Work Visas in Philippines

How to get a work permit and which routes actually exist

Working legally in the Philippines normally requires two separate approvals from two separate agencies: a 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa from the Bureau of Immigration and an Alien Employment Permit from the Department of Labor and Employment. Special categories exist for staff of enterprises registered with the investment agencies and for employers inside economic zones, and these are markedly faster than the ordinary route.

Two agencies, two approvals

The 9(g) visa is the immigration status that allows a foreigner to remain in the country for pre-arranged employment. It is petitioned for by the employer, not by the worker, and it is tied to that employer and that position. Changing jobs generally means starting again.

The Alien Employment Permit is a separate labour-market instrument issued by the Department of Labor and Employment. It exists to confirm that no Filipino is able and willing to do the work, and the application is published so that objections can be raised. Holding one does not by itself confer any right to stay; holding a 9(g) without one does not make the employment lawful. Both are required, and they are processed independently of each other.

Because the two run in parallel with different documentary requirements, employers commonly begin the labour permit first and the visa petition once it is in hand.

Expect the process to be slow

The Bureau of Immigration is widely acknowledged, including in its own reporting, to be understaffed relative to its caseload, and much of the process remains paper-based and conducted in person at Intramuros in Manila or at district offices. Applicants commonly describe timelines running to several months rather than weeks, with repeat visits for biometrics, interviews and card release.

This is also the environment in which unofficial intermediaries operate. Fees paid outside published schedules buy nothing durable and expose both the worker and the employer to later problems. The published fee schedules and requirement lists on the bureau's own site are the reference point.

The faster special categories

• 47(a)(2) special non-immigrant visa. Issued on the endorsement of a government agency for foreign personnel of enterprises registered with the Board of Investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and comparable bodies. It is generally quicker than the 9(g) route and, for qualifying employers, is the normal way to place foreign managers and technical staff.
• Economic zone employment. Employers inside registered zones commonly process foreign staff through the zone authority, which reduces the number of counters involved.
• Special Visa for Employment Generation. Aimed at foreigners whose business employs a substantial number of Filipino workers.
• Special Work Permit. A short-term permission allowing a foreigner on a tourist entry to undertake specific limited work, commonly for a few months, and not a substitute for the 9(g) route.

Approximate government costs

Official sources

• Bureau of Immigration — visa information
• Department of Labor and Employment

Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.

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