, Kindergarten to Grade 12; college-preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement courses in high school (Grades 10-12) and PSAT/SAT testing.

3846 38th Drive North, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1634

Website · Map · admin@everestmanila.edu.ph · Facebook · Instagram

International school (US diploma)

Canadian American School

Core curriculum follows US Common Core, NGSS and NCSS standards; dual diploma program in which seniors receive a US diploma via Edgenuity Virtual Academy (Cognia-accredited) plus a Philippine DepEd diploma.

2nd Floor LPL Mansions, 122 Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City

Website · Map · info@canamschool.org · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube

International school (AP)