On October 27, 2026, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued Department Order (DO) no. 248-C amending DO no. 248-B. This was introduced to amend and streamline the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) process and will take effect on November 11, 2026.
Key changes are as follows:
| Policy change | DO 248-B
Old rules | DO 248-C
New rules |
| Other-Agency Prerequisites | Where applicable, AEP applications require a PCAB license, PRC Special Temporary Permit, DOJ Authority to Employ Alien, or DENR Authority to Hire Foreign National, or proof of application for the relevant document.
| AEP filing and evaluation no longer require these permits or supporting documents.
Compliance with the relevant agencies’ laws is still required.
|
| Job Publication | Newspaper publication was required prior to the AEP submission. | Discontinued. The Labor Market Test (LMT) notice will instead be published through DOLE’s official portal/public repository or, alternatively, filed with the UP Law Center’s Office of the National Administrative Register. |
| Processing time | 15 working days | 10 working days, extendible by another 10 working days (maximum of 20 working days) |
| Agents and authorized representatives | Accreditation is required for agents and authorized representatives to transact with DOLE. | Accreditation is discontinued. Employers may process applications in-house. |
| Payment workflow | The Order of Payment Slip (OPS) is issued on submission. After payment, DOLE conducts further evaluation and requests additional supporting documents.
| The OPS is issued only after technical evaluation and approval of the application.
|
| Orientation | No related provision | Foreign applicants may be required to undergo an orientation on Philippine history and cultural diversity. |
Other operational/policy changes:
Employers can expect fewer AEP filing requirements and potential cost savings as newspaper publication and representative accreditation requirements are removed. The standard processing period falls to 10 working days but may extend to 20, so faster approval is not guaranteed. Employers must still meet other agencies’ legal requirements and the revised Labor Market Test process, and factor in any required applicant orientation.
Organizations with pending or planned AEP applications should assess how these changes may affect workforce and mobility plans. Contact your Vialto representative to discuss case-specific impacts and strategies to mitigate delays.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Larissa Dalistan-Levosada
Director
Kimberly Cantor
Senior Manager
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