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Pathway

Philippines Investor Residence Visa

Philippines Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

An approved investment of at least USD $75,000 can support residence in the Philippines for eligible applicants aged 21 or older. The investment must remain in place, and property purchases do not qualify.

Age
21
Required investment
At least USD $75,000 in a BOI-approved form
Family
A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may apply

Summary

The Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) lets eligible people aged 21 or older live in the Philippines while keeping at least USD $75,000 in an approved investment. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may apply to join them.

Most applicants first receive a six-month probationary visa, complete the investment, and then apply for residence without a fixed end date. That residence continues only while the investment and other conditions are maintained.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

Personal and immigration requirements

The Board of Investments (BOI) checks more than the investment amount. You need an eligible nationality under the restrictions applied by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the required current immigration status, and identity, police, medical, source-of-funds, bank, and family records.

BOI’s current FAQ specifies a 9(a) tourist visa with at least one month remaining when applying.

The program excludes certain criminal and health histories, including convictions within the legal category called “moral turpitude,” dangerous or contagious diseases, and institutionalization for a mental disorder or disability under the program’s wording. Ask how the exact rules apply to your records; do not decide eligibility from a broad label alone.

Which investments qualify?

BOI’s current list includes:

A condominium or home purchase does not qualify. Neither do shares in wholesale-trading companies under the current FAQ. A restaurant is treated as retail and does not qualify simply because it is a working business. Ordinary savings, undeveloped land, private loans, cryptocurrency, and unrelated foreign securities also do not qualify.

The company and investment must meet foreign-ownership, minimum-capital, company-registration, permit, and tax rules. Evidence differs for a new company, an existing company, and listed shares.

How to transfer and invest the money

Follow BOI’s approved banking process. An accredited bank certifies the foreign money transferred into the Philippines and the initial time deposit. The bank then pays the designated company or, for listed shares, the stockbroker; the process is not an unrestricted cash withdrawal.

BOI may accept an existing investment and sometimes recommend indefinite status directly. Its FAQ generally requires at least USD $75,000 transferred in during the 12 months before filing, along with all other investment conditions. Get written confirmation before assuming an existing holding qualifies.

The usual probationary visa lasts six months, or 180 days. BOI advises submitting proof of the completed investment at least 30 days before expiry, leaving time for the application for indefinite status. Late investment can lead to penalties and put your status at risk.

Family applications

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 need separate applications, documents, clearances, and fees. Their permission is linked to you and the qualifying investment.

Residence through an approved Philippine investment
  1. Confirm eligibility and the proposed investment Ask BOI before transferring funds or relying on existing holdings.
  2. Complete the approved investment process Use the accredited bank and submit evidence before the probationary deadline.
  3. Apply for and maintain indefinite status Keep the required investment, reports, and identification current.

A qualifying investment must be maintained; indefinite status does not mean the conditions end.

What This Route Allows

Approved indefinite status lets you and approved dependents live in the Philippines with multiple entry while all conditions remain satisfied. You can hold the approved investment and receive lawful returns, subject to banking, securities, business, and tax rules.

Keep the minimum USD $75,000 equivalent invested, submit annual reports, and maintain your SIRV identification documents. Do not transfer the asset or use it as security for a loan contrary to BOI’s controls. Use BOI’s current forms for initial approval, indefinite status, dependents, identification, and annual reporting.

What This Route Is Not

Indefinite residence is not unconditional residence or citizenship. Fraud, false records, criminal grounds, missed reports, or falling below the investment minimum can lead to cancellation.

The visa does not give foreigners a right to own Philippine land or remove business-ownership restrictions. Before paid work or business management, confirm the necessary employment and professional permissions. Investment losses, taxes, and reporting remain your responsibility.

Next Steps

  1. Ask BOI to confirm your personal eligibility and proposed investment before transferring funds.
  2. Prepare the current application forms and identity, police, medical, source-of-funds, and family evidence.
  3. Follow the approved banking process and submit investment proof at least 30 days before probationary status expires.
  4. Maintain the investment, annual reports, and identification documents. Obtain approval before changing the investment.

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Sources