How to Get a Work Visa in the Philippines
- 1). Determine if you are exempted. Among those not required to secure an AEP are members of the diplomatic services; foreign government officials accredited with the Philippine government; missionaries or members of international organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, International Rice Research Institute; and specialized agencies of the United Nations.
- 2). Apply for an AEP. Most foreigners seeking to apply for a work visa in the Philippines have already entered the country through a temporary visitor visa, according to a spokesperson with the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). If you are already in the Philippines on a non-working visa, your prospective employer must file a petition on your behalf at the nearest DOLE office. You and your employer should fill out the AEP application form which can be downloaded from the DOLE website. If you are applying from abroad, your prospective employer files a petition for you at a DOLE office.
- 3). Submit required documentation and pay fees. Send your employer a copy of your passport showing your non-working visa. Your employer will attach this to the AEP application along with your contract for employment and other documents. Your employer must also pay in cash the AEP one-year fee of $177, plus $66 for any additional year (as of May 2010), not to exceed five years.
- 4). Get your work visa. AEP processing can take up to five days. Once your AEP application has been approved, apply for a work visa by filling out a general application form. Submit this form to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) along with a certified true copy of your AEP, a letter request from your employer, photocopy of your passport showing admission into the country and a clearance certificate you can obtain from the immigration bureau. If applying from abroad, apply for your work visa at your nearest Philippine Embassy or consulate after your AEP has been approved. Bring your passport, four passport-size photos, medical examination results and police clearance.
Fees vary depending on your requirements. The BI website lists the type of fees you need to pay in cash at the BI office, Magallanes Drive, Port Area, Intramuros, Manila (see Resources). For visa application abroad, consult your nearest visa office.
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