Philippines · Visa and Foreign Employment
Visa services and foreign employment in the Philippines
Understanding Philippine visas
How foreign nationals live and work legally
Every foreign national working in the Philippines needs two things kept in order: permission to work and permission to stay. They come from different agencies. Work authorization runs through the Department of Labor and Employment, principally the Alien Employment Permit, while visas and stay come from the Bureau of Immigration. The two must be sequenced correctly, and employers share responsibility for getting it right.
The standard route for hired foreign staff is the 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa, petitioned by the Philippine employer and typically valid for one to three years. Short assignments can run on a Special Work Permit while longer-term residence is available through investment and retirement routes such as the SIRV and SRRV, each with its own qualifying conditions.
Status maintenance is where problems actually happen: permits and visas expire on different cycles, and an expired document can mean fines, blacklisting or removal for the employee and penalties for the employer. We track every expiry across your foreign workforce so nothing lapses.
How we support you
Every route to working and residing legally
From employer-sponsored working visas to investor and retiree residence, we manage the application with the Bureau of Immigration and DOLE from requirements through release.
9(g) Working Visa
The standard pre-arranged employment visa for foreign nationals hired by Philippine companies, processed with the Bureau of Immigration alongside the employer's petition.
Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)
Indefinite residence for qualifying investors, with the investment structured and documented to meet BOI requirements.
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
Long-term residence for retirees through the PRA, with deposit options matched to your age and pension status.
Special Work Permit (SWP)
Authorization for short-term assignments of up to six months, secured quickly for specialists and project-based staff.
ACR I-Card processing
The Alien Certificate of Registration identity card obtained and renewed on time for every registered foreign national.
Tourist and Working Visa renewal / extension
Extensions and renewals filed before expiry, keeping your stay and your team's status continuously valid.
Alien Employment Permit Application
The DOLE-issued AEP secured for foreign employees, coordinated with the working visa so both align.
How it works
From assessment to valid status
1
Route assessment
We assess the role, duration and profile and confirm the visa and permit combination that fits.
2
Work authorization
The DOLE Alien Employment Permit, or the Special Work Permit for short assignments, is applied for and secured.
3
Visa petition and filing
The employer's petition and the visa application are filed with the Bureau of Immigration and followed through hearings to approval.
4
Registration and cards
ACR I-Card issuance and registration formalities completed so the status is fully documented.
5
Renewals and monitoring
Every expiry across your foreign staff is tracked, with renewals filed ahead of time.
Why process visas with ILA
Employer and employee aligned
Company petitions, DOLE permits and personal applications handled as one coordinated file.
Status never lapses
Expiry dates tracked across your foreign workforce, with renewals filed ahead of time.
Practical, current guidance
Immigration rules shift. We advise on the route that actually works today, not last year.
