GOVPH

This is a general guide for investors on the requirements for doing business in the Philippines. For a particular requirement, the checklist specifies and links the website of the agency concerned. For quick assistance, contact the Board of Investments’ One Stop Action Center (BOI-OSAC) at tel (63-2) 897 5582 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

General Registration Requirements

Investors setting up business in the country have to comply with the following general requirements:

• Registration of corporations and partnerships – Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

• Registration of business name/single proprietorship – Department of Trade and Industry

• Registration for availing of incentives under Executive Order 226 or the Omnibus Investment Code. – Board of Investment (BOI)

• Registration with other Investment Promotion Agencies for availing of incentivesRegistration of foreign investments for purposes of capital repatriation and profit remittances – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)

  • Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
  • Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
  • Clark Development Corporation (CDC)
  • Cagayan Economic Zone Authority
  • Phividec Industrial Authority
  • Zamboanga Economic Zone Authority

• Securing Tax Identification Number (TIN) – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)Securing locational clearance/business permit for firms locating in Metro Manila – Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) /City Hall/Municipal Offices in the localities where the business will be set up

• Securing an employer’s SSS number – Social Security System (SSS)

• Securing membership in the government health care benefits system – Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

• Securing electric services connection – Manila Electric Co. (MERALCO) for business in MERALCO franchise area; local electric utility firms for companies locating in non-MERALCO franchise area

• Securing Water services – Maynilad Water Company and/or Manila Water Company for firms locating in Metro Manila and Local Water

• Utilities Administration (LWUA) for firms locating outside Metro Manila

• Securing Telephone services connection – Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), Bayantel,Digitel,Smart and Globelines

Operational Requirements

Certain requirements have to be complied with by the enterprise while in operation, expansion and/or diversification. While in operation the following need to be accomplished:

• Reportorial requirements (i.e. Audited Financial Statement, General Information Sheet); amendment of articles of incorporation/partnership – Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

• Reportorial requirements (i.e. Audited Financial Statement, ITR, etc); registration of business/expansion for incentivesRegular tax payments – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

  • Board of Investments (BOI)
  • Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
  • Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
  • Clark Development Corporation (CDC)
  • Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA)
  • Phividec Industrial Authority(PIA)
  • Zamboanga Economic Zone Authority (ZEZA)

• Registration of Customs Bonded Warehouse (on Expansion/Diversification) – Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Collectors of Port

• Opening of Letter of Credit (L/C) – Authorized Agent Banks (ABBs)

• Export Declaration (Authority to Load/Certificate of Origin) – Bureau of Customs – Export Coordination Division

• Information sheet for first-time exporters – Authorized Agent Banks (ABBs)

• Payment of wharfage fees/exemption from payment – Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)

Special Permits / Clearances for Selected Export Businesses

Export of products will need clearances and permit prior to every shipment:

• Clearance for export of animal and animal by-products – Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)Clearance for plant export – Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

  • For pets – Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)
  • For exotic animals, endangered animals – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB)

• Clearance for export of food, drugs, and chemicals - Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)

• Clearance/quota for coffee exports International Coffee Organization Certifying Agency (ICOCA)

• Clearance for quota allocation of garment and textile exports – Garments and Textile Export Board

• Clearance for export of fisheries and other aquatic products – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

• Special documentation certificate for preferential treatment of handicrafts export –Department of Trade & Industry (DTI)

• Export clearance for regulated coconut products (matured nuts and seedlings) – Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)

• Commodity clearance and license for fiber export – Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA)

Special Permits / Clearance / Registration

Special permits / clearances / registration are required for the following projects / activities:

• Various types of visas – Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV), Special Retiree’s Resident Visa(SRRV), 47(a)2, Treaty Trader’s Visa, Pre-Arranged Employment Visa and its derivatives- Alien Certification of Registration (ACR), Immigration Certificate of Residence (ICR), Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) and Special Return Certificate (SRC) – Bureau of Immigration (BI)

• Alien Employment Permit (AEP) – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

• Clearance for garment & textile exporters – Garments and Textile Export Board (GTEB)

• Registration for operation of Customs Bonded Manufacturing Warehouse – Bureau of Customs (BOC)

• Environmental Compliance Certification – Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR)

• Projects involving land use/conversion

• Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB),

• National Housing Authority (NHA),

• Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

• Permit to construct/operate pollution-control devices – Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR)

• Trademarks/ Patents registration – Intellectual Property Office

• Registration of power-generation projects – Department of Energy (DOE) / National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR)

• Philippine Standard (PS) Quality Mark to ensure that locally-manufactured consumer products conform to Philippine national standards and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Quality Mark to ensure that imported consumer products conform with Philippine national standards – Bureau of Product Standard (BPS)

• License-to-Operate for projects which involve food, chemicals, and others – Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD)

• Registration of tourism projects – Department of Tourism (DOT)

• Franchise for mass transit operation – Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB)

• Telecommunication projects – National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)

• License/clearance for defense-related projects – Department of National Defense (DND) /Philippine National Police (PNP)

• Registration of advanced technology – Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

• Clearance for health-related projects – Department of Health (DOH)

• Clearance for oil exploration activities – Department of Energy (DOE)

• Acquiring mining rights – Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB)

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)/a