Retire in the Philippines, with one trusted team beside you.
From choosing the right retirement visa to finding your home, opening your bank account and staying compliant year after year, IPAC coordinates every step of your retirement in the Philippines from our office in Makati.
WHO IT'S FOR
- Foreign retirees and pensioners aged 40 and above who want long-term residence in the Philippines
- Former Filipinos coming home after becoming citizens of another country
- Foreign spouses of Filipino citizens planning to settle here permanently
- Retired professionals and business owners who want to stay active, invest or start a small venture
- Families of retirees who want a dependable local point of contact
WHY THE PHILIPPINES
- A dedicated retirement program. The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) runs the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), a special non-immigrant visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration that grants permanent residency with multiple-entry privileges.
- Meaningful SRRV benefits. According to PRA, these include exemption from tax on pensions and annuities, from travel tax, from BI exit/re-entry permits and from the BI Annual Report and ACR I-Card, plus a one-time duty-free import of household goods up to USD 7,000.
- Tax on Philippine-source income only. Under the Tax Code, foreign individuals are generally taxed only on income from Philippine sources.
- English widely spoken, warm communities, and a range of retirement settings from Metro Manila to Baguio, Clark-Subic, Cebu and Davao (where PRA keeps satellite offices).
RETIREMENT VISA OPTIONS AT A GLANCE
Figures as published by PRA, BI and BOI and viewed on 26 October 2026. Rates and rules change, so please verify current requirements directly with the PRA, the Bureau of Immigration or the Board of Investments before you act.
| Option | Who it suits | Key requirement (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| SRRV Classic (PRA) | Retirees 40+, with or without a pension | Visa deposit, age 50+: USD 15,000 with qualifying pension / USD 30,000 without. Age 40–49: USD 25,000 / USD 50,000. Qualifying lifetime pension: at least USD 800/month (single) or USD 1,000/month (with dependents). Deposit can later be converted into a condominium purchase or a long-term lease. |
| SRRV Courtesy – Foreign Nationals (PRA) | Retired diplomats, retired officers of DFA-recognized international organizations, qualifying retired military, recognized high achievers | Visa deposit, age 50+: USD 1,500. Age 40–49: USD 3,000 (pensioner) / USD 6,000 (non-pensioner) |
| SRRV Courtesy – Former Filipinos (PRA) | Filipinos naturalized abroad who have not re-acquired Philippine citizenship | Visa deposit, age 50+: USD 1,500. Age 40–49: USD 3,000 |
| 13(a) Immigrant Visa by Marriage (BI) | Foreign spouses of Filipino citizens (eligible nationalities only) | Filed in the Philippines; probationary for one year, then may be amended to permanent |
| Special Investor's Resident Visa – SIRV (BOI/BI) | Retirees who want to invest in a business | Investment of at least USD 75,000 in eligible forms (condominium units are no longer eligible) |
| Temporary Visitor (9A) extensions (BI) | Those testing the waters before committing | Many nationalities enter visa-free for 30 days and may extend. Maximum continuous stay: 36 months (visa-free nationals) / 24 months (visa-required) |
SRRV costs beyond the deposit (PRA): processing fee of USD 1,500 for the principal and USD 300 per dependent, plus a PRA annual fee (USD 360 for SRRV Classic covering the principal and two dependents). The deposit covers the principal plus two dependents. PRA requires applicants to be physically in the Philippines throughout processing and lists processing at 30–45 working days from complete documents. Older SRRV options (Smile, Human Touch, Expanded Courtesy) are no longer offered to new applicants.
HOW IT WORKS: IPAC'S END-TO-END PROCESS
- 1. Discovery & pre-arrival advisory. We map out your goals, budget, pension, family situation and preferred location, then explain your visa routes and estimated costs and timeline before you travel.
- 2. Visa selection & document readiness. We help you choose the best-fit visa and prepare your documents, including the apostille/authentication checklist, police clearance, medical certificate, translations and proof of pension, so your file is complete.
- 3. Filing coordination. We schedule and accompany you through PRA and BI requirements (including the BI Clearance Certificate and NBI clearance where needed) and keep you posted until your visa is issued. Approval rests solely with the government.
- 4. Deposit & banking. We guide you on remitting your visa deposit to a PRA-accredited bank, opening your local accounts and setting up how your pension or income will arrive.
- 5. Housing: purchase or lease due diligence. We help you check titles, tax declarations and the condominium's foreign-ownership limit, review lease terms and coordinate documentation. If you choose, we also coordinate converting your SRRV Classic deposit into a qualifying condominium purchase or long-term lease with PRA.
- 6. Tax & estate considerations. We cover Philippine tax registration where needed, the treatment of pensions and Philippine-source income, and estate and succession planning, working with your home-country advisers and licensed lawyers where required.
- 7. Healthcare & insurance coordination. We help you look at health insurance options and PhilHealth enrolment and connect you with hospitals and licensed insurance providers.
- 8. Settling in. We help you get settled: driver's licence conversion with the LTO, utilities, a local SIM, household importation under SRRV privileges and getting to know your new community.
- 9. Ongoing compliance & care. Every year we remind you about and assist with your PRA annual fee and ID renewal, the BI Annual Report and ACR I-Card (for non-SRRV visas), tax filings, and adding dependents or updating your records.
- 10. Business & investment in retirement (optional). If you want to stay active, we assess retirement ventures and help with business registration, including structures for foreign ownership, as part of IPAC's wider business services.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- A personal retirement roadmap with a visa recommendation, a cost estimate and a timeline
- A document checklist and file review before every submission
- Coordination with PRA, BI, banks, developers, lessors and licensed partners
- Property and lease document review and due-diligence checklist
- Philippine tax orientation and estate-planning coordination
- Settling-in support and a yearly compliance calendar
- One point of contact in Makati for you and your family
IPAC is a consultancy. We are not a law firm, a government agency, or a licensed investment, insurance or real estate brokerage firm. Visa approvals are decided solely by the PRA and the Bureau of Immigration. Legal opinions, notarial acts, regulated investment, insurance and real estate brokerage services are provided only through appropriately licensed professionals or institutions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The principal applicant must be at least 40 years old, according to PRA. Your legal spouse and unmarried children below 21 may join as dependents.
No, not for SRRV Classic, but a qualifying lifetime pension (at least USD 800/month single or USD 1,000/month with dependents) lowers the required deposit.
Under SRRV Classic, PRA allows the deposit to be converted into a condominium purchase or a long-term lease (at least 25 years) of a ready-for-occupancy house and lot, townhouse or condominium worth at least USD 50,000, any time after 30 days from visa issuance. PRA requirements and an inspection apply.
Foreigners cannot own land, but they may own condominium units as long as foreign ownership in the building stays within the 40% limit. Foreigners may lease land for up to 25 years, renewable once for another 25 years. The newer 99-year lease law (RA 12252) applies only to foreign investors with a registered investment, not to a personal residence.
According to PRA, SRRV holders are exempt from tax on pensions and annuities. More generally, foreign individuals are taxed in the Philippines only on Philippine-source income. Your home country may still tax you, so we coordinate with your home-country adviser.
Yes. PRA requires applicants to be physically present throughout processing, which PRA lists at 30–45 working days from submission of complete documents.
Registered foreign nationals must report to BI between 1 January and 1 March each year. According to PRA, SRRV holders are exempt from the BI Annual Report and the ACR I-Card, though PRA has its own annual fee and ID renewal.
A valid foreign licence can generally be used for 90 days from arrival. After that you will need a Philippine licence from the LTO, and we can help you with the conversion.
PRA says SRRV holders don't need a separate work or student visa or permit. Business ownership is still subject to Philippine foreign-ownership rules, and IPAC can help you structure and register a venture.
IPAC is a Makati-based consultancy that helps you prepare, coordinate and stay compliant. We are not a law firm or government agency, and we work with licensed professionals for legal, regulated investment and insurance matters. Approvals rest solely with the PRA and BI.
Start your Philippine retirement plan with a free consultation.
Mobile: 0917 823 6858
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