To earn a living and provide better lives for families, millions of Filipinos leave their homes and work abroad. They are usually called Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). If you plan to find a job in another country, it is necessary to get an OEC first. In this passage, we are going to introduce what OEC is, how to get OEC in the Philippines, its benefits, requirements, cost, and other concerning issues.
What is OEC
OEC, referred to Overseas Employment Certificate, is issued by the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration). It serves as not only an exit clearance pass but also an essential permit for OFWs to legally work abroad.
This certificate proves that the holder is under the protection of the Philippine government while being employed outside the Philippines. Additionally, with this document, one can enjoy exemption from certain taxes and fees, which helps to reduce the cost of traveling.
Validity of Overseas Employment Certificate
The OEC can only be used for a single exit. That is to say, once you leave the Philippines, it becomes invalid and a new one must be applied before each exit.
Most OECs are valid for 60 days while those issued by the Labor Assistance Counter (LAC) at the NAIA, Cebu-Mactan, or Davao International Airport are valid for only 1 day.
Cost of Overseas Employment Certificate
OEC fees for each applicant consist of the following parts.
- POEA Processing Fee: PHP 100
- OWWA Membership Fee: USD 25 (or its PHP equivalent)
- PhilHealth Membership Fee: PHP 2,400 per year for Premium (or differs for other membership categories)
- Pag-IBIG Contribution: at least PHP 100 per month
Benefits of OEC
With an OEC, one can enjoy the following benefits.
✅ Waiver of Travel Tax and Terminal Fee
Filipinos traveling abroad are usually charged with PH travel tax and airport terminal fees, which makes it more expensive to travel. The good news is that OEC holders don’t need to pay for them.
✅ Proof of Legal Employment
Illegal recruitment and trafficking are strictly banned around the world while OEC can guarantee your legal rights to work.
✅ Official Assistance and Protection
With an OEC, you are officially approved to get a job outside the Philippines. Therefore, whenever there are employment-related issues or concerns in a foreign country, don’t hesitate to seek help from the Philippine government.
✅ Public Social and Economic Benefits
OFWs with OEC as well as OFW ID and their families in the Philippines are eligible for some funds or support from government services and programs, such as Pag-IBIG, Social Security System, and PhilHealth, etc.
✅ Loan Applications
When applying for a loan from the bank, proof of employment and income is an important consideration. With an OEC, OFWs are more likely to be approved.
Is It Mandatory to Apply for OEC
Yes. OFWs can be hired directly or through a POEA-accredited recruitment agency. In both cases, an OEC is a must unless you are a Balik Manggagawa Worker or employee hired through the Government Placement Branch who satisfies the following requirements:
- They hold a valid work visa/work permit.
- They travel home to the Philippines and return to the same employer and job site in the country of employment.
- They have been issued an OEC and have records in the POEA database.)
Requirements for OEC Application
To obtain an OEC, you must register to be a member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. Then, please prepare the documents below.
- Printed appointment slip or Printed Balik-Manggagawa information sheet
- A passport with at least 6 months validity starting from the date of leaving the Philippines (both original and photocopy)
- Proof of employment, such as an employment contract.
- A valid visa or work permit to the destination country or other equivalent traveling documents
- Proof of membership in OWWA, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth, such as a receipt of payment for membership fee
- Copy of the past OEC (if any). It is required when applying from abroad and when you plan to return to the same employer.
How To Get OEC in the Philippines
Currently, applicants can obtain OEC on the portal of the POEA Online Processing System for Balik-Manggagawa (POPS-BAM) or directly at POEA offices and airports.
Apply for Overseas Employment Certificate in Person
- Log in to the Balik-Manggagawa (BAM) Online System with your registered email address. New users must create an account first.
- Click on “Balik Manggagawa”. Provide the required information, such as your flight details, employment contract details, etc.
- Book an appointment by choosing the nearest POEA office and an available date and time from the calendar.
- Review and print out the appointment slip.
- Attend the appointment as scheduled with all supporting documents.
Scheduling an appointment online prevents you from waiting in a long queue in a physical office, which helps to save time and energy. If you have no access to online service, walk-in service is also available at the following locations.
📍 POEA’s main office in Mandaluyong City
📍 POEA Regional Center and Extension Unit
📍 POEA Satellite Offices around the country
📍 Labor Assistance Counters at airports in Manila, Cebu, and Mindanao (only applicable for OFWs who stay in the country for no more than five days)
Apply for Overseas Employment Certificate Online
Supposing that you have a visa or permit and your employment contract has previously been registered in POEA’s database, applying online would be a faster and more convenient channel. Here is what you should do.
- Log in to Balik-Manggagawa (BAM) Online System.
- Click on “Balik Manggagawa” under “My Links” on the right side of the Dashboard page
- Provide your flight schedule and click “Next”.
- Answer the confirmation questions related to your contract details.
- View your Overseas Employment Certificate. Save it and print it out.
Apply for Overseas Employment Certificate Outside Philippines
If you are planning to return to the Philippines on leave during your overseas employment and come back for work after a short period, an OEC is also required. Are you worried about not having enough time to stay in the Philippines to receive a new OEC? The good news is that you can get it directly from Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in your country of employment. All you need to do is to make an appointment on the Balik-Manggagawa (BAM) Online System and attend it at the nearest POLO office to submit supporting documents.
There are POLO offices in the cities below.
- Hong Kong, China
- Macao, China
- Tokyo, Japan
- Osaka, Japan
- Singapore City, Singapore
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
- Taiwan, China
- Seoul, Korea
- Yarralumla, Australia
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Dubai, UAE
- Mahooz Area, Bahrain
- South Surra, State of Kuwait
- Baabda, Mount Lebanon
- Doha, State of Qatar
- Muscat, Oman
- Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Amman, Jordan
- Washington D. C., USA
- Los Angeles, USA
- Toronto, Canada
- Vancouver, Canada
- Roma, Italy
- Milan, Italy
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Madrid, Spain
- Athens, Greece
- London, UK
- Berlin, Germany
How to Create a POPS-BAM account
- Create a POPS-BAM account by going to Balik-Manggagawa (BAM) Online System and clicking on the “Let’s Go” > “Register” button.
- Read the Terms of Use And Privacy Statement and click on the “I Accept the Terms of Use” button to agree.
- Provide required personal information. Make sure the details must match what appears on your passport.
- Receive a confirmation email. Click the link attached and log in with the temporary password and email address. Set your own password in the pop-up window.
- Upload a passport-size profile picture and photocopy of the first page of your passport after logging in. Please note that the image should be in JPG or JPEG format and no less than 2MB.
📖 Read Also: How to Get a Philippine Passport-size Picture Online?
How to Apply for an OEC Exemption
OEC exemptions are given to OFWs who don’t need to obtain an OEC. It can be applied to the (BAM) System. New users should complete the registration process as we stated before. Existing users should do as follows.
- Log in to Balik-Manggagawa (BAM) Online System. Update your profile if necessary.
- Go to the “Balik-Manggagawa” Section in the upper right corner of the Dashboard page.
- Enter your flight information and click the “Next” button. The system will automatically show your existing record, including your employer, job title, and so forth.
- Check whether your visa or work permit remains valid.
- Answer YES to the question “Whether You’re a Returning Balik-Manggagawa With the Same Employer, Job Site, and Position or Not”.
- Print your OEC exemption which is also automatically forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration.
Old BM Online VS POPS-BaM
POPS-BaM, launched by POEA in 2021, is an online system for OEC application, appointment and exemption. It not only incorporates the general functions of the old Balik Manggagawa (BM) system but also settles many bugs or errors. Therefore, it will run more smoothly. An e-registration account for new POPS-BaM is necessary whether you have an old BM account or not, but OFWs or returning OFWs can transfer their old BM records to the new system to generate an OEC or OEC exemption. The old BM System record will be automatically transferred to POPS-BaM 2-6 hours after creating an e-registration account. If you have waited for more than 6 hours and it hasn’t been shifted, please transfer it manually by following the steps below.
- Visit the new POEA portal.
- Click on the “Transfer Old BM Records” in the DMW Helpdesk Section.
- Enter information from the old system and click on “Find Records”.
- Check if your records are correct. If yes, click on “Transfer Records”.
FAQ
💡 Can I go to POEA without an appointment?
Yes. Walk-in service is available, but applicants with an appointment will be given priority. You will have to wait hours for your turn. Therefore, we suggest you try to book an appointment to reduce your waiting time.
💡 What happens if I don’t get an OEC?
If you are an OFW, the Immigration officer will stop you from exiting the Philippines. If you are not, you can leave without an OEC.
💡 Can I go home without OEC?
Yes. An Overseas Employment Certificate is used to depart from the Philippines, so you don’t it to go back to the Philippines.
💡 Can I renew my OEC at the airport?
Yes. OFWs can revalidate or renew an expired OEC in Philippine international airports. You must present the original copy of the expired OEC, photocopy of the employment contract, valid visa or work permit and passport.
💡 I am returning to the same employer and job position with a previous OEC, why can’t I apply for an OEC exemption?
Please check if your old BM credentials have been transferred to the new system. If not, follow the instructions in the last section to transfer it manually. If yes, it means you are not eligible for the exemption. due to no record found, discrepancy in any record, restricted or non-compliant country, etc. In this case, you should also make an appointment with POEA and apply for a new OEC.
💡 How long does it take to get an OEC?
About 15 days. If you are hired through a recruitment agency, it might take less time.
Summary
The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is an essential document for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to leave the Philippines to work legally and enjoy government protection abroad. After reading this passage, you must be clear about how to get OEC in the Philippines and abroad. It can be obtained online, at the POEA office, some airports, and POLO offices. Supposing that you are eligible to be exempted from getting an OEC, it is also required to apply for the exemption online. Whether you have an old BM account or not, creating a new POPS-BaM account is necessary because it is the beginning of all OEC-related applications.
Dolores Xiao