Residency in the Philippines
A reader recently asked about getting residency in the Philippines.
I have some friends who have stayed there long-term, although not as residents. In the Philippines, many expats decide to just get their tourist visa extended as long as possible, and then do a visa run.
Here is what I was able to find out about how to get permanent residency in the Philippines.
The Special Resident Retiree Visa
This is a popular way for permanent residency in the Philippines. You can qualify as a retiree even if you are as young as 35.
If you are 35 to 49 years old, you can apply for this visa if you are able to deposit US$ 50,000 into a time deposit (CD) in a bank in the Philippines, or into an investment.
If you are 50 years, or older, you have two options.
- You can deposit US$20,000 into a time deposit (CD) at a local bank or an investment of the same amount.
- Or, you can deposit US$10,000 if you have a monthly pension of at least US $800 (US$ 1,000 for couples).
If you have this residency visa, you are able to:
- Live and work in the Philippines.
- Leave and re-enter the Philippines without needing and exit or re-entry permits.
- Bring in up to US$ 7,000 of personal, household items.
You’ll need to go through the usual residency application steps; get your birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, and national police clearance certified by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate for your home country.
There are a few different types of SRR Visas you can get
SRRV Smile: This version lowers the deposit requirement to US$ 20,000, even if you’re between 35 and 49. However, the money must be put into a locked-in deposit in the bank. You’ll only be able to get the money back when you cancel your residency visa.
SRRV Classic: This is the method described above.
SRRV Human Touch: This is for people with pre-existing (but not contagious) medical conditions that leave them in need of medical care and services. This can be used by people 35 and older, and requires a US$ 10,000 locked-in deposit at the bank.
SRRV Courtesy: This is for former Filipino citizens and retired ambassadors and diplomats.
For more details on the SRRV program, visit the Philippine Retirement Authority website.
Staying in the Philippines on a tourist visa
If you’re not going to get a job, or start a business, you can also stay in the Philippines with a tourist visa.
When you first arrive, you’ll be allowed to stay for 21 days as a tourist. Then you can keep applying for extensions. After a year, you will need to leave the country, come back, and start all over.
Some people suggest just staying past their visa expiration date, and paying the fine. But I never recommend that. Who knows if, or when, the government will decide to crack down on that. You wouldn’t want to get to the airport, expecting to pay a small fine, and end up spending the night in jail.
For more information about residency in the Philippines, you can visit the Philippines Bureau of Immigration website.
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