Short answer: the AEP, 9(g), and PWP do different jobs. The AEP is DOLE’s employment permit; the 9(g) is the Bureau of Immigration’s pre-arranged employment visa; the PWP is temporary work authority while a pre-arranged employment visa application is pending. Do not treat one document as a substitute for the others.
The three documents answer different questions
| Document | Issuing authority | What it addresses | When it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alien Employment Permit (AEP) | Department of Labor and Employment | Permission for a foreign national to engage in employment, subject to current rules and exemptions | Before or alongside the work-visa path |
| 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa | Bureau of Immigration | Immigration status for employment with a Philippine sponsor | The long-term employment-visa route |
| Provisional Work Permit (PWP) | Bureau of Immigration | Temporary authority during a pending pre-arranged employment-visa application | When the visa petition is pending |
The order and documentary details can vary by case. The safe rule is to plan the employer’s labour and immigration filings together before the person starts work.
What an AEP is, and why the process needs a current check
An Alien Employment Permit is issued by DOLE under its rules for the employment of foreign nationals. It is not a visa. Its purpose is labour-side permission for a foreign national’s employment, and it sits beside the immigration process.
This is an area where old blog posts age badly. DOLE announced that AEP processing, evaluation, and issuance moved to its Central Office effective 9 June 2026. Before a filing, verify the current application route, publication requirement, supporting documents, and whether the intended role is covered by an exemption or requires a different certificate. Do not assume a former regional-office instruction still applies.
What a 9(g) visa is
A 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa is the Bureau of Immigration route for a foreign national who will be employed by a Philippine sponsor. It is an immigration status tied to the employment case; it is not simply a work permit label.
The sponsor’s corporate records, job description, contract, and permit documents need to tell one consistent story. A change in employer, role, or facts can require a fresh review. Our 9(g) work-visa walkthrough explains the wider petition sequence, but use the Bureau’s current checklist for the live case.
What a PWP can and cannot do
The Bureau of Immigration says it issues a Provisional Work Permit during the pendency of an application for a pre-arranged employment visa. In other words, it bridges a pending process; it does not grant the 9(g) visa itself.
A PWP should be tracked like any other temporary approval. Keep the application receipt, permit validity, passport status, and pending 9(g) matter together. If the underlying petition changes or is not pursued, do not assume the PWP remains a free-standing work status.
A decision sequence that avoids the common mix-up
- Confirm that the individual will actually work in the Philippines and identify the sponsoring employer.
- Check whether the role requires an AEP or falls within a current exemption or exclusion.
- Start the labour and immigration planning together; do not leave one until the other is nearly finished.
- If the 9(g) case is pending and the current BI rules support it, assess the PWP as the temporary bridge.
- Track renewals, employer changes, and role changes before the document expires.
For a foreign founder, the initial entity structure matters as well. A company cannot sponsor a coherent employment case if its registration, authority, and payroll setup are incomplete. See doing business in the Philippines for the structural context.
This is general information, not immigration advice. Requirements, filing channels, and categories change, so verify the live case with DOLE and the Bureau of Immigration before travel or work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Do foreign employees need both an AEP and a 9(g) visa?
Often, yes: the AEP is a DOLE work permit and the 9(g) is a Bureau of Immigration employment visa. Requirements and exemptions depend on the role, employer, immigration status, and current rules, so each case should be checked before work begins.
What does a Provisional Work Permit do?
The Bureau of Immigration describes a PWP as a permit issued while an application for a pre-arranged employment visa is pending. It is temporary and does not replace the decision on the underlying 9(g) petition.
Can a company rely on a PWP indefinitely?
No. A PWP is tied to the pending visa process and has its own conditions. The employer and foreign national should track its validity and the status of the 9(g) petition rather than treat it as a permanent status.
Where is an AEP filed in 2026?
DOLE announced that AEP processing, evaluation, and issuance were centralised at its Central Office effective 9 June 2026. Confirm the live process, portal, checklist, and transition rules with DOLE before filing.
Official sources
Primary references this guide is checked against.