City in Philippines
Siargao
Siargao is a surfing island off the northeast of Mindanao. General Luna, its main visitor town, had 25,208 residents at the 2024 census. The Bureau of Immigration opened an office there in March 2024, and a 2026 guide describes a growing community of expats and remote workers. [N1] [N2] [B1] [E1]
Why it is here
Why Siargao is on the list.
A city is listed when there is evidence that people move there. This is the evidence.
- The Bureau of Immigration opened an office in General Luna in March 2024, and in 2026 its Commissioner announced it would be strengthened. [B1]
- A 2026 private guide describes a solid, growing community of expats, remote workers and digital nomads, with a coworking space and Starlink; it gives no headcount. [E1]
The Fernshore Index
How it grades, factor by factor.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
90 of 100StrongCountry figure
Price level 0.332 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Philippines. Checked 15 October 2026.
Climate
0 of 100WeakOwn figure
Surigao City station (WMO 98653), on the mainland about 70 km west; Siargao has no station of its own: no month is both 30 °C or under and under 150 mm (January is 29.4 °C but 661.5 mm), so 0 comfortable months.
Source: Climate normals 1991–2020, Surigao City Surigao Del Norte (WMO 98653). Checked 16 October 2026.
Safety
33 of 100WeakCountry figure
Global Peace Index 2026: 102nd of 163.
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 15 October 2026.
Healthcare
33 of 100WeakCountry figure
WHO UHC service coverage index 69 (2023), on the weak line.
Source: UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1). Checked 15 October 2026.
Schools
UnknownCountry figure
Our research doesn't cover schools yet.
Community
UnknownCountry figure
Not covered by Expat Insider 2026
Lifestyle
UnknownCountry figure
Not covered by Expat Insider 2026
Work and career
15 of 100WeakCountry figure
Weak: Executive Order 86 (2025) allows a one-year Digital Nomad Visa, but its guidelines are not published and the visa is not offered on the Department of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal, so we found no working residence route for remote workers; fixed broadband is 7.1 per 100 people (2024), under the 30 line.
Source: Executive Order No. 86: Authorizing the issuance of Digital Nomad Visa; Welcome to the Philippine Visa Online Portal (PH Visa Policy); Philippines Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Status & Reality; Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines. Checked 16 October 2026.
Retirement
50 of 100MixedCountry figure
Mixed: the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV Classic) is open only from age 40, with a visa deposit of about US$15,000 to US$50,000 by age and pension. The page describes indefinite stay and permanent residency, but the age minimum makes the grade mixed.
Source: Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV). Checked 16 October 2026.
Internet
15 of 100WeakCountry figure
7.14 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024).
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines. Checked 15 October 2026.
English
80 of 100StrongCountry figure
EF EPI 2025 score 569, rank 28 of 123 (above the 550 line).
Source: EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Philippines. Checked 16 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
UnknownCountry figure
Research for United States passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
UnknownCountry figure
Research for Canada passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
UnknownCountry figure
Research for Australia passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
UnknownCountry figure
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
The country
More on Philippines.
Cities
Other cities in Philippines.
Questions about Siargao.
How big is Siargao?
Siargao is an island of about 437 square kilometres off the northeast of Mindanao, known as the surfing capital of the Philippines. General Luna, its main visitor town, had 25,208 residents at the 2024 census; that counts only that municipality, not the whole island.
Is there an immigration office on Siargao?
Yes. The Bureau of Immigration opened an office in Poblacion, General Luna on 12 March 2024, offering services including visa extensions. Releases in May and July 2026 say the Commissioner is strengthening it. Opening hours and what each service needs are unknown here.
What is the community and internet like on Siargao?
One 2026 visitor's guide describes a solid, growing community of expats, remote workers and nomads, one well-equipped coworking space, Starlink almost everywhere, and frequent power cuts. It is a single private source with no headcount. Fixed broadband is 7.14 per 100 people nationally.
What do rents look like on Siargao?
Unknown here. On 16 October 2026 one property portal's Surigao del Norte page listed a single result in General Luna, a land lot, and no homes for rent. We found no other rental price source we could open, so do not read this as a low or high rent.
How wet is Siargao, and what does Canada say about the area?
Siargao has no station of its own. Surigao City, about 70 km west, has highs of 29.4 to 32.8 °C and rain from 120 mm in May to 661.5 mm in January. Canada's list of provinces to avoid for non-essential travel includes Surigao del Norte, excluding Siargao Island.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [N1] Surigao del Norte: municipalities, population, Philippine Statistics Authority (2024 Census of Population, reference date 1 July 2024), as compiled by City Population (citypopulation.de, a private site); psa.gov.ph refused automated access (HTTP 403). Checked 16 October 2026. General Luna (municipality, Surigao del Norte) 25,208 people on 1 July 2024 (22,853 in 2020; 16,771 in 2015). Wikipedia gives the same 2024 figure. It counts the municipality only, not the whole island. Coordinates 9.78 N, 126.16 E (General Luna) are from the Wikipedia article on General Luna.
- [N2] Siargao, Wikipedia (not official). Checked 16 October 2026. Siargao is an island of about 437 square kilometres in the Philippine Sea, in Surigao del Norte, whose coast has reefs, points and white sandy beaches; it is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines.
- [B1] BI opens office in Siargao for tourist convenience, Bureau of Immigration (Philippines). Checked 16 October 2026. Published 13 March 2024: the Bureau opened a new office at Purok 1, Poblacion, General Luna on 12 March 2024, to provide immigration services (including visa extensions) for "the growing number of tourists visiting the island" and for expatriates in popular tourist destinations. Two 2026 releases (23 May and 18 July 2026) say the Commissioner is strengthening the local office and working with local governments on enforcement.
- [E1] My Digital Nomad Siargao Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Work Remotely from Siargao in 2026, Girl on a Zebra (private travel blog, not official). Checked 16 October 2026. Written by a visitor who spent almost two months on the island. Says there is "a solid, growing community of expats, freelancers, remote workers and digital nomads" with one well-equipped coworking space, that Starlink is available almost everywhere and that power cuts still happen frequently. Gives no headcount. Single private source.
- [W1] Climate normals 1991–2020, Surigao City Surigao Del Norte (WMO 98653), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026. Surigao City, on the Mindanao mainland about 70 km west of General Luna across the strait; the nearest station with a 1991–2020 record (Siargao has none). Mean daily highs (°C): January 29.4, February 30.0, March 30.9, April 31.9, May 32.8, June 32.6, July 32.4, August 32.8, September 32.7, October 32.0, November 31.0, December 30.2. Rainfall (mm): 661.5, 468.1, 354.8, 210.5, 120, 158.3, 158.4, 142.9, 181, 250.3, 454.2, 597.3. Comfortable (18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm): none (0 months). Station at 9°46′N, 125°29′E, 39.27 m.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Philippines, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 33.16 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 15 October 2026. The Philippines ranks 102nd of 163 countries.
- [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026. The Philippines: 69 out of 100 (2023).
- [K1] Executive Order No. 86: Authorizing the issuance of Digital Nomad Visa, Office of the President of the Philippines (text hosted by The Lawphil Project, Arellano Law Foundation; the Official Gazette refused automated access). Checked 16 October 2026. Signed 24 April 2025. Lets the Department of Foreign Affairs issue Digital Nomad Visas for up to one year, renewable, to people aged 18 or over who show proof of remote work, "sufficient income" earned outside the Philippines (no amount), no criminal record and health insurance, from countries that offer such visas to Filipinos. Section 7 gave the Department 30 days to issue implementing guidelines.
- [K3] Welcome to the Philippine Visa Online Portal (PH Visa Policy), Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Consular Affairs (eVisaPH). Checked 16 October 2026. Lists the types of Philippine visa: 9(a) temporary visitor visas (a-1 to a-8) and visa-free entry for 30 days for nationals of listed countries, which include the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The page names no Digital Nomad Visa.
- [K4] Philippines Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Status & Reality, LiveInPH (private relocation guide, not official). Checked 16 October 2026. Says that on 15 October 2026 the Digital Nomad Visa was "created in law, not operational": the implementing guidelines were not published, no fee or country list had been set, and the visa was not among the options on the Department of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal. We confirmed the portal part on the portal itself (K3); the rest rests on this guide.
- [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 7.14 per 100 people, read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [R1] Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026. Page read 16 October 2026. SRRV Classic: principal applicants aged 40 and over; visa deposit USD 15,000 (pensioner, 50 and over), USD 30,000 (non-pensioner, 50 and over), USD 25,000 (pensioner, 40 to 49) or USD 50,000 (non-pensioner, 40 to 49); a lifetime pension of at least USD 800 a month (USD 1,000 with dependents) for pensioners; PRA processing fee USD 1,500; annual fee USD 360. Benefits listed include "permanent residency in the Philippines" and "multiple entry and indefinite stay", and exemption from separate work or student permits. The page lists no maximum age.
- [F1] EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Philippines, EF Education First (private test-taker index). Checked 16 October 2026. Score 569, rank 28 of 123 countries and regions (read on the page on 16 October 2026; the page does not print a proficiency-band word); the 2026 edition was not yet published on 15 October 2026.