PhilippinesResidency By Investment
- Investment starts at $75,000
- Live, work, and study anywhere in the Philippines
- No minimum stay requirement
- Fast & Straightforward Application
- Lower cost of living
Overview
The Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) Investor Visa
The Philippines’ FAB Investor Visa (FIV) Program is an official Residency by Investment initiative, authorized by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Philippines.
The FIV program is a modernized, streamlined version of the legacy Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV), available since 1987. Both programs require a minimum investment of USD 75,000, but the FIV offers a significantly faster and more user-friendly, digital-first process. In contrast, the SIRV can take up to 18 months to complete and involves more complex administrative steps.
The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) is a Philippine government agency under the Office of the President. It manages and develops the FAB, a special administrative region in the greater metropolitan Manila area.
The core objective of the FIV Program is to attract foreign investment and business activity to accelerate the development. The FIV holders gain the right to live, work, and study anywhere in the Philippines, not only the FAB.
Family Inclusion
Legally married spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 may be included in the main applicant’s FIV application with an additional processing fee of USD 3,000 per dependent.
Eligibility
To qualify for the FIV applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have a clean criminal record: Applicants must provide a police clearance certificate confirming they have no criminal background. If obtaining such a document in the home country is difficult, a third-party KYC provider may assist in conducting a global criminal record check.
- Making a qualified investment of at least USD 75,000 into a FAB-approved enterprise. Currently, the only approved option is an investment in preferred shares of IWAVE, placed via a fixed deposit structure in the company’s designated account. The residency status is directly tied to the investment. If the investor withdraws or cancels the investment, the FIV residency visa will be revoked automatically.
- Applicants must prove that the investment comes from a legal source. If employed, they must provide an income tax return from the last two years showing annual income above USD 75,000 and a recent certificate of employment stating salary, position, and dates. Business owners must submit a similar tax return showing at least USD 75,000 income. Retirees need to provide a pension certificate confirming total pension received exceeds the same amount. If the source is from a property sale, a deed of sale must show the property was sold for more than the required minimum investment.
- Open to all nationalities. The FIV program is generally open to individuals of any nationality. However, due to current geopolitical sensitivities, citizens of China are not eligible to apply through IWAVE at this time.
Investors and dependents applying for the FIV must visit the FAB in the Philippines in person to complete the required steps. Citizens from some countries may need to obtain a travel visa in advance by contacting the local Philippine embassy. The visit should occur within 3 months of receiving pre-approval from FAB to avoid complications.
Validity & Renewal
The FIV grants residency for an indefinite period, provided the investment is kept. While the visa status itself does not expire, the Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR-I Card) does have expiration dates. The initial ACR-I Card is valid for two years, after which it can be renewed for up to three years at a time, at a cost of USD50 per year. Renewal is a straightforward process, and a lawyer with a valid power of attorney may complete the renewal on behalf of the resident.
Path to Citizenship
FIV holders may become eligible for Philippine citizenship through naturalization. There are two main pathways:
- Hold the visa for 10 years and live in the Philippines for at least 5 years, or
- Hold the visa for 5 years, live in the country for 2.5 years, and contribute meaningfully to the Philippines — such as teaching, registering a patent, marrying a Filipino citizen, or similar achievements (evaluated case by case).
The Philippines allows dual citizenship, so applicants do not need to give up their original passport.
Benefits
Residency Status
No Minimum Stay
Path to Citizenship
Fast & Straightforward Process
Banking Services
No Net-Worth or Language Requirements
Investment Requirement and Fees
| The minimum investment into a FAB-approved enterprise | USD 75,000 |
Application Fees
| Main applicant: | USD 25,000 |
| Dependents: | USD 3,000 per person |
Application Process
Bayat Group’s compliance team will conduct an internal due diligence check, which entails a background security screening of the applicant, Preparation of KYC (Know Your Client) and a qualification assessment.
Bayat Group will meticulously analyze the client's case. Once this is done, the client will proceed to sign a retainer agreement with the firm. Subsequently, Bayat Group will curate a customized list of necessary documents – recognizing that each client's situation is unique – to facilitate the application preparation process.
FIV applicants first need to cover the application fee, which is non-refundable, and present a proof of investment. After, Bayat Group will assist to prepare the application package for the pre-approval. The Main Applicant must submit: passport bio page, 1-page English CV, BI general application form, preferred shares subscription agreement, sworn declaration, police clearance, and for bank purposes—a second ID (like driver’s license, or ID card) and proof of income. The spouse needs: passport, CV, BI form, affidavit of support, police clearance, and marriage certificate. Each child under 21 must provide: passport, BI form, affidavit of support, police clearance*, and birth certificate. All documents requiring authentication must be notarized and apostilled. Police clearance is not required for children under 5; for ages 6–18, school enrollment and a certificate of good moral standing may be used instead. Applicants need to preserve all original documents and bring them to the Philippines during the mandatory trip. Failure to present the original hard copies will result in disqualification.
Once the applicant receives pre-approval, it’s necessary to proceed with the investment. Applicant must sign the Preferred Shares Subscription Agreement provided by Metropolis, which is a service provider for FIV program and transfers investment funds to the appropriate IWAVE’s account. All bank fees, including those from both the sending and receiving banks, must be covered by the investor.
After making the qualified investment, investor and dependents must schedule a 5-day trip to the Philippines to complete the FIV process. Airfare is at the client’s expense. The application and dependent fees cover essential local costs including 4-night accommodation, transport, meals, medical and mental health exams, fingerprinting, local SIM, ID card processing, residence card issuance, notarizations, and other administrative fees. Personal expenses are not included. FIV applicants must bring all original documents. Bank account setup can be assisted, but may require extra days. Travel visas must be obtained independently via the Philippine embassy. 
On Day 1, the Metropolis team collects all original documents and passports, the client takes an online mental health exam and undergoes a physical checkup. On Day 2, the client receives a medical certificate, final documents are prepared and sent to FAB for endorsement to the BI. Day 3 is free while documents are processed and the biometrics appointment is scheduled; bank visits are optional. On Day 4, the client visits FAB for biometrics and ACR I-card printing. The card must be collected in person, or later with a special power of attorney. On Day 5, the investor can leave the Philippines.