Immigration in Philippines

The dedicated immigration team at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALaw) services a broad client base, including foreign embassies, domestic conglomerates, multinational companies and expats. In a notable appointment, practice head Maria Khristina Garcia-Angel was elected as the secretary of the Immigration Lawyers’ Association of the Philippines (ILAP). In addition to her expansive labour law practice, Garcia-Angel advises on administrative and judicial naturalisation, the recognition and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship, and visa and work permit applications. She and the team also assist clients who have been issued with blacklist orders, hold departure orders and alert list orders. Key associates in the team include Napoleon Gonzales, who joined the firm in 2018, and Kiarra Nastazsa Adrienne Cabile. Regina Geraldez retired from the firm in 2018.

Sitting within the broader employment and immigration department, the immigration practice at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan advises on visas and permits, citizenship issues and adversarial proceedings involving deportation and blacklisting. The team also benefits from the firm's renowned corporate and tax practices, allowing it to provide comprehensive legal services to its multinational companies active in - or seeking to enter - the Philippine market. Recent work has included advising health and wellness products company Fordays on visa and permit issues and processes for its foreign staff. Dante Pamintuan heads the practice, which also includes Rodelle Bolante, who specialises in immigration, labour and business outsourcing.

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia provides a comprehensive immigration service, covering immigrant, employee and retiree visas, work permits (including AEP), Philippine citizenship processes, naturalisation proceedings and deportation and exclusion proceedings. Recent instructions have come from longstanding clients, and the practice has also picked up several new clients, including companies in the media and manufacturing sectors. Senior partner Rosa Michele Bagtas heads the department; she draws on 20 years' experience advising on immigration law, and has additional knowledge of corporate and M&A, capital markets and real estate.

Fernando Lagman & Avenida Law Office enters the ranking due to its focus on immigration law and services. It also stands out for the speed with which it is able to assist its clients with immigration issues and processes. It has continued to expand its client base, which encompasses SMEs as well as major multinationals. In recent work, Robenson Avenida and Kristine Avenida assisted pharma company Roche Philippines with the immigration exit procedures for a high-level executive, completing the process in seven business days. In internal developments, Carlo Artemus Diaz was promoted to junior partner.

Fortun Narvasa & Salazar has a number of longstanding firm clients, which turn to the team for assistance with a range of immigration issues, including applications for pre-arranged employment visas, other resident visas and AEPs. In recent work, the team obtained renewals of employment visas and AEPs, alien certificates of registration and exit clearances for four foreign employees of Canon Business Services Center Philippines. Managing partner Mylene Marcia-Creencia is well versed in several areas of law, including immigration and family, and Robert Francis Fernandez is a name to note at the associate level.

Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano's immigration practice expanded in 2018 and 2019 with the hire of new junior associate Nicole Gabrielle Kalingking and the return of associate Enrico Angeles after the completion of his masters. The team advises clients on immigration laws, policies and legal processes, with particular expertise in immigrant and non-immigrant visas and permits, citizenship recognition and reacquisition, blacklisting proceedings and deportation proceedings, among other areas. Shirley Alinea is the team head; her broad practice spans dispute resolution, IP and immigration.

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s immigration department has the size and resources to handle a high volume of immigration applications, where it advises on all stages, from extensions of tourist visas to issuances of visas in favour of dependents. It acts as counsel to a number of household name companies. Examples include PayPal, which the team assists with a range of labour and immigration issues, including work permits, visas and coordination between the local subsidiary, the foreign company and the individual employees. Other significant clients include Tata Consultancy Services, Twitter and Netflix. Mark Benjamin Yam is a key contact at the associate level.