Special Resident Retiree’s Visa, Courtesy
The same indefinite multiple-entry visa as SRRV Classic, at a deposit of roughly one tenth the size, for a closed list of people the PRA recognises.
This is the most oversold product in Philippine immigration. The deposit figures, USD 1,500 to USD 6,000 (2026), get quoted as though anyone over 40 can have them. The category is not a discount and not a negotiation. It covers retired diplomats, retired officers of international organisations recognised by the Department of Foreign Affairs, retired military from countries with bilateral relations, former Filipinos naturalised abroad who have not reacquired citizenship, and people the PRA itself designates as high achievers in academia, business, arts, culture, music, sport or philanthropy. If you are not on that list, the application fails and the processing fee is gone.
Programme snapshot
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Main audience | Retired officials, retired military, former Filipinos, and PRA-designated high achievers |
| Route family | Retirement |
| Validity | Indefinite stay, multiple entry |
| Stay per entry | No limit while the visa is valid |
| Threshold | USD 1,500 (50 and over), USD 3,000 (40 to 49, pensioner), USD 6,000 (40 to 49, non-pensioner). Former Filipinos: USD 1,500 at 50+, USD 3,000 at 40 to 49. 2026 schedule |
| Threshold form | Reduced fixed deposit, about one tenth of the Classic tier |
| Renewal | None. Annual fee USD 100 for a foreign national principal plus two dependents, or USD 50 for former Filipinos, plus USD 10 per extra dependent |
| Settlement | Direct, at approval |
| PR clock | None. Non-immigrant status |
| Citizenship clock | None |
| Family | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 |
| Local employment | Only with an Alien Employment Permit from DOLE |
| Tax headline | Same as Classic. PRA states exemption on pensions and annuities; other income follows resident-alien rules |
| Processing | Same as Classic. Bank certification 7 to 10 working days, 4 to 8 weeks in practice |
Application flow
- Establish which Courtesy category you actually fall into, in writing, before paying anything.
- Enter the Philippines on a valid tourist visa.
- Remit the reduced deposit to a PRA-accredited bank as an inward remittance and obtain the bank’s certification.
- File with the PRA, attaching the evidence for the category: retirement credentials, DFA recognition, bilateral service record, prior Philippine citizenship, or the achievement record.
- The Bureau of Immigration issues the visa. Pay the annual fee and collect the ID.
- Renew the ID annually.
Good fit
Former Filipinos who naturalised elsewhere and have not reacquired citizenship under RA 9225. Retired diplomats and international civil servants with documentary proof of service. Retired military officers from treaty partners. The occasional genuinely notable professional with a record that speaks for itself and a PRA willing to say so in writing.
Poor fit
Almost everyone else, including the large number of retirees who find the number attractive and assume an agent can place them in the category. Anyone whose only claim is a professional career that was successful but not publicly distinguished. Former Filipinos who could simply reacquire citizenship under RA 9225, which is faster, cheaper and restores rights this visa does not.
Watchpoints
- “High achiever” is decided by the PRA, not by the applicant. There is no published scoring standard, no points table and no appeal route. The outcome is discretionary and cannot be predicted from the criteria text.
- A filing in the wrong category loses the processing fee. The saving against Classic is real but not large enough to justify a speculative application. Get the category confirmed before the remittance.
- The annual fee saving is small. USD 100 against USD 360 sounds like a win until you price the failed filing and the second attempt.
- Former Filipinos usually have a better option. RA 9225 reacquisition of citizenship is a separate process with the Bureau of Immigration and the consulates. It restores land ownership and full civil rights. Filing SRRV Courtesy first can complicate it.
- The deposit is still a deposit. Refundable only on cancellation, after clearances, with fees deducted. Nothing about the smaller amount changes the risk.
Sources
- Philippine Retirement Authority, SRRV programme page and Courtesy category criteria, https://www.pra.gov.ph/SRRVisa, checked 2026-10-22
- Philippine Retirement Authority, 2026 deposit and fee schedule, checked 2026-10-22
- Bureau of Immigration, reacquisition of Philippine citizenship under RA 9225, checked 2026-10-22