Guide to Obtain a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) Visa in the Philippines

In accordance with Section 9(d) of the Philippine Immigration Act, non-immigrant individuals are entitled to enter the country due to the treaty agreement between the Philippines and their country, or their country has a treaty of commerce and has a navigation with the Philippines. Currently, the Philippines has a trade agreement with the United States, Japan and Germany. Additionally, if the foreign trader or investor will be accompanied by their spouse and child/children under twenty-one (21) years of age, they are also entitled to enter the Philippines under this type of visa. 

Who are Eligible to Apply for a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) Visa?

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) may grant a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) Visa to a foreign national seeking to enter the Philippines with the intention of developing and managing the operation of a business. 

To be eligible, applicants must prove the following:

• They intend to depart the Philippines upon the completion or termination of their work contract;

• They seek to develop and direct the operations of a company in the Philippines;

• They are not applying for a non-immigrant visa to avoid the requirements or limitations applicable to an immigrant; and

• They are employed by a legit employer or company.

Furthermore, the applicants from the United States must prove the following:

• They are engaged in a trade based on the trade and commerce agreements between the Philippines and the United States;

• Their employer is a foreign national or the company where they work is foreign-owned; and

• If underage, they must possess special qualifications as a supervisor or executive officer of a foreign company.

What are the Requirements for a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) Visa?

The application process for a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) visa requires the submission of several documents, as follows:

• For Treaty Traders: A letter from their employer or sponsor in the Philippines detailing the nature, volume, extent of trade, and the amount involved.

• For Treaty Investors: A letter from their company or sponsor in the Philippines indicating the name and nature of the enterprise to be developed and managed, including the amount invested or to be invested.

• For Employees: A letter from their employer or sponsor in the Philippines specifying whether they are a supervisor, executive, or require special qualifications. The letter should also include details such as the employer’s name and address, the duration of employment, compensation, benefits, and scope of duties.

• For Corporation or Partnership: Photocopies of 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 Single Proprietorship: Photocopies of Department of Trade Industry (DTI) Certificate of Registration of Business Name and Mayor’s Permit. 

• For Accompanying Family Members: If the applicant will be accompanied by their spouse and child/children under twenty-one (21) years of age, proof of relationship such as Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificate is required. Additionally, photocopies of their passports, BI Clearance Certificate, and if applicable, a Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance must be submitted.

Moreover, the foreign investors shall prove that their country carries out “substantial trade” in the Philippines, or they intend to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise where they have invested or are in the process of investing. The substantial trade is a non-nationalized business with an investment of at least US$120,000.00 or approximately PHP6,731,700.00 and the significant factor of the volume of business conducted. However, if the treaty trader or investor fails to comply with the criteria set forth in Section 9(d) of the Philippine Immigration Act, they will be granted a Temporary Visitor (9A) Visa. 

How to Apply for a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) Visa?

To obtain a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) visa, the applicant must follow these procedures:

• Fill Out Form. Applicants shall complete the Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) from either the Public Information and Assistance Unit (PIAU) at Bureau of Immigration (BI) main office or the official BI website. 
• Submission of Documents. Applicants must submit the necessary documents for pre-screening to the Central Receiving Unit (CRU) or to the frontline officer or staff of Immigration Office.
• Pay Fees. Applicants shall pay the required fees and provide a copy of the Official Receipt.
• Attend Hearing. Applicants might attend a hearing, if needed. 
• Biometric Capture. Applicants will proceed to the Image and Fingerprint Capturing Counter of the Alien Registration Division (ARD) to submit the necessary documents for the Alien Certificate Registration Identity (ACR-I) Card application. 
• Monitor Status. Applicants may check the BI website to determine if their visa application has been approved. If approved, they must submit their passport for visa implementation and claim their ACR I-Card. 

How Much Does a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) Visa Cost?

The validity and associated fees vary depending on the type of the Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) visa, which are the Principal, Dependent-Spouse, Dependent-B16 and Dependent-B14. Additionally, there is an additional fee for an Alien Certificate Registration Identity (ACR-I) Card, which is US$50 or approximately PHP2,930.00 for a (1) year and US$100 or approximately PHP5,860.00 for two (2) years. 

The following fees were updated as of March 6, 2014 and may change without a prior notice. 

Need further information and assistance regarding the Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D) Visa? Talk to our team at Duran & Duran-Schulze Law to know more about the requirements and process. Call us today at (+632) 8478 5826 or +63 917 194 0482, or send an email to info@duranschulze.com for more information.