How to Apply for a 9(g) Work Visa in the Philippines (2026 Updated Guide)

Consider the case of a prominent cybersecurity firm that recently established its headquarters in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig in the Philippines. Despite its rigorous six-month local recruitment, it was unable to secure a Blockchain Architect possessing the requisite years of experience and expertise in proprietary encryption—a specialized credential essential for servicing high-stakes financial clients. In response to this talent deficit, the board elected to relocate a senior architect from their Berlin office to provide the necessary technical leadership.

Hiring foreign nationals is an operational necessity when the local labor market lacks the specialized expertise required for critical roles. While the Philippine law prioritizes the local workforce, expatriate recruitment is governed by strict administrative compliance rather than corporate discretion. The process involves a dual-jurisdictional framework, requiring sponsoring employers to navigate the intersecting regulations of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

This guide serves as a comprehensive legal and administrative roadmap for the 9(g) Work Visa application process in the Philippines, delineating the statutory obligations and procedural milestones that employers must satisfy to ensure the lawful employment of foreign nationals. 

What is a 9(g) Work Visa?

A work visa is a legal authorization that allows a foreign national to enter, stay, and engage in gainful employment in another country. Under Section 9 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 (C.A. 613), aliens departing from any place outside the Philippines who are otherwise admissible and who qualify within one of the visa categories may be admitted as non-immigrants, in which Section 9(g) provides: 

(g) Prearranged employment. – An alien coming to prearranged employment for whom the issuance of a visa has been authorized in accordance with section twenty of this Act, and his wife, and his unmarried children under twenty-one years of age, if accompanying him or if following to join him within a period of six months from the date of his admission into the Philippines as a nonimmigrant under this paragraph. An alien who is admitted as a nonimmigrant cannot remain in the Philippines permanently. To obtain permanent admission, a nonimmigrant alien must depart voluntarily to some foreign country and procure from the appropriate Philippine consul the proper visa and thereafter undergo examination by the officers of the Bureau of Immigration at a Philippine port of entry for determination of his admissibility in accordance with the requirements.

Pursuant to these provisions and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) regulations, there are two types of 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa: the 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa Commercial and the 9(g) Pre-Arranged Non-Commercial (Missionary Visa). 

Between these two, the 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa, or simply known as the 9(g) Work Visa, is the most common type issued to foreign nationals pursuing lawful occupation, whether for wages, salary, or for other forms of compensation under legitimate employer-employee relations. 

9(g) Work Visa Eligibility: Foreign Applicants and Employers

Foreign nationals who intend to work in the Philippines, whether in professional, technical, or skilled roles, must have a confirmed job offer, relevant qualifications, and meet the requirements set by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI). By law, the issuance of the work visa is anchored on: 

1. The existence of an employer-employee relationship, where a locally registered company is willing to serve as the visa petitioner; 
2. No local talent shows interest or is able to perform the role offered to the foreign employee; and,
3. The foreign employee is engaged in a lawful occupation and receives compensation from the work, for which the visa is also strictly company and position specific.

On the other hand, the sponsoring employer must be a duly registered company in the Philippines, with a minimum paid-up capital of PHP 10 million, and must not be listed or restricted under the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL)                       . 

9(g) Work Visa Benefits and Privileges

The 9(g) Work Visa holders in the Philippines are entitled to work and stay in the country for a duration approved by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), which also corresponds with the employment contract. While considered regular employees, they are also protected under Philippine labor laws, including wages, benefits, and workplace safety regulations. 

Visa holders may also make multiple entries and exits into and out of the county while the visa is valid. They may also open local bank accounts or purchase properties, such as condominium units, subject to foreign investment restrictions. 

Spouses and qualified dependents (e.g., unmarried children under 21 years of age) are also eligible to accompany the principal visa holders in the Philippines under dependent visas, but applications must still be processed separately.

9G Work Visa Application Requirements

To apply for a 9(g) Work Visa in the Philippines, both sponsoring employers and foreign applicants must prepare and submit the following documentary requirements: 

For Sponsoring Employers

1. Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the applicant and the petitioner
2. Photocopy of Employment Contract, Secretary’s Certificate of Election, Appointment or Assignment of applicant, or equivalent document, with details of exact compensation, duration of employment, and comprehensive description of the nature and scope of the applicant’s position in the company
3. Photocopy of petitioner’s latest Income Tax Return (ITR) with the corresponding proof of payment (official receipt, bank teller’s validation slip, BIR’s eFPS payment details printout, or other similar evidence)
4. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Certificate of Registration, Articles of Incorporation, and General Information Sheet (GIS) for the current year stamped received by the SEC (for corporations and partnerships)
5. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Certificate of Registration of Business Name and Mayor’s Permit (for sole proprietorships)
6. Actual publication of the applicant’s approved AP or, in the absence thereof, a Certificate of Publication issued by the Publisher
7. Notarized certification number of foreign and Filipino employees from the petitioning company

For Foreign Employee-Applicants

1. Duly accomplished Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) for Non-Immigrant Visa
2. Photocopy of passport bio-page and latest admission with valid authorized stay
3. Photocopy of Alien Employment Permit (AEP) issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 
4. Special Temporary Permit for an applicant practicing a regulated profession under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), if applicable
5. Bureau of Immigration (BI) Clearance Certificate
6. Original or certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance, if the applicant is a national of any of the countries listed under Annex “A” of Immigration Operations Order No. SBM-14-059-A who arrived in the Philippines on or after June 2014

For Dependents

1. Duly accomplished Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) for Non-Immigrant Visa
2. Photocopy of passport bio-page and latest admission with valid authorized stay
3. Proof of filiation with the applicant
4. Bureau of Immigration (BI) Clearance Certificate
5. Original and certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance, if the applicant is a national of any of the countries listed under Annex “A” of Immigration Operations Order No. SBM-14-059-A who arrived in the Philippines on or after June 2014

Before applying for the actual 9(G) Visa, foreign nationals must first secure an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and a Special Temporary Permit (STP) from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for the practice of regulated professions, if applicable. 

If required to work immediately while the work visa is being processed, the applicants should also apply for a Provisional Work Permit (PWP) from the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Typically, police clearance is also required and serves as proof that the foreign applicants do not have criminal records in their home countries.