The Philippines offers anyone over the age of 50 the opportunity to retire to the country by demonstrating a modest pension (from US$800) a month and/or a capital deposit (starting at US$1,500).
The residence permit is not permanent but can be renewed annually for a small fee. After ten years, the applicant is eligible for citizenship in the Philippines.
The Philippines SRRV offers four separate categories for qualification, each with its own requirements.
SRRV Smile
This category is for active and healthy retirees over 50 years old. All that’s needed to qualify under this category is a deposit of US$20,000 in a bank approved by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).
SRRV Classic
This category is also for active and healthy retirees but who prefer to make an investment in for example a condominium or long-term lease hold rather than a simple capital deposit.
Applicants in this category must be 50 years or older and must first deposit either US$10,000 (if they can demonstrate a pension of at least US$800 for a single applicant or US$1,000 for a couple) or US$20,000 (without pension). The property purchased or leased long term must have a value of at least US$50,000.
The applicant may use the deposited funds for this residential investment following a three-month holding period.
SSRV Human Touch
This category is for “ailing retirees” of 50 years old or above who require medical/clinical care. Applicants in this category must demonstrate a monthly pension of at least US$1,500 and a health insurance policy accepted in the Philippines.
Additionally, they must deposit US$10,000 in a PRA-approved bank.
SSRV Courtesy
This category is for either 50-year-old-plus former Filipinos or foreigners who are retired officers of international organizations recognized by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Applicants in this category must make a deposit of US$1,500.
SRRV Expanded Courtesy
This category is for foreign nationals, 50 years old or above, who are retired Armed Forces officers of foreign countries with existing military ties or agreements with the Philippine government.
Applicants in this category must demonstrate a pension of at least US$1,000 and make a deposit of US$1,500. In this category, applicants may include a spouse and two other dependents.
Any additional dependents beyond the initial three requires an additional deposit of US$15,000 per dependent (unless they are former Filipinos).
To become eligible for citizenship, the applicant must have held continuous residency in the Philippines for no fewer than 10 years. The applicant must show he has integrated into Philippine society and has good knowledge of the country’s history and any of the country’s official language, one of which is English.
The applicant must submit a Notice of Intent to naturalize one year prior to the filing of the petition before the court. This notice must be sent to the Office of the Solicitor General.
As an investor it might be possible to have the time requirement may be reduced to 5 years if the applicant has established a new industry or introduced a useful invention in the Philippines.
An additional requirement is to own physical property in the Philippines with a value no less than 5,000 Philippine Pesos.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to Philippine Retirement Authority.
Legislation upon which this program is based Executive Order No. 1037, s. 1985.
Compare Asia’s top investment visas: Singapore GIP, Hong Kong CIES, Thailand Privilege, Malaysia MM2H, and more. Investment thresholds, residency paths, and citizenship options explained.
Ramon Garcia Jr., a leading figure in the country’s technology, finance, and investment sectors gives his thoughts on the FIV and Metropolis
The Philippines’ new FIV program attracts 200+ global investors in just one month! A US$75k investment nets permanent residency.
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.