Renew work permit on time, DOLE-7 urges foreign nationals

DOLE-7 has started processing applications for Alien Employment Permit (AEP). /DOLE-7 photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) has called on foreign nationals to already renew their work permits before its expiration date.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Salome Siaton said in a press statement that their agency has received 463 new Alien Employment Permit (AEP) applications and around 136 applications for AEP renewal as of Friday, April 5.

Siaton urged working foreign nationals with expiring AEPs to apply and renew their permits on time. The AEP is a document issued by the DOLE as one of the requirements for a foreign national to work in the country.

She cited the guidelines of Department Order No. 186, Series of 2017 that requires the submission of an application for AEP renewal not earlier than 60 days before its expiration.

“In the event that the foreign national needs to leave the country or is into other similar circumstances that will hinder the filing of renewal with the 60-day prescribed period, the application may be filed earlier,” said Siaton’s statement.

In case of the appointment or election of a foreign national as an officer  takes place before the expiration of AEP, the application must be filed not later than 15 working days after appointment, or before its expiration, whichever comes later.

However, if the appointment or election takes place after expiration of AEP, the application for renewal must be filed before the expiration of the AEP, which can be renewed for one year.

“We are appealing to our clients to observe the prescribed period in filing their applications, while the DOLE is also doing its share to deliver said service, within the prescribed process cycle time,” Siaton said.

The applications for issuance of new AEP will be processed and issued within three working days after publication or within seven calendar days after publication and payment of required fees and fines, if there are any.

On the other hand, the renewal of work permits will be processed within a period of one day after payment of fees and fines, if there’s any.

Director Siaton also reminded applicants , the foreign nationals and their employers, that only applications with complete documents and those with fully paid fees plus fines, if there’s any, will be received for processing./dcb