A New Way To Stay In The Philippines - The FIV Visa

Pea sits down with JR Cocjra from JRC Visa Consultancy to break down the FIV (Freeport Area of Bataan Investors Visa), a relatively new visa option for foreigners who want to stay in the Philippines permanently. The conversation includes a detailed side-by-side comparison of three visa pathways: the FIV, the SIRV (Special Investor's Residence Visa), and the classic SRRV (Special Resident Retiree's Visa), helping viewers figure out which option fits their age, budget, and situation.

FIV — Freeport Area of Bataan Investors Visa (the new option) ​

• Stands for Freeport Area of Bataan Investors Visa, initiated by the Freeport of Bataan Economic Zone
• Requires $75,000 investment in exchange for permanent residency with multiple entry privileges
• Open to all nationalities, minimum age 18 — no upper age limit
• Processing time: one week — JR emphasizes this is extraordinary for the Philippines, where visa processing is notoriously slow
• Dependents: Legal spouse and children under 21 can be included under the same $75,000 investment; non-legal partners must apply separately
• Must visit the Philippines at least once per year to maintain the visa

FIV investment options ​

• Option 1: Invest in companies or establishments within the Bataan Economic Zone
• Option 2: Invest in accredited industries outside the zone, including accredited real estate companies
• Real estate restriction: Foreigners can only own condominiums or apartments — not landed property (land ownership is reserved for Filipino citizens only)
• If investing in a condo within the economic zone, you must live in that condo
• If investing in zone companies (not real estate), you can live anywhere in the Philippines
• The investment must be made before the visa application — the company provides an endorsement to the Freeport of Bataan confirming the $75,000 investment, which triggers visa eligibility
• The program is government-supervised with oversight

FIV limitations and important caveats ​

• Not a pathway to citizenship — JR makes this very clear; the FIV provides permanent residency only, despite online claims otherwise
• If you sell your condo or liquidate the investment, the visa is revoked — you'd need to apply for a different visa
• Work rights: You can work within the economic zone, but working outside the zone is still being figured out since the visa is relatively new
• Establishing a one-person corporation is a separate process from the visa itself

SIRV — Special Investor's Residence Visa (comparison) ​

• Also requires $75,000 investment, also no minimum age requirement
• Key difference from FIV: Investment goes into stocks from an approved list of companies, not real estate or zone businesses — broader geographic and industry options
• Requires a background check from your country of origin (FIV does not)
• Processing time: 6 months probation period during which you invest your money — much longer than FIV's one week
• Also provides permanent residency

SRRV — Special Resident Retiree's Visa (the classic option) ​

• Minimum age: 50 years old
• Standard visa deposit: $20,000 (held in an accredited bank, refundable if you cancel the visa)
• Reduced deposit tiers:
  • $10,000 if the retiree already receives a pension of at least $800/month
  • $1,500 if the retiree can provide proof of military service (minimum 2 years), a DD-214 (honorable discharge), receives at least $1,000/month pension, and has a clean criminal record
• This is the most commonly applied-for visa among foreigners relocating to the Philippines

Side-by-side decision framework ​

• Under 50 and have $75,000? Your options are FIV or SIRV
• Want real estate investment + fastest processing? FIV (one week)
• Want stock market investment + broader options? SIRV (six months)
• Over 50 and want the cheapest entry? SRRV ($20,000, or as low as $1,500 for qualifying veterans)
• JR's consultancy can facilitate all three visa types and has at least three office locations in the Philippines
• JR notes he frequently encounters people in their 40s who want permanent residency but can't qualify for SRRV — the FIV and SIRV fill that gap

Pea mentions looking forward to covering the "nomad visa" in a future episode with JR ​

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