9(g) Visa Application: Temporary Acceptance of Official AEP…

9(g) Visa Application: Temporary Acceptance of Official AEP Card Application Proof (As of September 17, 2026, Bureau of Immigration, Philippines)

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Philippines,
the issuance of Alien Employment Permit (AEP) cards by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been transferred from regional offices to the central office (headquarters), causing delays in issuance. As a result, 9(g) work visa applications and renewals have not been processed on time, and foreign nationals whose work visas have expired have been forced to downgrade their visas, among other inconveniences.

Accordingly, the BI has announced that the following temporary guidelines will be applied internally to 9(g) work visa applications and renewal filings starting September 17, 2026. Those affected are advised to review the following items.

1. Scope of Application: Foreign nationals seeking to **convert** or **extend** to a 9(g) visa
※ Applies only to those who applied for an AEP with DOLE on or after August 3, 2026

2. Initial Submission Documents
(1) Conversion application: ① Copy of the official DOLE receipt (proof of AEP application), ② Notarized affidavit jointly prepared by the applicant and the employing company
(2) Extension application: ① Copy of the official DOLE receipt (proof of AEP application), ② A valid 9(g) visa at the time of application, ③ Notarized affidavit jointly prepared by the applicant and the employing company

3. Deadline for Secondary Document Submission
(1) Within 60 days from the initial submission (application) date, submit the physical AEP card or official proof of AEP approval/issuance to the BI Visa Processing Center (VPC)
(2) If only proof of approval/issuance was submitted within 60 days from the initial submission (application) date, submit the physical AEP card additionally within 75 days from the initial submission (application) date
※ Failure to submit within the deadlines may result in rejection of the visa application due to incomplete documents.

4. Notes
(1) The core of the new guidelines is that the 9(g) visa application will be accepted first based solely on proof of application, without the physical AEP card.
(2) Actual approval of the visa will be decided after the physical AEP card is submitted and verified through the BI–DOLE information sharing system.
(3) The notarized affidavit must include confirmation by the applicant and the employing company of the following:
- That the application is a temporary filing based on proof of AEP application
- That approval will not be granted until the physical card is submitted and verified in the system
- That the application may be rejected if documents are not submitted within the deadline
- That the BI may reject the application at any time for other legal reasons
(4) Even while awaiting the AEP card, the application may be rejected for other reasons.
(5) Extension applications must be filed while the existing 9(g) visa is valid, so please check your visa expiration date in advance.
(6) Specific filing procedures and affidavit forms may vary by regional BI office, so be sure to confirm with your jurisdictional Bureau of Immigration Philippines office before applying.

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines Notice Board · Posted 2026-10-13 · KOGL Type 1 (Attribution)
https://ph.mofa.go.kr/ph-ko/brd/m_3640/view.do?seq=1346558