Philippines Long-Stay Visa Options for Foreigners: Every Route and How to Choose

There is a long-stay visa or residency route for almost every situation in the Philippines. The SRRV anchors the retiree side from age 40. Foreign spouses of Filipinos go through the 13(a) or the TRV depending on reciprocity. Employees of Philippine companies use the 9(g). Investors choose between the SIRV, the SVEG, and the Section 13 quota visa. Remote workers have the new Digital Nomad Visa. For everyone else, visa-exempt nationals can stack tourist extensions to 36 months without leaving.

How to Pick Your Long-Stay Path in the Philippines

1. Identify your situation: retiree, spouse, employee, investor, remote worker, student, or visa-exempt tourist.
2. Check whether your nationality has reciprocity with the Philippines for the route you are considering.
3. Confirm the up-front capital, deposit, monthly pension, or salary you can document.
4. Decide whether you need work authorisation, indefinite stay, or both.
5. Confirm whether you can apply in-country or must file at a Philippine embassy abroad.
6. Compare against the dedicated guide for your chosen route before committing money or documents.

> This guide reflects Philippines long-stay visa categories and fees as understood in May 2026. Requirements can change without advance notice. Verify current requirements directly with the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), the Board of Investments (BOI), or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before proceeding.

The Philippines runs more long-stay visa categories than most foreigners realise. The country is one of the few in Southeast Asia where a tourist can legally stay three years without changing status, and where retirees, spouses, employees, investors, and remote workers all have dedicated programmes. The trade-off is that those programmes sit across multiple agencies. They include the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), the Board of Investments (BOI), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). They were not designed to be read as a single menu.

This guide focuses on the visa choice itself and links to dedicated guides for each route. It does not cover company registration, sectoral licensing, or domestic business administration unless they are directly tied to a visa pathway.

All Long-Stay Routes at a Glance

The table below gives a single-screen view of every legitimate long-stay route. Detail and links live in the sections that follow.

Retiree Route: SRRV

The SRRV is the flagship long-stay programme for foreigners who can show savings or a qualifying pension. It grants indefinite stay, multiple entries, exemption from the ACR I-Card, and exemption from the BI Annual Report. The Philippine Retirement Authority overhauled the programme effective 1 September 2025, lowering the minimum age from 50 to 40 and resetting deposit tiers for new applicants.

SRRV Classic: Standard Route for Retirees 40+

Most foreign retirees default to this route. Non-pensioners aged 40 to 49 must place a USD 50,000 deposit. Non-pensioners aged 50 and above place USD 30,000. Pensioners aged 50 and above can use a smaller USD 15,000 deposit. They also need to show a monthly pension of at least USD 800 single or USD 1,000 for a couple. The application fee for the principal applicant is USD 1,500, with USD 300 per joining dependant. Beyond two dependants, an additional USD 15,000 deposit applies for each, except for former Filipinos.

This route suits retirees with savings or a foreign pension. It also fits foreigners living on passive income who cannot show employment-based grounds to stay. For full procedure, deposit handling, and the conversion-into-investment option, see the dedicated guide on how to apply for the SRRV.

Pros:

• Indefinite stay with multiple-entry rights
• Exemption from both the ACR I-Card and the BI Annual Report
• Deposit can later be converted into a qualifying investment such as a condominium

Cons:

• Sizeable up-front capital that stays parked at a PRA-accredited bank
• Annual PRA fee for ongoing compliance, separate from the deposit

SRRV Courtesy and Expanded Courtesy: Former Filipinos, Diplomats, Military

The Courtesy track applies to specific groups with much lower deposit tiers. PRA standardised the schedule effective 1 September 2025.

The PRA annual fee is USD 360, which covers the principal plus up to two dependants. For each additional dependant beyond two, the USD 15,000 deposit add-on applies, except for former Filipinos. Eligibility under Courtesy is reviewed case by case, and not every applicant who looks like they fit will qualify on paper. Confirm directly with PRA before committing money or documents.

Family Routes: 13(a), TRV, and Balikbayan

Three routes sit in this group. The 13(a) and TRV are marriage-based, and the choice between them is not a preference. It depends entirely on whether your country has an immigration reciprocity agreement with the Philippines under Commonwealth Act 613. The balikbayan privilege is a separate fast-entry channel for foreign spouses and minor children, but only when travelling with a qualifying balikbayan.

13(a) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa: Spouses from Reciprocity Countries

The 13(a) is the standard immigrant visa for foreign nationals in a valid marriage with a Filipino citizen, where the foreign national's home country grants Filipinos equivalent permanent residence and immigration privileges. It is issued first as a one-year probationary visa, then converted to permanent status after the probationary year is satisfactorily completed. Both spouses must appear at a Bureau of Immigration office. Documents include the marriage certificate (PSA-authenticated for Philippine marriages, apostilled or otherwise authenticated for marriages registered abroad). They also include the Filipino spouse's PSA birth certificate and standard supporting paperwork.

For reciprocity confirmation, eligibility checks, the in-country versus embassy filing routes, and what happens if the marriage ends, see the full guide to the Philippines 13(a) visa for foreign spouses.

Pros:

• Path to permanent resident status without ongoing renewal of the visa
• Works regardless of age, pension, or capital

Cons:

• Requires a real, documented marriage and a reciprocity country of nationality
• One-year probation is sensitive to incomplete or inconsistent paperwork

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV): Spouses from Non-Reciprocity Countries

The TRV exists precisely because the 13(a) does not. It is issued to foreign spouses of Filipino citizens whose country has no reciprocity agreement with the Philippines. That includes India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and several states in Africa and the Middle East. The TRV is generally probationary for one year, then renewable every two years subject to BI re-evaluation. Indian nationals run on a five-year renewal cycle under BI Memorandum Order ADD-01-038.

Day-to-day rights under the TRV sit close to the 13(a) for most couples. Residency is open-ended while requirements are met, and the holder can build a life around a Philippine address, employment, and property matters. The renewal cadence is the main practical difference.

Pros:

• A real long-stay route for spouses who cannot use the 13(a) on reciprocity grounds
• Indian nationals get a five-year renewal cycle, reducing administrative load

Cons:

• Not a path to outright permanent residency in the same way the 13(a) is
• Two-year renewals (or five-year for Indians) keep the visa in active management throughout the marriage

Balikbayan Privilege: Travelling With a Balikbayan

The balikbayan privilege is not a visa in the formal sense, but it is the simplest one-year stay grant in the Philippine system. Three groups qualify directly: a Filipino citizen continuously abroad for at least one year, an overseas Filipino worker, and a former Filipino citizen. A foreign spouse and minor children who hold passports of countries listed under Executive Order 408 may receive the same one-year admission. The condition is that they must travel together with the qualifying balikbayan. A foreign spouse or child travelling alone does not get the privilege on that trip. Once admitted, the initial one-year stay can be extended in 1, 2, or 6-month increments at BI offices.

Pros:

• No deposit, no employer, no marriage paperwork at the airport
• One full year on arrival when the family is travelling together

Cons:

• Not available unless travelling with the qualifying balikbayan
• Not a long-term residency path on its own

Employer-Sponsored Routes: 9(g), PEZA, and RHQ/ROHQ

These routes end when employment ends, and they interact with separate labour-side approvals that the BI does not issue.

9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa

The 9(g) is the standard work visa for a foreign national hired by a Philippine-registered company, including regional headquarters of multinationals. It is "pre-arranged" because the employer must petition the BI on behalf of the foreign worker. The required precondition is a Department of Labor and Employment Alien Employment Permit (AEP). The AEP goes through a Labor Market Test process to show the position requires a foreign national. From AEP start to 9(g) issuance typically takes two to three months when handled cleanly.

The visa is issued for the duration of the employment contract, typically one to three years. It is renewable while employment with the same sponsor continues. Changing employer requires cancelling and refiling.

Pros:

• Legal authorisation to work for a Philippine employer
• Renewable while the same employment continues

Cons:

• Tied to one employer, with cancellation and refile required to change jobs
• AEP precondition adds time and depends on the employer's cooperation

47(a)(2) and the New PEZA Work Visa: Ecozone Employers

This is the work visa for employees of ecozone enterprises. Eligible employers include those registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Board of Investments (BOI), the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), and other special economic zone authorities. It applies to executives, supervisors, specialists, consultants, contractors, and personal staff. Foreign-national employees are capped at less than 5% of the company's total workforce.

The category went through a reform. A new PEZA work visa now replaces the 47(a)(2) for PEZA-registered companies. The new PEZA visa offers up to two years of validity and is renewable once for a further two years, reaching a maximum of four years in total. The original 47(a)(2) category still exists in parallel for endorsements that have not transitioned, including some Department of Justice endorsements and other Investment Promotion Agencies. Holders of either are exempt from the ACR I-Card requirement.

Pros:

• Longer single-issuance validity than the 9(g) under the new PEZA visa
• ACR I-Card exemption

Cons:

• Limited to companies with the right zone registration
• Foreign-share cap restricts how many roles a PEZA company can fill from abroad

EO 226 / RA 8756 Special Visa: RHQ and ROHQ Executives

Foreign personnel of regional or area headquarters (RHQ) and regional operating headquarters (ROHQ) of multinational companies use this Special Non-Immigrant Multiple Entry Visa. It also covers their spouses and unmarried children under 21. The salary paid by the headquarters in the Philippines must be at least the equivalent of USD 12,000 per annum. The visa is valid for three years, or for the contract duration if shorter.

Pros:

• Three-year single issuance
• Covers spouse and unmarried children under 21 on the same visa

Cons:

• Requires a properly licensed RHQ or ROHQ under RA 8756
• Salary floor must be met and documented

Investment and Business Routes: SIRV, SVEG, and Section 13 Quota

Three distinct routes sit here, each based on a different qualifying logic: capital remittance (SIRV), Filipino employment generation (SVEG), and a quota-restricted permanent residence route (Section 13).

SIRV: Special Investor's Resident Visa

The SIRV is for active investors who bring capital into the country and place it in qualifying activities under Book V of the Omnibus Investments Code. The minimum is USD 75,000 inward remittance. Funds must be channelled through an accredited depository bank such as the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Development Bank of the Philippines. The investor has 180 days from the issuance of the probationary visa to convert the deposit into an investment in an eligible domestic enterprise and report it to the BOI. The visa is issued by the BI on BOI endorsement and grants indefinite residence and multiple entries while the investment remains in the Philippines. Spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be included as dependants.

Pros:

• Indefinite residence with a meaningful but achievable capital threshold
• Covers immediate family on the same approval

Cons:

• Tied to maintaining the qualifying investment
• The 180-day clock to convert the remittance into an eligible investment can be tight

SVEG: Special Visa for Employment Generation

The SVEG is the jobs-based residency visa. It is granted to a qualified foreign national who actually employs at least ten Filipinos full-time on a regular basis in a lawful and sustainable enterprise. The route also covers a foreign national who invests in rehabilitating an existing business to retain at least ten Filipino workers. The BI issues the visa on Department of Labor and Employment endorsement. Updated guidelines under BI Board Resolution No. 2025-002 took effect on 15 September 2025. Privileges extend to the spouse and unmarried children below 18.

Pros:

• Indefinite stay with multiple-entry while the employment threshold is maintained
• Aligns naturally with foreign-owned operating businesses already employing Filipino staff

Cons:

• The 10-Filipino-employee threshold has to be sustained on a regular, full-time basis
• Loss of the underlying business or workforce affects standing. The route suits operators, not passive investors

Section 13 Quota Immigrant Visa: 50 Slots Per Nationality

Nationals of countries with diplomatic ties and reciprocity can apply for permanent residence under this quota-restricted route. The cap is strict: 50 visas per nationality per calendar year, with no carry-over of unused slots. The required inward remittance was raised to USD 100,000 after the programme resumed in May 2025, reflecting BI's stated preference for high-value contributors. Applications run through the Visa Issuance Made Simple (VIMS) procedure. Because of the slot ceiling, early filing matters in years when demand is strong.

Pros:

• A real path to permanent residency without marriage or employment
• Available to applicants who meet the capital threshold but do not fit the spouse, employee, or operator routes

Cons:

• Hard numerical cap of 50 per nationality per year, with no carry-over
• Capital threshold doubled compared with pre-2025 guidance

Remote-Worker Route: Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa was created by Executive Order No. 86, signed on 24 April 2025. It allows qualifying remote workers to stay for 12 months, renewable once for another 12 months, for a maximum of 24 months. Applicants must be 18 or older, work using digital technologies for employers or clients located outside the Philippines, hold valid health insurance, and have no criminal record. Income evidence in the region of USD 24,000 per year is commonly cited in practitioner guidance.

The structural gate is reciprocity. The applicant must be a national of a country that offers a digital nomad visa to Filipinos and where the Philippines maintains a Foreign Service Post. That single condition disqualifies many otherwise eligible remote workers. The DNV permits no local employment or income from sources within the Philippines.

For who actually qualifies, application steps through the DFA e-visa portal, and what to do if reciprocity does not work in your favour, see the dedicated guide on the Philippines Digital Nomad Visa.

Pros:

• A formal residency status for remote workers, replacing the tourist-extension workaround
• Multiple-entry rights with up to 24 months total

Cons:

• The reciprocity gate excludes many nationalities
• Bars all local income, including any work for Philippine clients

Education Route: 9(f) Student Visa

The 9(f) is for foreign students aged 18 or older enrolled in a Philippine higher education institution accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Required documents include a Notice of Acceptance from the institution, a notarised medical health certificate with laboratory results, a police clearance, and standard application forms. As with most non-tourist visas, an ACR I-Card is required once authorised stay exceeds 59 days. The student visa is tied to the duration of the course of study and is not a residency route in itself.

Pros:

• Legal status for the duration of an accredited course
• Renewable as the course continues

Cons:

• Ends with the course, with no automatic conversion to another long-stay route
• Tied to institutional accreditation, which limits where the holder can study

Tourist Track: 9(a) Extensions and LSVVE

Visa-exempt nationals can stay legally for years without an employer, marriage, investment, or deposit. Visitors from countries listed under Executive Order 408 enter visa-free for 30 days, can buy a Visa Waiver to add 29 days (total 59), and can then keep extending in increments of 1, 2, or 6 months. The cumulative ceiling is 36 months for non-visa-required nationals and 24 months for visa-required nationals.

The 6-month increment is processed under the Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) and is the most efficient way to add stay in a single transaction. The total package cost is PHP 13,900 for visa-required nationals and PHP 11,500 for non-visa-required nationals. The package covers the extension fee, application fee, ACR I-Card, head tax, ECC, certification, and express lane components. An ACR I-Card becomes mandatory once authorised stay exceeds 59 days.

The full mechanics, fees by increment, and where most foreigners lose time are covered in the dedicated guide on the Philippines tourist visa extension.

Pros:

• No sponsor, no deposit, no minimum income
• Useful for testing the country before committing to a sponsored route

Cons:

• Tourist status forbids local work
• Cumulative ceiling forces an exit or a switch to a residency visa eventually

Choosing the Best Long-Stay Visa in the Philippines for Your Situation

The right route is rarely the most prestigious. It is the one that fits how you actually live and what you can document. The decisions below cover the most common cases.

If you are 40 or older and can park USD 15,000 to USD 50,000, the SRRV is the most stable indefinite-stay route. Run the numbers against tourist extensions over the same period if you are still unsure. The dedicated comparison SRRV vs Tourist Visa in the Philippines handles that math directly.

If you are married to a Filipino citizen, the 13(a) is the default if your country has reciprocity with the Philippines, and the TRV is the default if it does not. There is no preference between them in practice, only a check against the reciprocity list.

If a Philippine employer is hiring you, the 9(g) is the standard route. If the employer is PEZA-registered, the new PEZA work visa now applies for that employer, with up to four years total validity. If you are an executive of an RHQ or ROHQ, the EO 226 / RA 8756 route is purpose-built for that structure and runs three years per issuance.

If you are bringing capital, the SIRV at USD 75,000 fits passive-but-eligible investments. The SVEG fits operating businesses with at least ten Filipino employees. The Section 13 quota visa fits nationals who want permanent residence without marriage or business but can show USD 100,000 and beat the 50-slot annual cap.

If you work remotely for clients abroad, the DNV is the right answer when your nationality clears the reciprocity gate. When it does not, the practical fallback for many is the LSVVE-extended tourist track, which holds for up to 36 months while you reassess.

Compliance Obligations Common to Most Long-Stay Holders

Two recurring compliance items catch most long-stay holders: the ACR I-Card and the BI Annual Report. The ACR I-Card is mandatory once authorised stay in any non-tourist status passes 59 days. It functions as the de facto national ID for foreigners in the Philippines, used for banking, property matters, and many government transactions. SRRV holders are exempt from the ACR I-Card requirement. Holders of the 47(a)(2) or the successor PEZA work visa are also exempt.

The Annual Report is a separate obligation for ACR I-Card holders. It must be filed in person at a BI office between 1 January and 1 March each year, and BI also operates a virtual Annual Report system 24/7 for qualified holders physically present in the Philippines. SRRV holders are exempt from the Annual Report. Missing the window triggers late-filing penalties and can complicate later immigration transactions.

Key Sources

• Bureau of Immigration (BI), Visas index — https://immigration.gov.ph/visas/
• Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), SRRV — https://pra.gov.ph/SRRVisa
• Board of Investments (BOI) — https://boi.gov.ph/
• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) — https://www.dfa.gov.ph/
• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) — https://www.dole.gov.ph/
• Executive Order No. 86 (2025), Digital Nomad Visa
• Republic Act No. 8756 (RHQ/ROHQ statute)