PhilippinesBusiness and self-employment

Philippines business visitor visa

9(a-1) business visitor (temporary visitor coming for business)

In short

Business visitors attend meetings, conferences, negotiations and similar activities without receiving pay from a Philippine source. EO 408 nationals can do this visa-free for 30 days; longer trips, and trips by visa-required nationals, need a 9(a) business visa from a Philippine embassy or consulate or through the e-Visa portal, usually supported by a letter from the sending company or the Philippine host.

checked 29 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Visa-free: 30 days; 9(a): up to 59 days per stay, extendable at the BI
Validity
Single entry 3 months; multiple entry 6 or 12 months
Fee
Set under the DFA fee schedule and collected by the Philippine post where you apply; e-Visa fees are shown on the portal for your citizenship and are not refunded.
Processing time
e-Visa: 7 to 12 working days (single entry), 15 to 21 (multiple entry); sticker visas: set by the post, longer for multiple entry, which needs Manila approval
Work
No paid work from Philippine sources; a Special Work Permit is required for that
Where to apply
Philippine embassy or consulate in your country of origin or residence, or the e-Visa portal; visa-free entry for up to 30 days for EO 408 nationals

What counts as a business visit

The DFA defines 9(a-1) business visitors as foreigners who come temporarily for scientific, commercial, industrial, professional or business purposes and receive no compensation from a Philippine company or entity for services rendered in the country. Typical purposes are international conferences, workshops, conventions, lectures, contract negotiations, business meetings and other company-related activities.

Visa-free or visa

EO 408 nationals can make business trips of up to 30 days without a visa, with a passport valid six months beyond the stay and a return or onward ticket. If the trip will be longer, if your nationality needs a visa, or if you travel often and want a multiple-entry visa, apply for a 9(a) business visa. Frequent business travellers request a multiple-entry 9(a) with a letter explaining the need, backed by a letter from the sending company listing travel dates or a notarised letter from the Philippine partner.

Company letters

On top of the standard visitor documents, Philippine posts ask business visitors to show the purpose of the trip with a company letter. If your employer sends you, it issues an endorsement letter certifying your employment and the purpose of the trip. If a Philippine company invites you, it sends an invitation letter notarised by a Philippine notary public, naming a contact person, describing the visit and guaranteeing that you will comply with Philippine law. Check whether the post for your country also requires the employer's letter to be notarised. Participants in sporting events need a notarised invitation from the organisers.

Required documents

Identity

  • Original passport valid at least six months beyond the intended stay, with at least four blank pages, plus a copy of the data page

Travel

  • Accommodation proof: hotel booking, or a notarised letter from the host in the Philippines with their ID (and proof of legal status if the host is a foreigner)

Money

  • Proof of funds, such as a bank certificate or recent statements; without income, a guarantor's letter, ID and bank certificate

Work

  • Endorsement letter from your employer certifying your employment and the purpose of the trip

Other

  • Visa application form completed in English and signed (parents sign for minors)
  • Recent colour passport photo taken within the last three months, pasted on the form

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Work

  • Or: invitation letter from the Philippine business partner, notarised by a Philippine notary, with contact person and guarantee of compliance

Other

  • For a multiple-entry visa: request letter explaining the need for frequent travel

Paid work and special arrangements

Anyone admitted as a 9(a) visitor who will be paid from Philippine sources must coordinate with the Philippine counterpart to obtain a Special Work Permit from the BI. The commercial SWP covers gainful employment of three to six months and costs PHP 6,440 under the 2014 fee table, plus USD 50 if an ACR I-Card is issued. Investors and business people endorsed by the Board of Investments, the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry or foreign chambers of commerce can be granted a visa upon arrival (SEVUA) with a 30-day stay for a USD 25 fee.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Check whether the trip fits within 30 visa-free days and whether you will receive any pay from a Philippine source.
  2. Obtain the notarised endorsement letter from your employer or the notarised invitation from the Philippine host.
  3. Complete the 9(a) temporary visitor/business form in English and gather the standard visitor documents.
  4. Apply on the e-Visa portal or at the Philippine post for your country well before departure and pay the fee.
  5. Register on eTravel within 72 hours before travel and carry the company letters on the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can I attend meetings in the Philippines without a visa?

Yes, if your country is on the EO 408 list: business visits of up to 30 days are visa-free when you receive no pay from a Philippine source. Visa-required nationals need a 9(a) business visa.

Who must notarise the invitation letter?

A letter from a Philippine company must be notarised by a Philippine notary public. Whether your own employer's letter must be notarised depends on the Philippine post where you apply.

What if the Philippine side pays me for a short project?

You need a Special Work Permit from the BI, which covers three to six months of gainful employment.

How long does a multiple-entry business visa take?

Approval comes from Manila, so it takes considerably longer than a single-entry visa, and an earlier multiple-entry visa does not guarantee a new one. Ask the post for its current waiting time.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for the Philippines

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Visa-free: 30 days initially; 9(a) visa: up to 59 days per stay; extensions at the BI up to 36 months in total for visa-free nationals
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: 72 hours

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Validity: For the period of study, extended at the BI as studies continue
  • Language course visa Maximum stay: As a visitor: 30 days visa-free or 59 days with a 9(a) visa, then extensions at the BI

Work

  • Work visa Validity: 1, 2 or 3 years, extendable

Family

Residence

  • Retirement visa Maximum stay: Indefinite stay with multiple entry while the visa is maintained

Online travel permits

  • e-Visa Maximum stay: As endorsed on the e-Visa; the authorised stay cannot be extended

Protection

Philippines visa guide