Working in the Philippines on a Resident Visa? You May Still Need a DOLE Certificate of Exemption

01What is an Alien Employment Permit?

An Alien Employment Permit, commonly called an AEP, is the employment authorization administered by DOLE for foreign nationals who intend to work in the Philippines and fall within the categories that require one. It confirms that a specific employer may engage a specific foreign national in a specific position, generally after the employer has shown that no Filipino worker is competent, willing and available to fill the role. The AEP is the default route into legal employment for most foreign workers — but certain categories of foreign nationals are exempted from this requirement altogether, which is where the Certificate of Exemption comes in.

02Do resident visa holders still need to file with DOLE?

Under Rule V, Section 1 of Department Order No. 248, foreign nationals who are Permanent, Probationary or Temporary Resident Visa holders are among the categories exempt from securing a regular AEP. But the exemption is not self-executing. Where the foreign national intends to be employed in the Philippines, DOLE's own rules require the individual to request a Certificate of Exemption before starting work. In practical terms, a resident visa establishes immigration status, while a Certificate of Exemption is separate evidence of the applicable DOLE employment exemption — the two address different regulatory requirements.

03What the Certificate of Exemption requires

The Certificate of Exemption formally records that a foreign national belongs to a category that does not need a regular AEP. Under Section 2, Rule V of Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025, an applicant is generally required to submit the following. DOLE may request further evidence establishing that the applicant genuinely qualifies for the claimed exemption, and additional documentation can apply depending on the specific category.

• ✓A duly notarized request for a Certificate of Exemption, in the form prescribed by DOLE, naming the employer and the intended workplace.
• ✓A copy of the biographical page of the applicant's valid passport (not required for a recognized stateless person).
• ✓A copy of the applicant's valid Philippine visa and the corresponding Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR I-Card), where applicable.
• ✓Any category-specific document Rule V requires — for example, a DFA endorsement for a diplomat's dependent spouse, or a DOJ Certificate of Recognition for a refugee or stateless person.

04How the Certificate of Exemption is filed

Filing a Certificate of Exemption follows a defined sequence under Department Order No. 248. Since 2026, that sequence runs through DOLE's Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) rather than through a regional office — see the update below for what changed.

05Who else may qualify for an exemption

Resident visa holders are only one of several categories covered by Rule V. Depending on the applicant's circumstances and supporting documentation, Department Order No. 248 also lists:

• ✓Dependent spouses of diplomatic corps members, where a reciprocity or exchange-of-notes arrangement exists.
• ✓Accredited officials and staff of international organizations with a Philippine government agreement, and their dependent spouses.
• ✓Officers, staff or employees of a foreign embassy in the Philippines.
• ✓Personnel of an accredited peacekeeping or international organization operating in the Philippines.
• ✓Visiting, exchange or adjunct professors working under a formal agreement between institutions or governments.
• ✓Refugees and stateless persons recognized by the Department of Justice, and any foreign national exempted under a specific law.

06A resident visa doesn't settle the employment question

This distinction is easy to overlook. A foreign national can hold a perfectly valid immigration status that allows them to live in the Philippines while still carrying a separate DOLE requirement tied specifically to employment. That's why companies hiring foreign nationals should examine both sides: the immigration status itself, and the employment authorization or exemption that applies on top of it. Depending on the circumstances, the correct route may be a regular AEP, a Certificate of Exemption, a Certificate of Exclusion, or another authorization entirely — our guide to getting a work visa in the Philippines walks through the AEP side of that decision. Not every visa commonly described as a "resident visa" automatically falls within the exemption discussed here; the exact visa category and the proposed employment arrangement should be reviewed individually.

07How Asia Relocation Philippines can help

Philippine employment and immigration requirements often involve more than one government authority, and the right procedure depends on the foreign national's visa category, employer, position and intended activities. Our immigration team assists foreign nationals and Philippine employers with:

• ✓Reviewing the foreign national's current visa and immigration status.
• ✓Assessing whether a regular AEP, Certificate of Exemption or another authorization applies.
• ✓Preparing and organizing the application package, including notarization and supporting documents.
• ✓Coordinating filing with DOLE-BLE under the current centralized procedure.
• ✓Monitoring the application and responding to any documentary requests.

The Certificate of Exemption is one piece of our wider Philippines visa and immigration services, from resident visas to work authorizations. All applications remain subject to DOLE assessment, applicable regulations and final government approval.

08Common questions