Alien Work Permits for the Philippines

The Special Work Permit (SWP) is a work permit intended for short term assignments/employment of up to 6 months. A locally registered company must be willing to serve as the Petitioner. The SWP is good for 3 months during the initial application and extendible for another 3 months. During the course of the SWP validity, the status of the foreign national remains as tourist. Thus, tourist visa extension must be undertaken if necessary.

Upon issuance, the Bureau of Immigration will grant an Official SWP order of approval which will serve as the permit to work.

A Provisional Work Permit (PWP) is issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to foreign nationals who currently hold temporary visitor visas but wish to commence work in the Philippines while the approval of their employment visa application, either the 9g or 9d, is in progress.

A PWP is normally valid for three (3) months from the date of issuance or until the 9g visa is issued, whichever comes first. Foreign nationals who intend to commence employment while their Alien Employment Permit is pending for approval from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) must also secure the PWP to be allowed to work in the country.

This work permit is extendible until a work visa has been approved.

A foreign national who intends to work in the Philippines is required by the government to secure an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). This permit authorizes a foreign national to engage in gainful activities provided that no domestic manpower is available for the particular designation.

All foreign nationals are required to have an AEP if the intention of entry in the Philippines is to engage in any gainful employment except those expressly exempted by law. Holders of other functional visas such as Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV), Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), Treaty Traders (9D) Visa, or  Special Non-Immigrant Visa (47A2) are also subject to an AEP.

Unlike the Special Work Permit (SWP), an AEP is for longer work assignments or contracts. An AEP is initially valid for one (1) to three (3) years depending on the duration of the contract and renewable for a maximum period of 3 years. This should be filed personally or through the petitioning employer at the DOLE Regional Office having jurisdiction over the principal place of business of the petitioner. In case the foreign national is to be assigned to branch offices or subsidiaries in a different location, the application must be made at the nearest Field Office.