Philippines Updates: New DOLE Guidelines Ease Work Permit Issuance for Foreigners

(PHILIPPINES) The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued new supplemental DOLE guidelines on August 27, 2025, easing and clarifying how employers obtain a work permit for foreign nationals. The update amends Department Order No. 248 and changes the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) process in ways that cut steps for companies while keeping protections for Filipino workers.

DOLE said the move aims to streamline labor market testing, standardize renewal requirements, and strengthen local skills transfer through required training programs tied to foreign hiring.

Key changes to labor market testing

Under the revised rules, labor market testing now centers on a single channel. Employers must:

• Publish a job vacancy ad in a newspaper of general circulation for at least 45 days before filing.
• Posting on PhilJobNet and at a Public Employment Service Office (PESO) or Job Placement Office (JPO) is no longer mandatory, though DOLE still encourages using those channels.

By focusing on one required publication, DOLE says employers can prove they tried to hire locally without juggling multiple platforms that previously created confusion and delays.

Simplified renewals and training obligations

The new guidance also simplifies renewals:

• For a foreign worker’s AEP renewal, DOLE will accept an application if the employer submits an Affidavit of Undertaking at filing.
• In that sworn statement, the company confirms it met the publication rule and commits to submit either an Understudy Training Program (UTP) or a Skills Development Program (SDP), depending on the nature of the job.

This approach lets DOLE move forward with the renewal while keeping pressure on employers to carry out training plans that pass skills to Filipino employees.

DOLE also:

• Clarified which organizations must follow a UTP or an SDP.
• Set timelines for when these training documents must be filed and evaluated.
• Listed categories of foreign workers who may be exempt.

The emphasis on UTP/SDP reinforces a long-standing goal: foreign hiring should build local capacity, not replace it. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the clearer training obligations address a frequent employer pain point, since many firms struggled to understand DOLE expectations in past audits and renewals.

Transitional measure for existing permit holders

A key transitional measure aims to avoid punishing current workers caught between old and new rules:

• For AEP holders whose permits were issued before February 10, 2025, the new requirement is limited to submitting UTP/SDP documents upon renewal.
• This narrows what existing permit holders must do and prevents disruption for companies that hired under earlier standards.

Interagency review and future policy signals

DOLE will convene a technical working group that includes multiple agencies, such as the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The group will:

• Study how hiring foreign nationals affects the economy and labor market.
• Produce findings to help companies gauge local skills supply and foreign talent needs.
• Potentially guide future policy refinements.

A report is expected in late 2025 or early 2026, signaling possible further adjustments to align foreign hiring with national employment goals.

What the AEP does and why it matters

The Alien Employment Permit is a cornerstone of the Philippines’ system for employing foreign nationals. DOLE issues the AEP to confirm that:

• Bringing in a foreign worker will not displace qualified Filipino workers.
• The employer looked for local candidates first.

The permit is often a prerequisite for filing related visas, such as the 9(g) Pre-arranged Employment Visa, with the Bureau of Immigration. In practice, the AEP sits at the center of the hiring timeline: no AEP, no lawful long-term employment.

Step-by-step flow under the new guidelines

1. Employer publishes a job ad in a newspaper of general circulation for at least 45 days.
2. Employer files the AEP application (or renewal) with DOLE and attaches required documents.
   • For renewals, include an Affidavit of Undertaking confirming publication and committing to submit the UTP or SDP.
3. Employer submits the UTP or SDP within DOLE’s set timelines.
4. DOLE evaluates the application and the training program documents.
5. Upon approval, the foreign national receives the AEP, which supports any related visa filing and confirms legal employment.

Benefits and real-world impacts

These changes carry tangible benefits for employers and foreign workers:

• Companies face fewer administrative hurdles, meeting labor market testing through one required channel.
• HR teams can plan AEP renewals with a clear checklist:
  • Newspaper publication, Affidavit of Undertaking at filing, and UTP/SDP submission within stated timeframes.
• Foreign workers may see faster decisions, since DOLE can accept renewal filings once the affidavit is in place rather than holding the case until all training paperwork is complete.
• The renewed push for training addresses longer-term skills needs, which benefits Filipino staff and employers aiming to localize roles over time.

Relationship with other work permits and visas

The update fits a broader government effort to keep rules clear while balancing investment and local jobs. Other Philippine work permission options include:

• Special Work Permit (SWP) — short-term assignments up to six months.
• Special Temporary Permit (STP) — for regulated professions.
• For long-term employment, many companies pair the AEP with the 9(g) Pre-arranged Employment Visa handled by the Bureau of Immigration.

DOLE and BI coordination remains central, with employers expected to line up both permit and visa steps in sequence.

Three points employers must note

• Labor market testing is simpler but strict. The required newspaper ad must run for at least 45 days. Keep proof of publication and dates.
• Affidavit of Undertaking is mandatory for renewals. File it at the time of renewal and follow through with UTP/SDP submissions within DOLE’s deadlines.
• Exemptions are narrow. Review the categories under the DOLE guidelines before assuming your hire is exempt from UTP/SDP.

Are online postings still useful?

DOLE removed the mandatory requirement to post on PhilJobNet and at PESO/JPO, but the agency encourages employers to use those channels.

• Online postings can broaden the local applicant pool and support the purpose of labor market testing.
• They also help if DOLE later reviews how you tried to hire locally.

Planning and timing considerations

For companies planning their next quarter of hiring:

• The technical working group may recommend further changes after reviewing labor market data.
• Employers should keep compliance calendars flexible in late 2025 and early 2026.
• Meanwhile, the current rules are in force, and firms can plan recruiting with more confidence thanks to clarified steps.

Practical tips for compliant AEP filings

• Start the 45-day newspaper posting early to avoid last-minute crunches before your target hire date.
• Prepare a simple but specific UTP or SDP that shows who will be trained, what skills will be shared, and when the training will occur.
• Draft the Affidavit of Undertaking in advance so you can file on time and keep the employee’s status stable.
• Keep a single digital folder for each foreign hire with publication proof, application receipts, and training documents to ensure continuity across renewals.

Impact on smaller firms and start-ups

• The single-channel publication rule can reduce costs and cut the risk of errors that cause denials or delays.
• The UTP/SDP requirement pushes even small employers to invest in training.
• This trade-off is by design: the government wants foreign skills to lift local capacity across the board, not only in large companies.

Guidance for foreign workers

• The AEP remains the gateway to lawful employment. Ensure your employer is meeting the new publication and training steps.
• Ask to see the Affidavit of Undertaking for your renewal and request updates on the UTP/SDP timeline.
• If you change employers, a new AEP process will be required and the 45-day publication rule will apply again.

What policy watchers will watch next

• If the technical working group’s data shows local shortages in certain fields, DOLE could adjust training timelines or exemptions for highly specialized roles.
• If displacement risks are identified in other fields, UTP/SDP duties may tighten.
• For now, DOLE’s stance is measured: simpler front-end filing, firmer training follow-through.

Where to get official information

Employers and workers seeking official references can review DOLE’s guidance on the Alien Employment Permit and related rules on the Department of Labor and Employment website.

• For authoritative information and updates, visit the DOLE portal at DOLE official website.
• The Bureau of Immigration remains the source for visa processing steps that follow an approved AEP, including long-term options connected to employment.

In sum, DOLE’s August 27, 2025 supplemental rules reduce friction in the AEP process by focusing labor market testing on one required publication, streamlining renewal filings through an affidavit, and sharpening expectations for training programs. Transitional relief for permits issued before February 10, 2025 helps existing workers stay on track. A multi-agency review later this year or early next year could lead to further fine-tuning, but today’s framework already gives employers a cleaner checklist and foreign workers a clearer path to keep their status in order.