How to Obtain the Philippines Golden Visa: Guide on Investor’s and Retiree’s Resident Visas

Investors are not allowed to invest in any business. It must belong to the government-approved sector. The list includes:

• business and financial services;

• communication services;

• construction and engineering;

• distribution services;

• education services;

• environmental;

• health and social;

• tourism and travel;

• recreational, cultural, and sports;

• transport services.

You must also show proof of your financial commitment, like bank statements or share certificates and keep your initial investments throughout your stay to keep your resident status.

To get the SIRV, you must meet some criteria. They are:

• being at least 21 years old;

• having no dangerous or contagious diseases;

• having no criminal record.

The investor can add their close family members: a spouse and unmarried children under 21.

There are five types of Golden Visas for retirees:

• Smile;

• Classic;

• Human Touch;

• Courtesy;

• Expanded Courtesy.

An individual must be at least 50 to obtain any of them.

SRRV Smile. The retiree must deposit $20,000 into a Philippine bank. Their retirement status is not important.

SRRV Classic is for retirees who wish to invest in a condo unit or long-term lease on a house and lot. The required deposit is $10,000 if the retiree has a monthly pension or $20,000 if the retiree does not have a pension.

SRRV Human Touch. This option is for retirees who need medical care or clinical services. The required deposit is $10,000, and the retiree must have a monthly pension of at least $1,500.

SRRV Courtesy. This option is for former Filipino citizens or foreign nationals who have served in the Philippine government. The required deposit is $1,500.

SRRV Expanded Courtesy is for foreign nationals who are retired officers of international organizations recognized by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The required deposit is $1,500, and the retiree must have a monthly pension of at least $1,000.

The applicant can add their close family members to the application. That includes a spouse legally married to the applicant and unmarried children under 21.

A visa deposit includes a principal applicant and 2 dependents. If a person wants to add more dependents, they must deposit an additional $15,000 for every person except for former Filipinos.

The process of acquiring SRRV is similar to one of acquiring SIRV. It also takes 1—2 months.

1. Collection of documents
1—2 weeks

The basic list of documents you need to provide includes:

• a passport;

• a birth certificate;

• a marriage certificate, if applicable;

• an application form;

• a police clearance certificate;

• a medical certificate.

All the documents must be translated into English.

An applicant can be required to provide additional papers depending on their situation and background.

2. Making a deposit
1 week

It depends on the chosen type of SRRV and must be transferred inside the Philippines from a Filipino bank account.

3. Application and payment of a fee
1 day

The application is submitted to the Philippines Board of Investments (BOI).

Upon filing it, you will need to pay a processing fee of $1,400 for a principal applicant. The fee for each dependent is $300.

4. Obtainment of SRRV Card
Up to 1 month

SRVV Card equals a residence permit and can be extended annually. Upon extending, the applicant must pay a fee of $360.

5. Application for citizenship
After 10 years

You must live in the Philippines for at least 10 years to obtain Philippine citizenship. You will also be required to know the history of the country and be able to speak at least one of the official languages.

The Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) and Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) program offers a variety of benefits designed to attract foreign investment into the Philippines. Here are some of the key benefits.

1. Investment opportunities. The SIRV program allows foreign nationals to invest in a variety of different sectors within the Philippine economy, such as manufacturing, agriculture, public utilities, tourism, and more. It provides an excellent opportunity to diversify one’s investment portfolio and earn a solid return on investment.

The SRRV holders are allowed to invest in a condo unit or long-term lease on a house and lot. They also can get interest on the bank deposit.

2. Exemptions. SIRV and SRRV holders are exempt from securing an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and the Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC), which are typically required for foreign nationals staying in the country for over 59 days.

3. Access to services. SIRV and SRRV holders have access to all the standard services and infrastructure in the Philippines, including healthcare, education, transportation, and more.

4. Employment opportunities. SIRV holders are permitted to be employed in the Philippines in connection with their investment, which can be a significant advantage for those looking to do business in the country.

5. Residency. With SIRV and SRRV, you can reside indefinitely in the Philippines. The visa grants multiple-entry privileges, making traveling in and out of the country easy.

1. There are two types of Golden Visas: a Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) and a Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV).

2. The SIRV can be obtained by investing $75,000+ in a company in a government-approved sector.

3. The SRRV is granted to retirees over 50 who open a bank deposit. In some cases, they are also required to have a pension.

4. The process of obtaining both types of visas takes 1—2 months.

5. Benefits of the Philippines Golden Visa include investment and employment opportunities, the right to reside in the Philippines and access to healthcare and education in the country.