From a US$30 consular visitor visa to a US$50,000 SRRV deposit — what each Philippine route costs and which agency collects it.
Overview
Philippine immigration costs are split across several agencies, each with its own fee schedule. The Bureau of Immigration (BI), an attached agency of the Department of Justice, collects visa extension, conversion, ACR I-Card and annual report fees. Philippine embassies and consulates collect 9(a) temporary visitor visa fees (US$30 single entry valid three months; US$60 multiple entry valid six months). The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) charges a US$1,500 processing fee for the principal SRRV applicant plus US$300 per dependent, on top of refundable visa deposits that were restructured in September 2025 — now US$15,000–50,000 for SRRV Classic depending on age and pension status. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) charges PHP 9,000 for the first year of an Alien Employment Permit and PHP 4,000 for each additional year. Add the ACR I-Card (US$50, payable in pesos) for any stay beyond 59 days and the PHP 310 annual report each January–February. Fees verified against pra.gov.ph, immigration.gov.ph and ncr.dole.gov.ph as of June 2026.
SRRV Visa Deposits and PRA Fees (Expanded SRRV Program, from September 2025)
The PRA restructured the SRRV with effect from 1 September 2025: the minimum age dropped from 50 to 40, and deposits are now tiered by age bracket and pension status. Deposits cover the principal plus two dependents; each additional dependent requires a further US$15,000 deposit.
| Option | Age 40–49 | Age 50+ | PRA annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRRV Classic — non-pensioner | USD 50,000 deposit | USD 30,000 deposit | USD 360 (+USD 100 per dependent beyond 2) |
| SRRV Classic — pensioner (≥USD 800/month single, USD 1,000 family) | USD 25,000 deposit | USD 15,000 deposit | USD 360 (+USD 100 per dependent beyond 2) |
| SRRV Courtesy — foreign nationals (retired diplomats, international-organisation officers, qualifying retired military, recognised high achievers) | USD 6,000 (non-pensioner) / USD 3,000 (pensioner) | USD 1,500 | USD 100 (+USD 10 per dependent beyond 2) |
| SRRV Courtesy — former Filipinos | USD 3,000 | USD 1,500 | USD 50 (+USD 10 per dependent beyond 2) |
| One-time PRA processing fee (all options) | USD 1,500 principal + USD 300 per dependent | Same | Non-refundable if you discontinue |
Bureau of Immigration and Consular Fees
- 9(a) temporary visitor visa at embassies: US$30 for single entry valid three months; US$60 for multiple entry valid six months — published on Philippine Foreign Service Post (dfa.gov.ph) fee schedules. Nationals of most countries enter visa-free for an initial 30 days under Executive Order 408 and pay nothing at entry.
- Tourist extensions: BI extends 9(a)/visa-waiver stays in increments at its district offices and online via e-services.immigration.gov.ph. The first extension (visa waiver from 30 to 59 days) totals roughly PHP 3,030 including application, certification and express lane fees; subsequent extensions vary with duration and whether the ACR I-Card fee falls due. Check the BI order of payment for your exact case — fees are itemised, not flat.
- ACR I-Card: US$50, payable in pesos at the prevailing rate, required for every foreign national whose stay exceeds 59 days and for all visa conversions (work, marriage, SRRV, SIRV).
- Annual report: PHP 310 (PHP 300 annual report fee + PHP 10 legal research fee) every year between 1 January and 1 March. Missing it costs a PHP 1,510 motion for reconsideration fee plus a PHP 200 fine per month of delay.
- 9(g) work visa conversion: BI charges per its Citizen's Charter fee schedule (the application is itemised on an Order of Payment Slip); dependents pay an additional fee per head, and all BI fees are non-refundable.
Work and Profession-Related Fees (DOLE, PRC, BOI)
- Alien Employment Permit (AEP): PHP 9,000 for the first year and PHP 4,000 for each additional year of validity, paid to the DOLE Regional Office where the job is located. The AEP runs for the duration of the employment contract (commonly one to three years) under Department Order No. 248, s. 2025.
- Newspaper publication: the employer also pays for the mandatory publication of the job vacancy in a newspaper of general circulation as part of the labour market test — cost depends on the paper.
- PRC Special Temporary Permit: foreign nationals practising a PRC-regulated profession pay a PHP 3,000 non-refundable processing fee plus a PHP 8,000 permit fee under PRC Resolution No. 2012-668; the permit is valid for at most one year.
- SIRV (investor): no deposit tiers — instead a minimum inward remittance of US$75,000 through an accredited bank (Land Bank or DBP), converted into qualifying investments within the six-month probationary period. BOI charges processing fees per its current schedule.
- Document costs: DFA apostille PHP 100 (regular, five working days) or PHP 200 (expedited, two working days) per document; NBI clearance PHP 130 plus the payment channel's service fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I actually need for the SRRV now that the rules changed?
Since 1 September 2025: if you are 50 or older with a verifiable lifetime pension of at least US$800/month (US$1,000 for a family), the deposit is US$15,000; without a pension it is US$30,000. If you are 40–49, those figures double to US$25,000 and US$50,000. On top of the deposit you pay a one-time US$1,500 PRA processing fee (plus US$300 per dependent) and a US$360 annual fee. The deposit covers you plus two dependents; each extra dependent needs another US$15,000. The deposit is refundable when you leave the program, or convertible into a condominium purchase or long-term lease with PRA approval.
What does it cost to stay in the Philippines long-term as a tourist?
Most nationalities enter free for 30 days under Executive Order 408. After that you pay per extension at the Bureau of Immigration: the first extension to 59 days runs about PHP 3,030 including express lane fees, with later extensions priced by duration. Once your stay passes 59 days you must also buy the ACR I-Card at US$50. BI lets visitors extend repeatedly (long-stay visitor extensions of up to six months are available online via e-services.immigration.gov.ph), but the costs accumulate — long-stayers often find the SRRV or another resident visa cheaper within two to three years.
Who pays for the 9(g) work visa and the AEP — me or my employer?
Legally the AEP application is filed by the employer with the DOLE Regional Office (PHP 9,000 first year + PHP 4,000 per additional year), and the 9(g) petition at the BI is also employer-driven — the joint letter request is signed by both of you and the employer must submit its SEC registration, income tax return and a certification of its foreign-to-Filipino staffing ratio. In practice most employers absorb both sets of fees, but nothing in Department Order 248-25 or the BI checklist forbids passing costs to you, so confirm in your employment contract before you sign.
What is the PHP 310 annual report fee and what happens if I miss it?
Every registered foreign national (anyone holding an ACR I-Card) must report in person to a BI office within the first 60 days of each calendar year — for 2026, between 1 January and 1 March — and pay PHP 310 (PHP 300 fee plus PHP 10 legal research). Miss the window and the BI requires a motion for reconsideration costing PHP 1,510 plus a fine of PHP 200 for every month of delay before it will accept your report. Repeated failure to report is a ground for administrative action under the Alien Registration Act, so treat the deadline as hard.
Are there hidden costs beyond the headline visa fees?
Budget for the satellite costs: ACR I-Card US$50 at conversion and on each renewal; DFA apostille of every foreign document (police clearance, marriage and birth certificates) at your origin country's rates plus PHP 100–200 per Philippine document going the other way; NBI clearance PHP 130 once you have been in the country 90 days (PRA requirement) or six months (BI requirement for 13(a)); newspaper publication of your AEP-supported vacancy; and for regulated professionals the PHP 11,000 combined PRC Special Temporary Permit fees. BI also charges express lane fees on most transactions, which are effectively unavoidable for online filings.
Is the SRRV deposit a fee I lose, or do I get it back?
It is a deposit, not a fee. The money is inwardly remitted to a PRA-accredited bank (Development Bank of the Philippines or an accredited private bank via a PRA Letter of Introduction) and stays in your name. With PRA approval it can be converted into an active investment — typically a condominium purchase or a long-term lease of a house and lot. If you cancel your SRRV, the deposit is returned subject to PRA clearance. What you do not get back: the US$1,500 processing fee (non-refundable even if you withdraw mid-application) and the annual PRA fees already paid.