The Philippines is home to many U.S. veterans living abroad, and a common question from people planning the move is simple: how do I stay long term without running to immigration every couple of months? If you are not married to a Filipino citizen, the usual answer is the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), issued through the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).
This guide walks through the SRRV the way PRA describes it today: who qualifies, what the deposits and fees are, which papers you need, and the gotchas that trip people up. For life in the Philippines more broadly, see our veterans in the Philippines guide.
A word on numbers before we start. The figures below come from PRA's own SRRV page and its Expanded SRRV Program sheet (document PRA-PD-LORQ-0010, issue date August 2025), which we checked in November 2026. PRA restructured the program in 2025 and can change it again. Confirm the current table with PRA in writing before you wire a single dollar.
What the SRRV actually gives you
According to PRA, the SRRV is a special non-immigrant visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration through PRA. PRA lists these benefits for holders:
- Permanent residency with multiple entry and indefinite stay
- Exemption from the Bureau of Immigration annual report and the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card
- Exemption from BI exit and re-entry permits and from travel tax
- Exemption from tax on pensions and annuities
- A one-time duty and tax exemption on household goods and personal effects up to USD 7,000
- No separate work or student visa needed
- A special PhilHealth rate and discounts at PRA merchant partners
That list is the main reason veterans pick the SRRV over repeated tourist extensions. Once you have it, you come and go on your passport and your PRA ID without the paperwork treadmill.
Who can apply
- The principal retiree must be at least 40 years old.
- Your legitimate spouse can be included.
- Unmarried children under 21, legitimate or legally adopted, can be included.
- Operators and workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and Internet Gaming Licensees are disqualified. PRA says the visa will be cancelled if that involvement is discovered later.
The SRRV Classic: pensioner or non-pensioner
Most U.S. veterans end up looking at the SRRV Classic. The big money question is whether PRA treats you as a pensioner, because the deposit is far lower.
The pension requirement
PRA's sheet asks pensioners for proof of a pension of at least USD 800 per month for a single applicant, or USD 1,000 per month for family applicants. PRA's web page describes this as proof of a lifetime pension. The documents must be apostilled or authenticated.
Many veterans have military retired pay, VA disability compensation, Social Security, or a mix. Whether a particular income stream counts as a "pension" is PRA's call, not ours and not VA's. Ask about your exact income sources during pre-evaluation, by email, before you start gathering apostilles. A VA benefit summary letter from VA.gov and your DFAS retiree account statement are natural starting documents, but let PRA tell you what it will accept.
Visa deposit (SRRV Classic)
| Applicant | Age 40 to 49 | Age 50 and over |
|---|---|---|
| Pensioner | USD 25,000 | USD 15,000 |
| Non-pensioner | USD 50,000 | USD 30,000 |
The deposit covers up to three applicants (you plus two dependents). PRA adds USD 15,000 for each dependent beyond two. The deposit must be inwardly remitted to a PRA-accredited bank. PRA's site lists the accredited banks and also lists accredited condominiums and retirement facilities where a deposit can be converted into a property purchase. Ask PRA how and when the deposit is returned if you later cancel the visa, and get that answer in writing.
The SRRV Courtesy option
PRA also offers an SRRV Courtesy option with much smaller deposits. For foreign nationals it is limited to specific groups:
- Retired diplomats from foreign services
- Retired officers of international organizations recognized by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs
- Retired military personnel who provided military aid and training to the Philippine government via a defense treaty or similar agreement
- High achievers in academics, business, arts, culture, music or sports, including philanthropists
Retired military applicants add a certificate of employment and proof of military service. Applicants aged 40 to 49 must also show a pension or similar benefit of at least USD 1,000 a month. PRA's sheet lists Courtesy deposits for foreign nationals of USD 1,500 at age 50 and over, and USD 3,000 (pensioner) or USD 6,000 (non-pensioner) at age 40 to 49.
Here is the honest part. Being a U.S. veteran does not by itself put you in the Courtesy category. The wording points to people whose service directly supported Philippine forces under a treaty or agreement. If that describes your career, ask PRA during pre-evaluation and send them what you have. If it does not, plan on the Classic.
There is also a Courtesy option for former Filipino citizens (USD 1,500 at 50 and over, USD 3,000 at 40 to 49). That matters for some veteran spouses who were born Filipino and naturalized as Americans.
Fees you will pay
| Fee | Amount (Aug. 2025 sheet) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | USD 1,500 principal, USD 300 per dependent | Not refundable if you withdraw |
| Annual fee, SRRV Classic | USD 360 | Plus USD 100 per dependent beyond two |
| Annual fee, Courtesy (foreign national) | USD 100 | Plus USD 10 per dependent beyond two |
| Annual fee, Courtesy (former Filipino) | USD 50 | Plus USD 10 per dependent beyond two |
Budget separately for apostilles, the medical exam, police and NBI clearances, photos, and the cost of staying in-country during processing.
Documents PRA asks for
From PRA's basic documentary requirements:
- Passport, original plus four photocopies, with a tourist visa valid at least 30 days that can be extended and converted.
- PRA application form, typed, signed, with "N/A" in fields that do not apply.
- PRA medical certificate with results, valid six months. If done abroad it must be apostilled or authenticated.
- Police clearance from your country of origin or last residence, showing no criminal record, valid six months, apostilled. Required for you, your spouse, and dependents 18 and older. Ask PRA which U.S. criminal record check it accepts.
- Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate (BICC).
- NBI clearance, only if you have been in the Philippines 90 days or more before filing.
- Certificate of visa deposit from the accredited bank.
- Proof of relationship for your spouse and children, apostilled.
- Eight 2x2 ID photos, white background, no eyeglasses, taken within three months.
Pensioners add the apostilled pension proof described above.
Step by step: applying as a veteran pensioner
- Email PRA for pre-evaluation. The head office inquiry address on PRA's sheet is srrvinquiry@pra.gov.ph. Describe your age, marital status, dependents, and each income source. Ask which option you fit and exactly which documents they want.
- Collect your income proof in the U.S. Download your VA benefit summary letter from VA.gov and your retiree statements from DFAS or SSA, as applicable. Ask PRA whether these need a separate certification before apostille.
- Get your police clearance and apostilles. Time this carefully, since the police clearance and medical certificate are only valid six months.
- Enter the Philippines on a convertible tourist status. PRA warns that some visa types cannot be converted directly, including a 9(a) visa marked "No Conversion" and the so-called AJACKSSUK visa. If you are unsure, ask PRA before you fly.
- Do the medical exam on the PRA form, either in the Philippines or abroad.
- Remit the deposit to a PRA-accredited bank following PRA's remittance instructions. For a private accredited bank, PRA says you first get a Letter of Introduction from its SRRV inquiry desk.
- File the complete package and pay the processing fee.
- Stay in the country. PRA requires all applicants to be physically present in the Philippines for the whole application process, which it lists as 30 to 45 working days from receipt of complete documents.
"All SRRV Applicants must be physically present in the Philippines for the whole duration of SRRV application process." (PRA, Expanded SRRV Program sheet)
Example (hypothetical): A single 54-year-old Air Force retiree has retired pay plus VA compensation well above USD 800 a month. He emails PRA, confirms his income counts, gets his letters and police clearance apostilled in the States, flies in on a 30-day visa-free entry, extends, places the USD 15,000 pensioner deposit, and keeps his calendar clear of travel for about two months. That is the kind of planning that keeps the process smooth.
Gotchas that cost people time
- Expired documents. Six-month validity on the medical and police clearance goes fast when apostilles and mail are involved.
- Leaving the country mid-process. Do not book that Bangkok trip until your SRRV is done.
- Offices and email addresses change. PRA announced that its Clark satellite office would be temporarily closed from April 15, 2026, with Central Luzon retirees served at the Makati head office and through an SRRV service caravan. PRA also announced new Servicing Division email addresses in February 2026. Check PRA's announcements page for current contacts.
- PRA office hours. PRA's site lists Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., closed to the public on Fridays.
- After approval. PRA says to apply for restamping of the SRRV sticker only when you renew your passport, and to bring a new photo when renewing your PRA ID.
SRRV or 13(a): which fits you?
If you are married to a Filipino citizen, the 13(a) non-quota immigrant visa is often the more natural route. We cover it in detail in our post on the 13(a) spouse visa and the Balikbayan privilege. In short:
| SRRV | 13(a) | |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Age and funds | Marriage to a Filipino citizen |
| Deposit | Yes (see tables above) | No PRA deposit |
| Annual fee | Yes, to PRA | No PRA fee; BI rules apply |
| BI annual report and ACR I-Card | Exempt, per PRA | Expect them; confirm with BI |
| Depends on marriage | No | Yes |
Some couples choose the SRRV even when married, because it stands on its own. That is a personal and legal decision. For anything complicated, talk with a licensed Philippine immigration lawyer.
What the SRRV does not change
- Your VA compensation and pension do not depend on your Philippine visa. See VA benefits paid abroad.
- VA health care abroad still runs through the Foreign Medical Program, which covers only service-connected conditions. There is no FMP registration step anymore; you use your FMP benefits letter from VA.gov. See our FMP guide.
- The VA Regional Benefit Office at the U.S. Embassy in Manila serves veterans in the Philippines by appointment.
OCONUS Veterans is not affiliated with VA, DoD, or the Philippine government. This is general information, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. PRA has the final word on your application.
Common questions
Does VA disability compensation count as a pension for the SRRV?
PRA decides what counts. Many veterans present VA and military retired pay letters, but ask PRA during pre-evaluation and get its answer in writing before you apostille documents.
Can I leave the Philippines while my SRRV is being processed?
PRA says all applicants must be physically present in the Philippines for the whole application process, which it lists as 30 to 45 working days from receipt of complete documents.
Do retired U.S. military automatically qualify for SRRV Courtesy?
No. PRA limits that category to retired military personnel who provided military aid and training to the Philippine government under a defense treaty or similar agreement. Ask PRA if you think your service fits.
Do SRRV holders need an ACR I-Card or annual report?
PRA lists exemption from the Bureau of Immigration annual report and the ACR I-Card as an SRRV benefit.
Is the SRRV deposit refundable?
PRA describes deposits that can be converted into approved property purchases. Ask PRA directly how and when a deposit is returned if you cancel, since rules can change.
Ask vets who have done it
Post your question in the free community. Members in your country have usually been through it.
Published October 30, 2026. Information only, not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice. Confirm with the official sources.
