Indefinite residency
The SIRV remains valid for as long as your qualifying investment is maintained.
Visas & immigration
Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)
The Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) grants indefinite Philippine residency in exchange for investing at least $75,000 in an eligible business. It is a government program designed to attract foreign investment, with no upper age limit and no marriage requirement.
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- Investment
- $75,000 minimum
- Minimum age
- 21
- Processing time
- 1 to 2 months per stage
- Validity
- Indefinite
About the visa
Key Benefits of the SIRV
The SIRV is processed through the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Bureau of Immigration in two stages. A probationary SIRV, usually valid for six months, is issued once your funds have been remitted. The permanent SIRV follows when the investment has been made.
No age requirement beyond adulthood
Open to investors aged 21 and over, unlike the retirement visa.
Your capital is invested, not spent
The $75,000 goes into shares in a Philippine corporation that you choose.
Multiple entry
Come and go freely as a resident.
Family included
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included as dependents.
Flexible investment
Invest in a new corporation, an existing corporation or a publicly listed company.
Who can apply
SIRV Eligibility Criteria
You can apply for an SIRV if you meet these conditions.
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You are at least 21 years old.
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You are willing and able to invest at least $75,000 in an eligible form of investment.
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You have not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
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You are not afflicted with a dangerous, contagious or loathsome disease.
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You have not been institutionalized for a mental disorder or disability.
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You hold a valid temporary visitor's visa with at least one month of authorized stay remaining when you file.
How it works
SIRV Application Process
The exact requirements and timing depend on your circumstances, but most applications follow these stages.
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Documents and clearances
We collect your personal, civil registry and financial documents, prepare the application forms and deed of undertaking, and arrange the NBI clearance, medical examination and Bureau of Quarantine validation. -
Filing with the Board of Investments
The probationary SIRV requirements are submitted to the BOI, which issues an endorsement addressed to a BOI-accredited bank. -
Bank account and remittance
You open an account with the accredited bank and remit at least $75,000 into it. The bank issues a certificate of inward remittance. -
Probationary SIRV
The proof of remittance goes to the BOI and the Bureau of Immigration completes fees, biometrics and visa implementation. The probationary SIRV is ordinarily issued for six months. -
Making the investment
Once the BOI authorizes the release of the funds, the capital is placed in your chosen eligible investment within the period the BOI prescribes. -
Permanent SIRV
We compile the documents for your investment category and file for the permanent SIRV, then monitor it through to approval.
What the C&G SIRV Service Includes
Since 2019 we have helped more than 1,500 clients secure their Philippine visas. Our service fee covers everything below, from the first document to the final approval.
- Documents prepared and notarizedWe prepare every document your application needs, and our in-house attorneys notarize them.
- With you at government officesOur staff assist you on site at your government appointments, so you never face an agency alone.
- We deal with the agenciesWe coordinate with the agencies, follow up on your application and keep you updated at every step.
- Accredited with PRA, DOLE and BIC&G is accredited with the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration.
- An experienced teamOur team, including two attorneys, has more than 10 years of experience in immigration and business consulting.
- No hidden feesYour quote shows our service cost and the government fees separately, so you know the full cost before we begin.
- Manila, Cebu or remoteMeet us at our Manila or Cebu office, or work with us remotely from anywhere.
In detail
SIRV document checklist
Probationary SIRV, principal applicant
SIRV application form for the principal applicant
Signed and notarized deed of undertaking
Completed personal history statement
Police clearance from your country of origin or residence, apostilled and translated into English where necessary, or a clearance from the Interpol Division of the NBI
Medical certificate validated by the Bureau of Quarantine
Birth certificate or family registry, apostilled and translated where necessary
Marriage certificate, if applicable, apostilled and translated where necessary
Proof of inward remittance issued by a BOI-accredited bank
Passport copies: bio-page, latest arrival stamp and current visa
Each dependent
SIRV application form for dependents
Personal history statement
Police clearance, where applicable
Medical certificate validated by the Bureau of Quarantine
Apostilled proof of relationship to the principal applicant
Passport copies
Opening the bank account
Each BOI-accredited bank sets its own account-opening and source-of-funds requirements. Expect to provide the BOI endorsement letter, your passport, proof of your Philippine address, a bank certificate or statement from your existing bank, and apostilled proof of income or source of funds such as tax returns, an employment contract or corporate records.
Permanent SIRV
Current NBI clearance
Copy of the Bureau of Immigration order approving the probationary SIRV
Passport copies and your SIRV identification card
Proof that the investment was completed within the prescribed period
In detail
Investment options
The documents for the permanent SIRV depend on where the $75,000 is invested.
A new corporation
SEC certificate of registration, articles of incorporation and by-laws showing your fully paid investment
Treasurer's affidavit confirming the amount invested
Corporate secretary's sworn certification of the planned start of commercial operations
Business permit, BIR certificate of registration and invoice registration
Lease agreement or proof of ownership of the business premises
We can set the company up for you through our business incorporation service.
An existing corporation
SEC registration documents, business permit and BIR certificate of registration
Latest audited financial statements and income tax return
Latest General Information Sheet naming you as a stockholder with the required investment
Deed of assignment, if the shares were bought from an existing stockholder
A publicly listed corporation
Official receipts and purchase invoices certified by the stockbroker
Stockbroker's sworn certification that you are a stockholder of record and of the purchase price
Stock certificate in your name, annotated so that the shares cannot be sold or transferred without the BOI's written consent
In detail
SIRV fees and processing time
Government fees
Probationary SIRV: $300 BOI filing fee and PHP 10,110 Bureau of Immigration fee
Permanent SIRV: PHP 2,000 BOI filing fee and PHP 1,010 Bureau of Immigration fee
NBI clearance: PHP 160
Medical examination: about PHP 1,190 in Cebu or PHP 1,800 in Manila
Bureau of Quarantine validation: about PHP 3,000
Bank charges, minimum balances and remittance fees depend on the BOI-accredited bank you choose. Government fees can change without notice, and the amount assessed at filing is final. Our service fee is separate and is quoted during your consultation.
How long it takes
Probationary SIRV: approximately one to two months
Permanent SIRV: approximately one to two months
These are working estimates. Applications are filed with the Board of Investments in Manila.
FAQs
SIRV Frequently Asked Questions
The SIRV requires an investment of at least $75,000, remitted into the Philippines through a BOI-accredited bank and then invested in an eligible corporation.
SIRV funds can be invested in shares in a new corporation, an existing corporation or a publicly listed corporation, in the economic activities the Board of Investments accepts.
Yes. Each dependent on an SIRV files their own application form, personal history statement, police clearance, medical certificate and proof of relationship to you.
An SIRV is not open to anyone convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, afflicted with a dangerous or contagious disease, or previously institutionalized for a mental disorder.
If you are 40 or over, the SRRV retirement visa requires a smaller deposit than the SIRV investment. If your business employs ten or more Filipinos, see the SVEG.
For the probationary SIRV, a $300 BOI filing fee and a PHP 10,110 Bureau of Immigration fee. For the permanent SIRV, PHP 2,000 to the BOI and PHP 1,010 to the Bureau of Immigration.
Roughly one to two months for the probationary SIRV and another one to two months for the permanent SIRV, depending on document completeness, bank compliance checks and agency workload.
The probationary SIRV is normally issued for six months. In that time you complete the investment, then apply for the permanent SIRV with proof that it was made.
Yes. To apply for an SIRV you need a valid temporary visitor visa with at least one month of authorized stay remaining when you file.
Yes. SIRV applications are filed with the Board of Investments in Manila, and the account for the remittance is opened in person with the bank's account officer.
The SIRV remittance goes through a bank accredited by the Board of Investments. The BOI issues an endorsement letter for opening the account, and the bank applies its own identity and source-of-funds checks.
An SIRV application needs a police clearance from your country of origin or residence, apostilled or authenticated, or a clearance from the NBI's Interpol Division, plus a medical certificate validated by the Bureau of Quarantine.
Not until the BOI authorizes it. SIRV funds must not be withdrawn, transferred or invested before that authorization, or the application is put at risk.
The SIRV lets you reside in the Philippines but does not by itself authorize employment. If you intend to work, including in the company you invest in, you need an Alien Employment Permit from DOLE.
The SIRV is valid indefinitely, as long as the investment is maintained and you remain in good standing with the BOI and the Bureau of Immigration.
Your SIRV can be revoked. Shares in a listed company are annotated so they cannot be sold or transferred without the BOI's written consent. Always speak to us before changing your investment.
Written and reviewed by the C&G immigration team. Last updated . Government requirements and fees change, so confirm the details for your case before filing.
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