Moving to the Philippines in 2026: Visas and Costs
The Philippines offers several ways to stay long term, and each sits with a different agency. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) handles work, student, marriage and other resident visas. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issues the permit you need before you can work. The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) runs the retiree visa. This guide lays out the routes, what each costs and what daily life costs, using those agencies' published pages and the Philippine Statistics Authority's latest figures, as read on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer
Pick the route first. To work, your employer needs an Alien Employment Permit, with a Php 6,000 filing fee, and you need a 9(g) visa. To retire, the SRRV Classic is open from age 40, with a visa deposit from USD 15,000.00 for pensioners aged 50 and above. If you are married to a Philippine citizen, the 13(a) visa is listed at Php 8,620.00. Passports of certain countries can enter visa-free for thirty (30) days or less for business or tourism. The average family spent PhP 321.85 thousand in 2025, and inflation was 7.2 percent in September 2026.
Step 1: choose your route
| Your situation | Visa | Who can apply, in the agency's words |
|---|---|---|
| Job with a Philippine employer | Pre-arranged Employment Visa, 9(g), with an Alien Employment Permit | Foreign nationals proceeding to the Philippines to engage in any lawful occupation, for wages, salary or other compensation |
| University or college study | Student Visa, 9(f) | Foreign nationals at least 18 years old taking a course higher than high school at a university, seminary or college |
| Married to a Philippine citizen | Immigrant Visa by Marriage, 13(a) | A foreign national on the basis of a valid marriage to a Philippine citizen |
| Retirement | Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) | Principals 40 years old and above, foreign nationals or former Filipino citizens |
| Former Filipino returning for good | Returning Former Natural-Born Filipino Citizen, 13(g) | A former natural-born citizen, now naturalised abroad, who intends to return for permanent residence |
| Immigration without a family tie | Quota Visa, 13 | Nationals of countries with diplomatic relations and reciprocal immigration privileges, not more than fifty (50) of any one nationality in a calendar year |
| Running a business that employs Filipinos | Special Visa for Employment Generation | A qualified non-immigrant foreigner who shall actually employ at least ten (10) Filipinos in a lawful and sustainable enterprise |
Step 2: enter the country
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) says the Philippines grants visa-free entry to passport holders of certain countries while requiring a visa for others, and provides a country selector on its visa page. Its three possible answers are:
- Visa-free for thirty (30) days or less, if you are travelling for business or tourism, hold a ticket for return or onward travel, and have a passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the stay.
- Visa-free for fifty-nine (59) days or less, on the same conditions, for some passports.
- Visa required, with a referral to the nearest Philippine Foreign Service Post.
A temporary visitor's visa, where needed, is applied for in person, with a passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended stay, application forms, two passport photos, proof of status as a tourist or businessman and confirmed onward tickets. The DFA adds that a visa is not a guarantee of admission, which is decided by immigration authorities at the port of entry.
The government's travel information system is called eTravel, and its site states that eTravel is free.
Step 3: if you are moving for work
Our Philippines work visa guide covers this in full. In outline:
- The employer publishes the vacancy in a newspaper of general circulation at least 15 days before filing.
- The employer applies for the Alien Employment Permit. The filing fee is Php 6,000 for one year, plus Php 5,000.00 for every additional year, and processing takes 15 working days after payment.
- You apply for the 9(g) visa. The Bureau of Immigration lists it from Php 10,130.00 for one year for the principal, plus US $50 for the ACR I-Card.
The permit is valid for one year unless a longer period is granted, and never more than three (3) years. You may not change employer without prior approval of the Secretary of Labor, and working without a valid permit carries a fine of PHP 10,000 per year or fraction of a year.
Step 4: if you are retiring
The SRRV is a special non-immigrant visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration through the Philippine Retirement Authority. One option is the SRRV Classic.
| SRRV Classic visa deposit | 50 years old and above | 40 to 49 years old |
|---|---|---|
| Pensioner | USD 15,000.00 | USD 25,000.00 |
| Non-pensioner | USD 30,000.00 | USD 50,000.00 |
- Pension proof: a lifetime pension of at least USD 800.00 a month for single applicants and USD 1,000.00 a month for applicants with dependents.
- Processing fee: USD 1,500.00 for the principal, and USD 300.00 for each joining dependent.
- Annual fee: USD 360.00 for the principal and two dependents under SRRV Classic.
- Extra dependents: a visa deposit of USD 15,000.00 for each additional dependent in excess of two, except for former Filipinos.
- Documents: passport with a valid tourist visa, the PRA application form, a medical certificate, a police clearance from your country of origin, and a Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate.
- Dependents: a legally married spouse, and children who are unmarried and below 21.
What the SRRV gives you
The PRA lists permanent residency with multiple entry and indefinite stay, and exemption from the Bureau of Immigration's annual reporting and ACR I-Card, from exit and re-entry permits, from tax on pensions and annuities, and from customs duties and taxes on a one-time importation of household goods and personal effects up to USD 7,000.00. Holders also do not need a separate work or student visa or permit.
Former Filipinos and special categories
The SRRV Courtesy option for former Filipinos has a visa deposit of USD 1,500.00. A separate courtesy option covers retired diplomats, officers of recognised international organisations and retired military members from certain countries.
Do retirees and residents need a work permit?
DOLE's permit guide lists permanent resident foreign nationals and probationary or temporary resident visa holders among those exempted from securing an Alien Employment Permit.
Step 5: if you are joining a Filipino spouse
The 13(a) visa is granted on the basis of a valid marriage to a Philippine citizen. The Bureau of Immigration first issues it on a probationary basis. A holder of a probationary visa valid for one (1) year then applies to amend it to a permanent visa.
| Transaction | Principal | ACR I-Card |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion to non-quota immigrant visa by marriage, probationary | Php 8,620.00 | US $50 added |
| Amendment to permanent visa by marriage | Php 8,620.00 | US $50 added |
| Temporary Resident Visa by marriage, for nationals of countries without a reciprocity agreement | Php 8,620.00 | US $50 added |
Dependent children under 21 and unmarried can be included, on proof of relationship. The Bureau marks these fee tables as updated in 2014 and subject to change.
Step 6: the steps every BI visa shares
- Get the Consolidated General Application Form from the BI Main Office or the Bureau's website.
- Submit the documents for pre-screening at the Central Receiving Unit.
- Pay the fees and submit a copy of the official receipt.
- Attend the hearing, where one is required.
- Have your image and fingerprints captured for the ACR I-Card.
- Check the Bureau's website for approval, then submit your passport for visa implementation and claim the card.
Foreign documents must be original and authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post with jurisdiction over the place of issue, with an English translation where needed.
Step 7: budget for daily life
| Measure | Philippines | National Capital Region |
|---|---|---|
| Average annual family expenditure, 2025 | PhP 321.85 thousand | PhP 460.50 thousand |
| Average annual family income, 2025 | PhP 411.35 thousand | PhP 574.37 thousand |
| Headline inflation, September 2026 | 7.2 percent | 5.4 percent |
In Metro Manila the daily minimum wage is ₱755.00 for non-agriculture workers from 26 September 2026. Housing and utilities are the largest group in family spending in the capital, at 27.3 percent. The regional tables are in our cost of living in the Philippines guide, and one-off relocation costs are in cost of moving to the Philippines.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner live permanently in the Philippines?
Yes, through several routes. The SRRV gives retirees aged 40 and above permanent residency with indefinite stay. The 13(a) visa is for foreign nationals married to Philippine citizens. Quota visas are limited to fifty (50) per nationality in a calendar year.
Can Americans move to the Philippines?
Yes, on the same routes as other foreign nationals: a work visa with an Alien Employment Permit, the retiree visa, a marriage visa or a student visa. Check the DFA's country selector for the entry rule that applies to a US passport.
How much money do I need to retire in the Philippines?
For the SRRV Classic, the visa deposit is USD 15,000.00 for a pensioner aged 50 and above, with a lifetime pension of at least USD 800.00 a month for a single applicant. Non-pensioners aged 50 and above deposit USD 30,000.00. The PRA processing fee is USD 1,500.00.
Can I work in the Philippines as a foreigner?
Yes, with an Alien Employment Permit from DOLE and a 9(g) visa, unless you fall under an exemption or exclusion. Permanent residents and temporary resident visa holders are exempt from the permit.
How long can I stay in the Philippines without a visa?
Where visa-free entry applies to your passport, thirty (30) days or less for business or tourism, or fifty-nine (59) days or less for some passports. To stay longer you secure an extension from the Bureau of Immigration.
How much does it cost to live in the Philippines?
The average family spent PhP 321.85 thousand in 2025, and PhP 460.50 thousand in the National Capital Region, according to the PSA's preliminary survey results.
Can I bring my household goods duty free?
For SRRV holders, the PRA lists exemption from customs duties and taxes for a one-time importation of household goods and personal effects up to USD 7,000.00.
Official sources
- Bureau of Immigration — Visas
- Bureau of Immigration — Pre-arranged Employment Visa (9G)
- Bureau of Immigration — Student Visa (9F)
- Bureau of Immigration — Immigrant Visa by Marriage (13A)
- Bureau of Immigration — Permanent Resident Visa
- Bureau of Immigration — Temporary Resident Visa
- Bureau of Immigration — Quota Visa (13)
- Bureau of Immigration — Returning Former Natural-Born Filipino Citizen (13G)
- Bureau of Immigration — Special Visa for Employment Generation
- Department of Labor and Employment — Alien Employment Permit FAQs (as of 15 June 2026)
- Philippine Retirement Authority — Special Resident Retiree's Visa
- Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Consular Affairs — Visa general information
- eTravel — Philippine Travel Information System
- Philippine Statistics Authority — Family Income and Expenditure Survey, 2025 preliminary results
- Philippine Statistics Authority — Summary inflation report, September 2026
- National Wages and Productivity Commission — Current daily minimum wage rates, National Capital Region
All figures verified against the official pages above on 14 October 2026. The Bureau of Immigration marks its fee tables as updated in 2014 and subject to change, and visa-free entry depends on your passport. Income tax is not covered here. Information, not legal or financial advice.