Retirement Visa · Philippines
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
Indefinite residence in the Philippines for retirees aged 40 and over, through a refundable deposit with the Philippine Retirement Authority. Emerhub handles the application.
From age 40Indefinite stayDeposit from USD 15,000Multiple entry
Overview
What is the SRRV?
The Special Resident Retiree's Visa, the SRRV, lets a foreign national aged 40 or over live in the Philippines indefinitely, with multiple entry. It is run by the Philippine Retirement Authority, the PRA, rather than the Bureau of Immigration, and it works through a refundable bank deposit kept in a PRA-accredited bank. It is one of the most settled long-stay routes in the region.
The size of the deposit depends on your age and whether you draw a pension. On the main option the deposit can later be put toward a property, which is why it is the route for retirees who want to buy a home, where the investor visa is not.
The SRRV was restructured in September 2025. The PRA abolished the old Smile and Human Touch categories, raised the minimum age to 40, and set the application fee at USD 1,500. Only two options remain, Classic and Courtesy. Older guides still describing Smile are out of date.
What you get
Benefits of the SRRV
Why it is one of the most popular retirement routes in Southeast Asia.
Indefinite residence
Live in the Philippines with no fixed end date and multiple-entry travel, for as long as the deposit is held.
No annual report
Exempt from the Bureau of Immigration annual report and the ACR I-Card; the PRA handles your registration.
Foreign pension untaxed
Foreign pensions and foreign-source income are generally exempt from Philippine income tax.
The deposit works for you
It is refundable on cancellation, and on the Classic option it can go toward a home rather than sitting idle.
Visa types
Types of SRRV visa
Since the restructure there are two SRRV options. Classic is the route most retirees use; Courtesy is a reduced-deposit route for a narrower group.
| Option | Who it is for | Deposit | Convertible to property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | Retirees aged 40 and over | USD 15,000 to 50,000 | Yes |
| Courtesy | Former Filipino citizens, and retired officers of recognized international organizations and foreign diplomats | USD 1,500 | No |
Classic deposits vary by age and whether you draw a pension.
Deposits
SRRV Classic deposit amounts
On the Classic option the deposit falls by age, and falls again if you draw a qualifying pension.
| Age | With a pension | Without a pension |
|---|---|---|
| 40 to 49 | USD 25,000 | USD 50,000 |
| 50 and over | USD 15,000 | USD 30,000 |
To use the pensioner rate you show a lifetime pension of at least USD 800 a month, or USD 1,000 a month if you bring dependents. The deposit is refundable if you later cancel the visa, and with PRA approval it can be converted into an eligible investment, such as buying a condominium or taking a long lease on a house and lot.
What to prepare
Documents required
- The SRRV application form, with a valid passport and recent photos.
- A medical certificate from a PRA-accredited clinic.
- A police clearance from your country, apostilled, which is waived from age 70.
- An NBI clearance, if you have been in the Philippines for 90 days or more.
- A Bureau of Immigration clearance certificate.
- A bank certification that the deposit was remitted from abroad to a PRA-accredited bank.
- For the pensioner rate, proof of a lifetime pension.
- For dependents, authenticated marriage and birth certificates.
Documents issued abroad need to be apostilled or authenticated, and the medical and police clearances have short validity windows, so timing matters. We sequence them so nothing expires before filing.
How Emerhub helps
How to apply
The deposit is wired before filing, so we line up the money and the paperwork together.
1
Choose the option and remit the deposit
We confirm whether Classic or Courtesy fits and the deposit you need, then you wire it from your foreign bank to a PRA-accredited bank.
2
Submit to the PRA
We file the application and documents at the PRA, and pay the USD 1,500 principal fee, USD 300 per dependent, and the annual PRA fee.
3
PRA review and BI coordination
The PRA reviews the file and coordinates with immigration. The full timeline, including document prep, usually runs six to ten weeks.
4
Oath and PRA ID
You take a short oath at the PRA and receive the SRRV stamp, your PRA ID card, and the SRRV certificate.
Retiring in the Philippines?
Tell us your age and whether you have a pension, and we'll confirm which SRRV option fits, the deposit you'll need, and handle the application.
Common questions
SRRV FAQs
The questions retirees ask most about the SRRV.
What is the SRRV?
It is the retirement visa run by the Philippine Retirement Authority, giving foreigners aged 40 and over indefinite residence with multiple entry, through a refundable bank deposit. It is separate from the immigration-issued visas and one of the most settled long-stay routes in the region.
How much is the deposit?
On the Classic option it is USD 15,000 to 50,000, depending on your age and whether you draw a pension: USD 15,000 from age 50 with a pension, up to USD 50,000 at age 40 to 49 without one. The Courtesy option is USD 1,500. All of it is refundable if you cancel the visa.
What changed in 2025?
The PRA restructured the program in September 2025. It abolished the Smile and Human Touch categories, raised the minimum age to 40, and set the application fee at USD 1,500. Only Classic and Courtesy remain, so guides still mentioning Smile are out of date.
Can I use the deposit to buy property?
On the Classic option, yes. With PRA approval the deposit can be converted into an eligible investment, such as buying a condominium or taking a long lease on a house and lot. The Courtesy option does not allow conversion.
Do I need a pension?
No. A pension simply lowers the deposit. To use the pensioner rate you show a lifetime pension of at least USD 800 a month, or USD 1,000 with dependents. Without a pension you place the higher deposit instead.
Is the SRRV taxed?
Foreign pensions and foreign-source income are generally exempt from Philippine income tax for SRRV holders, and deposit interest may receive preferential treatment. Your home country may still tax you, so it is worth confirming your own position.
How is the SRRV different from the SIRV?
The SRRV is a retirement visa from the PRA, built on a refundable deposit that can go toward a home. The SIRV is an investor visa from the Board of Investments, built on placing at least USD 75,000 into an active business. Retirees usually want the SRRV; active investors, the SIRV.
Retiring in the Philippines?
Talk to our Manila team
A free, no-obligation call: thirty minutes with our Manila team to confirm which SRRV option fits your age and pension, the deposit you'll need, and the timeline.
Phone+63 928 516 2791
OfficeUnit 710, High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower
2 26th St, Taguig
1634 Metro Manila, Philippines
2 26th St, Taguig
1634 Metro Manila, Philippines