Philippines Treaty Trader Visa: Requirements, Fees and Renewal

The 9(d) Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor Visa allows foreign nationals to engage in trade or manage investment-related business activities in the Philippines, such as:

Manufacturing and production industries.
Information technology and business process services.
Tourism and hospitality businesses.
Retail and service enterprises.
Import and export operations.

Eligible Nationalities for the Philippines Treaty Trader/Investor Visa

Only citizens of specific treaty partner countries may apply for the 9(d) visa, including:

USA
Japan
Germany

Important Note: Applicants must share the nationality of the company’s majority shareholder to ensure the business represents the treaty country’s interests. Those who do not qualify for the 9(d) visa may apply for a 9(a) business visa instead.

Philippines Treaty Traders/Investor Visa Application Documents

Documents for the Principal Applicant

A request letter that must be submitted to the Commissioner of Immigration.
Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) for Non-Immigrant Visa.
The passport must remain valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay.
Copy of the passport biopage and the latest admission record showing authorised stay in the Philippines.
Mayor’s permit.
Petitioner’s latest Income Tax Return (ITR) with proof of payment.
Employment contract or Secretary's Certificate of Appointment.
Board Resolution (if required).
BI Clearance Certificate.
Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance (if applicable).

Documents for Each Dependent

Directly Above Photograph Of An Application For A Visa

Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF) for Non-Immigrant Visa.
A photocopy of the passport biopage together with the latest admission record confirming authorised stay in the Philippines.
Proof of relationship with the principal applicant.
BI Clearance Certificate.
Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance (if applicable).
Applicants with dependent children must complete the supplemental Bureau of Immigration form.

Business Registration Documents

Corporations or Partnerships

SEC Certificate of Registration.
Company Articles of Incorporation.
Latest General Information Sheet (GIS) with SEC receiving stamp.

Single Proprietorships

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Certificate of Business Name Registration.

Conversion to 9(d) Visa (From Existing Status)

If you are converting to a 9(d) visa, you must provide the same core documents as mentioned above, plus proof that your current stay is still valid and authorised.

Philippines Treaty Traders/Investor Visa Application Procedure

Step 1: Prepare all required documents and application forms.

Step 2: Submit the application to the Bureau of Immigration.

Step 3: Pay the applicable visa processing fees.

Step 4: Attend any scheduled hearing or interview if required.

Step 5: Complete biometric registration for the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR I-Card).

Step 6: Await approval from the Bureau of Immigration.

Step 7: Upon approval, receive the visa and ACR I-Card.

Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR I-Card)

Applicants granted the Philippines Treaty Trader/Investor Visa are required to obtain an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR I-Card) from the Bureau of Immigration after completing biometric registration. The card serves as the official identification document for foreign nationals residing in the Philippines.

Annual Immigration Reporting Requirement

Holders of long-term visas in the Philippines, including the 9(d) visa, must comply with the Bureau of Immigration’s Annual Report requirement by reporting in person within the first 60 days of each calendar year.

What happens if the annual immigration report is filed late?

The annual report must normally be completed within the first 60 days of the year (January to early March). Late reporting may result in administrative fines and additional fees imposed by the Bureau of Immigration.

Philippines Treaty Traders/Investor Visa Validity and Renewal

The Philippines Treaty Traders/Investor Visa (9d) is generally issued for 1 year and may be renewed, subject to approval by the Bureau of Immigration.

The visas issued to a spouse and unmarried children under 21 usually have the same validity period as the principal applicant and expire on the same date.

Philippines Treaty Trader/Investor Visa Fees

The Bureau of Immigration determines the fees for the Philippines Treaty Trader/Investor visa. Payment is made when the application is submitted to the Bureau of Immigration.