Which Philippine visa is best for retirement?

For most retirees over 50 with a documented pension of USD 800+/month, SRRV Classic with the USD 15,000 deposit is the lowest-friction path. Under 50 or no pension means a higher deposit (USD 25K–50K). If you are married to a Filipino, 13(a) is almost always better than SRRV.

What is the minimum age for SRRV?

The Philippine Retirement Authority lowered the SRRV minimum age from 50 to 40 effective 1 September 2025. Deposits are higher for the 40–49 tier than the 50+ tier.

What is the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)?

A 1-year visa (renewable once) for foreigners 18+ with USD 24,000/yr in foreign-sourced income, from a country that has a reciprocal DNV agreement with the Philippines. Foreign income is not taxed in the Philippines under DNV.

Can I work in the Philippines on a tourist visa?

No. The 9(a) tourist visa does not grant any work rights. For employment by a Philippine company you need a 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa, which the employer sponsors and DOLE issues an Alien Employment Permit (AEP). For short engagements, a Special Work Permit (SWP) lasts up to 6 months.

How long can I stay on a tourist visa?

Visa-exempt nationals (US, EU, UK, AU, CA, JP, KR, most ASEAN) get 30 days on arrival and can extend in chunks up to 36 months cumulative. Visa-required nationals are capped at 24 months cumulative. Year-1 cost of extensions is PHP 40,000–55,000.

Philippines Visa Pathway — Find the right visa for your situation

Recommended

9(a) Temporary Visitor (Tourist)

The default for visits and stays under three years. Extend in 1–6 month chunks at BI Cebu.

fit score

Verified Jul 2026·source

Why this fits

Built for tourism.
Fits a 6–12 month stay.

What it grants

Multiple-entry visits up to 36 months (visa-exempt) or 24 months (visa-required)
Travel within the Philippines
Open a peso bank account (with ACR I-Card past 59 days)
Extension can be filed and paid online (Landbank Link.Biz or Maya) — an in-person counter route also exists

What it does NOT grant

Right to work for any Philippine employer or client
Right to own land or majority of a corporation
Permanent residence

Annual fees	₱21,000–₱24,000/yr
Processing time	0–1 weeks

BI's own published fee tables carry the footnote "Fees are updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice." These are the figures BI publishes today, but their stated vintage is 2014 and BI disclaims them. No post-2014 revised schedule is published on immigration.gov.ph.

Notes

— Visa waiver (29 days): 3,030 PHP. First extension beyond 59 days: 4,400 (1mo) / 4,900 (2mo) PHP plus ACR I-Card (USD 50 + PHP 500).
— Subsequent regular extension: PHP 2,430 (1mo) / 2,930 (2mo). Extension falling on the 7th month of stay: PHP 3,840 (1mo) / 4,340 (2mo). LSVVE 6-month: PHP 11,500 all-in.
— Continuous 36-month stay, non-visa-required adult: ~PHP 64,000–71,000 in total, i.e. ~PHP 21,000–24,000/yr.
— All BI totals above already include the express-lane fee — do not add one.
— BI's own published fee tables carry the footnote "Fees are updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice." These are the figures BI publishes today, but their stated vintage is 2014 and BI disclaims them. No post-2014 revised schedule is published on immigration.gov.ph.
— Visa-exempt (EO 408) nationals: 30 days free on arrival, max 36 months cumulative.
— Visa-required nationals: must apply at a PH consulate, max 24 months cumulative, and pay a different fee schedule.

Full guide

score = (eligible ? 40 : 0) + (purpose ∈ rule.fitFor.purposes ? 30 : 0) + (stayLength ∈ rule.fitFor.stayLengths ? 20 : 0) + (nationality ∈ rule.fitFor.favoredNationalities ? 10 : 0) [max 100] sort: eligible desc → score desc → costScore asc costScore = depositUsd.high + appFeeUsd.high + appFeePhp.high / 57.5

Value used	Source	As of
Visa rules on record: 17 pathways, each independently eligibility-coded	LiveInPH visa-rules dataset, dated per rule	2026-04
Bureau of Immigration rules: 9(a), 9(g), 13(a), TRV, etc. — verified per rule	Bureau of Immigration	2026-04
SRRV (Retirement) rules: PRA SRRV Classic; age floor lowered 50 → 40 effective 2025-09-01	Philippine Retirement Authority	2026-04

Value used

Source

As of

Visa rules on record: 17 pathways, each independently eligibility-coded

LiveInPH visa-rules dataset, dated per rule

2026-04

Bureau of Immigration rules: 9(a), 9(g), 13(a), TRV, etc. — verified per rule

Bureau of Immigration

2026-04

SRRV (Retirement) rules: PRA SRRV Classic; age floor lowered 50 → 40 effective 2025-09-01

Philippine Retirement Authority

2026-04

Find the right Philippines visa for your situation.

9(a) Temporary Visitor (Tourist)