What is a Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) : Your Guide to Application

The Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) is issued to a qualified non-immigrant foreigner who shall employ at least ten (10) Filipinos in a lawful and sustainable enterprise, trade or industry. This visa entitles the holder to reside in the Philippines, permitting multiple entry privileges and conditional extended stay, without need of prior departure from the Philippines. The SVEG is issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) upon endorsement of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

SVEG shall be issued to a foreigner or foreigners with interest in an entity, firm, partnership or corporation that establishes, expands or rehabilitates a business activity, investment, enterprise or industry for every 10 full-time/regular Filipino workers who are actually employed by such entity, firm, partnership or corporation on a long-term basis in the Philippines.

The privileges under the SVEG may extend to the qualified foreigner’s spouse and dependent unmarried child/children below eighteen (18) years of age whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted.

SVEG Conditions

Non-immigrant foreigners who wish to avail of the SVEG should comply with the following conditions:

1.   The foreigner shall actually, directly, or exclusively engage in a viable and sustainable commercial investment/enterprise in the Philippines, exercises/performs management acts, or has the authority to hire, promote, and dismiss employees;
2.   He evinces a genuine intention to indefinitely remain in the Philippines;
3.   He is not a risk to national Philippine security; and
4.   The foreigner’s commercial investment or enterprise must provide actual employment to at least 10 Filipinos in accordance with Philippine labor laws and other applicable special laws.

Note that these requirements must be continually satisfied every year by the foreigner, for him/her to continue to be a holder of the SVEG.

What you need to secure a SVEG?

To apply for a Special Visa for Employment for Generation (SVEG), the foreigner must possess a letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the applicant with statements that show a) he or she under takes the generation of employment of at least ten (10) full time Filipino workers or employees on a regular basis, b) in case there is rehabilitation: his or her investment intended for rehabilitation of a business activity, investment, enterprise or investment enabled the retention of at least ten (10) Filipino workers or employees on a regular basis, and without said investment, existing workers or employees would suffer loss of employment, c) a duly accomplished Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) (BI Form CGAF-002-Rev3), d) a photocopy of the foreigners passport bio-page and latest admission with valid authorization to stay, e) in case of corporations or partnerships: photocopies of a Certificate of Registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Articles of Incorporation (AOI), and General Information Sheet (GIS) for the current year stamped received by the SEC, f) in case of single proprietorship: a photocopy of a Certificate of Registration of Business Name from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), g) a certified true copy of the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided that the foreign applicant is a foreign national elected or appointed to occupy a position in the company, h) a DOLE Certification that proves the applicant’s business activity, investment, enterprise or industry has employed at least ten (10)  Filipino workers on a regular basis, i) a valid Medical Certificate acquired from the Bureau of Quarantine (BQ), j) a sworn statement displaying the following: the names and addresses of the Filipinos employed by him or her, that he or she undertakes to pay the necessary PhilHealth and SSS Contributions, and that the employee is receiving a salary below the minimum wage, k) a valid National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance provided that the application is filed six (6) months before from the date of first arrival in the Philippines, and l) a Bureau of Investigation (BI) Clearance Certificate. 

SVEG Application Process

1. Secure the CGAF from either at the Public Information and Assistance Unit (PIAU) at BI G/F Main Office or from the official BI Website.
2. Submit the documents for pre-screening to the Central Receiving Unit (CRU) or to the frontline officer or staff of other Immigration Offices able to process this transaction.
3. Get the Order of Payment Slip (OPS).
4. Pay the required fees.
5. Submit a copy of the Official Receipt. 
6. Attend hearing. Please refer to the Official Receipt for the schedule and venue of the hearing and Image and Fingerprint Capturing. 
7. Proceed to Image and Fingerprint Capturing Counter of the Alien Registration Division (ARD) and submit requirements for ACR I-Card application 
8. Check the website if the visa application is already approved.
9. If approved, submit a passport for visa implementation.
10. If ACR I-Card is approved, claim ACR I-Card.

Need further information and assistance regarding the application?  Talk to our Visa team at Duran & Duran-Schulze Law to know more about the requirements and process. Call us at 632-8478-5826 or send an email to info@duranschulze.com for more information.