Philippines: New Alien Employment Permit (AEP) guidelines
Any domestic or foreign employer who wishes to engage an alien for employment in the Philippines will be required to register online prior to filing an AEP application. All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- Company profile
- Copy of Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Registration with Articles of Incorporation and By Laws
- Certified True Copy (CTC) of Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit
- Copy of valid PAGCORP license or accreditation and PAGCORP Authorization to operate (if applicable)
- Philippines Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registration (if applicable)
- Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) license (if applicable)
A corporate account will be created on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) database and a maximum of two agent-representatives will be allowed to file applications on behalf of the company. All required documents must be submitted via email to dolencraep.applications@gmail.com.
Order of payment will be issued upon submission of the complete documentation. Once payment is made, the application will be processed accordingly.
AEP renewals may be filed within 45 days of the community quarantine lifting without penalty. Old AEP Cards must be sent to the DOLE-NCR via courier for cancellation. Until receipt, the new AEP Card will not be issued. Requests for cancellation must also be made via email to tssdepww_cancellation@gmail.com.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Department of Labor and Employment.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Jane Beynon, Regional Immigration Manager (APAC).
Latest Coronavirus news:
AMER
Colombia:
- Border closures until July 1, 2020.
- International flights remain suspended until August 31, 2020.
- Preventive isolation measures extended until July 1, 2020.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- Visa processing remains suspended at Colombian Consulates.
- The Ministry will only process visa applications for foreigners in Colombia. Note: Visa stamps are not possible.
- Visitor Visa holders can apply for status extension under the same visa category.
- Colombia Migration:
- In-person services and processing remain suspended until August 31, 2020.
- Issuance of foreigner’s ID, foreigner’s registration, temporary permit to change permission, visitors permit extension, certificates of migratory flows and safe-conducts remain suspended.
- Validity period suspended for entry permits.
- Validity period of some safe conduct will be granted to foreign nationals except those issued for the purpose of requesting a new visa. This is temporarily suspended.
- Stamping approved visas suspension remains in place until further notice.
- Period of validity suspended for individuals with visitor visas for the provision of services or intracompany transfers, and migrant visas outside the country.
No source available at the time of writing, please contact Roberta Carnaccini, Global Operations Director, Immigration, for more info.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini, Global Operations Director, Immigration.
APAC
India: The government extends lockdown until June 30, 2020, with existing international travel restrictions and new guidelines for re-opening. More info at: Ministry of Home Affairs
Philippines:
- Bureau of Immigration (BI) lifts suspension of BI transactions and begins to accept the filing of BI transactions subject to the following:
- All clients must secure their online appointment at https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph/.
- Only appointments with codes will be served.
- All clients must:
- Visit at the specified date and time of their appointment.
- Present a Government-issued or valid ID card.
- Wear a facemask and comply with social distancing on the premises.
- The temporary suspension of visa-free privileges and visa issuance in all its Foreign Service Posts is still in effect.
- Travel restrictions during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) are still in place.
No source available at the time of writing, please contact Debra Jane Beynon, Regional Immigration Manager, for more info.
Thailand:
- Foreign nationals holding valid Thai Work Permits with an urgent need to travel will be allowed to enter with a “Certificate of Entry into the Kingdom of Thailand” from the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate in their home countries.
- Further clarifications are outlined below:
- Only the work permit holder can apply for permission to enter Thailand.
- All commercial flights into Thailand are banned until June 30, 2020. Repatriation flights for Thai nationals are the exception.
- Once flight bans are lifted, and if work permit holders are required to return to Thailand, they will have to apply for the “Certificate of Entry into the Kingdom of Thailand” 10 working days prior to departure.
- Upon arrival at the airport, the work permit holder must present the following documents at the check-in counter:
- Certificate of Entry into the Kingdom of Thailand issued by the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate.
- Completed and signed Declaration Form from the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate.
- Fit to Fly Health Certificate issued no more than 72 hours prior to departure.
- Medical insurance showing minimum coverage in Thailand for Covid-19 (no less than US$ 100,000).
- Copy or original valid work permit.
- Upon entry, work permit holders will be subject to a 14-day state quarantine at a government-designated Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facility at their own expense (Normal State Quarantine is only applicable for Thai Nationals).
- If work permit holders are not in Thailand and their permit/visa expires in June, the process must be completed again and a Non-Immigrant B visa obtained at a Thai Embassy/Consulate in their home country.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from The Thaiger.
Singapore:
- Card registration and collection:
- The Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC) at Riverwalk and Hall C of MOM Services Centre at Bendemeer re-open. Appointments will be required and no walk-ins allowed.
- Pass holders who are unable to proceed with card registration due to pending medical examinations can remain in Singapore with Notification Letters and commence work. Work pass holders in industries approved by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) may use Notification Letters as proof of validity for their passes.
- For employees with expiring Notification Letters who cannot report to EPSC/MSC due to medical examinations, MOM will extend the expiry date for one month.
- Card delivery services resume:
- MOM will regulate delivery services to ensure the safety of delivery riders. Therefore, it may take up to three weeks for cards to be delivered. Authorized recipients will be notified of the delivery two working days prior to the delivery date.
- Work and dependents’ passes extended until June 5, 2020, will be further extended until July 1, 2020. However, the following passes cannot be renewed upon expiry: Personalized Employment Pass, Training Employment Pass, Training Work Permit and Work Holiday Pass.
- If a company cancels a pass and a longer stay is required, the company may request an extension of stay.
- All pass holders will be given up to three months to complete their medical examinations upon pass issuance. Employees can still proceed with pass issuance without medical results. MOM will notify employers of when to send pass holders for medical examinations once hospitals/clinics re-commence services.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Ministry of Manpower.
- Residents in Singapore and China who need to make essential business/official trips between the two countries:
- Singapore and China have agreed on fast-lane arrangements to facilitate essential business and official travel between both countries. Approved applicants traveling from either country will be exempt from the 14-day quarantine requirements upon arrival.
- Business/Official travelers sponsored by government agencies who need to travel between China and Singapore can submit applications from June 8, 2020, onwards. Travelers sponsored by a company will be allowed to submit applications in the following weeks.
- Residents in Singapore traveling to China must be sponsored by a company or government agency in China. An application must be lodged with the local provincial or municipal authorities and an invitation letter obtained. Using the invitation letter, a visa application must be submitted to the Chinese Embassy.
- Residents in China traveling to Singapore must be sponsored by a company or a government agency in Singapore, and an application for a SafeTravel Pass must be lodged on behalf of the traveler. Upon obtaining the SafeTravel Pass, applicants who do not have visa-free arrangements may proceed with applying for an entry visa. They must also complete the online health declaration form prior to entering Singapore.
- For the initial phase, the arrangement will cover travel between Singapore and six Chinese provinces or municipalities (Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang). More cities will be added on in the coming weeks.
- Pre-departure medical requirements:
- Approved applicants traveling from either country must take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test 48 hours prior to departure (at their own cost) and obtain a certificate of negative result for Covid-19. Medical certificates and valid visas must be shown to airlines during boarding and immigration officers upon landing.
- Post-arrival medical requirements:
- Approved applicants traveling from either country must undergo a PCR test upon arrival (at their own cost) and remain in isolation at designated facilities identified by the local provincial or municipal government (in China), or self-sourced accommodation excluding residential properties (in Singapore), until the test result is known. If tested positive, travelers will undergo treatment at their own cost.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Jane Beynon, Regional Immigration Manager (APAC).
EMEA
Austria:
- Border controls with Italy present until June 16, 2020.
- Individuals with a (regular) residence in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland may enter Austria via air, land and waterways from June 4. They will not be required to undergo self-quarantine or carry a medical certificate. Random checks are possible and persons may need to prove that they have only been in the country they have arrived from in the last 14 days. They may also be required to take part in medical controls for Covid-19 (upon the request of the Health Authority).
- Medical certificate and quarantine measures are still in place, except for the residents of the above-mentioned countries, and Austrians traveling from these countries.
- Austrian citizens and those with regular residence in Austria must undergo self-isolation for 14 days if they are traveling from Italy.
No source available at the time of writing, please contact Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager, for more info.
Switzerland:
- Switzerland to open border with Austria on June 15, 2020.
- Swiss and Liechtenstein nationals, and individuals with a Swiss residence permit, traveling to Austria after June 4 may return to Switzerland.
- Shopping tourism between the two countries and entry to Switzerland for tourist reasons will be permitted from June 15, 2020. Transit to and from Austria through Switzerland is only possible if the person leaves Switzerland again.
- Switzerland strives to open travel traffic throughout the Schengen area as soon as possible.
No source available at the time of writing, please contact Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager, for more info.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager (EMEA).
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