9(d) Treaty Trader Visa in the Philippines

TL;DR: The 9(d) treaty visa lets a national of the United States, Japan or Germany enter the Philippines to trade under an existing treaty of commerce and navigation, or to develop and direct an enterprise. The statute covers trade; the investor route comes from the Bureau of Immigration. The AEP position depends on the role, so settle it before filing.

What the 9(d) visa is

The 9(d) is a non-immigrant visa for treaty traders and treaty investors. Section 9(d) of Commonwealth Act 613, the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, covers a person who enters “solely to carry on trade between the Philippines and the foreign state of which he is a national.” It extends to the holder’s wife and unmarried children under 21 who accompany or follow to join the holder. That extension is subject to a reciprocity condition: Filipino citizens under similar conditions must receive like privileges in the foreign state.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also describes a treaty investor as a foreigner who seeks admission “for the purpose of developing and directing the operations of an enterprise” in the Philippines. The statute text covers trade. The investor route appears on the BI page.

Who qualifies

Treaty trader. The BI limits this route to nationals of the United States, Japan and Germany who enter “pursuant to an existing treaty of commerce and navigation.” The BI page does not list any other country for this route.

Treaty investor. The BI page gives no country list for this route. The core test is whether the applicant comes to develop and direct the enterprise. The capital and ownership tests below apply on top of that.

Who the 9(d) suits

The 9(d) fits a foreign owner or manager whose business trades with, or invests in, the Philippines under a treaty relationship. A national of the United States, Japan or Germany who runs a trading business between their country and the Philippines is the clearest case. A foreigner who plans to take a salaried role on a Philippine payroll is usually a 9(g) case instead, because that route is built around employment rather than treaty trade. Founders who qualify on capital rather than trade should compare the investor route with the SIRV.

Trade and investment tests

Test these points before you file:

• Trade. The trade must run between the Philippines and your home state under the treaty. A consultancy summary adds that the volume of business matters, not only its existence.
• Capital. One consultancy puts the investment floor for a non-nationalised business at US$120,000. The BI page gives no figure, so treat that number as a planning figure and confirm the current threshold with the BI before you commit funds.

The AEP question

Whether a 9(d) holder needs an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) depends on the role and the DOLE rules in force. Two points matter now:

• Department Order No. 248-B, Series of 2026, moves AEP functions to the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE). According to KPMG’s alert, it took effect immediately upon issuance and amends Department Orders 248 and 248-A.
• A consultancy lists the AEP among the documents for a 9(d) petition. The BI page does not mention an AEP.

Settle the AEP position for each role before you file. Chamberlain confirms it with DOLE for the specific role and does not assume an exemption. The AEP page explains what the permit covers.

How the 9(d) process runs

1. Confirm the basis. Check the passport nationality and the treaty route. Trader route: US, Japan or Germany. Investor route: confirm the enterprise, its capital, and the applicant’s role.
2. Build the company file. Assemble the company registration, ownership records, and evidence of trade volume or capital.
3. Settle the AEP position. Confirm with DOLE, through the BLE, whether an AEP is needed for the role.
4. File with the BI. The BI checklist (form V-NI-002-Rev 1) and the application form (CGAF) apply. The BI fee table offers one-year and two-year validity.
5. Add dependants. List the wife and unmarried children under 21 who will accompany or follow the holder, with the BI’s additional information form for children where needed.

9(d), 9(g) and SIRV compared

The table is a starting point. Each route turns on facts about the company and the person, so the choice is made in the eligibility review, not from a table alone.

What Chamberlain does

Chamberlain runs the 9(d) file end to end: the eligibility review, the AEP position for each role, the BI filing, and dependants in the same pass. Visa and work-permit work is ₱40K – ₱120K per applicant. You get a fixed quote before work starts, and government fees are shown separately.

If the 9(d) does not fit, compare the 9(g) work visa for an employed role, or the SIRV for an investment route. Start your application.

Sources

• Commonwealth Act No. 613, Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 (Section 9)
• Bureau of Immigration: Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor (9D)
• KPMG: Philippines AEP processing change (flash alert 2026-163)
• Triple i Consulting: 9D Treaty Trader Visa (consultancy summary, not an official text)