Our Retirement Story
We made the move from Cape Town to the Philippines in 2013, and it was the best decision for our retirement. Let us help you explore if it's right for you too.
2012
Living and working in Cape Town, we began contemplating retirement overseas. Our goal was to be closer to our three children in Australia.
We needed a location with a lower cost of living and a secure lifetime visa for our move.
Late 2012
The Philippines caught our attention due to its Special Retirees Residence Visa. We spent six months communicating with the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to answer our questions.
December 2012
I retired, and we sold our house, storing our belongings in Cape Town. We celebrated Christmas with our family in Australia.
January 2013
We embarked on a three-month backpacking journey across the Philippines, exploring and searching for potential places to live.
Mid-2013
Our travels continued, including visits to Cambodia and Indonesia. By September, we decided to apply for the retirement visa and chose Dumaguete City as our new home.
November 2013
We received our retirement visas and began our new life in the Philippines.
March 2014
We rented a house in Dumaguete City and had our belongings delivered from Cape Town.
Present (2025)
For the past eight years, we've lived in Bacong municipality, 13 km from Dumaguete City, in a rented four-bedroom, double-story house with a small swimming pool.
We continue to travel and explore this beautiful country at every opportunity, enjoying the tranquility of the seas, beaches and mountains but also enjoying the buzz of the metropolitan Philippine cities. Island hopping is a great pastime.
We've developed a wonderful circle of friends, both local and foreign, and truly enjoy our life here.
Being closer to our family in Australia has been the biggest reward, allowing us frequent visits and staying connected.
Our retirement in the Philippines has been fulfilling, offering a rewarding lifestyle while keeping us close to our loved ones.