Philippine Residency Options for Foreigners

13(a) Marriage Visa

Permanent Resident - Non-Quota

The most secure path to permanent residency for those married to Filipino citizens.

RequirementFilipino Spouse
Initial Period1 Year Probationary
Permanent StatusAfter 1 Year
InvestmentNone Required
Work RightsAEP Required
Citizenship PathAfter 10 years married

SRRV Retirement Visa

Special Resident Retiree

Popular long-term visa for retirees and those seeking hassle-free residency.

Age Requirement35+ Years Old
Deposit Required$10,000-$50,000
ValidityLifetime (Annual Fee)
InvestmentOptional (Classic)
Work RightsAEP Required
Citizenship PathNo Direct Path

SIRV Investor Visa

Special Investor's Resident

For foreign investors in Philippine corporations or securities.

Investment$75,000 Minimum
Age Requirement21+ Years Old
ValidityIndefinite
DependentsIncluded
Work RightsOwn Business Only
Citizenship PathNo Direct Path

Quota Immigrant Visa

Section 13 Quota

Limited to 50 visas per country per year. Rare but provides true permanent residency.

Quota50/Country/Year
InvestmentPHP 500,000+
ValidityPermanent
ProcessingYears (Backlog)
Work RightsAEP Required
Citizenship PathAfter 10 Years

Quick Comparison

Feature	13(a) Marriage	SRRV	SIRV	Quota
True Permanent Resident	✓	✗	✗	✓
Path to Citizenship	✓ 10 yrs	✗	✗	✓ 10 yrs
Financial Requirement	Filing Fees Only	$10K-$50K Deposit	$75K Investment	PHP 500K+
Annual Renewal	ACR I-Card Only	$360/year	None	ACR I-Card Only
Include Dependents	Separate Applications	✓	✓	Separate Quota
Processing Time	3-6 Months	2-4 Weeks	1-2 Months	Years

13(a) Marriage Visa Details

Requirements for 13(a) Visa

Valid marriage to Filipino citizen (recognized by Philippine law)
Joint petition filed by both spouses
Passport valid for at least 6 months
NSO Marriage Certificate
Police clearance from home country
Medical examination
Proof of financial capacity to support family
Photos (passport and full body)

Timeline

Year 1: Probationary Resident - Single-entry visa, must report annually to BI

After Year 1: Petition for permanent status - Multiple entry, indefinite stay

After 10 Years: May apply for naturalization (Philippine citizenship)

⚠️ Important Warnings

Divorce is not recognized in Philippines - Your home country divorce doesn't dissolve Philippine marriage
13(a) can be revoked if marriage is annulled or you're convicted of a crime
SRRV is not permanent residency - It's a special renewable visa that can be cancelled
All residents need ACR I-Card - Must be renewed annually regardless of visa type
Work permits are separate - Even permanent residents need AEP to work (except SIRV for own business)

Which Option is Best?

Choose 13(a) Marriage Visa if:

You're married to a Filipino citizen
You want true permanent residency with path to citizenship
You don't have significant funds for deposit

Choose SRRV if:

You're single or married to non-Filipino
You want quick, hassle-free long-term stay
You can afford the deposit requirement
You don't need citizenship

Choose SIRV if:

You want to invest in/run a Philippine business
You have $75,000+ to invest
You want work rights for your own company

Consider Quota Visa if:

You want true permanent residency without marriage
You can wait several years for processing
You want eventual path to citizenship

🏠 Residency Pathways

Residency Options