An employer’s guide to work permits in The Philippines

Common challenges in securing a Philippines work permit 

Securing a Philippines employment pass involves navigating complex regulations, strict requirements, and potential delays. It requires compliance expertise, meticulous attention to detail, and considerable time investment to ensure a smooth process.

Here’s an overview of the challenges employers commonly face:

• The Philippines’ labor and employment laws are detailed and often subject to changes, creating ongoing compliance challenges.
• Sectors like healthcare, IT, and manufacturing may have additional visa requirements for foreign workers, complicating the process for employers unfamiliar with these nuances.
• Employers must navigate variations in local labor practices and requirements across regions.
• Prolonged approval periods for work permits can disrupt hiring timelines and delay business operations.
• Employers must provide extensive proof of need, including employer accreditations and justification for hiring foreign workers.
• Securing work permits can impose financial strain on smaller companies due to high sponsorship fees.
• Verifying and validating qualifications for specialized roles often prolongs the approval process.
• Challenges such as finding housing or managing cultural onboarding can delay smooth integration for foreign workers.
• Options like the Special Work Permit (SWP) and Alien Employment Permit (AEP) provide opportunities but require specific expertise to handle effectively.

Partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) can address these challenges, offering an efficient pathway to securing work permits while ensuring full compliance with the Philippines’ labor and immigration laws.

Next, let’s explore how an EOR simplifies this process and empowers businesses to expand with confidence.

A step-by-step guide to procuring work permits in the Philippines

Getting through the complexities of work permits and immigration in the Philippines can be challenging for HR teams. Partnering with an experienced Employer of Record (EOR) simplifies and streamlines the process.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Partner with an Employer of Record (EOR)

An EOR acts as your strategic partner, bringing deep expertise in Philippine immigration and labor laws, visa sponsorship, and compliance. This ensures a smooth and efficient process, preventing common pitfalls and delays in the work permit application.

Step 2: Assess eligibility

The EOR evaluates the candidate’s qualifications and ensures they meet all the specific requirements for a Philippine work permit, such as the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) for foreign workers and compliance with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regulations. This helps avoid rejections or delays in the approval process.

Step 3: Set up sponsorship

The EOR manages the sponsorship process, which includes employer accreditation with DOLE and submitting the necessary documentation to the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The EOR ensures compliance with Philippine regulations governing foreign worker hiring.

Step 4: Handle documentation

The EOR prepares and submits all required documentation, including employment contracts that comply with Philippine labor standards. This includes the mandatory provisions in accordance with the Philippine Labor Code, minimizing the risk of errors or omissions during the application process.

Step 5: Ensure compliance management

The EOR ensures full adherence to Philippine immigration and labor laws, including compliance with the AEP and other regulatory requirements such as tax filing and social security registration. This reduces the risk of penalties, fines, or application rejections.

Step 6: Provide onboarding support

Once the work permit is approved, the EOR handles all aspects of onboarding, including tax registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), payroll setup, and ensuring compliance with mandatory benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG. This ensures the employee is ready to begin work without any delays.

With a reliable EOR partner, businesses can navigate the Philippine work permit process confidently, focusing on hiring top talent while leaving compliance and administration to trusted experts. Initiating the process takes only minutes with an experienced EOR.

Next, let’s explore the benefits of partnering with an EOR for work permits in the Philippines.

Benefits of partnering with an EOR for work permits

Managing work permits in the Philippines can be complex due to its stringent regulations and administrative requirements. Partnering with an EOR simplifies the process, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Here’s why a Philippines EOR is a game-changer for businesses looking to hire through a Philippines work permit or work visa:

Philippines-specific compliance expertise

An EOR provides deep knowledge of Philippine labor laws, including DOLE accreditation and tax requirements. This ensures full compliance with the regulations tied to work permits or employment passes, minimizing legal risks.

Simplified access to Philippines talent

An EOR removes the hassle of establishing a local entity, allowing businesses to hire foreign workers and onboard them quickly while staying compliant with visa requirements. This means businesses can access top talent faster without the regulatory burden.

Flexibility for diverse workforce needs

Whether hiring contractors or full-time employees, an EOR supports different employment models. By managing work permits and contracts, businesses can scale efficiently while adhering to Philippine regulations.

Better employee support and onboarding

An EOR ensures smooth onboarding with region-specific benefits, making international hires feel supported. This leads to better employee engagement, higher productivity, and improved retention.

Cost and time savings

An EOR eliminates the need for a local entity and reduces the time spent navigating the Philippines’ complex work permit system. By managing compliance, payroll, and work visa applications, businesses save on costs and resources.

By partnering with an EOR, you transform a complex, slow process into an opportunity for faster, compliant growth. An EOR can help build a foundation for success as you expand into the Philippines.

Next, let’s see how this approach compares to traditional hiring methods and why an EOR is the superior choice.

Traditional work visa process vs. EOR-assisted process for the Philippines

Hiring talent in the Philippines can quickly become a daunting task. The traditional process requires navigating a web of legal and administrative challenges, consuming valuable time, resources, and expertise. In contrast, working with an Employer of Record (EOR) offers a streamlined, efficient alternative that eliminates complexity and accelerates hiring.

Below is a comparison between the traditional method and the EOR-assisted approach:

For any company looking to hire in the Philippines without getting bogged down by regulatory complexities, leveraging an EOR is a strategic advantage. The speed, cost efficiency, and ease of the EOR-assisted process make it the clear choice for global expansion.

Partnering with an EOR for Philippines work permits

Navigating the work permit process in the Philippines doesn’t need to be a burden. By partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR), you ensure compliance, efficiency, and speed—every step of the way.

An EOR brings specialized expertise in Philippine labor laws, taking full responsibility for the paperwork, compliance, and work permit applications, allowing you to hire the talent you need without the headaches.

Don’t let complex regulations slow you down. Book a demo today and see how an EOR can ensure fast, compliant hires that power your business forward.