From service to island life.Done right.
Clear SRRV guidance for military retirees and their families, from a veteran-run, lawyer-managed team in the Philippines.
The short answer
Do US veterans qualify for the SRRV Courtesy rate?
PRA publishes a retired-military Courtesy category. Its overview and August 2025 checklist differ in category wording and age-specific income provisions. Your service and benefit records need a category-specific answer from PRA; veteran status or an income amount alone does not establish eligibility. Classic provides a separate age-and-pension comparison.
Situation brief
- The category
- Retired-military category published by PRA; confirm the applicable wording for your record.
- The evidence
- Service, retirement and current benefit records, with the accepted category confirmed by PRA.
- Courtesy deposit
- $1,500 at 50 and older, after category confirmation.
- The screen
- Both routes checked, in writing, before any money moves.
Who this page is for
This guide is for military retirees and families comparing a Philippine move. It brings together the service records, deposit tables, family costs and healthcare questions that shape a practical plan. Separated veterans and people awaiting Reserve retired pay should also review the dedicated guides before choosing a route.
By service branch
Start with the records relevant to your branch. The guides distinguish active and Reserve service histories and point to the appropriate pay administrator: DFAS for the Department of Defense branches and Coast Guard PPC for Coast Guard retired pay.
What the PRA actually says
SRRV (Special Resident Retiree’s Visa) Courtesy for foreign nationals covers retired diplomats, officers of recognized international organizations, high achievers, and, the part that matters here, retired military service members from countries with recognized bilateral relations with the Philippines. That is the description in PRA’s live overview. Read it alongside the current checklist and obtain confirmation before treating the category as settled.
The August 2025 checklist uses different military-category wording involving aid or training through a defense treaty or similar agreement. Ask PRA to identify the applicable category and deposit tier for your own service history. The table below is a published amount reference, not an eligibility decision.
| Courtesy deposit | Amount |
|---|---|
| 50 and older | $1,500 |
| 40 to 49, pensioner | $3,000 |
| 40 to 49, non-pensioner | $6,000 |
Former Filipinos who have not reacquired Philippine citizenship: $1,500 at 50 and older, $3,000 at 40 to 49.
Source review October 24, 2026Reviewed by Adam Juchniewicz, LL.M.Claim dates and qualifications
Review the category and the income evidence
Bring the service periods, retirement status and current payment records into one file. Keep VA compensation distinct from military retired pay, and identify income that has not started. This makes the question to PRA specific: which category applies, which benefit is accepted and what authentication is required?
Until the category question is resolved, keep a Classic pensioner and non-pensioner budget available. Future income should remain separate from payments received now. A VA rating does not replace the category review.
Obtain a category-specific answer
PRA’s overview and August 2025 checklist differ in the military category wording. The checklist places a $1,000 pension or similar-benefit clause under ages 40–49 while also publishing a non-pensioner tier. Ask PRA which category and evidence apply to your service history before choosing a deposit.
Read the source questionThe full breakdown for VA disability compensation is on the disabled veterans page.
The paperwork you already have
Keep the applicable separation and retirement records with current pay statements. DFAS supplies Retiree Account Statements for the Defense branches; Coast Guard retirees use PPC. VA benefit letters document a separate benefit. Ask PRA which certified records and authentication it requires before sending originals or booking travel.
Bringing the family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can join, subject to the application requirements. A spouse counts as one dependent. The standard deposit covers the principal and two dependents; each additional dependent normally adds $15,000 to the deposit. Every joining dependent, including the first two, pays $300in application fees. Confirm former-Filipino exceptions separately.
Worked example
Retiree, 52, with spouse and one child; assumes PRA-confirmed Courtesy eligibility
- Courtesy deposit
- $1,500
- PRA processing fee
- $1,500
- Dependent fees, 2 x $300
- $600
- PRA annual fee
- $100
- Deposit + first-year government fees
- $3,700
The deposit is separate from fees and subject to PRA release rules. Private-bank instructions describe an applicant account; the published DBP instructions name PRA as beneficiary. Obtain current bank-specific instructions directly from PRA before remitting.
Source review October 24, 2026Reviewed by Adam Juchniewicz, LL.M.Claim dates and qualifications
Your benefits travel with you
VA disability compensation is payable abroad and continues by direct deposit while living in the Philippines. FMP may cover medically necessary overseas care for VA-rated service-connected disabilities, conditions VA determines aggravate them, and qualifying VR&E care. Review the FMP benefits letter; the provider or veteran may submit a claim. It is not general health insurance.
Eligible veterans no longer need advance FMP registration; retrieve the benefits letter and confirm the provider’s claims and payment process. TRICARE has separate eligibility and Philippine provider rules, and TRICARE For Life requires Medicare Parts A and B overseas. The Manila VA clinic is outpatient care, so plan emergency and inpatient options separately.
Official sources
Your next mission:Peace of mind
We handle the SRRV process so you can focus on the lifestyle ahead.
SRRV Courtesy qualification is determined by the Philippine Retirement Authority on the documents. Many US military retirees may qualify; others fit SRRV Classic. We screen both routes before you commit, and we will tell you plainly if the SRRV is not your best option.