My Experience So Far with Philippine SRRV Visa

[AAArdvark]

I have just moved to the Philippines and I am in the process of applying for an SRRV (Special Resident Retirement Visa).  There are multiple versions of this visa but the one that I am applying for is the Courtesy Expanded.  This is the cheapest one and applies to someone who has been in the Military that has any kind of agreement with the Philippines which in my case is the USA.  I have to be retired but not from the military and all I need to show is that I had an honorable discharge.  For this lifetime visa, the costs are:

$1400.00  Processing

$1500.00  Deposit in the Bank (kind of like the Thai 400K/800K  (retired but no military, the deposit would be $10,000.00 and it can be used for investment.)

$10.00     Annual fee  (no military $360)

$100.00   Miscellaneous  

A monthly retirement of at least $1000.00 with proof such as a Social Security statement

 

A medical exam is required but they actually come to you.

An NBI/police check is required but they also come to you but exempted if over 70 years old.

 

I am applying in Angeles City at the satellite office of the PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority).  They are friendly and very helpful and of course they speak English.  They walk you through the whole process.  One of the confusing things to me had been the details of how the deposit was to be made but they take care of that too.  The PRA will give you a letter to take to a bank down the street (in Angeles, it is the Bank of Commerce).  The bank will open a USD account and give you the required SWIFT code and account number.  I also had the bank open a Philippine Peso account with a Debit card.  All with no hassle at all.  Currently I am in a brief waiting period while I wait for Transferwise to SWIFT the $1500.00 to the local bank. 

 

One nice, and often overlooked, benefit is that I am allowed to apply for the Philippine Nation Health system.  There is NO reporting other than paying the annual fee.

 

There are "Marketeers" around the country that can do this, some of which will as for a small fee.  If you are in Manila or near one of the satellite offices, just go there.

Baguio, Clark (Angeles), Cebu and Davao.

 

Edited March 3, 2020 by AAArdvark
add offices

[AAArdvark]

Please note the deposit is $1500.00 for ex military and $10,000.00 for not ex military, not both.

[canthai55]

Work for ex military from Canada ?

[AAArdvark]

12 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Work for ex military from Canada ?

If you are saying that you were not actually in the military then no.  If you are over 50 and have a pension of $1500.00 the deposit would be $10,000 or $20,000 with no pension.  50K 35-49 years old.

[canthai55]

I am Canadian. I am ex military

Does Philippines use the same criteria for Canadians as they do for Americans ?

[canthai55]

Here is the relevant section - I do not know if Canadians are included in "existing military ties and/or agreement"

SRRV EXPANDED COURTESY

For foreign nationals, 50 years old & above, who are retired Armed Force officers of foreign countries with existing military ties and/or agreement with the Philippine Government. A monthly pension of at least US$1,000.00 and an SRR Visa deposit of US$1,500.00 are required.

[theoldgit]

Post in breach of Forum Rules removed.

 

18) You will not post phone numbers, email addresses, business names, or web/Facebook/Twitter/Google+ addresses in posts or signatures. Web addresses to personal non-commercial sites sites/blogs, or Facebook/Twitter/Google+ addresses, may be posted in a member's profile page.
 

[Deerculler]

I was with the New Zealand army.

Would be nice if that was accepted.

[HomeSweetHome]

How does it work with the police clearance?

I come from the Netherlands and already live 5 years in Thailand.

Do i also have to get a statement from the police in Thailand before i leave Thailand and go to the Philippines?

[tomauasia]

20 hours ago, canthai55 said:

Here is the relevant section - I do not know if Canadians are included in "existing military ties and/or agreement"

SRRV EXPANDED COURTESY

For foreign nationals, 50 years old & above, who are retired Armed Force officers of foreign countries with existing military ties and/or agreement with the Philippine Government. A monthly pension of at least US$1,000.00 and an SRR Visa deposit of US$1,500.00 are required.

Its only USA and AU

[Pib]

AAArdvark,

Excellent report....brought back memories of my 5 years at Angeles City/Clark AB decades ago...loved it!  For Americans, especially if retired military, retiring to the P.I. is easy.   

 

Of course times and Angeles City has changed a lot over the decades but I'm pretty sure if I was not happily married to a Thai for many decades....that is, a single guy again...that I would make the move to the P.I. also. 

 

Wishing you the best....and don't mess up Angeles City!!!  ????

[AAArdvark]

2 hours ago, HomeSweetHome said:

How does it work with the police clearance?

I come from the Netherlands and already live 5 years in Thailand.

Do i also have to get a statement from the police in Thailand before i leave Thailand and go to the Philippines?

Maybe,  In my case I gave them one from the US even though I had been in Thailand for a full year.  You will need to get one in the Philippines even though the rules state that you would have to be there for over 30 days.  The reason is that the total processing time is more than 30 days.  The PRA will take care of doing it for your.

[AAArdvark]

2 hours ago, tomauasia said:

Its only USA and AU

I don't doubt you but where did you see that information?

[AAArdvark]

21 hours ago, theoldgit said:

Post in breach of Forum Rules removed.

 

18) You will not post phone numbers, email addresses, business names, or web/Facebook/Twitter/Google+ addresses in posts or signatures. Web addresses to personal non-commercial sites sites/blogs, or Facebook/Twitter/Google+ addresses, may be posted in a member's profile page.
 

Please clarify, I posted the email address of a non-commercial government agency.  Is that not permitted?

[theoldgit]

40 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

Please clarify, I posted the email address of a non-commercial government agency.  Is that not permitted?

 

 

18) You will not post phone numbers, email addresses, business names, or web/Facebook/Twitter/Google+ addresses in posts or signatures. Web addresses to personal non-commercial sites sites/blogs, or Facebook/Twitter/Google+ addresses, may be posted in a member's profile page.

 

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[Pib]

Not sure what website is being discussed above but the Philippine Retirement Authority website below (a Republic of the Philippines govt website) provides a lot of info on the SRRV Visa.

https://pra.gov.ph/#

 

[oznomad]

OP, please keep us updated with the process as you go.

 

It was my understanding that the best way was to use an agent, but so far you seem to be going along ok in AC.

 

Thanks

[lopburi3]

On 3/4/2020 at 5:45 PM, oznomad said:

OP, please keep us updated with the process as you go.

 

It was my understanding that the best way was to use an agent, but so far you seem to be going along ok in AC.

 

Thanks

In the past this method was not pushed and indeed many reports of it being the normal go/come/return/more process of most such activities (unlike most peoples experience at Philippine immigration offices for extensions which were almost always positive).  But now this seems to be a preferred system for long stay so likely procedures have been improved (as indeed it appears by this report).  

[canthai55]

On 3/4/2020 at 10:33 AM, tomauasia said:

Its only USA and AU

Not according to the Agency doing mine

[Deerculler]

AM,tomauasia,

I would appreciate if you can tell us more from your agent.

Thank you.

[oznomad]

There is a new fly in the ointment.

A resident alien, since Oct 19, cant get tax residency in Philippines without having a Philippines business.

Said alien still remains liable for taxes if there for 183 days+, but no actual Tax Residency Certificate.

 

https://www.grantthornton.com.ph/insights/articles-and-updates1/lets-talk-tax/guidelines-in-securing-a-tax-residency-certificate/