How to Apply for a Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) in the Philippines (2026 Updated Guide)

For foreign nationals seeking residency abroad—particularly in Southeast Asia—investment visas offer a reliable legal pathway to establishing a permanent foothold. In the Philippines, these visas generally provide indefinite residency and multiple-entry privileges, subject to the continued maintenance of a qualifying investment.

This article examines the Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV), one of the Philippines’ primary investment visa programs. It provides a comprehensive overview of its eligibility criteria, investment requirements, documentary prerequisites, and application process.

What is an SIRV?

Issued by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) upon endorsement of the Board of Investments (BOI), a Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) is a special non-immigrant investment visa that allows foreign investors, together with their qualified dependents, to stay indefinitely in the Philippines and enjoy other visa privileges as long as the qualifications and investment requirements are maintained.

As an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Board of Investments (BOI) promotes investments by supporting businesses listed in the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) and serves as a one-stop shop for both local and foreign investors.

SIRV Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV), a foreign investor must be at least 21 years of age and not belong to a restricted nationality. Beyond the age requirements, the applicant must satisfy stringent personal standards, including the absence of a derogatory record—specifically crimes involving moral turpitude—and a clean medical history, i.e., physically and mentally fit without any contagious, dangerous, or loathsome disease. Prior to the application, the applicant must also be a tourist visa holder (i.e., a 9(a) Visa with at least one month validity). 

SIRV Investment Requirements

While the cornerstone of the SIRV Visa is the financial commitment, the applicant must demonstrate the willingness and capacity to remit and invest a minimum of US$ 75,000 into approved economic activities. This investment requirement, however, may be reduced to US$ 50,000 under certain circumstances mentioned in the Executive Order No. 63 and 1037. Such investments or shares of stocks are allowed in:

• publicly listed companies;
• companies engaged in areas listed in the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) of the Board of Investments (BOI);
• companies engaged in the manufacturing and services sectors;
• companies whose activities fall in any of the major sectoral classifications under the services sectoral classification lists based on the UN Central Product Classification (e.g., BPO, communication services, construction, financial services, etc.); and,
• government securities

However, investments in shares of stocks of corporations engaged in wholesale trading and in condominium units are no longer allowed. Equally, investments in any restaurant business are also not allowed, as it is considered retail trading. 

SIRV Visa Benefits and Privileges

Under the oversight of the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), SIRV holders are entitled to the following benefits and privileges:

Inclusion of Qualified Dependents

The legal standing and privileges of SIRV principal holders extend to their immediate family members, including their legitimate spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age. Upon successful endorsement, these dependents are issued the same indefinite residency status and multiple-entry privileges as the principal investor.

Indefinite Residency

Unlike other non-immigrant visas that require periodic renewals, the SIRV Visa grants the holder the right to reside in the Philippines for an indefinite duration. This status remains valid in perpetuity, contingent upon the maintenance of the required investment and compliance with immigration reporting requirements. 

Comprehensive Multi-Entry Privileges

SIRV holders enjoy unrestricted mobility, with the visa serving as a standing authorization for multiple entries into the Philippines. This eliminates the necessity of applying for individual entry visas for each journey, thus offering maximum flexibility for investors managing cross-border interests.

Exemption for Exit and Reentry Clearances

By virtue of their legal status, SIRV holders are exempt from the standard Bureau of Immigration (BI) requirements for Emigration Clearance Certificates (ECC) and Special Return Certificates (SRC). This statutory exemption significantly reduces the administrative burden and processing wait times.

Tax-Exempt Importation of Personal Effects

SIRV holders are also entitled to a one-time, duty-free, and tax-exempt importation of used household goods and personal effects. To avail of this fiscal incentive, the goods must not be in commercial quantities and must arrive within a reasonable period of the visa holder’s initial settlement in the country.

Strategic Access to Local Equity Markets

The SIRV serves as a legal gateway to participate in the Philippines’ high-growth sectors. Investments in publicly listed companies or enterprises engaged in the Strategic Investment Priorities Plan (SIPP) allow for a diversified and potentially high-yielding portfolio within a regulated legal framework.

SIRV Visa Application Requirements

To apply for an SIRV Visa, foreign nationals must prepare and submit the following documentary requirements for both the probationary and indefinite SIRV applications:

For Probationary SIRV Application

1. Duly accomplished and notarized application form;
2. Clearance from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), together with either of the following:
   1. Clearance from the central government agency of the applicant’s place or country of residence, authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); or
   2. Clearance from the Interpol Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to ensure the applicant has not been convicted of any crime that involves moral turpitude.
3. Medical Certification, issued by any of the following:
   1. Department of Health (DOH);
   2. Any government hospital or health facility;
   3. Any licensed or accredited hospital, laboratory, or medical center in the applicant’s home country
4. Certification under oath from authorized officers of any accredited depository bank in the Philippines regarding the amount of foreign exchange inwardly remitted by the application and its respective conversion to pesos through the said bank;
5. Certified true copy (CTC) of the Certificate of Peso Time Deposit with a maturity period of at least 30 days (the original copy will be kept at the depository bank for safekeeping);
6. Birth certificates of family/household registry duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate or Embassy in the applicant’s home country or in the Philippines;
7. For the spouse, a marriage contract duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate or Embassy in the applicant’s home country or in the Philippines;
8. Original passport of the applicant;
9. Processing fee payment of US$ 300 and PHP 10,110 to the Bureau of Immigration

For Indefinite SIRV Conversion

1. NBI Clearance or Police Clearance valid within 6 months;
2. Lease Contract or proof of ownership of office or factory/plant site and its location map;
3. For investment in a new corporation:
   1. Certified true copies of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Certificate of Registration, Articles of Incorporation and By-laws;
   2. Treasurer’s affidavit as to the amount of investment of the applicant;
   3. Certified true copy of official receipt issued by the treasurer-in-trust;
   4. Sworn certification of Corporate Secretary as to proposed star of commercial operation of the Corporation;
   5. BIR Certificate of Registration (TIN/VAT)
   6. BIR approved authority to print official receipts and invoices and copies of the company’s official receipts (if available)
   7. Certified true copy of Business/Mayor’s permit valid for one (1) year and the corresponding official receipt (if available)
4. For investment in an existing corporation not publicly listed:
   1. Business/Mayor’s permit valid for one (1) year and its corresponding official receipt (OR);
   2. Certificate of Registration with the Board of Investments, if any
   3. BIR certificate of registration of TIN;
   4. Latest BIR approved authority to print receipts and invoices and copies of company’s official receipts;
   5. Latest General Information Sheet (GIS) filed with the SEC reflecting the name of SIRV holder as one of the stockholders;
   6. Resolution from SEC authorizing the issuance of shares from the unsubscribed portion and exempting said shares from registration (if the shares acquired came from the unsubscribed portion of the corporation’s authorized capital stock);
   7. Deed of Assignment between buyer and the seller of the stock, if the shares acquired were purchased from existing stockholders (the purchase price per share shall not exceed 10% of its current book value)
5. For investment in shares in publicly listed corporations: 
   1. Certified true copy (by the stockbroker) of official receipts and buy invoice;
   2. Certification from the stock transfer office that the SIRV holder is a stockholder on record of the company where the investment was made;
   3. Certified true copy (by the stock transfer office) of the Stock Certificate issued in the name of SIRV holder with the following annotation on the face thereof: “The shares of stock covered by this certificate shall not be sold, transferred, conveyed, disposed of, and/or encumbered without the prior written consent of the Board of Investments.” Such annotation must bear the signature of the Corporate Secretary.
6. Other supporting documents, as may be required by the BOI