Retirement Visa Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV)

I got a work permit with my company in Manila about 13 yrs ago. I didn’t have a contract with my US company but significant paperwork was required including college transcripts.

 

I’m a dive pro.

 

I ask because the mere act of working does not in itself require you to get an Alien Employment Permit (AEP). The important concepts here are employment, foreign market and rare skills.

Do not use the word "work" in any discussion about this. It only confuses things. Use the words "employment" or "contracting".

If you will be working for a local Philippine based employer, then you will need an AEP. The best written reference for this is the PRA application here:
https://pra.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Application-Form-Principal-English.pdf

Read the fine print at *. If there is no employee-employer relationship, ... there is no need for an AEP.

If you will be working for yourself catering directly to foreign tourists then things get a little foggy. You can work as a sole proprietor or officer/manager of a corporation without getting an AEP. You would need to get a Certificate of Exclusion from the Regional Office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1002918

Technically you will be able to operate your own business without a Philippine citizen partner if you would derive more than 60% of your revenue from foreign tourists. This would meet the foreign market test. The concept here is that the government thinks the tourists may like you more than a Filipino. This would require you to get all the permits to operate a business. I recently saw a post from a very professional looking Filipina Dive Master. Your local competition is professional and cute!

There is another option. In the above link you will see:
However, foreign nationals who are excluded from securing an AEP are ...; President and Treasurer, who are part-owners of the company; and those providing consultancy services who do not have employers in the Philippines. "

You could be an independent contractor consultant who does not have an employee-employer relationship but instead a business to business contractual relationship. In this case you would still be required to get a Certificate of Exclusion from DOLE. These are usually reserved for people who provide unique services. Being as there are Filipina Dive Masters around this might be a bit of a stretch and the DOLE would not want to give you a Certificate of Exclusion.

You can read more about it here:
http://www.ble.dole.gov.ph/download...f Employment Permits To Foreign Nationals.pdf

Sorry, I do not know if you can get an Alien Employment Permit without holding an employment contract from a particular employer.

 

[QUOTE="

Do not use the word "work" in any discussion about this. It only confuses things. Use the words "employment" or "contracting".

If you will be WORKING for a local Philippine based employer, then you will need an AEP. [/QUOTE]

Good answer, but I thought that was funny.

 

To clear up one of your points, DOLE considers the rating of Divemaster to be within the reach of the local labor force and therefore will not grant an AEP to a foreign national who merely holds this certification.

 

Just a side note, 13-A visa holders are exempt from the employment permit requirement.
http://www.ble.dole.gov.ph/downloads/AEP/AEP_Q&A.pdf
https://visasphilippines.com/philippine-visas/immigrant-visas/non-quota-immigrant-13a/

 

I think the title of this thread is "Special Resident Retiree Visa (SRRV)". Employment permits are a separate topic (and should start a new thread) that concerns all types of expat visas, not just SRRV.