How to Apply for the SRRV Visa: Your Guide to Retiring in the Philippines
Thinking about retiring in the Philippines? The Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) offers a streamlined path to permanent residency for foreigners who want to enjoy a low-cost, tropical lifestyle.
I’ve been through the SRRV process myself and learned firsthand what works, what causes delays, and the common pitfalls that many official guides overlook.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to apply for the SRRV visa, what documents you’ll need, the financial requirements, and how this retirement visa can open the door to long-term living in the Philippines.
Important note: The advice and timing in this guide are written for retirees who are already in the Philippines, currently on a tourist visa, and in possession of an ACR I-Card. If you're applying from abroad or hold a different visa status, some procedures — like visa downgrading or clearance timing — may vary.
SRRV Application Routes: What You Need to Know
There are several routes you can take to apply for the SRRV (Special Resident Retiree’s Visa) in the Philippines. Let’s look at each one individually and explore which option might be best for your situation.
Apply for the SRRV with a Private Marketer
Private SRRV marketers are independent visa consultants who offer personalized support with your retirement visa application. While they can assist with documents, relocation, and scheduling, it's essential to confirm they are officially accredited by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) before engaging their services.
This type of service typically incurs additional fees, usually ranging from $500 to $600, depending on the level of assistance and any optional extras included.
Apply Through a PRA-Accredited SRRV Marketer
PRA-accredited marketers are officially recognized by the Philippine Retirement Authority to assist with SRRV visa applications. They provide a reliable path for retirees who want expert help navigating paperwork, financial requirements, and immigration procedures involved in retiring in the Philippines.
These marketers are compensated directly by the PRA, so there is typically no extra cost to you for their basic application support.
Apply for the SRRV Directly (Self-Application)
The self-application route allows you to apply for the SRRV visa directly with the PRA, without using a third-party agent. This method avoids any additional service fees, but it requires careful attention to documentation — including medical certificates, pension validation, and apostilled police clearances — to meet all SRRV requirements.
Our Recommendation: The Smartest Route to Apply for the SRRV
The PRA does a very good job of supporting self-application — in fact, they actively encourage it. Getting familiar with the SRRV visa requirements and official application forms early helps you quickly identify and become comfortable with items that require forward planning, such as apostilled police clearances, validating pension income, securing medical certificates, and opening a PRA-approved bank account.
While PRA-accredited SRRV marketers can help smooth the process, in most cases they will simply instruct you to follow the application forms — with little added insight.
💡 If you’re comfortable managing paperwork and timelines, self-application is often the smarter and more cost effective option.
Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA): Main Office and Satellite Locations
The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is the government agency responsible for administering the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) program. Working in coordination with the Department of Tourism and the Bureau of Immigration, the PRA helps ensure a smooth, legal, and rewarding retirement experience for foreign nationals in the Philippines.
The PRA’s main office is located in Makati City, Metro Manila. While satellite offices are available in major cities across the Philippines — including Cebu, Davao, and Clark — these branches primarily offer application support and assistance with basic inquiries. Full visa processing, approval, SRRV issuance, and oath-taking are administered directly by the main office.
💡 In my experience, communicating directly with the core PRA team in Makati is the most efficient and reliable route for SRRV applications — even if it means booking a flight.
Find a PRA Office Near You
Use the interactive map below to locate the Philippine Retirement Authority’s main office in Makati and all available satellite offices across the country. Each pin provides the exact address and contact details to help you plan your SRRV application with ease.
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Official SRRV Application Forms
Before you can begin your SRRV application, you'll need to download and review the official forms and guides provided by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). These include the core application form, the medical clearance form and the SRRV deposit remittance instruction. You’ll find all current versions linked directly from the PRA website or available at any PRA office.
💡To give you a quick snapshot of what to expect, here are the three essential forms you’ll need to get started:
Deposit Remittance Instruction (PDF)
Always double-check with the PRA to ensure you are using the most up-to-date versions of each form or guide. Requirements may change without notice.
SRRV Application: Avoiding the Pitfalls
Most SRRV guides list the basic requirements — but it’s the small details and hidden rules that cause delays, rejections, or costly resubmissions. This section highlights the parts of the application that need your extra attention, careful timing, or advance preparation — especially if you want things to go smoothly the first time around.
Let’s move on to building the SRRV application pack, first by looking at the requirements, then focusing on the parts of the requirements that need special attention and could cause frustration or delay.
SRRV Application Document Requirements
💡 The requirement table is prioritised #1 – #8 to ensure you focus first on the documents that are most time-consuming, likely to delay your application, or require action in your home country. Items like pension proof and police clearance, will involve international coordination or formal authentication — so it's essential to prepare these early before moving on to simpler, locally managed steps like the application form and fees.
| Requirement | What to Watch Out For |
|---|---|
| #1 Pension Proof | Must state it is a lifetime pension (not just income); requires apostille or consular authentication |
| #2 Police Clearance (Home Country) | Must be apostilled or authenticated abroad before arriving — translations required if not in English |
| #3 Medical Certificate | Must be on the official PRA form, include full test results, and come from a licensed or accredited clinic |
| #4 NBI Clearance (Philippines) | Required if you’ve been in the Philippines over 90 days; must be applied for in person and can take time |
| #5 Bank Deposit | Funds must be sent from a foreign bank; local transfers and cash deposits are not accepted |
| #6 Completed Application Form | Must be the official PRA form, typewritten (not handwritten), and fully filled out — incomplete forms will be rejected |
| #7 Application and Annual Fees | Must be paid in cash — either in USD or PHP — at the PRA office; no cards or online payments accepted |
| #8 Passport and Visa Validity | Officially, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the application date — but I recommend at least 1 year to avoid disruption. The SRRV process takes 30 to 45 working days, and your tourist visa must remain valid throughout. Your passport is submitted with the application pack, so plan accordingly. |
Pension Proof
💡Providing proof of a pension can be problematic. Typically, pensions fall into one of three categories: lifetime pensions, lifetime annuities, and drawdown pensions. The official policy as of 2025 is that the PRA only accepts the first two types — pensions that provide a guaranteed income for life.
However, with the decline of traditional final salary (defined benefit) pensions and the rise of flexible personal retirement plans — such as 401(k)s in the USA — most modern retirees now rely on drawdown arrangements.
While drawdown pensions are not officially accepted under PRA guidelines, the agency appears increasingly aware of this disconnect. In practice, well-documented pension letters that clearly state the income is paid monthly, guaranteed for life, and meets the minimum threshold may still be considered for approval.
In all cases, pension documents must be underwritten by the appropriate legal authority and formally apostilled.
If you're unable to meet this standard, you also have the option to bypass the pension requirement entirely by increasing your SRRV deposit to USD $20,000.
Lifetime Pension vs. Drawdown Pension: What the SRRV Accepts
| Type | Guaranteed for Life? | Accepted by SRRV? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Pension | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes | Includes state, military, or private pensions with guaranteed lifetime payments. |
| Lifetime Annuity | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes | Often purchased from a pension provider; converts a lump sum into guaranteed monthly income for life. |
| Drawdown Pension | ❌ Not by default | ⚠️ Possibly | Not officially accepted under PRA rules, but may be approved if well-documented to show lifetime income, paid monthly, and supported by apostilled certification. |
Police Clearance (Home Country)
💡The police clearance from your home country is another document that requires forward planning. Fortunately, most countries allow you to apply for this certificate while living abroad, and many have streamlined processes for overseas applicants — including online forms, email updates, and international delivery options.
In some cases, like the United Kingdom, you can even request the apostille at the same time you apply for the police certificate, making it a single-step process. In other countries, such as Australia, Germany, or the United States, the apostille must be requested separately after you receive the certificate, which adds time and complexity.
Regardless of the system, what matters is that your certificate is properly apostilled or authenticated and translated into English if required. Without this step, your document will not be accepted by the PRA.
Police Clearance and Apostille Requirements by Country
The table below outlines how to obtain your police clearance certificate from abroad, which agency handles it, how the apostille process works in each case, and the most important things to watch out for. If your home country is not listed, you can still use this structure as a guide when researching the relevant procedures for your situation.
| Country | How to Apply for Police Clearance from Abroad | Apostille Service | Key Notes & Pitfalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Apply online via ACRO Criminal Records Office | Yes — apostille can be ordered online from the UK Legalisation Office (FCDO) | Ensure that the police certificate is apostilled before submission. The apostille process can be initiated online, and documents can be mailed internationally. |
| Australia | Apply online via the Australian Federal Police | Yes — apostille issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) | Police certificate and apostille are separate steps. Apostille can be obtained by mailing documents to DFAT. Processing times may vary, so plan accordingly. |
| Germany | Apply by mail to the Bundesamt für Justiz using the appropriate application form | Yes — apostille issued by the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) | The certificate must be apostilled in Germany. Processing can take several weeks. Ensure all documents are correctly prepared to avoid delays. |
| United States | Apply to the FBI for Identity History Summary — electronic submission with fingerprinting | Yes — apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State (Office of Authentications) | Arrange for fingerprinting in the Philippines. The apostille process can take several weeks. Utilize authorized service providers to facilitate the process. |
| France | Apply online via Casier Judiciaire National | Yes — apostille via the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs | The police certificate is free and typically processed quickly. However, the apostille must be obtained in France. Plan for international mailing times. |
The information and associated links in this table are based on official sources available as of May 2025. Processes and requirements may change without notice, especially those relating to apostille authorities and overseas application procedures.
NBI Clearance (Philippines)
💡Keep in mind that the NBI clearance process may take longer than expected, especially in busy city offices. You must apply in person, complete biometric fingerprinting, and wait 2 to 3 weeks for processing and background verification. Some applicants experience delays if their name matches someone in the NBI database.
The good news is that NBI offices are widely available across the country, including in most provincial capitals and regional cities — such as Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, and Puerto Princesa — not just in major hubs like Manila or Cebu. However, not all satellite branches are equipped to handle foreign applications, especially those involving an ACR I-Card. When in doubt, it’s best to go to a district or regional office rather than a small mall kiosk.
You must book your appointment online via the official portal at https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph. On the day of your appointment, bring your valid passport, visa, and ACR I-Card — along with photocopies of each. Walk-ins are typically not accepted without an online appointment and complete documentation. Be aware: this is a government office, so appropriate attire is expected (no shorts, sleeveless shirts, or sandals).
Bank Deposit
💡The PRA is strict about the origin of your SRRV deposit. It must come from a bank account in your name outside the Philippines. Local bank transfers or hand-delivered cash will not be accepted. You’ll need a SWIFT receipt and a certificate of inward remittance from the receiving bank — without these, your deposit may not be recognized.
Before transferring any funds, you must first request a Letter of Introduction (LOI) from the PRA. This letter is required by the receiving bank to open the special time deposit account for your SRRV. To request the LOI, email srrvapplication@pra.gov.ph with your full name, chosen bank and branch, the SRRV option you're applying under, the amount to be deposited, and a copy of your passport bio page. After 2–3 working days, you will receive the LOI to present to your chosen bank.
For detailed remittance instructions, see the official Deposit Remittance Instruction (PDF). This includes the bank account details and formatting requirements for SWIFT transfers — such as the exact remittance purpose and recipient information.
Word of warning: Before transferring any funds, make sure your core documents — including pension proof, police clearance, and medical certificate — are complete, valid, and likely to be accepted. If any of these are rejected and your application cannot proceed, recovering the deposit may become difficult or delayed. It’s strongly advised to seek informal confirmation from the PRA that your documentation is in good order before making a financial commitment.
Final Thoughts: Start Your SRRV Journey With Confidence
Applying for the SRRV visa is one of the most practical and rewarding steps you can take if you’re serious about retiring in the Philippines. While the process involves several stages and formalities, it’s absolutely manageable — especially if you take the time to understand what’s required and prepare thoroughly.
From securing a pension letter to getting your police clearance apostilled, every step you complete brings you closer to a simpler, more stable life in the Philippines. Most retirees find that once their application is approved, life becomes significantly easier — from opening bank accounts and renting properties to extending visas and accessing long-term healthcare options.
Whether you decide to self-apply or use a marketer, the key is being proactive, organized, and informed. This site goes far beyond just the SRRV — you'll also find real-world advice on the cost of living, healthcare options like PhilHealth, and practical tips for settling in. From comparing visa paths to understanding cultural nuances, the goal here is to help you make informed, confident decisions about retiring in the Philippines.
Explore your next steps below — or return to the Retirement Main Page for a full library of guides, tools, and insights tailored to expats and retirees.