Philippines: PEZA clarifies documentary requirements in securing PEZA visa

PEZA Memorandum Circular No. 2023-045
20 Sept 2023    1 minute read
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In brief

On 7 September 2023, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2023-045 ("MC 2023-045"), clarifying the documentary requirements in securing PEZA Visas. Beginning on 7 September 2023, PEZA clarified that: (1) the submission to PEZA of the Affidavit of the Understudy Training Program (UTP) or the Skills Development Program (SDP) shall no longer be required as a prerequisite to secure a PEZA Visa; (2) applicants downgrading a PEZA Visa due to a change in their employment status may submit their request for an exemption from the Order to Leave to PEZA's Foreign Nationals Unit; and (3) the mandatory letter to the Director General accompanying applications for a PEZA Visa renewal filed less than 30 days prior to, or filed too close to, the visa's expiry is no longer required.

Contents

In depth

Effective date of MC 2023-045

  • MC 2023-045 shall be effective starting from 7 September 2023.

On the UTP or SDP

  • Given that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is tasked with monitoring and regulating the UTP and the SDP, the UTP or SDP shall now be submitted to the DOLE's Regional Office that has jurisdiction over the place of business of the PEZA-registered business enterprise applying for a PEZA Visa.
  • Submission to PEZA of the affidavit of the UTP/SDP shall no longer be required as a prerequisite to secure a PEZA Visa.

On applications to downgrade a PEZA Visa

  • Applicants downgrading a PEZA Visa due to a change in their employment status, such as a change to the Foreign National's position, title or job description while working in the same company/employer (Rule XI of the PEZA – Bureau of Immigration Memorandum of Agreement), may submit their request for an exemption from the Order to Leave to PEZA's Foreign Nationals Unit.
  • The original and duly completed Contract of Employment of the Foreign National and a Notarized Undertaking to immediately apply for a PEZA Visa must be attached to the application to downgrade.

On applications for a PEZA visa renewal filed less than 30 days prior to a visa's expiry

  • The mandatory letter to the Director General accompanying applications for a PEZA Visa renewal filed less than 30 days prior to, or filed too close to, the visa's expiry, under the existing procedures, is no longer required.

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