The Philippines has a population of about 118 million and a nominal GDP of roughly US$470 billion. It is a member of ASEAN, and its currency is the peso. It is represented by its Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV).
The Philippines has a population of about 118 million and a nominal GDP of roughly US$470 billion. It is a member of ASEAN, and its currency is the peso. It is represented by its Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV).
The Global Residency Programs Index 2026 compares 48 residency pathways across five dimensions: Procedure, Mobility, Tax Optimization, Quality of Life, and Investment. The overall score provides a high-level comparison, while the individual rankings help readers identify the strengths and trade-offs most relevant to their priorities.
The Philippines offers the Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) for active investors and the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) for retirees, the latter with among the most accessible deposit thresholds in the region.
Programme: SIRV and SRRV Legal basis: SIRV under Executive Order No. 226 (1987), administered by the BOI; SRRV under the Philippine Retirement Authority (Executive Order No. 1037) Indicative minimum: SIRV USD 75,000 investment; SRRV USD 10,000 to USD 50,000 deposit Estimated processing: 1 to 2 months
The 2026 Global Residency Programs Index makes one thing clear: there is no single best programme, only the best fit for a given set of priorities. A decade of reform has left the sector more transparent, more compliance-driven and more diverse in the routes it offers (from regulated funds and entrepreneurial ventures to lifestyle and long-stay options) so that residency has matured into a credible, durable planning tool rather than a shortcut. Whether the goal is mobility, tax efficiency, quality of life or an eventual second passport, the value of this 2026 GRP Index lies in matching the right route to the right objective, grounded in evidence rather than marketing.