APECO Special Resident Visa (ASRV) | A Complete Guide

Overview:

The ASRV program was temporarily suspended by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration at the end of 2023. Currently, there is no specific information on whether the program will be reopened for applications or permanently canceled.

Aurora is the first economic zone established by the Philippines along the Pacific coast. Currently, the Aurora Economic Zone offers various residency visa options for foreigners, including the ASRV, AEP, ASIV, AWV, ADV, and ACE, among which the most famous and popular is the ASRV.

The Aurora Special Resident Visa (ASRV), offered by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), allows foreigners to obtain permanent residency in the Philippines by paying a minimum membership fee of USD 40,000 directly to the Aurora Economic Zone.

This visa program was launched in 2016 and was initially only available to Japanese citizens. Starting in 2019, Chinese citizens also became eligible to apply for the ASRV.

In fact, to date, the ASRV is only available to citizens of four countries: Japan, South Korea, China, and India.

Membership Fees:

The ASRV membership fee varies depending on the applicant’s age and whether the application is made from within the Philippines. The specific fee details are as follows:

If you are between 18 and 50 years old:

• If you are in the Philippines: A donation of USD 49,000 is required.

• If you are outside the Philippines: A donation of USD 52,000 is required.

If you are 50 years old or older:

• If you are in the Philippines: A donation of USD 39,000 is required.

• If you are outside the Philippines: A donation of USD 42,000 is required.

The above fees cover the primary applicant and two accompanying family members (a family of three). For a fourth accompanying family member, an additional USD 12,000 is required. For each additional family member beyond that, an additional USD 6,000 is required.

Generally, applicants from within the Philippines are subject to an application fee of USD 3,000 per person, while applicants from outside the Philippines have an application fee of USD 5,000 per person.

Application Process:

The processing time for the ASRV is only 5 days. Applicants are not required to provide any complicated documents, and even a certificate of no criminal record is not needed. In theory, if you are applying as an individual, you only need to provide your passport and a copy, and fill out an application form to submit your application.

The ASRV visa can be applied for online, and during the processing of the visa, you may be required to have a brief video interview with a visa officer.

Visa Validity:

The Philippine ASRV is a permanent residency card, but cardholders are required to renew it in Manila every five years. When renewing the card, only the renewal fee is required.

After legally residing in the Philippines for 10 years, if you can demonstrate integration into Philippine society, a basic understanding of the local political system, history, and culture, and the ability to speak Filipino, you may choose to apply for naturalization and become a citizen of the Philippines.