Philippines | Updated guidelines for Alien Employment Permit applications

Philippine officials published revised guidelines for Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) and employment permits for foreign nationals.

Key Points:

• The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released Department Order No. 248, introducing changes to the employment of foreign nationals in the Philippines.
• Under Department Order No. 248, the new rules and regulations include:
  • The period to file an AEP application changed from within 10 working days from date of signing the contract to within 15 calendar days from the execution of the contract or issuance of appointment.
  • An AEP application may be filed and processed while the foreign national intended to be hired is still outside the country.
  • The employer must publish the vacant position and the name of the foreign national it intends to hire in a newspaper of general circulation, the PhilJobnet and the Public Employment Service Office or Job Placement Office. The publication must include specific details, including the functions of the job and qualification requirements.
• The new rules are effective Feb. 10 after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Additional Information: As BAL reported, officials also recently announced a separate policy change for Alien Employment Permit applications in Q1 2025. The Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025 (DOLE DO 248), otherwise referred to as the “New Rules and Regulations on the Employment of Foreign Nationals in the Philippines” also introduced a new Economic Needs Test, applicable to the evaluation of certain AEP applications. The full list of provisions can be reviewed here. BAL will provide more information once it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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