Permanent residency program
Philippines FAB Investor Visa
Live, work, and study anywhere in the Philippines on permanent residence, through a $75K investment in an approved project in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB). One 1-week trip, and your spouse and children join you.
- Contribution from
- $75K
- Processing time
- 1 month
- Citizenship path
- 10 years
- Presence required
- 1-week trip
As featured in
Why the Philippines FAB Investor Visa?
Your why determines your where. For a lot of you, the why is a second home base in Asia that's ready fast and doesn't depend on buying property.
That's what the FAB Investor Visa gives you. You invest in an approved project we source and vet inside the Freeport Area of Bataan, fly in once for a week, and leave with permanent residence for you, your spouse, and your children.
It's awfully similar to the SIRV, which also starts at $75K. The SIRV lets you choose the Philippine company or shares you back, and that money can earn dividends, but it takes about 3 months and more paperwork. The FAB Investor Visa is faster and simpler, and your capital comes back in full after 5 years.
The Philippines makes it easy to settle in. English is everywhere, the people are some of the warmest you'll meet, and more than 7,000 islands give you a lifetime of weekends.
If you'd like a foothold in Asia in about a month, this is the visa I'd look at first.
James NuveenFounder of the Freedom Files
Benefits of the Philippines FAB Investor Visa
Residence with no end date
Your visa is valid for as long as your investment is in place. Only the residence card is renewed, every 2 to 3 years, and we can do that remotely.
One 1-week trip
You fly into Clark International Airport once, for about a week, for your interview, medical exam, biometrics, and oath. After that, there are no minimum days.
Live, work, and study anywhere
Live, work, study, or start a business anywhere in the Philippines, with access to medical services and public schools.
Your spouse and children included
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 join on your one investment, with no added investment or application fee.
Foreign income outside Philippine tax
The Philippines taxes foreign residents only on Philippine income, so your income from abroad remains outside Philippine tax.
Is the Philippines FAB Investor Visa Right for You?
Right for you if
- Investors of any nationality who want permanent residence in Asia
- Anyone who'd like their capital returned after 5 years
- Applicants who want residence in about 1 month, with one trip
Look elsewhere if
- You want your investment to earn a return: The approved project pays no yield.
- You may need the money within 5 years: Withdrawing early comes with a penalty and ends the visa.
- You want a passport soon: Philippine naturalization takes 10 years of residence.
Who Your Philippines FAB Investor Visa Application Covers
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 join on your one investment and come with you on the 1-week onboarding trip.
| Family member | Condition |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Legal marriage |
| Children under 21 | Unmarried |
Are You Eligible for the Philippines FAB Investor Visa?
Answer 4 quick questions. In 2 minutes, you'll know whether you're likely to qualify, and what fits better if you don't.
Philippines FAB Investor Visa Investment Options
The visa calls for $75K in a government-approved project inside the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB). We source and vet the project for you.
- Popular
Approved FAB project
$75K
How this route works
Today that's preferred shares of an FAB-approved company; FAB-approved funds and securities, including fixed deposits, are also listed. The investment earns no yield and is returned in full after 5 years. It's due within 3 months of pre-approval, and no real estate purchase or net worth test is required.
Philippines FAB Investor Visa Cost
Estimated total for 4 people
$75,160
- Qualifying investmentApproved FAB project
- $75,000
- Criminal record checkPaid directly to your country's police authority
- $40
- Apostilles on your documentsPaid directly to the issuing authority
- $120
Official fees only. Government card and processing fees are confirmed when you file. Plan on a 1-week trip to the Philippines for your interview, medical exam, biometrics, and oath. Your $75K is returned in full after 5 years. Freedom Files fees aren't included. All amounts are subject to change.
Get your numbers on the call. We price your route for everyone applying before you commit.
Philippines FAB Investor Visa Costs at a Glance
| Investment in an approved FAB project | $75K, returned in full after 5 years |
|---|---|
| Onboarding trip | 1 week in the Philippines, travel and lodging at your own cost |
| Criminal record checks and apostilles | Depends on your country and the number of documents |
| Residence card renewal | Every 2 to 3 years, at the Bureau of Immigration's fee |
| The Freedom Files | A fixed quote in writing before you commit |
Philippines FAB Investor Visa and Taxes
The basics below are for planning only, and each one is pending licensed review. Your own position depends on your income, your assets, and where you spend your time. Our team provides US and Philippines tax planning, so you can have your plan reviewed before you commit.
Tax residency in Philippines
A foreign national living in the Philippines with no set date to leave is a resident alien. After 180 days in a year, a nonresident is treated as doing business there.
US income tax treaty
The US and the Philippines have an income tax treaty that lowers withholding on cross-border income. If you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too.
FAB Investor Visa presence vs tax residency
The visa has no minimum days, so you choose how much time to spend in the Philippines. Foreign residents are taxed only on Philippine income, so time spent there doesn't bring your foreign income into Philippine tax.
Special tax regimes
Foreign nationals, resident or not, are taxed only on Philippine income, so income from abroad is outside Philippine tax. SRRV pensions are exempt.
Philippines FAB Investor Visa Document Checklist
Here's the typical file for the Philippines FAB Investor Visa. Your country and your case can change the list, and we confirm yours on the call.
Main applicant
- Passport copy with every stamped page, notarized
- CV in English, signed and notarized
- Criminal record check, notarized
- 8 passport photos, 2 printed copies of each
Spouse and children
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate for each child
Philippines FAB Investor Visa Process and Timeline
Total: About 1 month from filing to your residence card when you invest soon after pre-approval. Plan 1 trip of about a week to the Philippines.
- 1
Freedom Consult
A call with our founder. We confirm this visa fits your goals and anyone applying with you, or we point you to a better route. You leave with a clear plan and a quote in writing.
- 2
Document file
You gather your passport copy, CV, police check, and civil records. We arrange the notarizations and apostilles in your country of citizenship.
- 3
Application and pre-approval
You pay the application fee and we file. Pre-approval usually follows in 7 to 10 days.
- 4
Your investment
Within 3 months of pre-approval, your $75K goes into the approved project we've sourced and vetted.
- 5
Onboarding trip
You fly into Clark International Airport for about a week of interview, medical exam, biometrics, and oath.
- 6
Your residence card
You receive your residence card, valid for 2 to 3 years, and permanent residence for as long as your investment is in place.
- 7
Card renewals
Every 2 to 3 years, we renew your residence card with the Bureau of Immigration, remotely where the rules allow. Contact us to renew.
Milestones to residency and citizenship
Pre-approval
7 to 10 days after filing
Residence card
About 1 month
Investment returned in full
After 5 years
Naturalization petition, if you choose
After 10 years of residence
“I love the way the Freedom Files team present themselves and show up for our family. I much prefer their honest, on-the-ground-experience approach than the suited-up lawyers with bookshelves of textbooks behind them.”
Philippines FAB Investor Visa vs Alternatives
| Philippines FAB Investor Visa | Philippines SIRV | Panama Qualified Investor Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum financial requirement | $75K | $75K | $300K |
| Processing time | 1 month | 3 months | 4 months |
| Presence required | 1-week trip | None | 1 visit every 2 years |
| Time to citizenship | 10 years | 10 years | 5 years |
| Language test for citizenship | Not published | See program page | Spanish + civics |
| Family included | Spouse, children under 21 | See program page | Spouse, children to 25, dependent parents |
| Capital returned | Yes, after 5 years | See program page | Yes, after 5 years |
Undecided between these programs? We compare them for you on the call.
How the Freedom Files Helps You with the Philippines FAB Investor Visa
You get one team from your first call to your arrival in Philippines. We prepare, check, and file your application, and we're your single point of contact from start to finish.
- Clients served
- 200+
- years in investment migration
- 10+
- Americans educated
- 2M+
| This program only | Private Client Engagement | |
|---|---|---|
| An eligibility review before you pay a government fee | ||
| Your document file, assembled and optimized | ||
| We prepare and submit your application | ||
| Consular coordination and liaising | ||
| Qualifying investment vetting and due diligence | ||
| Your case manager | Through arrival | Long term |
| A global Plan B strategy across residency, citizenship, tax, asset protection, and more | ||
| Residency and/or citizenship in more than one country | ||
| US and foreign tax strategy, with introductions | ||
| Banking and asset protection strategy, with introductions | ||
| Healthcare, schools, and relocation, with introductions | ||
| Book a consult | Learn more |
Other Freedom Files Services in Philippines
We can take on each of these for you, alongside your application or on its own. Our Philippines team provides legal, tax, financial, immigration, and investment advice and services.
Tax strategy and filing
Bank account opening
Investment vetting
Real estate and accommodations
Healthcare enrollment
Residency renewals
“We came in with a complicated global setup and needed special attention. What we got from the Freedom Files team was direct, honest, and personal responsiveness at every turn. Exactly what we needed! Very impressed.”
Mike · New York“The Private Client Engagement has been perfect for our unique situation. James is the total quarterback of our whole Plan B strategy.”
Kenneth · Illinois
Why Philippines?
More than 7,000 islands
Limestone lagoons in Palawan, the white beaches of the Visayas, and surf towns in Siargao, with warm water all year.
Spanish, American, and Asian heritage
Centuries of Spanish rule and decades of American ties left stone churches, a love of fiestas, and a culture that feels familiar from the first day.
English everywhere
English is an official language, used in business, government, schools, and hospitals, so daily life and paperwork are easier than almost anywhere in Asia.
Cool mountains and rice terraces
The terraces of the Cordillera and the pine hills of Baguio offer cool mountain air, a short trip from the coast and the cities.
Philippines FAB Investor Visa FAQs
Cost and qualifying routes
How much do you need to invest for the FAB Investor Visa?
$75K in a government-approved project inside the Freeport Area of Bataan, which we source and vet. It earns no yield and is returned in full after 5 years. The fee calculator adds the fees for anyone applying with you.
What investments qualify?
Today that's preferred shares of an FAB-approved company. FAB-approved funds and securities, including fixed deposits, are also listed. Real estate isn't required, and there's no net worth test.
What happens if you withdraw the investment early?
Withdrawing before 5 years comes with a penalty that depends on how long it was invested, and the visa ends when the investment does.
What are the fees?
Beyond your $75K investment, plan on government processing and card fees, which we confirm when you file, and your travel for the 1-week onboarding trip. Your spouse and children add no investment.
Timeline and presence
How long does the FAB Investor Visa take?
About 1 month. Pre-approval usually comes 7 to 10 days after filing, and your investment is due within 3 months of that. You then fly in for about a week and receive your residence card.
How much time do you need to spend in the Philippines?
One trip of about a week, for your onboarding. After that, the visa has no minimum days, and card renewals can be done remotely.
Citizenship
Does the FAB Investor Visa lead to Philippine citizenship?
It can. Naturalization is a petition after 10 years of residence, with 5 of those years spent in the Philippines. A 5-year path exists for people who make a special contribution, such as setting up a company, with 2.5 years spent there. English meets the language requirement.
Family, tax and living
Who can join your FAB Investor Visa?
Your spouse and your unmarried children under 21. They join on your one investment and come with you on the 1-week onboarding trip.
Who can apply?
Every nationality, from age 18, with a clean criminal record and a documented source for your investment.
Can you work in the Philippines on this visa?
Yes. You can live, work, study, or start a business anywhere in the Philippines, with access to medical services and public schools.
How does the Philippines tax FAB Investor Visa holders?
Foreign residents are taxed only on Philippine income. The US and the Philippines have an income tax treaty, and if you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too. We review your position before you invest.
Is it right for you?
FAB Investor Visa vs SIRV: Which is better?
Both start at $75K. The FAB Investor Visa returns your capital after 5 years and takes about 1 month with one trip. The SIRV puts your $75K into Philippine shares you choose, which can pay dividends. We compare both on a Freedom Consult.
Documents and approval
What documents does the FAB Investor Visa require?
A notarized copy of your passport, a signed CV in English, an apostilled criminal record check from the last 6 months, and passport photos, plus apostilled civil records for anyone applying with you. The document checklist on this page lists each one.
Working with the Freedom Files
What does the Freedom Files do on your application?
We review your eligibility, assemble and check your documents, and optimize your application for approval. We have a 100% approval rate so far. We prepare and file your application, liaise with the government, coordinate your consular appointments and communication, and support you through your arrival in Philippines, when your residency or citizenship is formalized. We're your single point of contact from start to finish.
Who does the legal work?
Our Philippines team can provide any legal, tax, financial, immigration, or investment advice and services you need. You work with one team from your first call to your arrival.
What does the Freedom Files charge?
Prices differ by program, because each program has its own costs and its own currency. You get a fixed quote in writing before any work begins. Government fees and third-party costs are listed separately, and you pay them directly.
How does the Freedom Files get paid?
We accept card, wire or ACH transfer, Bitcoin, USDC, and most other payment methods. You choose whether to pay for our services up front or monthly through the end of your engagement.
What if you need more than one country, or help with tax and banking?
That's what the Private Client Engagement is for. A long-term case manager with global expertise, always reachable on WhatsApp, manages your whole Plan B: Residency and citizenship in more than one country, tax strategy, banking and asset protection, and introductions for your move.
What if this program is the wrong fit?
Compare it with the alternatives on this page. Then book a Freedom Consult: If you're ready to move forward, we tell you which programs are best for you.
How do I start?
Book a Freedom Consult. There's no charge.
Start Your Philippines FAB Investor Visa
If Philippines is the wrong fit, we tell you on the first call.