General information in the Philippine legal/regulatory context; not legal advice.

1) What people usually mean by “Smile Visa”

In the Philippines, “Smile” most commonly refers to the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) – Smile program administered by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) and implemented through the Bureau of Immigration (BI). SRRV is a special resident status designed for foreign nationals who want long-term residence in the Philippines under the PRA’s retirement program framework.

Because “Smile” is a program variant under SRRV, its specific eligibility requirements—especially age thresholds and deposit rules—are typically set by PRA program guidelines/issuances, while the visa’s existence and issuance mechanism sit within the Philippines’ immigration legal framework (BI authority to issue special visas upon endorsement/recommendation of a government agency).

2) Legal and institutional framework (Philippine context)

2.1 Core government actors

Bureau of Immigration (BI): Issues the SRRV and manages immigration compliance (e.g., registration, reporting rules that may apply, entry/exit records).
Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA): Screens applicants for SRRV under its programs (including “Smile”), prescribes program requirements (including deposits), and endorses qualified applicants to BI.

2.2 Nature of SRRV status

SRRV is commonly marketed and treated as:

Indefinite or long-term stay authority (as long as SRRV remains valid and program conditions continue to be met),
Multiple-entry privilege,
Ancillary privileges that may include the ability to study and, subject to separate permits/rules, possibly work or engage in business (depending on the program rules and current BI/PRA policies).

Exact privileges can vary by SRRV category and may be conditioned on BI/PRA approvals.

3) The headline rule: Minimum age for SRRV “Smile”

3.1 Principal applicant minimum age

Historically, SRRV “Smile” has been positioned for principal applicants who are at least 35 years old.

Practical implication:

If the foreign national is below 35, they are generally not eligible to apply as a principal under the “Smile” variant and would need to consider other immigration categories (tourist admission/extensions, work visa routes, student, spousal routes, etc.), depending on their circumstances.

3.2 When the age is measured

In practice, the relevant age is typically the applicant’s age at the time of filing/processing/approval of the SRRV application, but operationally what matters is the age when PRA evaluates eligibility and endorses the case.

3.3 Proof of age

PRA/BI will normally rely on passport biographic data as primary proof. Some cases may require supporting civil registry documents if there are discrepancies (e.g., name/date-of-birth inconsistencies).

4) Dependents: age eligibility and who can be included

SRRV allows the principal to include certain family members as dependents, but the scope is narrower than many assume.

4.1 Eligible dependents (typical SRRV structure)

Commonly recognized SRRV dependents are:

Legally married spouse of the principal; and
Unmarried children under 21 years old (including legally adopted children, subject to documentation).

This “under 21 and unmarried” standard is the key age-related rule for dependents.

4.2 Children near the age threshold (18–20 years old)

Even if the child is already legally an adult under Philippine civil concepts (18+), they can still be an SRRV dependent so long as they are:

Under 21, and
Unmarried, and
Properly documented as a child/dependent of the principal.

Additional consent documentation may be required where custody/parental authority issues exist (e.g., children of a prior marriage, differing surnames, custody orders).

4.3 What happens when a dependent child turns 21

A dependent who turns 21 generally “ages out” of SRRV dependency. Typical consequences:

They must be removed from the principal’s SRRV as a dependent; and
They must obtain another lawful basis to stay in the Philippines (e.g., appropriate visa category, or departure and re-entry under a valid status).

If that child later wants SRRV in their own right, they usually must qualify as a principal applicant—which, for “Smile,” brings back the 35+ principal age threshold (and the program’s financial requirements).

4.4 Over-21 dependents with special needs

Some Philippine immigration and special visa programs have discretionary accommodations for dependents with disabilities, but whether SRRV accepts an over-21 child as a dependent can be highly fact-specific and policy-driven. Where allowed at all, it typically requires strong medical documentation and PRA approval. Applicants should treat this as exceptional, not automatic.

4.5 Spouse age

There is typically no minimum or maximum age requirement for the spouse as a dependent, provided the marriage is valid and documented.

4.6 Not typically included

Parents, siblings, and adult children (21+) are generally not standard SRRV dependents unless a specific exception/policy is in effect.

5) “Smile” compared to other SRRV categories (why age still matters)

Even though the question is age eligibility, it helps to understand why “Smile” is singled out.

5.1 How “Smile” is usually described

“Smile” has commonly been marketed as:

An SRRV option for younger retirees/long-term residents (starting at 35),
Often requiring a fixed deposit (frequently described as a time deposit arrangement) rather than relying on a pension-based threshold, and
Sometimes with limited conversion of the deposit into approved investments compared with “Classic” variants.

5.2 The age 50 pivot in SRRV programs generally

Across SRRV categories, age 50 is often a practical pivot point because some SRRV variants have different deposit/pension configurations for:

Applicants 35–49, and
Applicants 50+ (sometimes with pension options).

Even if “Smile” uses a relatively uniform structure, many applicants compare it to other SRRV options where age 50 affects the required financial commitment.

6) Age eligibility is necessary but not sufficient: other gatekeeping requirements

Even if the applicant meets the age threshold, PRA/BI typically require the applicant to satisfy other legal and regulatory conditions. These are not “age” rules, but they regularly determine approval.

6.1 Status and admissibility

Applicants must generally be admissible under Philippine immigration standards (e.g., not on watchlists, no disqualifying criminal history, not subject to exclusion/blacklist orders).

6.2 Medical and police clearances

SRRV applications commonly require:

A medical clearance (format and scope can vary), and
A police clearance from the applicant’s country of origin and/or from the Philippines depending on length of stay and current policies.

6.3 Financial compliance (deposit and fees)

“Smile” typically hinges on maintaining the required program deposit and paying:

PRA processing and membership fees,
BI-related fees (e.g., registration and card issuance, if applicable).

Even though these aren’t “age requirements,” they frequently interact with age-based program choices (e.g., a 35–49 applicant may find “Smile” to be the only SRRV pathway that fits their profile if they do not have a pension).

7) Documentation issues that commonly arise in age/dependent cases

7.1 Establishing parent-child relationship

For dependent children, PRA/BI commonly need clear proof:

Birth certificates (or equivalent civil registry extracts),
Adoption papers where applicable,
Marriage certificates for spouse linkage,
Custody/consent documentation where relevant.

7.2 Name and date-of-birth discrepancies

Differences across passports and civil documents can trigger delays and requests for supporting affidavits or corrected civil registry records.

7.3 Dependent “aging out” mid-processing

If a dependent is close to turning 21, timing matters. Some applicants attempt to file before the birthday; however, approvals and implementation can still depend on how PRA/BI apply their rules at the time of issuance.

8) Practical compliance points after issuance that can affect dependents

8.1 Keeping dependents properly recorded

Dependents must generally be declared and recorded under the principal’s SRRV file and BI registration.

8.2 Changes in civil status

Marriage of a dependent child (even below 21) typically ends dependency eligibility. Separation/divorce/annulment issues may affect a spouse dependent’s inclusion depending on recognition and documentation.

8.3 Maintaining eligibility over time

SRRV validity is usually conditioned on ongoing compliance (e.g., maintaining required deposit and keeping records current). If a principal loses SRRV status, dependents typically lose SRRV-based stay rights as well unless converted to another lawful status.

9) Key age rules summarized (SRRV “Smile” focus)

Principal applicant: commonly must be at least 35 years old to qualify for SRRV “Smile.”
Spouse dependent: generally eligible regardless of age, provided a valid marriage is documented.
Child dependent: typically unmarried and under 21 at the relevant time; turning 21 generally ends dependent eligibility.
Over-21 dependent child: generally not eligible as a dependent absent a narrow, discretionary exception (often requiring strong proof and approval).
Age interacts with category selection: SRRV programs often treat 35–49 and 50+ differently in financial requirements across categories, even where “Smile” is more uniform.

10) Important note on variability of requirements

SRRV programs (including “Smile”) are administratively implemented and can be adjusted through PRA/BI policy updates (e.g., changes in offered categories, deposit amounts, suspension/reopening of specific variants, documentary requirements). Age thresholds are usually stable, but program availability and conditions are the parts most likely to shift.