SRRV Retirement Visa 2026: New Deposits, Age 40 Rule, Veterans
The rules changed on 1 September 2025. The Philippine Retirement Authority lowered the entry age to 40, reset the deposit table, and closed the Smile and Human Touch options to new applicants. If you read about the SRRV before that date, half of what you read is out of date. Here is the 2026 picture, with the figures as published and the places where the PRA still decides case by case.
What the SRRV gives you
- Indefinite stay in the Philippines with multiple entry and exit, no tourist extensions.
- Exemption from the Bureau of Immigration’s annual alien registration and from exit and re-entry permits.
- A one-time tax-free importation of household goods and personal effects, up to $7,000 in value.
- Dependents (spouse and unmarried children under 21) included.
- Under the Classic option, the ability to convert the deposit into a qualifying investment such as a condominium purchase or a long-term lease of a house and lot, subject to PRA conditions.
Deposit table, effective 1 September 2025
| Option | Age 40 to 49 | Age 50 and over | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic, with pension | $25,000 | $15,000 | Lifetime pension of at least $800 a month single, $1,000 a couple |
| Classic, without pension | $50,000 | $30,000 | No pension requirement |
| Courtesy | $1,500 | Former Filipino citizens; retired diplomats and officers of international organisations; retired foreign military personnel with a pension | |
The deposit is a time deposit in your name at a PRA-accredited bank. It is not a fee; it is returned if you leave the programme, subject to the holding rules. Separate from the deposit are a one-time processing fee of about $1,400 for the principal applicant and $300 per dependent, and an annual membership fee of $360 covering the principal and two dependents, plus $100 for each additional dependent.
Who qualifies
- Age 40 and over.
- No criminal record: police clearance from your home country, authenticated, plus an NBI clearance if you have been in the Philippines for more than 30 days.
- Medical clearance.
- Proof of pension where you are using the with-pension tier.
- Valid passport with a valid entry stamp or visa.
Retired U.S. military personnel use the Courtesy option with their DD Form 214 or retired military ID and proof of pension. Former Filipinos use it with proof of natural-born status; many also reacquire citizenship under RA 9225, which removes the need for a visa altogether and lifts the land-ownership limits. We compare the two routes for every former Filipino client; see houses with land for returning Filipinos.
Timeline and process
Applicants typically enter on a tourist entry, open the deposit account with the PRA’s inward remittance instructions, and file the application at the PRA with the clearances and medical. Processing commonly takes a few weeks once the file is complete. The visa is stamped in the passport and the PRA issues an ID card renewed on a two-year cycle under the post-2025 rules. We prepare the file before you fly so the only Philippine-side steps are the medical, the NBI clearance and the signing.
Converting the deposit into property
Historically the Classic deposit, once held for the required period, could be withdrawn to buy a condominium unit or to pay a long-term lease on a house and lot, with the property then standing in place of the deposit for as long as you hold the visa. The PRA confirms current conversion conditions at application, so treat this as an option to verify rather than a certainty. When it applies, it turns the visa deposit into the down payment on your retirement home, which is why we plan the visa and the purchase together.
SRRV versus the alternatives
| Route | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| SRRV | Retirees 40+ who want permanence and the duty-free move | Deposit locked while you hold the visa; annual fee |
| Tourist extensions | A trial year before committing | Renewals every 1 to 6 months, up to the 36-month limit; no duty-free shipment |
| 13(a) spouse visa | Married to a Filipino citizen | Tied to the marriage; no deposit |
| RA 9225 reacquisition | Former Filipinos | Not a visa at all: full citizenship rights including land |
Retirement-ready homes
Condominiums a foreign retiree can own, plus developer projects shown for discovery. Availability is confirmed at inquiry.
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Sources: Philippine Retirement Authority SRRV guidelines effective 1 September 2025, as summarised by IMI Daily, GuidePH (updated March 2026), MyDavaoBase and Retiring to the Philippines (veterans). The PRA sets final amounts and conditions at application; confirm before remitting a deposit. Current as of October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SRRV deposit in 2026?
Age 50 and over: USD 15,000 with a qualifying pension or USD 30,000 without. Age 40 to 49: USD 25,000 or USD 50,000. Courtesy option: USD 1,500 for former Filipinos, retired diplomats and retired foreign military. Effective 1 September 2025; the PRA confirms at application.
What pension counts?
A lifetime pension of at least USD 800 a month for a single applicant or USD 1,000 for a couple, documented by your pension papers.
Can U.S. veterans use the SRRV?
Yes. Retired U.S. military personnel with a pension qualify for the USD 1,500 Courtesy deposit with their DD Form 214 or retired military ID.
Can the deposit be used to buy a condo?
The Classic option has allowed conversion of the deposit into a condominium purchase or a long-term lease of a house and lot, subject to PRA conditions, which we confirm at application.
