Philippines 9(g) work visa and Alien Employment Permit in 2026

The 9(g) Pre-arranged Employment Visa is the principal immigration route for a foreign national proceeding to the Philippines to engage in a lawful occupation for wages, salary or other compensation.

Immigration and labor authorization are separate

The 9(g) visa is administered by the Bureau of Immigration. The Alien Employment Permit (AEP) is a separate labor authorization administered by the Department of Labor and Employment where required.

DOLE issued updated AEP rules in Department Order No. 248 (2025), including labor-market protections. From 9 June 2026, DOLE centralized new and renewal AEP processing at the Central Office under Administrative Order No. 199, Series of 2026.

Employer-linked status

This is not a freelancer or open-work visa. The role, employer and immigration/labor filings must align. Dependants can have separate dependent immigration treatment, but a dependent status should not be assumed to confer local work permission.

Compare 47(a)(2) Special Employment, Digital Nomad Visa, and the Philippines hub.

See also Asia, the legal disclaimer, and ReloTide methodology.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Philippines