Retirement Visa Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV)

I got a work permit with my company in Manila about 13 yrs ago. I didn’t have a contract with my US company but significant paperwork was required including college transcripts.

 

I’m a dive pro.

 

I ask because the mere act of working does not in itself require you to get an Alien Employment Permit (AEP). The important concepts here are employment, foreign market and rare skills.

Do not use the word "work" in any discussion about this. It only confuses things. Use the words "employment" or "contracting".

If you will be working for a local Philippine based employer, then you will need an AEP. The best written reference for this is the PRA application here:
https://pra.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Application-Form-Principal-English.pdf

Read the fine print at *. If there is no employee-employer relationship, ... there is no need for an AEP.

If you will be working for yourself catering directly to foreign tourists then things get a little foggy. You can work as a sole proprietor or officer/manager of a corporation without getting an AEP. You would need to get a Certificate of Exclusion from the Regional Office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1002918

Technically you will be able to operate your own business without a Philippine citizen partner if you would derive more than 60% of your revenue from foreign tourists. This would meet the foreign market test. The concept here is that the government thinks the tourists may like you more than a Filipino. This would require you to get all the permits to operate a business. I recently saw a post from a very professional looking Filipina Dive Master. Your local competition is professional and cute!

There is another option. In the above link you will see:
However, foreign nationals who are excluded from securing an AEP are ...; President and Treasurer, who are part-owners of the company; and those providing consultancy services who do not have employers in the Philippines. "

You could be an independent contractor consultant who does not have an employee-employer relationship but instead a business to business contractual relationship. In this case you would still be required to get a Certificate of Exclusion from DOLE. These are usually reserved for people who provide unique services. Being as there are Filipina Dive Masters around this might be a bit of a stretch and the DOLE would not want to give you a Certificate of Exclusion.

You can read more about it here:
http://www.ble.dole.gov.ph/download...f Employment Permits To Foreign Nationals.pdf

Sorry, I do not know if you can get an Alien Employment Permit without holding an employment contract from a particular employer.

 

[QUOTE="

Do not use the word "work" in any discussion about this. It only confuses things. Use the words "employment" or "contracting".

If you will be WORKING for a local Philippine based employer, then you will need an AEP. [/QUOTE]

Good answer, but I thought that was funny.

 

To clear up one of your points, DOLE considers the rating of Divemaster to be within the reach of the local labor force and therefore will not grant an AEP to a foreign national who merely holds this certification.

 

Just a side note, 13-A visa holders are exempt from the employment permit requirement.
http://www.ble.dole.gov.ph/downloads/AEP/AEP_Q&A.pdf
https://visasphilippines.com/philippine-visas/immigrant-visas/non-quota-immigrant-13a/

 

I think the title of this thread is "Special Resident Retiree Visa (SRRV)". Employment permits are a separate topic (and should start a new thread) that concerns all types of expat visas, not just SRRV.

 

Need some help here members, I just got my SRRV a few days ago. It was approved tentatively, I still have to show up with my SSA Benefits letter with aposille attached. I can get the aposille no problem. But The aposille service in Virginia said I have to send them an original benefits letter with a SSA officers name and signature. I know that you USA SRRV holders have had to do this, how did you get your SSA letter...... Manila FBU just sent me a statement with the SSA insignia on the bottom, not good enough. Please help.....

 

It's been almost five years, so rules may have changed. I acquired all documents and verifications (notarizations and consulate approvals) while still in New York. I never had anything apostilled. There was never a requirement for apostille 5 years ago; at the time the Philippines was not a signatory to the "Apostille Authority", but I think they are now. The letter from Social Security was simply the benefits statement you can download from your account on the SSA website. The Philippine requirement was a pension letter with a seal and a signature, but it did not specify original handwritten. At that time, the SSA-downloaded letter had the official seal at the top and a signature at the bottom. I took that to the Philippine Consulate in Manhattan, they "blessed it" with their brass grommet and red ribbon. When I got to Manila there was no problem. I had the SRRV approval within ten days of submitting the paperwork (and cashiers' checks) to the Manila PRA Office. This probably isn't much help, but that is my experience.

 

I thought the SRRV program was on hold? Did I miss something?