Philippines · Retirement
Special Resident Retiree's Visa
Reformed with effect from 1 September 2025 under the Expanded SRRV Programme. The minimum age dropped from 50 to 40, the SRRV Smile and Human Touch categories were abolished, Bureau of Immigration clearance became mandatory for all applicants, and the principal application fee rose from USD 1,400 to USD 1,500. Deposit figures below are taken from the Philippine Retirement Authority's own published schedule.
For USD 15,000–50,000 refundable and no minimum stay, the SRRV is the cheapest indefinite residence in Asia, and the Philippines is genuinely territorial for foreign residents — resident aliens are taxed only on Philippine-source income. The September 2025 drop to age 40 opened it to a materially younger cohort. For a family wanting a cheap, low-obligation Asian residence, nothing competes on price.
Qualifying routes
USD 15,000 deposit. Requires proof of lifetime pension of at least USD 800/month for single applicants or USD 1,000/month with dependants
USD 30,000 deposit
USD 25,000 deposit; the age band opened on 1 September 2025
USD 50,000 deposit
USD 1,500 for age 50+; USD 3,000 for age 40–49 (USD 6,000 for non-pensioner foreign nationals in that band). For former Filipinos, retired diplomats, international organisation officers and military
The facts
- Qualifying figure
- $15k
- Total landed cost
- USD 15,000–50,000 deposit depending on age and pension status, plus a USD 1,500 one-time processing fee, USD 300 per dependant, and an annual fee of USD 360 (Classic). The deposit is convertible into qualifying Philippine investments.
- Timeline
- 1–4 months — Historically fast; the new mandatory BI clearance may extend this
- Physical presence
- None — the SRRV has no minimum stay requirement and is indefinite while the deposit is maintained
- Family
- spousechildren under 21 (additional deposit per dependant beyond the first two)
- Permanent residency
- the SRRV is itself an indefinite resident visa with multiple-entry privileges — functionally permanent while maintained
- Citizenship
- Philippine naturalisation is possible but requires 10 years of residence (reducible to 5 in defined cases) and is rarely pursued by SRRV holders
- Language test
- English or Filipino, plus other conditions, for naturalisation
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- Minimum age 40 (reduced from 50 with effect from 1 September 2025)Visa deposit at the applicable level in an accredited Philippine bankFor pensioner rates: proof of lifetime pension of at least USD 800/month (single) or USD 1,000/month (with dependants)Bureau of Immigration clearance (mandatory for all applicants since 1 September 2025)Medical examination and police clearance
- SRRV Smile (the USD 20,000 no-conditions option) and Human Touch were ABOLISHED on 1 September 2025. Anyone quoting SRRV Smile is working from stale material.
- The deposit must remain with an accredited Philippine bank. You carry Philippine bank credit risk, and the funds are only released on visa cancellation.
- The PRA has changed the programme's terms repeatedly — deposits were raised in 2013, the programme was closed to ex-military categories, and it was restructured again in 2025. Existing holders have generally been grandfathered but this is not guaranteed.
- Philippine estate tax is only 6%, but it applies to the WORLDWIDE assets of residents. A wealthy family taking Philippine residence should confirm whether the 6% reaches their global estate before committing — the rate is low but the base may be larger than expected.
- The SRRV confers residence, not work rights; working requires a separate Alien Employment Permit.
- The mandatory BI clearance introduced in September 2025 adds a step and a failure mode that did not previously exist.
- Foreigners cannot own land in the Philippines — only condominium units (subject to a 40% foreign quota per building) or long leases.