Can you buy Philippine land as long as you get a fake marriage?

We have more or less heard that foreigners cannot own 100% of land in the Philippines. Because land ownership in the Philippines is strictly regulated by the government and is limited to individuals and entities designated by law as Filipino citizens.

Although foreigners cannot directly own land in the Philippines, if you are married to a Filipino citizen, you can buy real estate in the name of your spouse.

Although your name will not appear on the title (Transfer Certificate Title), it can be included in the contract for purchasing land (DEED OF SALE).

If in the future, you are legally separated, or your spouse dies, the land still cannot be transferred to you, because as a foreign country, you are still prohibited from owning land, but you will have a reasonable time to sell the property and collect the proceeds. Otherwise, the property will be transferred to your spouse's heirs and/or relatives.

If you go to "fake marriage" just to own land, the editor does not recommend taking advantage of such legal loopholes, and recommends that foreigners who intend to invest in land in the Philippines achieve it through the establishment of a company. Once registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company can legally purchase any type of real estate in the Philippines, whether it is commercial, residential, or apartment.