9G Visa and Alien Employment Permit: Two Philippine Approvals Employers Must Coordinate
Employing a foreign national in the Philippines commonly involves separate labor and immigration questions. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) handles the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) framework, while the Bureau of Immigration (BI) determines the appropriate immigration status, including a pre-arranged employment visa under Section 9(g). One approval should not be treated as proof that the other has been granted.
Identify the work and employer accurately
The DOLE Department Order No. 248, series of 2025 sets out the AEP rules. The employer should describe the actual position, work location, employing entity and duration consistently across employment, AEP and immigration documents. Exemptions or exclusions, when applicable, must be supported under the governing rules rather than assumed from a job title.
The BI’s 9G visa page identifies the pre-arranged employment category and points applicants to its checklist, application form and supporting certifications. A permit application and a visa petition may use overlapping evidence, but their legal tests and decision-makers differ. Employers should work backwards from the proposed start date and current visitor status.
Plan for changes during employment
A change of employer, position or work arrangement can affect the basis on which the AEP and visa were issued. Before making that change, ask whether a new permit, amendment, visa filing or downgrading is needed. Keep the foreign worker’s passport, ACR I-Card, permit and visa dates in one compliance calendar.
DOLE and BI instructions can change, and some industries have additional professional or sector rules. HR should assign one person to track the file, preserve official receipts and approval notices, and confirm that work begins only when the necessary authority exists. A pending application is not itself a guarantee of permission to work.
For Philippine immigration and work-visa support, contact BizzureVisa. This article is general information and does not decide the status of a specific worker.
