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PHILIPPINES: Amendments to AEP application regulations and immigration visa processing.
July 4, 2025
By: Patricia Clarino, Senior Manager, Newland Chase Advisory
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued DOLE DO 248-A, which amends the guidelines on Alien Employment Permits (AEP).
Newspaper publication is now a required step before applying for an Alien Employment Permit, while posting the job on PhilJobNet and with the Public Employment Service Office or Job Placement Office is encouraged but no longer compulsory.
The requirements for the Understudy Training Program or Skills Development Program now apply only to establishments that are registered under the Foreign Investment Act and receive fiscal incentives, are engaged in public utilities or critical infrastructure, or are considered strategic investments. Renewal applications may be submitted with an affidavit of undertaking, which allows the applicant to comply with the publication and training requirements after the application is filed. This change relaxes the previous requirements.
Regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment are required to act on applications within 15 working days. The updated rules also introduce Technical Working Groups that will review training programs and conduct Economic Needs Tests, while setting clear exemptions for certain categories of foreign nationals. The new guidelines under Department Order No. 248-A will take effect 15 days after they are published in a newspaper of general circulation, although publication is still pending.
We will continue to monitor official publications for the formal effectivity of DOLE DO 248-A and will update this alert accordingly. Contact us to learn more.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
