Your First Month in Makati: SIM Cards, Bank Accounts and a Lease You Understand

Your bags are still half-unpacked in a serviced apartment, your phone is roaming at a punishing rate, and you don't yet have a number anyone local can actually reach you on. That first week is less about settling in and more about getting three things sorted in the right order — because each one makes the next one easier.

Step 1: Get a Local SIM Card First

Before almost anything else, get a Philippine mobile number. You'll need it to receive one-time PINs for bank apps, food delivery, ride-hailing, and building security systems — almost everything in Manila life runs through SMS verification.

The three main carriers are Globe, Smart, and DITO, all with stores and kiosks in Makati's malls (Glorietta, Greenbelt, and the Ayala Avenue area have several). Prepaid SIMs are the fastest option: bring your passport, because under the SIM Registration Act, all SIMs — prepaid and postpaid — must be registered to a verified identity before they can be activated. Registration is typically done through the carrier's app using your passport details.

If you plan to stay long-term, a postpaid plan is worth considering once you have a local address and, ideally, a bank account to link for billing — which is why this step deliberately comes first on this list, even though postpaid usually comes later in practice. For your first few weeks, prepaid with a generous data allowance is the simpler path while you sort out everything else.

Step 2: Sort Out Your Housing Search and Viewings

With a working number, you can now actually coordinate with agents and landlords, book viewings, and get added to building visitor lists at the reception desks. Makati's rental market moves fast, especially for well-located one-bedroom and studio units near the central business district, so having a number you can be reached on same-day matters.

Use this stretch of your first month to view multiple units, compare buildings, and ask every property manager directly about what's included — association dues, parking, utilities, and whether the quoted rent is net of taxes. Don't rush into a signature yet; the lease comes after your finances are in order, which is the next step.

Step 3: Open a Philippine Bank Account

Banks in the Philippines are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and requirements for foreign nationals vary somewhat by bank, but most will ask for your passport with a valid visa, proof of address (which can be a hotel or serviced apartment billing statement in your early weeks), and your Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR I-Card) if you're staying long enough to require one. Some banks are more accustomed to onboarding foreign residents than others, so it's worth calling ahead or asking your employer or relocation contact which branches in Makati are known for handling these applications smoothly.

Having a local account matters for the lease step ahead: landlords and property managers in Makati overwhelmingly prefer rent paid via local bank transfer or post-dated checks drawn on a Philippine account, rather than international wire transfers for every monthly payment. It also lets you set up utility billing and pay condo association dues without currency conversion fees eating into every transaction.

Step 4: Now Sign the Lease — But Read It Properly First

With a number and a bank account in place, you're in a much stronger position to negotiate and sign a lease you actually understand, rather than one you're forced into because you urgently need somewhere to live.

A few things to check line by line before signing anything:

The deposit and advance structure

Most Makati leases follow a standard pattern of an advance rent payment plus a security deposit held for the lease term, refundable (minus any deductions for damage or unpaid bills) at the end. Confirm in writing how and when the deposit will be returned, and under what conditions it can be withheld.

What's actually included

Association dues, water, electricity, and parking are sometimes bundled into the rent and sometimes billed separately. Get this itemized rather than assuming.

Lease term and renewal terms

Understand the minimum lease period, the notice period required if you want to leave early, and whether there's a penalty clause for breaking the lease. Also check how rent increases are handled upon renewal — this should be spelled out, not left vague.

Who you're actually renting from

Ask to see the landlord's proof of ownership or at least confirm the person signing has authority to lease the unit, especially if you're dealing through an agent or subletting arrangement. This is a reasonable, normal question in the Philippine market and any legitimate landlord will expect it.

Flood and building safety information

Before committing to any unit, it's worth checking the general hazard profile of the area using HazardHunterPH (https://hazardhunter.georisk.gov.ph/) or Project NOAH (https://noah.up.edu.ph/), both free government-backed tools. This isn't about any specific building being risky — it's simply good practice anywhere in Metro Manila, and it gives you useful context when asking a building's management about drainage, backup power, and emergency protocols.

Rounding Out the First Month

Once the SIM, the bank account, and the lease are in place, the remaining admin — barangay registration if required for your building, setting up utility accounts in your name, and registering with your embassy if you haven't already — tends to fall into place quickly, because you now have the two things everything else depends on: a number you can be reached on, and an account you can pay from.

The order matters more than people expect. Try to sign a lease before you have a bank account, and you'll likely be stuck paying rent through awkward workarounds for weeks. Try to open a bank account before you have a local number, and you'll be stuck in a queue redoing paperwork. Taken in sequence, the first month in Makati is less overwhelming than it looks from the arrivals hall.