Philippines: immigration

How much do overseas Filipinos send home?

Personal remittances received by the Philippines were US$41.6 billion in 2025, equal to 8.5% of GDP, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators. They were US$40.3 billion in 2024.

The World Bank series follows the balance of payments definition of personal remittances. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas compiles the national figures monthly, including cash remittances sent through banks, which are a smaller total; its website blocked automated access on 15 October 2026. The DBM's 2027 budget technical notes cite resilient remittance inflows as one support for growth.

Official sources: World Bank: personal remittances received, Philippines · Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas · DBM: Technical Notes on the 2027 Proposed National Budget (PDF)

How many refugees are in the Philippines?

The Philippines hosted 1,032 refugees and 942 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR population statistics. UNHCR also recorded 55 stateless people and 108,642 others of concern.

Refugees have been recognised as needing international protection; asylum seekers are still waiting for a decision on their claims. Both numbers are small next to the 43,500 people internally displaced within the country at the end of 2025. UNHCR publishes them on its Refugee Data Finder.

Official sources: UNHCR: population data for the Philippines as asylum country (API) · UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

How many Filipinos seek asylum abroad?

807 Filipino refugees and 6,088 Filipino asylum seekers were recorded abroad at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR population statistics. At the end of 2024 there were 785 refugees and 6,742 asylum seekers.

These numbers are very small compared with the millions of Filipinos who work abroad legally. Overseas workers are counted separately by the Department of Migrant Workers and the Philippine Statistics Authority's Survey on Overseas Filipinos. UNHCR publishes the asylum figures on its Refugee Data Finder.

Official sources: UNHCR: population data for the Philippines as origin country (API) · UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

Do I need to register for eTravel to enter the Philippines?

Yes. The Bureau of Immigration tells all arriving Filipino and foreign passengers and crew to register or update their eTravel information at least 72 hours before travel, through the eTravel website or the eGov PH app, according to its advisory.

eTravel registration is separate from a visa: travellers who need a visa must still get one before travelling. The BI publishes visa rules and extension procedures on its website.

Official sources: Bureau of Immigration

How does the Philippines stop human trafficking at airports?

Bureau of Immigration officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercept passengers suspected of being trafficked or illegally recruited, according to BI press releases. In early October 2026 the BI reported intercepting four Filipinos allegedly recruited for jobs in Myanmar and a passenger with a fake departure stamp; on 25 September it stopped three women it suspected were trafficking victims.

The BI does not publish a running total of interceptions on its homepage. Departing Filipinos may be asked for documents showing the purpose of travel, and those going abroad to work must have proper deployment papers from the Department of Migrant Workers.

Official sources: Bureau of Immigration

What share of the Philippines' population are immigrants?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 0.1%. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 2.1%, and the Philippines placed 28th highest of 30. Worldwide: 189th of 193.

Are more people leaving the Philippines than arriving?

In 2025, net migration in the Philippines was -149,315, according to the UN Population Division. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 95,702; its low point was 2006, at -566,647. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was -373, and the Philippines placed 29th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 182nd of 193.

How many refugees does the Philippines host?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 1,032. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 9th highest of 18 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 631. Of 169 countries with 2025 data, 126th highest.

How many refugees have fled the Philippines?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 807. Its high point since 2005 was 2007, at 1,550; its low point was 2016, at 426. East Asia & Pacific median: 73; the Philippines is 9th highest of 29. Of 189 countries with 2025 data, 104th highest.

How much money do migrants send home to the Philippines?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is 8.5% of GDP. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 4th highest of 15 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 2.2% of GDP. Worldwide: 21st of 127.