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| Club Tara, Socorro, Surigao del Norte |
Foreigners Are Retiring Here in the Philippines. Here's What I Found.
I've been noticing something for a while now.
Every time I visit Bohol — my mother's province — I see them. Foreigners. Not just tourists passing through. The kind who walk slowly, eat at carinderia, know the locals by name. The kind who look like they're not going anywhere.
Same thing here in Surigao. And if you've been to Siargao lately, you know what I mean. There are foreigners there who've been living on that island longer than some Siargaonons.
It got me thinking. Is this just something I'm noticing, or is this actually a thing?
Turns out — it's very much a thing. And the numbers are growing.
[Update] What the Numbers Actually Say
The Philippines has a government program specifically for this: the Special Resident Retiree's Visa, or SRRV. It's managed by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), and it gives qualified foreigners the right to live here permanently — multiple entry, indefinite stay — without giving up their home country citizenship.
Here's what the data shows:
In 2024, 3,812 foreigners enrolled for an SRRV — up from 3,108 in 2023. Chinese nationals made up 40 percent of the total, followed by Americans, Indians, and Koreans.
As of mid-2025, approximately 60,000 active SRRV holders are living in the Philippines — from countries including China, South Korea, India, and the United States.
And the government is actively recruiting more. The PRA CEO said they attended the Salon des Séniors 2025 in Paris — a senior-focused expo — and 11 French individuals and couples immediately said they wanted to retire here. They arrived the following week.
The following week. Not "we'll think about it." They booked flights.
That tells you something.
Why Are They Choosing the Philippines?
I asked myself this. Because objectively, there are other options — Thailand, Vietnam, Portugal, Mexico. Why here?
The cost of living is hard to argue with.
Compared to the US, rent prices in the Philippines are 82.9% lower. Consumer prices with rent are 64.6% lower. Groceries are 52% lower.
A couple can live comfortably in a place like Panglao, Bohol for around $1,500 to $1,800 a month — including housing.
That's less than ₱105,000 a month for a comfortable retirement. In one of the most beautiful places in Asia.
English is everywhere.
Unlike Thailand or Vietnam, you don't need to learn a new language to buy groceries, go to the doctor, or talk to your neighbor. Most Filipinos speak English, especially in tourist and retirement areas. That removes one of the biggest barriers foreigners face when moving abroad.
The people.
This one is harder to put in a spreadsheet. But every foreign retiree I've read about — and every one I've observed in person in Bohol and here in Surigao — says the same thing: Filipinos made them feel welcome. Not in a "smile for the tourist" way. In a genuine, neighbor-borrowing-your-adobo way.
SRRV holders also enjoy exemptions from certain taxes and customs duties, including on household goods and personal effects brought into the country. That's a practical perk that adds up.
The Places They're Going
From what I've seen personally — and what the data confirms — a few places keep coming up.
Bohol (especially Panglao). Bohol offers a laid-back lifestyle, stunning natural beauty, and a low cost of living — making it a popular destination for international retirees. Panglao has the beach, the airport, the resorts. It checks all the boxes.
Siargao. Siargao attracts a specific kind of expat — the surfer, the free spirit, the one who values lifestyle over convenience. The cost of living for such a high quality of life is brilliant there. I've seen this firsthand. The foreigners I notice in Siargao during our field visits aren't passing through — they have their spots, their routines.
Surigao City area. Quieter than the others, but that's exactly the point for some. My province doesn't get as much credit as Bohol or Siargao, but the sea here is just as beautiful.
The Requirements (In Simple Terms)
If a foreign friend asks you what they need to retire here, here's the short version:
The SRRV requires applicants to be at least 35 years old, make a deposit of $10,000 to $50,000 in an accredited Philippine bank depending on age and pension status, have valid health insurance, and provide a clean criminal record from their home country.
As of September 2025, the PRA updated the SRRV guidelines — foreign nationals as young as 40 can now apply, with higher deposit requirements than those 50 and above.
The deposit isn't a fee — it stays in a Philippine bank in their name. They can even use it to purchase a condo or long-term lease. They're not throwing it away.
My Honest Observation
My job as contractual employee is helping small businesses. Part of what we do is help local products reach the market — packaging, labeling, branding. And one thing I've noticed is that the areas where foreign retirees settle tend to develop faster. More demand for local goods. More small business activity. More reason for MSMEs to level up their products.
In that sense, these retirees aren't just choosing to live here. They're quietly investing in communities like ours.
The foreigners I see in Bohol aren't recruiting anyone to move here. They just look happy. Relaxed. Like they made a decision they don't regret.
And honestly? Watching them — I understand it completely.
We live here every day and sometimes forget what we have. They crossed oceans to find it.
Okay, Last Thing — I Promise
If you're a Filipino reading this, maybe it's time to see your own country the way a retiring French couple sees it — as a dream destination worth everything they saved.
And if you're a foreigner doing research — welcome. You're not just looking at a retirement destination. You're looking at a place people genuinely call home.
The numbers don't lie. 60,000 of them already figured that out.
— Mavs
source:
PNA / PRA SRRV data: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1249787Chambers & Partners SRRV update: https://chambers.com/articles/updates-on-the-philippines-retirement-visa-program
Bohol retirement guide: https://boholjewel.com/retirement/
Expat cost of living 2026: https://livelifethephilippines.com/retirement/cost-of-living/cost.html
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