How to Get a Philippine Special Investor Resident Visa (SIRV)

The Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV) is a visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration through the Board of Investments (BOI) pursuant to the provisions of the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987. The SIRV is a special non-immigrant visa that entitles the holder to reside in the Philippines for an indefinite period as long as the required qualifications and investments are maintained. A Probationary SIRV is valid for six (6) months while the Indefinite SIRV is valid so long as the visa holder maintains the required investment in the Philippines. A foreigner who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, who has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, has not been afflicted with any loathsome, dangerous or contagious disease, has not been institutionalized for any mental disorder or disability, and who is willing and able to invest the amount of at least US$75,000.00 in covered investments, is eligible to apply for the SIRV. In order to secure the SIRV, the foreigner must deposit the amount of at least US$75,000.00 into Peso Time Deposit for a minimum maturity period of 30 days and a maximum maturity period of 180 days with either Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP); OR Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). The investor shall have one hundred eighty (180) days from date of issuance of probationary visa to convert the deposit into an investment in an eligible domestic enterprise and report such investment to the BOI. For purposes of securing an SIRV, only investments or shares of stocks in existing, new or proposed corporations shall be allowed as eligible forms of investment: 1. Publicly- listed companies 2. Companies engaged in areas listed in the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) of the Board of Investments. 3. Companies engaged in the manufacturing and services sectors It bears emphasis that ownership of shares of stock in corporations engaged in wholesale trading shall not be allowed. Requirements for Application of the Probationary SIRV 1. BOI Form SIRV-001A for Principal applicant 2. Signed and notarized Deed of Undertaking

3. Accomplished Personal History Statement Form 4. Police Clearance issued abroad translated into English and duly authenticated by Philippine Embassy/Consulate or 5. Clearance from the Interpol Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) issued in the Philippines valid for 6 months 6. Medical Certificate (Authenticated by the Bureau of Quarantine of the Phil. Department of Health) valid for 6 months 7. Birth Certificate / Family Registry / Household Registry duly authenticated by Philippine Embassy/Consulate 8. Marriage Contract (if applicable), duly authenticated by Philippine Embassy/Consulate 9. Proof of Inward Remittance from Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Head Office or Land Bank of the Philippines -Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave. (Buendia) Branch 11. Processing fee of US$ 300.00 12. Bureau of Immigration (BI) fee of P10,110.00 Requirements for Conversion of Time Deposit to Investment 1. Letter of Intent 2. Processing Fee of P1,000.00 3. For investment in new corporation, a signed and notarized duplicate copies of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws; 4. For investment in existing corporation: Certified true copies of the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and SEC Certificate of Registration. Latest Audited Financial Statement and list of latest officers and directors Notarized Corporate Secretarys Certificate stating that the purchase of shares of stock by the Applicant shall not violate the 40% limitation on ownership by foreigners in nationalized areas. Waiver of pre-emptive rights of existing stockholders Certified true copy of the SEC Resolution authorizing the issuance of shares from the unsubscribed portion and exempting said shares from the registration required by the Revised Securities Act, if the shares to be acquired will come from the unsubscribed portion of the corporations authorized capital stock. If the shares were purchased from an existing stockholder, the purchase price shall not exceed 10% of its current book value. Furthermore, the following must also be submitted: notarized Secretarys Certificate stating that the stockholder selling the shares is a stockholder of record owning the certain amount of shares and that said shares are free from any lien, encumbrance and are not subject to set-off; certified true copy of the Stock Certificate issued to the selling stockholder; and Deed of Assignment between the buyer and the seller of the stock certificate.

5. For investment in shares in publicly-listed corporations, a sworn certification of the stock broker.