9D Treaty Trader's Visa
A live-and-work visa for nationals of the US, Japan, and Germany running substantial trade or investment between their country and the Philippines. Emerhub handles the application.
What is the 9D visa?
The 9D is the treaty trader and treaty investor visa, under Section 9(d) of the Philippine Immigration Act. It lets a national of a treaty country live and work in the Philippines to carry on substantial trade, or to develop and direct a business they have invested in. It is issued by the Bureau of Immigration, runs for a year and is renewable, and carries multiple entry.
Because the visa itself authorises the trade or investment work, treaty nationals avoid the separate labor-permit route that other foreign workers go through. It is tied to the qualifying business, so it lasts as long as that trade or investment continues.
Benefits of the 9D
A self-contained route to live and work for treaty nationals.
Live and work
The visa carries the right to run your trade or investment, without a separate work permit.
Multiple entry
Travel in and out of the Philippines freely while the visa is valid, with no re-entry permit.
Faster for treaty nationals
A streamlined route compared with the standard work visa, because it rests on the treaty.
Family included
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can join, on the same validity as you.
Treaty trader and treaty investor
The 9D comes in two forms, depending on whether your activity is trade or invested capital.
| Route | Who it is for | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Treaty trader | Nationals carrying on trade between their country and the Philippines | Substantial, continuous trade |
| Treaty investor | Nationals developing and directing an enterprise here | A substantial amount of capital invested |
An executive, manager, or specialist employee of a qualifying firm can also hold a 9D, provided they share the nationality of the firm's majority owner, so the business genuinely represents the treaty country.
Who can get the 9D?
- A national of the US, Japan, or Germany
- Carrying on substantial trade, or directing a real investment
- Owner, executive, manager, or specialist of the enterprise
- For employees, the same nationality as the majority owner
- Good moral character, no criminal record
- Intention to leave when the work ends
How to apply
We confirm the route fits before filing, so the trade or investment evidence is right the first time.
Confirm nationality and the business
We check you hold a treaty nationality and that the trade or investment is substantial enough to qualify.
Prepare the evidence
We assemble the trade or investment letters, the company registration, and your personal documents in the form immigration expects.
File at the Bureau of Immigration
We lodge the CGAF and request letter, submit for pre-screening, and pay the fees.
Approval and ACR I-Card
Once approved, the visa is implemented in your passport and the ACR I-Card issued. We track renewals as the business continues.
Trading with or investing in the Philippines?
Tell us your nationality and your trade or investment plans, and we will confirm whether the 9D fits and run the application.
9D visa FAQs
The questions traders and investors ask most about the 9D.
What is the 9D visa?
It is the treaty trader and treaty investor visa, letting a national of a treaty country live and work in the Philippines to run substantial trade or direct an investment. It is valid for a year, renewable, and carries multiple entry.
Which countries qualify?
Only the United States, Japan, and Germany, the three countries with the relevant treaty of commerce with the Philippines. Nationals of other countries cannot use the 9D and would apply for a 9G work visa or a business visa instead.
What is the difference between treaty trader and treaty investor?
A treaty trader carries on substantial, continuous trade between their country and the Philippines. A treaty investor develops and directs an enterprise here in which they have placed a substantial amount of capital. Both use the same 9D visa.
Can I work on a 9D?
Yes. The 9D itself authorises you to run the qualifying trade or investment, so treaty nationals avoid the separate labor permit that other foreign workers need. The work has to be tied to that treaty business.
Can employees get a 9D?
Yes, if they are an executive, manager, or specialist in a qualifying firm and share the nationality of the firm's majority owner. That rule keeps the business genuinely tied to the treaty country.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can hold the visa on the same validity as you, expiring on the same date.
I am not from a treaty country. What are my options?
The 9G work visa covers employment with a Philippine company for any nationality, the SIRV covers investment from USD 75,000, and the SVEG covers running a business that employs ten Filipinos. We can point you to the one that fits.
Talk to our Manila team
Tell us your nationality and your trade or investment plans, and we'll confirm whether the 9D fits, prepare the evidence, and handle the application with immigration.
2 26th St, Taguig
1634 Metro Manila, Philippines