Accredited Marketers for the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) in the Philippines
(A comprehensive legal briefing as of 25 April 2025)
1. Overview of the SRRV Program
Legal foundation – The Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) was created under Executive Order 1037 (3 July 1985), which established the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) as a government-owned and-controlled corporation attached to the Department of Tourism. The SRRV grants qualified foreign nationals the privilege to reside in the Philippines indefinitely with multiple-entry status, exemption from certain taxes and customs duties, and permission to work, study or invest under PRA guidelines.
Role of accredited marketers – Because the PRA has no overseas field offices, it relies on a network of Accredited Marketers—licensed individuals or juridical entities formally authorised to promote, package and assist with SRRV applications. Their status is unique to the SRRV regime and is separate from immigration consultancies regulated by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or general travel agents regulated by the Department of Tourism.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Framework
| Instrument | Key Provisions Affecting Marketers |
|---|---|
| Executive Order 1037 (1985) | Created PRA and empowered it to “promote the Philippines as a retirement haven” and “accredit private entities to implement its programs.” |
| PRA Memorandum Circular (MC) Series 2004-003 | First codified the accreditation system; imposed a bond, minimum capital and annual renewal. |
| PRA MC Series 2013-002 (repealed by 2021-004) | Introduced marketer ranking (Silver/Gold/Platinum) based on annual visa approvals. |
| PRA MC Series 2021-004 | Current consolidated “Accreditation Guidelines for Marketers and Marketer-Representatives.” |
| Tourism Act of 2009 (R.A. 9593) | Declares retirement promotion a tourism enterprise; marketers qualify as primary tourism enterprises subject to DOT standards. |
| Data Privacy Act (R.A. 10173) | Personal data of retiree-applicants handled by marketers must be processed under NPC rules. |
3. Who May Be Accredited
3.1 Natural Persons
- Citizenship: Filipino citizen or foreigner holding permanent resident status (13-series visas, etc.).
- Professional eligibility: Must possess both
- A valid Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) licence or a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) consultancy authority in a relevant field (law, accountancy, real-estate, migration services); and
- A current Business Name Registration (DTI) or SEC registration (for single-proprietors practising under a trade name).
3.2 Juridical Entities
- Corporations, partnerships, foundations or NGOs registered with the SEC and existing under Philippine law.
- Minimum paid-up capital: ₱1 million (ordinary) or ₱5 million (premium/“Principal Marketer”).
- Directors/officers must pass a PRA background check and submit NBI clearances.
4. Accreditation Procedure
| Step | Action | Typical Timeframe* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | File Letter of Intent + PRA Form No. M-01 | – |
| 2 | Submit documentary requirements (Articles of Inc., Mayor’s Permit, BIR COR, audited FS, bank certification of capital, data-privacy compliance manual, marketer bond). | 15 working days |
| 3 | Pay Accreditation Fee (₱40,000 initial; ₱20,000 renewal) and post Surety Bond (₱500,000) in favour of PRA. | – |
| 4 | PRA Marketing & Sightseeing Division conducts due-diligence visit/interview. | 10 working days |
| 5 | PRA Board Resolution issuing Certificate of Accreditation (valid for 1 calendar year, renewable). | Quarterly board meeting |
*The PRA does not commit to statutory periods; times are based on 2023–2024 averages.
5. Rights & Privileges of Accredited Marketers
- Use of PRA Marks – Accredited entities may display the official PRA “Live Your Dream in the Philippines” logo in their collateral, subject to branding guidelines.
- Commission Structure – A success fee equal to US $500 per approved retiree, credited quarterly, plus tiered incentives when yearly quotas (40 / 80 / 150 approvals) are met.
- Access to e-SRRV Portal – Marketers receive a unique login to upload applicant data, track application status and schedule bio-metrics.
- Participation in PRA roadshows – Invitation to co-host overseas marketing events under a cost-sharing scheme.
- Priority Endorsement – Properly-documented files lodged by accredited marketers are queued under the “Priority Window” with a target 7-working-day evaluation (vs. 15 for walk-ins).
6. Obligations and Continuing Compliance
| Obligation | Key Details | Sanction for Breach |
|---|---|---|
| Maintain valid permits & clearances | SEC or DTI renewal, Mayor’s Permit, BIR compliance, data privacy registration. | Suspension until cured. |
| Annual Renewal | File MC-04 Form, pay ₱20,000 renewal fee, replenish bond if depleted by claims. | Lapse of accreditation; loss of commissions. |
| Quarterly Reporting | Submit list of active leads, approved visas, and post-arrival status of retirees. | Fine of ₱5,000 per late report. |
| Code of Conduct | No over-promising of benefits; no guarantee of visa approval; truthful advertising. | Three validated complaints = revocation. |
| Client Funds Handling | All SRRV deposit funds must be remitted directly by the retiree to a PRA-concerned bank—not via marketer. | Grounds for criminal prosecution (Estafa). |
7. Advertising & Ethical Rules
- Content restrictions – Ads must show the correct SRRV deposit and fee schedule, clearly state that approval is subject to PRA discretion, and avoid misleading claims such as “automatic citizenship.”
- Jurisdictional compliance – Marketing abroad must follow host-country marketing and migration-agent rules (e.g., Australia’s MARA code, Canada’s ICCRC).
- Anti-age discrimination – Since PRA accepts retirees as young as 35 years (Expanded SRRV Classic), marketers must not exclude younger retirees in promotional material.
8. Liability & Enforcement Mechanics
- Administrative sanctions – Issued under PRA MC 2021-004 § 14 via Show-Cause Orders, with appeal to the PRA Board of Trustees and, ultimately, the Office of the President.
- Surety bond calls – PRA may forfeit the marketer’s bond to compensate aggrieved applicants for documented losses (e.g., negligence causing visa denial).
- Civil liability – Ordinary contract and tort principles under the Civil Code apply; forum selection is usually in Makati or Taguig courts where PRA HQ is located.
- Criminal exposure – False representation to the PRA may constitute Estafa (Art. 315 RPC) or Falsification of Public Documents (Art. 171 RPC).
9. Practical Compliance Tips
| Issue | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Data Privacy | Adopt a Privacy Management Program with a designated Data Protection Officer (DPO) and submit an NPC Data Processing System (DPS) registration. |
| Foreign Market Outreach | Partner with local migration lawyers in target countries to avoid unlicensed-agent penalties abroad. |
| Record-Keeping | Use cloud-based CRM with audit trail; PRA requires three-year retention of application records. |
| Post-Landing Services | Offer “Concierge Packages” (SSS/PhilHealth enrollment, driver’s licence processing). While optional, these improve retention and referrals. |
10. Recent Developments (2023 – April 2025)
- 2023 Senate Oversight – Following demographic concerns that too many “young” Chinese nationals were entering on SRRV Classic, the Senate Committee on Tourism required PRA to tighten screening. Marketers must now submit an Enhanced Risk Profile for applicants aged 35–49.
- e-Payment Integration (2024-Q4) – PRA launched a LandBank/Pesonet payment gateway; marketers may no longer accept fee payments in cash.
- Pre-Accreditation Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Module (2025-Q1) – Attorneys serving as individual marketers must complete a 6-hour PRA-CLE on immigration and retirement law before renewal.
11. Comparison with Other Philippine Immigration Intermediaries
| Feature | PRA Accredited Marketer | BI Accredited Liaison | Licensed Recruitment/Manning Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Regulator | PRA (DOT) | Bureau of Immigration | POEA / DOLE |
| Scope of Work | SRRV promotion & processing | Any visa follow-up, ACR I-Card, etc. | Overseas employment placement |
| Surety Bond | ₱500,000 | None | ₱1 million |
| Commission Source | PRA | Client | Principal/Employer |
12. Concluding Observations
Accredited marketers sit at the intersection of migration law, tourism promotion and consumer protection. Their accreditation is not merely a marketing licence but a delegated public function grounded in Executive Order 1037 and continuously refined by PRA memoranda. For prospective marketers, the keys to successful and compliant practice are adequate capitalisation, robust data-privacy safeguards, transparent fee handling and ethical advertising. For retiree-applicants, verifying that a service provider holds a current PRA Certificate of Accreditation is the single most important due-diligence step before engaging professional assistance.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only as of 25 April 2025 and does not constitute legal advice. Regulations evolve; always consult the PRA and qualified Philippine counsel for the latest requirements.