9G Work Visa in the Philippines
The standard work visa for foreigners employed by a Philippine company. Emerhub handles both steps, the labor permit and the visa, and keeps the employee working legally throughout.
What is the 9G work visa?
The 9G, the Pre-Arranged Employment Visa, is the most common work visa for foreign nationals employed by a company registered in the Philippines. Issued by the Bureau of Immigration, it lets the holder live and work in the country for the period set by the employment contract, with multiple entry and exit throughout. It is the route for executive, managerial, technical, and other specialized roles.
It is "pre-arranged" because a local employer has to petition for the worker; you cannot apply for it alone. The visa is tied to one employer and one position. If you do not yet have a company to sponsor you, an employer of record can be the petitioning employer instead.
Benefits of the 9G visa
What the visa gives the employee for the length of the contract.
Legal work and residence
Live and work in the Philippines lawfully for the full term of your employment contract.
Multiple entry and exit
Come and go freely while the visa is valid, with no separate re-entry permit.
Up to three years, renewable
Granted for one to three years to match your contract, and renewable in further blocks of up to three.
Family included
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can join on dependent visas.
Who can get a 9G visa?
- A job offer from a Philippine-registered employer
- An executive, managerial, technical, or specialized role
- A role no qualified Filipino is available to fill
- A contract usually longer than six months
- A passport valid for the term of stay
- No immigration or criminal record
The two-step process: AEP then 9G
Hiring a foreigner runs through two agencies, in order. You cannot have the visa without the permit.
Step 1: the AEP
The Alien Employment Permit, which tests whether a qualified Filipino could fill the role first.
Step 2: the 9G
The visa itself, granted by the Bureau of Immigration once the AEP is approved.
End to end
The usual time for both stages together in 2026, so plan the start date around it.
The Alien Employment Permit comes first, from the Department of Labor and Employment. DOLE assesses whether the hire displaces local workers, which under the 2026 rules means an economic needs test and advertising the vacancy to Filipinos. The AEP is valid for a year or the length of the contract, up to three years, and is tied to that specific employer and position. Only once it is approved can the employer file the 9G with the Bureau of Immigration, which converts the worker's status, usually from a tourist visa, captures biometrics in Manila, and issues the visa and an ACR I-Card after review.
Documents required
- A joint letter request from the employer and applicant, addressed to the Commissioner.
- The CGAF application form for a non-immigrant visa.
- A copy of the passport and the latest admission details.
- The employment contract, with the company's SEC registration and Articles of Incorporation, and its Mayor's permit or PEZA registration.
- The employer's latest income tax return, with proof of payment.
- The Alien Employment Permit from DOLE.
- A notarised certification of the company's number of foreign and Filipino employees.
- A Bureau of Immigration clearance certificate.
- A valid medical certificate.
- For dependents, authenticated marriage and birth certificates.
Documents issued abroad usually need to be authenticated or apostilled. We confirm the full set for the role and the company before filing.
How to apply
We run the whole sequence for the employer, so the worker is legal from day one and stays that way.
Secure the AEP
We file the Alien Employment Permit with DOLE, handle the vacancy publication, and clear the labor-market test.
File the 9G and a PWP
With the AEP approved, we lodge the 9G with the Bureau of Immigration and a Provisional Work Permit so work can begin right away.
Biometrics and review
The employee attends for fingerprints and a photo in Manila or a regional office, and the application goes to the Board of Commissioners.
Visa and ACR I-Card
The 9G is stamped in the passport and the ACR I-Card issued. We then track renewals against the contract and AEP.
Hiring a foreigner in the Philippines?
Tell us about the role and timing, and we will run the AEP and 9G end to end. If you do not have a Philippine company, our Employer of Record can be the petitioning employer.
9G work visa FAQs
The questions employers and workers ask most about the 9G.
What is the 9G work visa?
It is the Pre-Arranged Employment Visa, the standard work visa for foreigners employed by a Philippine company. A local employer petitions for it, and it lets the worker live and work in the country for the length of the employment contract.
How long does a 9G visa last?
It is granted for one to three years to match the employment contract, and can be renewed in further blocks of up to three years, as long as the contract and the AEP remain valid.
What is the AEP and do I need it?
The Alien Employment Permit is issued by DOLE and is required before the 9G can be filed. It confirms that the role cannot readily be filled by a qualified Filipino. The visa from immigration depends on it, so the permit always comes first.
How long does the whole process take?
In 2026, the AEP and 9G stages together usually take three to five months. Because of that, employers often file a Provisional Work Permit so the employee can begin work while the visa is processed.
Can I work before the 9G is approved?
Yes, with a Provisional Work Permit from the Bureau of Immigration. It is usually issued within three to five working days and lets the employee work legally for up to three months or until the 9G is granted.
What happens if I change employers?
The 9G is specific to the employer and position. If you leave, the visa is downgraded back to tourist status, and your new employer petitions for a fresh 9G with a new AEP. It does not transfer between companies.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can join on dependent visas, with authenticated marriage and birth certificates as proof of relationship.
Can my own company sponsor me?
Yes. Shareholder-directors commonly hold a 9G through their own Philippine company, which acts as the petitioning employer. If you do not have a company yet, we can set one up, or act as the employer of record so you can be sponsored without your own entity.
Talk to our Manila team
A free, no-obligation call: thirty minutes with our Manila team to walk through the AEP and 9G for your role, the documents to prepare, and the timeline. If you do not have a sponsoring company, we can be one.
2 26th St, Taguig
1634 Metro Manila, Philippines