Special Investor’s Resident Visa
USD 75,000 of inward remittance invested in Philippine shares of stock, a six-month probationary visa, then indefinite stay once the investment is proven and maintained.
The common misunderstanding is that this is a property visa. It is not. Condominium units are expressly excluded, along with wholesale trading and retail or restaurant businesses. The second misunderstanding is that the money stays yours in any usable sense. It must be maintained at the threshold at all times; if the portfolio value falls below USD 75,000 the visa can be cancelled. The bank issues the check payable only to the corporation or brokerage, so the funds never pass through the applicant’s hands. That is the design, and it also means there is no exit.
Programme snapshot
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Main audience | Foreign nationals aged 21 and over placing capital into Philippine equities |
| Route family | Investment |
| Validity | Probationary SIRV for 6 months, then indefinite SIRV once investment is proven |
| Stay per entry | No limit once indefinite |
| Threshold | USD 75,000 (2026), unchanged since the programme began. No multiplier or indexation |
| Threshold form | Fixed inward remittance converted to pesos and invested in shares of stock |
| Renewal | Indefinite SIRV does not expire. The BOI-issued SIRV ID card is valid one year and renewable yearly |
| Settlement | Direct, conditional on maintaining the investment |
| PR clock | None. Special non-immigrant visa |
| Citizenship clock | None |
| Family | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 |
| Local employment | With an Alien Employment Permit only. The visa itself does not authorise work |
| Tax headline | Resident-alien rules on income. Dividends and capital gains have their own BIR treatment. Get local advice |
| Processing | BOI evaluation 7 working days, BI probationary visa at least 10 working days, conversion to indefinite 5 to 14 working days after proof of investment |
Application flow
- Confirm the intended investment is on the allowed list. Real estate, wholesale trading and retail or restaurant businesses are not.
- File with the Board of Investments for evaluation. Allow 7 working days.
- Remit USD 75,000 inward. The bank issues the instrument payable to the corporation or brokerage, not to you.
- Obtain the probationary SIRV from the Bureau of Immigration, at least 10 working days.
- Complete the investment within the 180-day probationary period.
- Submit proof of investment and convert to the indefinite SIRV, 5 to 14 working days.
- Renew the SIRV ID card yearly and submit to the annual BOI audit.
Good fit
A founder or investor who wanted Philippine equity exposure before they thought about residency and treats the visa as a side effect. Someone with USD 75,000 they genuinely intend to leave in Philippine listed shares for a decade. People who value a visa with no deposit at a bank and no annual fee structure tied to dependents.
Poor fit
Anyone who wants to buy a condo, hold cash, or keep the capital liquid. Anyone treating this as a cheaper SRRV: the SRRV deposit is refundable, this is capital at risk. Also poor fit: retirees, who have a better instrument at a lower number, and anyone who might need the money during a market drawdown.
Watchpoints
- The USD 75,000 cannot be withdrawn. The investment has to be maintained at all times. A portfolio that falls below the threshold puts the visa at risk, so a market decline is an immigration event as well as a financial one.
- Real estate is excluded. Condominium units are expressly not an allowed investment. Neither are wholesale trading or retail and restaurant businesses. Check the list before remitting.
- Probationary SIRV expires in 180 days. Convert at least 30 days before expiry. Late investment carries a PHP 1,000 charge plus PHP 100 per day.
- Annual audit and inspection apply. Indefinite holders are audited by BOI-accredited firms. Budget for the audit fee and the paperwork every year.
- Fees are charged per head. USD 300 for the principal plus USD 300 per dependent, plus PHP 2,000 per person for the SIRV ID.
- No route to citizenship. Like every other money route in the country, this is a non-immigrant visa. It buys stay, not standing.
Sources
- Board of Investments, SIRV frequently asked questions, https://boi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SIRV-FAQ.pdf, checked 2026-10-22
- Board of Investments, Revised Rules and Regulations of Book V, checked 2026-10-22
- Supreme Court e-Library, Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/11/41709, checked 2026-10-22