Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)

The Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) is a special non-immigrant visa issued by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration under the retirement program of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), an agency of the Department of Tourism. It provides foreign retirees with indefinite, multiple-entry residence in the Philippines. The program currently offers two categories: SRRV Classic (for pensioners and non-pensioners) and SRRV Courtesy (for retired diplomats, former military officers, and high achievers). Effective 1 September 2025, the minimum age was lowered from 50 to 40 years and deposit requirements were restructured.

• Minimum age of 40 years (effective 1 September 2025; previously 50 years)
• Foreign national or former Filipino citizen who has not reacquired Philippine citizenship
• No criminal record; free of contagious diseases
• SRRV Classic (Pensioner): Guaranteed lifetime pension of at least USD 800/month (single) or USD 1,000/month (with dependants), plus a time deposit of USD 15,000 (age 50+) or USD 25,000 (age 40–49)
• SRRV Classic (Non-Pensioner): Time deposit of USD 30,000 (age 50+) or USD 50,000 (age 40–49); no monthly income requirement
• SRRV Courtesy: Time deposit of USD 1,500 (age 50+) or USD 3,000–6,000 (age 40–49); limited to retired diplomats, international organization officers recognized by the Philippine DFA, retired military officers from countries with bilateral relations with the Philippines, and high achievers in academics, arts, business, sports, and philanthropy

• Valid passport with current tourist visa
• PRA application form
• Medical certificate (within 6 months)
• Police clearance from country of origin (apostilled or authenticated by Philippine Embassy/Consulate, within 6 months)
• NBI clearance (required if the applicant has stayed 90 or more days in the Philippines)
• Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate
• Eight recent 2×2-inch photographs (white background, within 3 months)
• Bank certificate proving inward remittance of the required deposit to a PRA-accredited bank
• Proof of pension (for pensioner applicants — pension certificate or official pension statement)
• Marriage certificate for spouse (if applicable)
• Birth certificates for children (if applicable)

The SRRV is valid indefinitely — there is no visa renewal. The visa remains valid as long as the required time deposit is maintained and annual fees are paid. Annual PRA membership fees are USD 360 for SRRV Classic, USD 100 for SRRV Courtesy Foreign National, and USD 50 for SRRV Courtesy Former Filipino (each inclusive of principal and up to two dependants). The PRA ID card must be renewed periodically. If the SRRV is cancelled, the visa deposit is returned after processing (approximately 3–4 months).

SRRV Classic holders with deposits of USD 50,000 or more may optionally convert their deposit into approved active investments, including purchase of a condominium unit (subject to the 40% foreign ownership cap per project) or a long-term residential lease of at least 25 years, subject to PRA approval.

The principal retiree may include up to two dependants (one spouse and one child, or two children if the spouse is not joining) without additional deposit. Each additional dependant beyond two requires a separate USD 15,000 deposit (not applicable to former Filipinos under SRRV Courtesy). Dependants receive their own SRRV endorsement and PRA ID.

Foreign pensions and annuities are exempt from Philippine income tax, whether remitted to the Philippines or not. Interest earned on the mandatory visa time deposit is exempt from the 20% final withholding tax on interest income. SRRV holders who earn Philippine-source income are classified as resident aliens and taxed on that income under the National Internal Revenue Code. SRRV holders are exempt from Bureau of Immigration annual reporting requirements and from travel tax if their stay is under one year.

Applicants must first enter the Philippines on a valid tourist visa. The required deposit must be remitted from abroad to a PRA-accredited bank (options include BDO Unibank, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, Security Bank, UnionBank, and others). After remittance, the applicant submits complete documents in person at the PRA head office in Manila or a PRA satellite office. Processing takes 15–20 working days at the head office or 25–30 working days at satellite offices.

The PRA processing fee is USD 1,500 for the principal applicant and USD 300 per dependant, payable at the time of application. Payment of the processing fee does not guarantee approval. Upon approval, the SRRV is stamped in the passport by the Bureau of Immigration and a PRA ID card is issued.