Retire in Philippines

Philippines Retiree's Visa Requirements

Requirements for Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
So who can apply for the SRRV? Foreign nationals are qualified to apply for the SRRV, as long as they are not classified as restricted aliens by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration. Former Filipino citizens who wish to gain back their Philippine citizenship may also apply for the SRRV. Applicants must be at least 35 years old, have no criminal records, no derogatory records, and are of sound mind and physical health. Lastly, they must be physically present in the Philippines when applying for the SRRV.

Those based abroad may get a PLRA SRRV application form from the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in their country. Additionally, the principal applicant's spouse and dependents (unmarried child or children below 21 years of age) may be included in the application process for the SRRV.

These are the PLRA requirements for the retiree Principal Applicant:

1. Duly accomplished PLRA SRRV Application Form
2. Original Passport with Valid Entry Status
3. Medical Examination Clearance that can be secured in the Philippines or abroad. If secured in the Philippines, the Medical Examination Clearance may be obtained from a clinic in Manila accredited by the PLRA. If secured abroad, it must be translated in English if necessary and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consular office.
4. Police Clearance that can be secured in the Philippines or abroad. If secured in the Philippines, obtain the Police Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation. If secured abroad, Police Clearance must be translated in English if necessary and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consular office.
5. 6 pieces of 1x1 ID pictures, and 6 pieces of 2x2 ID pictures
6. Bank Certificate of Dollar Time Deposit and its Inward Remittance to PLRA Accredited Banks. The PLRA short listed banks are the Bank of Commerce, Equitable-PCI Bank, Metrobank, Bankwise, Allied Bank, East West Bank, PSBank, Union Bank, Bank of China, KEB, Malayan Bank, Robinson's Bank, Security Bank, Tong Yang Bank, RCBC, and Export Bank.
7. Required Deposits:
• Those 35 to 49 years old must have a deposit of at least US$ 75,000
• Those 50 years old and above must have a deposit of at least US$ 50,000
• Former Filipinos must have a deposit of at least US$ 1,500
• Retired ADB officers below 50 years old must have a deposit of at least US$ 50,000 (the US$25,000 balance may be substituted by an existing investment in real property in the Philippines)
• Retired ADB officers 50 years old and above must have deposit of at least US$ 25,000 (the US$25,000 balance may be substituted by an existing investment in real property in the Philippines)
• Retired Ambassadors of foreign countries who have served in the Philippines must have a deposit of at least US$ 1,500
• Retired military personnel and members of the diplomatic corps below Ambassador level must have a deposit of at least US$ 50,000
• Additional Dependents (beyond two dependents) require the retiree Principal Applicant (with the exception of Former Filipinos) to have an additional deposit of US$15,000
8. A processing and service fee of US$1,500 and an PLRA ID Card annual renewal fee of US$10 (not needed to be paid for the first year)

These are the PLRA requirements for the retiree Principal Applicant's Spouse:

1. Duly accomplished PLRA Application Form
2. Original Passport with Valid Entry Status
3. Medical Examination Clearance that can be secured in the Philippines or abroad. If secured in the Philippines, the Medical Examination Clearance may be obtained from a clinic in Manila accredited by the PLRA. If secured abroad, it must be translated in English if necessary and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consular office.
4. Police Clearance that can be secured in the Philippines or abroad. If secured in the Philippines, obtain the Police Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation. If secured abroad, Police Clearance must be translated in English if necessary and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consular office.
5. 6 pieces of 1x1 ID pictures, and 6 pieces of 2x2 ID pictures
6. Marriage Certificate or its other alternatives according to country of origin of the Principal Applicant
7. A processing and service fee of US$300 and a PLRA ID Card annual renewal fee of US$10 (not needed to be paid for the first year)

These are the PLRA requirements for the retiree Principal Applicant's Dependents:

1. Duly accomplished PLRA Application Form
2. Original Passport with Valid Entry Status
3. Medical Examination Clearance that can be secured in the Philippines or abroad. If secured in the Philippines, the Medical Examination Clearance may be obtained from a clinic in Manila accredited by the PLRA. If secured abroad, it must be translated in English if necessary and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consular office.
4. Police Clearance that can be secured in the Philippines or abroad. If secured in the Philippines, obtain the Police Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation. If secured abroad, Police Clearance must be translated in English if necessary and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consular office.
5. 6 pieces of 1x1 ID pictures, and 6 pieces of 2x2 ID pictures
6. Birth Certificate or its other alternatives according to country of origin of the Principal Applicant
7. A processing and service fee of US$300 and a PLRA ID Card annual renewal fee of US$10 (not needed to be paid for the first year)

Once all requirements have been completed by the applicant, they must be submitted to the PLRA. Their address is Philippine Leisure and Retirement Authority, 29th Floor, Citibank Tower, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, 1200 Makati City, Philippines.

You can have your SRRV in as short as five (5) working days. The following is the procedure of getting the SRRV in the Philippines:

1. The first step is to prepare all the requirements stated above.
2. Once completed, submit all of the requirements to the PLRA office at the given address.
3. The applicant may pay fees in cash directly at the PLRA office or to the Land Bank of the Philippines.
4. The applicant then deposits the required dollar deposit to a PLRA accredited bank. The PLRA accredited bank puts the remitted money into the applicant's time deposit account. This special time deposit account shall be written down as a retiree account.
5. The PLRA accredited bank then sends to the PLRA a confirmation of certification of inward remittance by the applicant.
6. The PLRA evaluates the applicant's submitted requirements and certificate of inward remittance from the PLRA accredited bank.
7. After full assessment, the PLRA then prepares an endorsement letter for the applicant to the Bureau of Immigration.
8. The Bureau of Immigration checks and authenticates all submitted documents.
9. Within five (5) working days, the applicant is issued the SRRV.

An SRRV holder may be a member of the program for as long as he or she pays the annual fees and complies with the rules and regulations. If a retiree wishes to terminate his or her SRRV and withdraw from the program, he or she may do so given that the requirements are submitted.

These include a letter stating that the retiree wishes to terminate membership, a duly accomplished Exit Interview Form and surrendering of the PLRA ID Card. The retiree must also surrender his or her passport so that the SRRV in the passport may be cancelled and voided.

If the retiree was a member of the program for only less than three years, he or she must pay all taxes acquired if the tax free importation privilege was availed of. All other fees and financial obligations must be paid and cleared upon termination of the SRRV.