Philippines · Retire or live on savings
Philippines SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino
Fee: $1,500
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) Courtesy for former Filipinos
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino is a retire or live on savings route for Philippines. The fee is $1,500. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $1,500 · $50/yr
- Processing
- 10 working days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; decision: 10 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees$1,500 · $50/yr
- $1,500PRA processing fee for the principal applicant.
- $50 a yearAnnual PRA fee for the principal and two dependants; USD 10 more for each dependant beyond two.
Shown, not spent$1,500 · $3,000
- $1,500Aged 50 and over.
- $3,000Aged 40 to 49.
RenewalRenewable
The stay is indefinite while the PRA membership, deposit or approved investment and annual fee stay in place.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 10 years of residence
Naturalization needs continuous residence in the Philippines of at least 10 years, reduced to 5 years for some petitioners, such as those who held government office or established a new industry or useful invention.
Processing10 working days
The Philippine Retirement Authority's published turn-around time for processing an SRRV application is 10 working days.
Presence rulesStay rule
Holders are exempt from Bureau of Immigration annual reporting, exit and re-entry permits.
Philippine Retirement AuthorityBureau of Immigration, Philippines
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only from age 40
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The principal applicant is aged 40 or over and is a foreign national or a former Filipino citizen.
What you must show4
- Aged 50 and over: a deposit of USD 1,500.
- Aged 40 to 49: a deposit of USD 3,000.
- The PRA processing fee is USD 1,500 for the principal applicant.
- The annual PRA fee is USD 50 for the principal and two dependants, plus USD 10 for each dependant beyond two.
Documents5
- Documents: passport with a tourist visa valid at least one month during processing, and the PRA form.
- Documents: medical certificate and police clearance issued within 6 months, plus a Bureau of Immigration clearance certificate.
- Documents: 8 photos and proof of inward remittance to a PRA-accredited bank.
- NBI clearance applies if the applicant stayed more than 90 days in the Philippines.
- An old Philippine passport or a Philippine Statistics Authority birth certificate proves former Filipino citizenship.
After you arrive5
- The deposit may be converted into an active investment with PRA approval.
- The investment is a condominium unit, or a residential property leased for at least 25 years, valued at USD 50,000 or the visa deposit amount.
- If the investment is withdrawn, sold or the lease ends, another allowable investment or a redeposit is needed.
- Holders are exempt from Bureau of Immigration annual reporting, the ACR I-Card, exit and re-entry permits, and separate work or student visas.
- Gainful employment requires a DOLE Alien Employment Permit.
What happens at day 180
How Philippines decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 180 days in a calendar yearA non-resident alien who stays in the Philippines for an aggregate of more than 180 days during a calendar year is deemed to be doing business in the Philippines and is taxed at the graduated rates instead of the flat 25%.
- Foreign-source income
Territorial (non-residents)
- Regime tied to this route
Exemption from tax on pensions and annuities and from customs duties on one-time household importation up to USD 7,000 · Tax relief
The Philippine Retirement Authority lists SRRV holders as exempt from tax on pensions and annuities, from customs duties and taxes on one-time importation of household goods and personal effects up to USD 7,000, and from travel tax.
All tax rules for Philippines Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Accommodation
If the investment is withdrawn, sold or the lease ends, another allowable investment or a redeposit is needed
- Police certificate and civil documents
Documents: medical certificate and police clearance issued within 6 months, plus a Bureau of Immigration clearance certificate
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of $1,500.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Reduced-deposit SRRV for former Filipino citizens naturalised in another country who have not re-acquired Filipino citizenship. 1 2 3 4 5 6
What you must show and pay
- Savings of $1,500 · Aged 50 and over. 1
- Savings of $3,000 · Aged 40 to 49. 1
- A fee of $1,500 · PRA processing fee for the principal applicant. 1
- A fee of $50 a year · Annual PRA fee for the principal and two dependants; USD 10 more for each dependant beyond two. 1
Requirements
- The principal applicant is aged 40 or over and is a foreign national or a former Filipino citizen. 1
- Aged 50 and over: a deposit of USD 1,500. 1
- Aged 40 to 49: a deposit of USD 3,000. 1
- The PRA processing fee is USD 1,500 for the principal applicant. 1
- The annual PRA fee is USD 50 for the principal and two dependants, plus USD 10 for each dependant beyond two. 1
- Documents: passport with a tourist visa valid at least one month during processing, and the PRA form. 1
- Documents: medical certificate and police clearance issued within 6 months, plus a Bureau of Immigration clearance certificate. 1
- Documents: 8 photos and proof of inward remittance to a PRA-accredited bank. 1
- NBI clearance applies if the applicant stayed more than 90 days in the Philippines. 1
- An old Philippine passport or a Philippine Statistics Authority birth certificate proves former Filipino citizenship. 1
- The deposit may be converted into an active investment with PRA approval. 3
- The investment is a condominium unit, or a residential property leased for at least 25 years, valued at USD 50,000 or the visa deposit amount. 3
- If the investment is withdrawn, sold or the lease ends, another allowable investment or a redeposit is needed. 3
- Holders are exempt from Bureau of Immigration annual reporting, the ACR I-Card, exit and re-entry permits, and separate work or student visas. 1 4 5
- Gainful employment requires a DOLE Alien Employment Permit. 1 4 5
Stay
- Indefinite multiple-entry stay while the PRA membership, deposit or approved investment and annual fee remain in place.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Open to former Filipino citizens aged 40 and over who have not re-acquired Filipino citizenship.
Work
Gainful employment requires an Alien Employment Permit from the Department of Labor and Employment before work starts.
Family
Legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21; no additional deposit for dependants beyond two. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in the Philippines.
Official sources
- Special Resident Retiree’s Visa · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-12
- Processing of SRRV Application, revised September 2025 · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2025-09-01
- SRRV deposit conversion, eligible property investment, substitution and redeposit rules · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-10
- PRA assistance with Alien Employment Permit and gainful employment requirements · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-10
- Board Resolution No. EED-2014-01: SRRV employment requires DOLE-issued AEP · Bureau of Immigration, Philippines · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2014-08-19
- Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442), Title II: Employment of Nonresident Aliens · Supreme Court E-Library · checked 2026-10-12
- Commonwealth Act No. 473 (Revised Naturalization Law) · Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines · checked 2026-10-11
SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino | Fee $1,500 | – | – |
| SRRV Classic | Needs income of $800+ a month | – | – |
| SRRV Courtesy | Needs savings of $6,000 | – | – |
| LTR · Wealthy Pensioner Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M) Japan | Needs savings of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k | 1 yr | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino?
Savings of $1,500. Aged 50 and over. Savings of $3,000. Aged 40 to 49. A fee of $1,500. PRA processing fee for the principal applicant. A fee of $50 a year. Annual PRA fee for the principal and two dependants; USD 10 more for each dependant beyond two.
How long can I stay on the SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino?
Indefinite multiple-entry stay while the PRA membership, deposit or approved investment and annual fee remain in place.
How long does the SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino take to process?
The Philippine Retirement Authority's published turn-around time for processing an SRRV application is 10 working days.
Can I work on the SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino?
Gainful employment requires an Alien Employment Permit from the Department of Labor and Employment before work starts.
Can I bring my family on the SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino?
Legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21; no additional deposit for dependants beyond two.
Is there a tax break for SRRV Courtesy · Ex-Filipino holders in Philippines?
Philippines SRRV holders: exemption from tax on pensions and annuities and from customs duties on one-time household importation up to USD 7,000: The Philippine Retirement Authority lists SRRV holders as exempt from tax on pensions and annuities, from customs duties and taxes on one-time importation of household goods and personal effects up to USD 7,000, and from travel tax. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Philippines SRRV holders: exemption from tax on pensions and annuities and from customs duties on one-time household importation up to USD 7,000
Tax relief
Details
- On: Pensions and annuities of SRRV holders
- Limit: $7,000
The Philippine Retirement Authority lists SRRV holders as exempt from tax on pensions and annuities, from customs duties and taxes on one-time importation of household goods and personal effects up to USD 7,000, and from travel tax. Executive Order 1037 section 9 is the legal basis for the customs exemption.
Taxed on
Pensions and annuities of SRRV holders; customs duties and import taxes on a one-time shipment of household goods and personal effects up to USD 7,000; travel tax.
Who it applies to
- Holder of a Special Resident Retiree's Visa issued under the Philippine Retirement Authority retirement programme (SRRV Classic, SRRV Courtesy and the other options listed on the PRA page).
- Executive Order 1037 section 9(e): exemption from customs duties and other import taxes, one time only, up to USD 7,000 for household furniture; if transferred to another person within three years of entry, the exempted taxes become payable.
Exclusions
- Income other than pensions and annuities is taxed under the ordinary resident alien rules.
- The same section 9 of Executive Order 1037 allows one automotive vehicle to be imported free of import, customs and sales taxes.
Limits
- $7,000 · Maximum value of household goods and personal effects imported duty and tax free, once only
Tax residence
The PRA exemption is listed as a visa privilege; the source rule for resident aliens is in “Philippines: resident aliens taxed on Philippine-source income only”.
Visas
The exemptions attach to holding an SRRV.
Other taxes
Other taxes such as VAT, real property tax and income tax on Philippine-source income apply as for other resident aliens.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Philippines
Retirement and live-on-savings visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Special Resident Retiree’s Visa · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-12
- Processing of SRRV Application, revised September 2025 · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-10
- SRRV deposit conversion, eligible property investment, substitution and redeposit rules · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-10
- PRA assistance with Alien Employment Permit and gainful employment requirements · Philippine Retirement Authority · checked 2026-10-10
- Board Resolution No. EED-2014-01: SRRV employment requires DOLE-issued AEP · Bureau of Immigration, Philippines · checked 2026-10-10
- Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442), Title II: Employment of Nonresident Aliens · Supreme Court E-Library · checked 2026-10-12
- Commonwealth Act No. 473 (Revised Naturalization Law) · Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.