Legal right to work
Together with the Alien Employment Permit, the 9G is what authorizes a foreign national to be employed in the Philippines.
Visas & immigration
Pre-Arranged Working Visa (9G)
The 9G Pre-Arranged Employment Visa is the standard work visa for foreign nationals employed by a company in the Philippines. It covers technical, executive, managerial and highly confidential positions, and is sponsored by your Philippine employer.
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- Who it is for
- Foreign employees of Philippine companies
- Validity
- 1, 2 or 3 years
- Agencies
- DOJ, DOLE and Immigration
- Immigration stage
- 2 to 3 months
About the visa
Key Benefits of the 9G Working Visa
A 9G is issued for one, two or three years in line with your employment contract. Getting there involves up to three agencies: the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which issues the Alien Employment Permit, and the Bureau of Immigration, which issues the visa itself.
Up to three years
Approved for one, two or three years to match your contract, and renewable while the employment continues.
Start sooner with a provisional permit
A Provisional Work Permit can be filed alongside the visa so that work is authorized while the 9G is being processed.
Family can join you
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply as dependents.
Resident status while employed
No more tourist visa extensions for the duration of the visa.
Compliance for the employer
The company's foreign hires are properly documented with DOLE, the BIR and Immigration.
Who can apply
9G Visa Eligibility Criteria
A 9G application is filed jointly by the foreign employee and the Philippine employer. Both sides need to qualify.
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The employee has a confirmed position with a company registered in the Philippines.
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The position is technical, executive, managerial or highly confidential.
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The employer is properly registered, with SEC or DTI registration, a current mayor's permit and up-to-date tax filings.
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The employer has published the job vacancy and can show that no suitable Filipino applicant was available.
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The employee holds a valid authorized stay in the Philippines when filing and has no derogatory record.
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The employee has a Philippine Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
How it works
9G Visa Application Process
The exact requirements and timing depend on your circumstances, but most applications follow these stages.
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Company and contract documents
We collect certified copies of the company's registration documents, the notarized employment contract, the employee's CV and passport, and the company's latest income tax return. -
Department of Justice authority
Companies with capital of less than $200,000 need an Authority to Employ Alien. The application is filed in Manila with an undertaking to train two Filipino understudies. -
Alien Employment Permit
The AEP application is submitted through DOLE's online portal, followed by an appointment to file the original documents. The job vacancy must have been published at least 15 days beforehand. -
Provisional Work Permit
We file the Provisional Work Permit with the Bureau of Immigration so the employee can begin work while the visa is pending. -
9G filing and evaluation
The 9G application is submitted to the Bureau of Immigration, checked for derogatory records and the visa fee is paid. -
Interview and biometrics
The employee and the employer's representative attend an interview, usually within days of filing, followed by biometrics for the ACR I-Card. -
Visa and ACR I-Card
The visa is implemented in the passport once approved. The ACR I-Card is released later, typically two to three months after biometrics.
What the C&G 9G Service Includes
Since 2019 we have helped more than 1,500 clients secure their Philippine visas. Our service fee covers everything below, from the first document to the final approval.
- Documents prepared and notarizedWe prepare every document your application needs, and our in-house attorneys notarize them.
- With you at government officesOur staff assist you on site at your government appointments, so you never face an agency alone.
- We deal with the agenciesWe coordinate with the agencies, follow up on your application and keep you updated at every step.
- Accredited with PRA, DOLE and BIC&G is accredited with the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration.
- An experienced teamOur team, including two attorneys, has more than 10 years of experience in immigration and business consulting.
- No hidden feesYour quote shows our service cost and the government fees separately, so you know the full cost before we begin.
- Manila, Cebu or remoteMeet us at our Manila or Cebu office, or work with us remotely from anywhere.
In detail
9G document checklist
From the employee
Passport, with copies of the bio-page, latest admission stamp and current authorized stay
CV or resume
Apostilled diploma or certificate of achievement
2x2 photographs on a white background
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) with BIR verification
Notarized employment contract or appointment stating duties, salary, benefits and term
Affidavit to leave the country when the contract expires
BI clearance certificate
From the employer
Letter request to the Commissioner of Immigration, with an undertaking to withhold and remit taxes on the employee's income
SEC certificate of registration, articles of incorporation and by-laws, or DTI registration for a sole proprietorship
General Information Sheet for the current year, stamped received by the SEC
Current mayor's or business permit
Latest income tax return with proof of payment
Detailed job description, certified by the employer and agreed by the employee
Proof of publication of the job vacancy and an affidavit that no Filipino applicant was hired
Notarized certification of the number of foreign and Filipino employees
Affidavit of support and guarantee of return fare
Board resolution or secretary's certificate naming the authorized signatory
Where applicable
Undertaking to train two Filipino understudies, with their IDs and CVs
Special Temporary Permit from the Professional Regulation Commission, for regulated professions
PEZA registration, for companies in economic zones
Industry licenses, such as a PCAB license for construction companies
Each dependent
Application form with photographs
Passport bio-page and latest admission stamp
Proof of relationship to the principal applicant
NBI clearance for dependents aged 15 or over, if filing six months or more after first arrival
BI clearance certificate
In detail
9G Visa fees and processing time
Government fees
Department of Justice authority, for companies with capital of less than $200,000: PHP 2,525
Alien Employment Permit: PHP 6,000 for one year, PHP 11,000 for two years or PHP 16,000 for three years
Provisional Work Permit: PHP 4,040
9G visa, one year: PHP 10,130 plus $50 for the ACR I-Card
9G visa, two years: PHP 17,170 plus $100 for the ACR I-Card
9G visa, three years: PHP 24,210 plus $150 for the ACR I-Card
Government fees can change without notice, and the amount assessed at filing is final. Our service fee is separate and is quoted during your consultation.
How long each stage takes
Department of Justice, where required: about one month
Alien Employment Permit: one to two months, filed centrally with DOLE in Manila
Bureau of Immigration: two to three months
ACR I-Card: released two to three months after biometrics
In detail
The Alien Employment Permit
The Alien Employment Permit (AEP) is the document from the Department of Labor and Employment that authorizes a foreign national to take up gainful employment in the Philippines. It is a prerequisite for the 9G.
AEP applications are now submitted through DOLE's official online portal before an appointment is set to file the original documents at the DOLE main office in Intramuros, Manila. New applications and renewals take one to two months.
Some foreign nationals do not need an AEP and can apply for a Certificate of Exclusion or Exemption instead, each with a PHP 2,000 government fee. Holders of permanent resident visas such as the 13A and 13G are exempt from the AEP.
FAQs
9G Visa Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Alien Employment Permit is issued by DOLE and is a requirement for the 9G visa, which is issued by the Bureau of Immigration. You need both to work legally.
Two or three. A 9G sponsor with capital of less than $200,000 first needs a Department of Justice authority, which takes about one month. The Alien Employment Permit from DOLE takes one to two months, and the Bureau of Immigration stage two to three months.
Yes. If you work in your own Philippine company you still need a 9G. As the owner you apply with a DOLE Certificate of Exclusion in place of the Alien Employment Permit, and a 9G issued on that basis is valid for one year. Depending on your situation, an investor route such as the SIRV or SVEG may fit better.
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply as dependents on your 9G.
The Alien Employment Permit costs PHP 6,000, PHP 11,000 or PHP 16,000 for one, two or three years, and the Provisional Work Permit PHP 4,040. The 9G itself is PHP 10,130, PHP 17,170 or PHP 24,210 for one, two or three years, plus $50 a year for the ACR I-Card.
One, two or three years, depending on your employment contract and the validity of your Alien Employment Permit.
Yes. The 9G is filed while you hold a valid authorized stay, normally a tourist visa with at least two months left.
Yes. For the Alien Employment Permit, the employer publishes the vacancy in a newspaper of general circulation at least 15 days before applying and confirms that no suitable Filipino applicant was hired.
A 9G sponsor with capital of less than $200,000 needs a Department of Justice authority. For that authority the employer undertakes in writing to train at least two Filipino understudies in the foreign national's technical skills.
Yes. For a 9G application, prepare your CV and a detailed job description. Where the company has capital of less than $200,000 and needs a Department of Justice authority, an apostilled diploma or certificate of achievement is also submitted.
The Alien Employment Permit is filed with DOLE in Manila. The application is submitted through DOLE's online portal first, and the original documents are then filed by appointment at its main office in Intramuros.
Yes. If your profession is regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission, a 9G application also needs a Special Temporary Permit from the PRC, or proof that you have applied for one.
Yes, once a Provisional Work Permit has been issued. It bridges the gap while the AEP and 9G are processed.
No. The 9G is tied to the sponsoring employer. To change employers the current visa goes through a visa downgrade and a new one is applied for under the new employer.
Yes. 9G holders complete Annual Reporting with the Bureau of Immigration within the first 60 days of each calendar year.
Written and reviewed by the C&G immigration team. Last updated . Government requirements and fees change, so confirm the details for your case before filing.
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