How to buy Philippine stocks (PSE) as a foreigner

Q: Which local Philippine brokers accept foreign non-residents?

COL Financial is the default — explicit any-nationality acceptance, online application, PHP 25,000 (~USD 450) minimum. Timson takes non-resident foreigners with an authenticated passport copy; AB Capital and RCBC Securities also accept non-residents. AAA Equities quotes the smallest minimum (PHP 10,000) but its non-resident acceptance is unverified.

Short answer: two real routes, and the foreign-broker one is simpler. A foreign non-resident can buy PSE stocks (1) through Boom Securities (Hong Kong) or POEMS/Phillip (Singapore) — one HK/SG onboarding, no Philippine TIN, no BSRD — or (2) directly with a local PSE broker: COL Financial, Timson, AB Capital and RCBC Securities all accept non-residents. No visit required either way. For plain beta, EPHE trades on NYSE.

Route 1 — foreign broker (the low-friction default)

Onboard with Boom (the Philippines is on its verified 18-market list) or POEMS under Hong Kong/Singapore KYC. Because custody sits outside the Philippines, the TIN and BSRD questions never arise — the paperwork that creates most of the direct route’s friction simply doesn’t apply. Not for US persons (neither takes Americans).

Route 2 — direct local PSE broker

COL Financial is the default: any nationality, valid passport, online application, PHP 25,000 (~USD 450) minimum. Timson requires an authenticated passport copy; AAA Equities quotes the smallest entry (PHP 10,000) but its non-resident acceptance is unverified — confirm first. Two pieces of paperwork matter on this route:

TIN — some local brokers require the Philippine tax ID.
BSRD — central-bank registration of your inbound capital. It’s what makes later repatriation of proceeds and dividends clean; ask the broker up front whether they handle BSRD as part of onboarding.

US residents

Boom and Phillip won’t take you; the Philippines is on Schwab’s Global Investing Services desk buy-and-sell list (phone-assisted). See the US investors guide.

Without any PSE setup

EPHE (iShares MSCI Philippines ETF) on NYSE — diversified exposure through any standard broker.

Next step

The Philippines country page has the full broker tables, the TIN/BSRD mechanics in detail, and all sources.

Last updated 11 July 2026. Researched via PSE investor materials, local broker documentation (COL, Timson, AB Capital) and Boom/POEMS market-list confirmations; I have not opened a Philippine account. Access mechanics only — not investment advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners buy Philippine stocks?

Yes, two real ways: (1) through a foreign broker — Boom Securities (HK) or POEMS/Phillip Singapore — which sidesteps Philippine TIN and BSRD paperwork entirely; or (2) directly with a local PSE broker that accepts non-residents (COL Financial, Timson, AB Capital, RCBC Securities). No Philippines visit is required on either route.

Which local Philippine brokers accept foreign non-residents?

COL Financial is the default — explicit any-nationality acceptance, online application, PHP 25,000 (~USD 450) minimum. Timson takes non-resident foreigners with an authenticated passport copy; AB Capital and RCBC Securities also accept non-residents. AAA Equities quotes the smallest minimum (PHP 10,000) but its non-resident acceptance is unverified.

Do I need a Philippine TIN or BSRD?

Only on the direct local route. Some local brokers require a TIN (tax ID), and if you bring money into the Philippines you want BSRD registration with the central bank — that's what makes later repatriation of capital and dividends clean. The foreign-broker route (Boom, POEMS) avoids both, because custody sits outside the Philippines.

How does a US resident buy Philippine stocks?

Boom and Phillip don't take American clients, so the US route is Schwab's Global Investing Services desk — the Philippines is on its broker-assisted buy-and-sell list (by phone). Or EPHE (iShares MSCI Philippines, NYSE) for diversified exposure from any US broker.