Work Visas are a great option for foreign nationals who are looking to work in the Philippines temporarily. These types of visas can be used for travel, business trips, or even long-term employment. At Duran & Duran-Schulze Law, we provide legal assistance in obtaining work visas and ensure that your Philippine journey begins with ease.
Work Visa in the Philippines
If you are planning to work in the Philippines, here are the visa options for you:
Pre-arranged Employment Visa (9G)
It is commonly known as a Work Visa. It is given to foreign nationals who want to work or seek employment in the Philippines. The validity period of this visa usually depends on the foreign worker’s employment contract.
Additionally, you must acquire the following work permits:
- Alien Employment Permit (AEP). This work permit must be secured before applying for a work visa and can be applied by either the applicant or their employer. It is valid for one (1) to three (3) years, depending on their employment contract, which allows foreign employees to engage in long-term employment in the country.
- Special Work Permit (SWP). This permit is given to foreign employees in the Philippines for a short-term. It is valid for three (3) months and can be renewed for another three (3) months, allowing them to work in the country for a total of six (6) months.
- Provisional Work Permit (PWP). This type of work permit is issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to foreign employees in the country who are waiting for the approval of their work visa application. It is valid for three (3) months from the date of the issuance or until their visa has been approved.
Philippine Economic Zone Authority Visa (PEZA 47)
It is issued by PEZA to foreign nationals holding executive positions, employees, and administrative positions by PEZA-registered enterprises, with a validity of one (1) year. Individuals can apply for PEZA 47 if they meet any of the following qualifications:
- Employed as executive, supervisor, specialist, consultant, or special staff of a company registered with PEZA or BOI;
- Employed by an enterprise with existing agreement/s with the Philippine government;
- Exchange professors, scholars, trainees, and social workers under sponsorship; or
- Approved by the President to apply for a PEZA 47 Visa.
Special Visa Employment Generation (SVEG) Visa
It is given to qualified foreign individuals who are employed in at least ten (10) lawful and sustainable business, trade, or industry in the Philippines, given that:
- Employed as a full-time or regular employee;
- Occupies managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled or unskilled positions in a business activity, investment, enterprise, or industry in the Philippines.
Note that housekeepers, household workers, domestics, nannies, cooks, guards, caretakers, and the like are not eligible for SVEG Visa.
Other Visas in the Philippines:
Invest Visas allow foreign nationals to invest in Philippine companies without needing to reside in the country permanently.
Stay Visas allow foreign nationals to retire and live in the Philippines with either their dependents or just by themselves permanently.
Top Stay Visa: 13(a) Visa | TRV Visa | 13(G) Visa| SRRV
Note: Immigration laws in the Philippines can change unexpectedly. This means that eligibility for visas, required documents, processing times, visa validity, and other visa application information may be subject to updates. To stay informed, we advise consulting with our Immigration and Visa Specialists.
Duran & Duran-Schulze Law Can Help
Application Process Assistance
We handle the entire visa application process on behalf of our clients. If you also need assistance with renewing your visa, we can help you. We also offer assistance with citizenship applications and naturalization.
Offer Legal Counsel
We are committed to offer legal counsel and assist our clients by providing information about the visa application procedures and the necessary requirements. We also help our clients solve their problems to prevent any delays and assist them in exploring legal remedies.
Follow-Up and Monitor
We monitor the progress of our client’s visa application and follow-up with immigration authorities as needed to urge the process. We ensure that our clients will stay informed about their application status.
Resolve Visa Concerns
We are dedicated to answer our client’s queries and address their concerns promptly. Our goal is to keep our clients informed about potential risks and guide them on providing solutions.
