Normally the answer is yes, you must be in the Philippines to complete the SRRV. However, due to the pandemic, the Philippines Retirement Association (PRA) added a workaround.

SRRV Program Updates

Yes. Technically, you complete the SRRV application in the Philippines. However, from the United States, you can start the SRRV process. Once you meet the full SRR Visa requirements, you can send the completed visa application via email to the Philippines Retirement Association. The PRA will petition for an Entry Exception Document (EED) allowing you to enter the Philippines.
Once you arrive in the country, you will complete the remaining requirements for SRRV processing.

If you would like help avoiding the bureaucratic hassles of applying for the SRRV and EED from the US, I have a local visa specialist who can help.

Any questions, let me know.

Cheers,

Marco

Thanks for replying, but I think that I will wait until they open to tourists, as that retirement process would give me serious headaches even being assisted thru an agency.

Hey Ken, it may be best to wait until they open to tourist as the retirement process in PH can be very annoying even with assistance. And they want money upfront and you have no legal recourse to force them to give it back.

Your pages of:

https://nomadicfire.com/philippines-retirement-visa#t-1603971290312
https://ebooks.nomadicfire.com/philippines-retirement-visa

show an account number of:

2204-0086-82

However, per the "pop up" note that shows up at https://pra.gov.ph/ the correct account number may be:

0054-0033-58

If the above is accurate, you may want to change your pages.

Hi Jonas,

The account number depends on if you want to pay in USD or PHP. However, PRA did change the USD account a few months ago, and I still had the old number in the article. Thanks for reminding me to change it.

I appreciate it.

Cheers,

Marco

Is there a minimum amount of time a retirement visa holder must be in the country each year in order to maintain the visa? I'm thinking of visiting now to apply, then travel and live overseas for a couple more years yet before coming back to the Philippines longer term. Could it be used as a second home visa with residence of less than 6 months each year?

Hi Deby,

No. As an SRRV holder, you can come and go as you please. Unlike many other country's Retirement Visas, the Philippines SRRV does NOT require an expat to live in the country for a minimum of 6-months. Using the Philippines as a 2nd home is a wonderful option for people who still want to travel.

Cheers,

Marco

I hope you can clarify.
There is a lot of conflicting information online concerning the courtesy SRRV, as it pertains to Military Service and qualification for the lower $1500 deposit amount.
I'm a Honorably Discharged US Veteran, but was not an Officer, I did not retire from there, and I am not receiving a Military pension.
However, I am well above the SRRV income limits with my monthly Social Security Pension.
Am I eligible to apply for the $1500 Courtesy SRRV?
Thanks.

Hi Daniel,

As long as you can provide a DD214 form showing a salary, your social security meets the limit, and you meet all the other SRRV requirements, you should be eligible for the SRRV EXPANDED COURTESY.

If you want to remove the uncertainty and tired of getting conflicting information, I started a Visa Service with partners in the Philippines who are experts in dealing with the PRA and the SRRV. Click here and they can take care of this hassle for you.

https://nomadicfire.com/philippines-visa-consultation

Cheers,

Marco

Can foreigners over age 60 with the Retirement Visa avail of the restaurant discount that is normally allowed only for Philippine seniors?

I've been staying in the same hotel ever since I started going to Manila 10 years ago, and I would continue staying in that hotel at least for the time being. Is that OK to give the PRA as address, or do they require a permanent Philippine mailing address?

Hi John,

The letter of the law states no. The "Senior Discount" in the Philippines is for Philippine citizens only. However, in practice, I have been out with lots of expats who were given a Senior Discount Card by their Barangay Official (local municipality). There was a law introduced a few years ago that tried to officially extend the benefit to Resident Foreigners, but it was not signed into law.

SRRV does provide discounts from PRA-accredited vendors. You can see the list of SRRV discounts here

Cheers,

Marco

You should be fine with the hotel address. I haven't heard of any issues with not having a permanent address.

Can I apply for the Classic visa even though I probably won't buy or lease a condo? The advantage for me would be that I would only have to deposit $10,000 instead of $20,000 by showing my pension.

Hi John,

Sure you can. If you want to leave the SRRV deposit in the bank rather than invest it in a condo or house, that is not a problem.