The 9G visa, known as the 9G Commercial Visa, allows foreign nationals to work in the Philippines. This visa is for people who are not planning to settle permanently. A visa holder can work for a sponsoring company. The length of time they can work usually depends on the duration of their job contract.

A 9g visa holder has the following benefits:

• You can come and go from the country several times.
• A valid visa is needed to open a bank account.
• If you want to buy property, like a condominium, you will also need a visa because foreigners can’t buy land.
• You can include your dependents.

It is for foreign nationals who wish to work in the Philippines.

This visa is for people who have a job in the Philippines before they get there.

To get this visa, you must have a job offer from a company in the Philippines.

The 9G visa is linked to the company that sponsors it and the job you will do. It is important to know this link.

The visa holder can only work for the company that gave them the visa. They can only take the job that is written in their visa application.

The company that helps with the visa is very important. They need to apply for the worker. They must also provide some documents, like a Labor Market Test. This test checks that there are no suitable Filipino candidates for the job. The Labor Market Test is also needed for the AEP.

• If the company changes, or the job changes, the 9g must change as well.

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration manages the 9G Work Visa. There are two main types of this visa. They help foreign nationals get jobs. The Department of Labor is also involved in this process.

• 9(g) (Commercial): This is a common work visa. It is for foreign nationals who want to work in the country and get paid. The pay can be a salary or other forms of compensation.
• 9(g) (Non-Commercial) or 9(g) (Missionary): This visa is for foreign nationals who come to the Philippines for missionary work, social projects, or rehabilitation. It is not meant for business purposes. This visa mainly helps people who are in volunteer or nonprofit roles.

When your 9g visa is being processed, you can apply for a Provisional Work Permit. This permit is good for 3 months. It will be valid from when you get it or until your 9g visa is approved, whichever comes first.

A Provisional Work Permit lets you begin working while you wait for the Alien Employment Permit from DOLE.

Gather Necessary Documents for your 9G Application

Submitting the right documents is key for a successful application. The Philippine Bureau of Immigration has specific rules. If you miss any documents or if they are not complete, this can lead to delays or even rejection.

The documents needed are usually the following:

• A request letter signed by both the employer and employee.
• A valid passport that won’t expire for at least six months, along with a valid visa.
• Completed application forms.
• A certified true copy of the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor, plus the actual publication.
• A Special Temporary Permit for certain jobs listed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
• A medical clearance from the Bureau of Quarantine for certain nationals.
• An employment contract from the sponsoring company.
• The petitioner’s income tax return.
• Business documents from the sponsoring company.
• A Clearance Certificate from the Bureau of Immigration.
• A notarized Certificate of Workforce Composition.
• Marriage and birth certificates for dependents.
• The work is mostly done by two main government agencies.

These two government agencies are the DOLE and the BI. The DOLE takes care of AEP. The BI is in charge of visas.

Both processes require many documents. They are also very detailed.

Obtain an AEP from DOLE

An AEP is necessary for more people than just those with a 9g visa. It is also needed for people with other visas, like SIRV, SRRV, and SVEG. This applies to those who have executive, advisory, or technical roles in a Philippine company.

• AEP needs several documents sent.
• DOLE Application Form
• Letter Request
• Secretary Certificate for elective positions
• Passport with current visa
• Business Permits and Mayor’s Permits

These should be sent to the DOLE regional office that looks after the area where the foreign worker will be.

The AEP documents should be sent in first. Then, you can collect them.

While the AEP is being finished, the DOLE can provide a Provisional Work Permit.

This permit allows them to work legally as they wait for their visa. It also helps you to start immediately.

Submit the AEP and your documents to the BI

When you receive the AEP, gather all the documents. After that, send those documents to the BI. Also, remember to pay the right fees.

You need to attend the hearing. You also need to get your fingerprints done. After that, you must submit the documents for the ACR Card. Remember, there are specific things you need for this.

The BI will check the visa application after that.

When it gets approved, you will need to give them your passport. This is so they can add the visa to it.

Expect this process to take several months. This is due to the many steps involved. Most of these steps are done manually.

What happens if I am promoted or if I change companies?

You had to cancel your old visa before you could apply for a new 9g visa.

You can now update or extend your 9g visa. There is no need to change it to a Visitor’s visa.

• You need to show proof of your promotion or give a copy of your new job contract.

You have to send a new application to the BIR at least 30 days after you send the Notice of Extension or Promotion.

Please give back your ACR card. We will provide you with a new ACR card that has updated details.

Can family members be included in a 9G application?

Family members of those who have a 9G visa can apply for dependent visas at the Bureau of Immigration.

They need to turn in their papers. The most important paper is proof of their family relationship.

How long does it take?

Processing times for a 9G visa application at the Bureau of Immigration can change.

This depends on how complete your papers are. It also depends on how many applications they have to handle.

It typically takes at least three months, and it can be longer.

How much does it cost?

There are several fees at the DOLE and the BI.

The DOLE fees start at Php 10,000. After this first payment, you will need to pay an additional Php 5,000 for each year or any part of a year.

The BI fees change depending on the length of stay for the visa holder. These fees range from 10,000 to 24,000 for the main applicant. If there are dependents, extra fees will apply.

The ACR card costs from USD 50 to 150. This means you will pay about 50 each year.

However, these are just the government fees.

The true cost of getting a 9g visa is the time and effort you spend going to DOLE and BI.

• There are many trips you can take.
• You will need to spend a lot of time.
• Plan to take several days for one task.
• In a 9g, there are several tasks to do.
• The main reason for the high costs is the time required.

The biggest part of the cost to handle this is the time we spend.