Philippines Cuts AEP Processing to 10 Days and Scraps Newspaper Publication
Updated: 1 hour ago
MANILA, 30 October 2026 — The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment has issued an order cutting the standard processing time for Alien Employment Permits to 10 business days, removing the newspaper publication requirement from the Labour Market Test, and revising the payment process.
The amendments take effect on 11 November 2026 under DOLE Order No. 242, Series of 2026.
What Changes
Three amendments, each affecting a different stage of the AEP process.
Processing Time Halved
Stage | Previous | New |
Standard processing | 15 business days | 10 business days |
Permitted extension | Up to 10 additional days | Up to 10 additional days |
Maximum total | 25 business days | 20 business days |
The 10-day reduction applies to the standard assessment. DOLE retains authority to extend by a further 10 business days where additional verification is required — typically where documents are incomplete, the employer's compliance history is unclear, or the position requires further labour market scrutiny.
For employers, the change compresses the most predictable part of the timeline. The AEP is a prerequisite for the 9(g) working visa, so a five-day saving at the DOLE stage flows directly through to the visa application.
Newspaper Publication Discontinued
The Labour Market Test has, until now, required employers to publish a job vacancy notice in a newspaper of general circulation. That requirement is being discontinued.
The Labour Market Test itself remains. Employers must still demonstrate that no qualified Filipino worker is available and willing to take the position. What changes is the evidence required to satisfy it.
The practical effect is significant. Newspaper publication was the slowest and most expensive component of the Labour Market Test — typically adding two to three weeks to the timeline and costing several thousand pesos per publication. Removing it eliminates both the lead time and the cost.
DOLE has not yet specified what will replace newspaper publication as the evidentiary standard. Employers should expect alternative forms of proof — job portal listings, PESO referrals, or employer attestations — to be confirmed in implementing guidance.
Payment Process Revised
The order introduces a revised payment procedure. Specifics have not been published.
This is the least defined of the three amendments. Employers and their representatives should wait for DOLE guidance before adjusting internal payment workflows.
What Remains Unchanged
The AEP requirement itself. Foreign nationals seeking employment in the Philippines still require an Alien Employment Permit before a working visa can be issued.
Eligibility criteria. The substantive requirements — employer endorsement, position details, qualifications, and labour market justification — are unchanged.
Publication of approved permits. Approved AEPs are still published, though the medium may change.
The right to extend. DOLE can still extend processing by up to 10 business days where warranted.
Why the Publication Requirement Existed
Newspaper publication was introduced as a transparency measure. The logic was that a public notice in a widely read paper would give Filipino workers a genuine opportunity to apply for positions that employers intended to fill with foreign nationals.
In practice, the requirement became a formality. Positions were typically advertised in papers with limited readership, at costs that small employers found burdensome, and with no realistic prospect that a qualified Filipino applicant would see the notice and apply.
DOLE's decision to discontinue the requirement reflects a recognition that the mechanism had become a compliance cost without a corresponding labour market benefit. Whether the replacement — still undefined — achieves the original transparency objective is an open question.
What This Means for Employers
Faster onboarding. A five-day reduction at the DOLE stage, combined with the removal of newspaper publication, could shorten the AEP timeline by three to four weeks in total.
Lower cost. Newspaper publication costs vary, but employers should expect meaningful savings per application.
Earlier visa applications. Because the AEP is a prerequisite for the 9(g) visa, faster AEP issuance means the visa application can be filed sooner.
Less documentary burden. Fewer publications to arrange, fewer receipts to collect, fewer clippings to attach.
Uncertainty in the transition. The order takes effect on 11 November 2026. Applications filed before that date follow the existing rules. Applications filed on or after follow the new framework — but the implementing details are not yet published.
What to Watch
Replacement evidence for the Labour Market Test. Until DOLE publishes guidance, employers should continue to maintain records of recruitment efforts — job portal postings, PESO referrals, internal candidate assessments — as these are likely to become the new evidentiary standard.
Payment process details. The revised payment procedure is undefined. Employers and representatives should check for DOLE circulars in the coming weeks.
Transitional arrangements. Whether applications filed before 11 November but decided after will follow the old or new rules is unclear.
Effect on processing times. DOLE has committed to 10 days, but whether the agency can meet that target consistently depends on staffing, workload and the quality of submissions.
The Regional Context
The Philippines joins a broader regional pattern of streamlining employer-sponsored immigration processes.
Thailand has reduced visa and stay fees for migrant workers from neighbouring countries. Malaysia has moved expatriate applications online. Vietnam has joined the Apostille Convention, removing consular legalisation from document preparation.
Each jurisdiction is competing for foreign investment and skilled labour, and administrative burden is a factor in where companies choose to locate operations. A 10-day AEP processing time is more competitive than 15.
Whether the Philippines can sustain the shorter timeline — and whether the replacement for newspaper publication preserves the transparency the original requirement was meant to provide — will become clearer in the first months of implementation.
Read Also
Quick Reference Summary
Item | Detail |
Issuing Authority | Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) |
Order | DOLE Order No. 242, Series of 2026 |
Effective Date | 11 November 2026 |
Processing Time | Reduced from 15 to 10 business days |
Extension | Up to 10 additional business days |
Maximum Total | 20 business days |
Newspaper Publication | Discontinued |
Labour Market Test | Still required |
Replacement Evidence | Not yet specified |
Payment Process | Revised; details pending |
Implementing Guidance | Expected in coming weeks |
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