While I was still in the Netherlands, I had to prepare a lot of documents to obtain my residence permit from the immigration office in Manila. The documents included the application form, birth certificate, certificate of good conduct, and my pension statement from my pension provider. All these documents had to be translated into English by a certified translator, provided with an apostille, and thus certified as legally valid by the court. It was quite a lot of work and, of course, involved significant costs, but these documents are necessary to ultimately enjoy life in the Philippines. To give you an idea, I took some photos of the various documents. In mid-June, I will also undergo a medical checkup in Iloilo City—this is also a requirement—and I will need to deposit a bond of US$15,000 to demonstrate that I am fully financially independent. And if everything goes well, I will fly to Manila to obtain my SRRV permit. I would also like to mention that the staff at the immigration office have been very helpful, ensuring that I had the correct documents and that they were filled out correctly.
Today 6-5-2026 I officially had myself written out in my hometown of Ulft, which is part of the municipality of Wish in the Netherlands where I lived with great pleasure for 13 years. The last 2 weeks of my stay in the Netherlands I live with my sister-in-law and will then leave for the Philippines on May 16.
Welcome back last Monday 18-05-2026 I arrived early in the morning at Iloilo a beautiful island in the Philippines. I rested for a few days and on Wednesday 20 May it was time for my medical examination that I need for my emigration. It was a busy day of urine, poop, blood, lung photos and a personal interview were part of the inspection. At the end of the day I got the results of everything and was a happy person everything was fine I received all the documents that I have to submit soon to the emigration office in Manila.
4-6-2026 Today I went to the emigration office in Iloilo City and extended my visa for the first time for 30 days costing 2170 pesos.
9-6-2026 Today I went to the emigration office in Iloilo city to pick up my passport with my 1st extension for 1 month to 15 July depending on the application and processing of my SRRVisa I will most likely have to extend it again for 2 months, we will wait and see.
30-06-2026 Today I went back to the emigration office in Vestive Walk in Iloilo city to extend my visa for the second time, which now starts from 15 July to 15 September, and I also have to pick up my ACR card on 4 August, hopefully for the last time because on Tuesday 7 July I will fly to Manila to apply for my SRRV residence permit.
07-07-2026 Today we fly me and my best friend Inday to Manila, the capital of the Philippines with almost 18 million inhabitants and an hour's flight from Iloilo international airport. Tomorrow we go to the immigration office to hand over all the documents for my SRRV residence permit permanently, I do this because I do not want to extend my temporary visa every time costs money and time. I also get all the benfits like Phil health basic and when I reach my 60 years a senior pass where I get a 40% discount on transport and restaurants. We stay 4 days in the very luxurious hotel Valero Grand suites in hardje Makati, a very luxurious neighborhood in Manila.
9-7-2026 I went to the emigration office of PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority) with my good friend Inday in the heart of Makati in Manila. We were received very neatly and correctly by a very nice lady, I handed over all the necessary documents there. After all the documents had been carefully checked, 10 fingerprints of my hands had to be entered into the system digitally and a personal interview was conducted, as questions were asked as to why I want to live in the Philippines, what work I had done in the Netherlands, what hobbies, etc., etc., were well received by the interview. I now have to wait about 35 working days for my SRRV residence permit and then have to fly back to Manila to take the oath and that all happens very officially. Keep following it here is the end of the entire process of living in the Philippines.
