Overseas Employment Certificate - OEC

Are you planning to become an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)? Do you think about getting an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to start fresh in a new country?

The local people of the Philippines dream of traveling abroad for job and employment opportunities. Here, a question arises: how can they easily travel and settle in a new and unknown Country? Worry not because we have got you covered! Here we provide all the information, If you want to know more about Overseas Employment Certificate and its importance nowadays.

Let's get started!

What is an Overseas Employment Certificate?

An Overseas Employment Certificate is an exit permit required by Overseas Filipino Workers to leave the Philippines to work abroad. The Overseas Employment Certificate serves as a record for them to get recognized as legal overseas workers.

Moreover, the Overseas Employment Certificate also exempts the Overseas Filipino Workers from paying the airport's travel tax and terminal fee. This certificate increases the chances of OFWs getting a loan in their home country.

The OEC is a document required by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) from all Filipino workers, whether as a new hire or Balik Manggagawa (an OFW returning to the same employer).

The Overseas Employment Certificate is only valid for 60 days after issuance and only for a single exit from the Philippines.

How to apply for an Overseas Employment Certificate?

You can apply for OEC at the airport. If you are on emergency leave for five days or less, you can get in touch with the Labour Assistance Counter (LAC) of NAIA, Cebu-Mactan, or Davao International Airport.

Suppose you are staying in the Philippines as an Overseas Filipino Worker. In that case, you can book an appointment at the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) regional offices to get an Overseas Employment Certificate.

What are the requirements?

Now you might be thinking: what documents are needed to get an Overseas Employment Certificate? The documents required for Balik Manggagawa (returning to the same employer abroad) are as follows:

• Valid work visa or equivalent document
• Passport valid for at least six months before departure
• Proof of existing employment
• Medical fitness certificate

Furthermore, the documents required by direct-hire or name-hire applicants are:

• Valid work visa or equivalent document
• Passport valid for at least six months before departure
• Valid employment contract
• OWWA membership fee receipt
• Medical fitness certificate

Note: To be on the safe side, take at least three photocopies along with the original documents.

If you have all the documents mentioned above, you can apply for an Overseas Employment Certificate.

How to get an Overseas Employment Certificate Exemption?

You can be exempted from the Overseas Employment Certificate requirements if you return to the same employer or have a record of the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The steps to get an exception are:

• Log into your BM online account
• Click on "Acquire OEC or Exemption"
• Get your BM exemption number through message
• Follow the pre-departure instructions

Follow these steps to get an exemption from the Overseas Employment Certificate requirements at the airport. Just take the documents mentioned above in your pre-departure instructions, and you are ready to leave the Philippines for good!

What is the cost of getting an Overseas Employment Certificate?

You can pay for the Overseas Employment Certificate online or at the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Branch.

Online payment can be made through BM online by logging in to your Balik Manggagawa account. You can pay at the POEA regional office branch through online banking or over-the-counter banking.

Now, what is the processing fee for an Overseas Employment Certificate? The cost for an Overseas Employment Certificate is almost 100PHP.

What will happen if your Overseas Employment Certificate gets lost?

This is not a problem at all!

You can take a printout of your Overseas Employment Certificate through the Balik Manggagawa online system based on the existing Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) records.

However, you will have to submit an affidavit of losing the certificate.

Conclusion

Now that you have all the information about an Overseas Employment Certificate, what are you waiting for? Apply for it now if you want to become an Overseas Filipino Worker.

Wishing you the best of luck in your future endeavors and aspirations!