GOVPH

OEC or exit clearance/pass is a document certifying the regularity of a worker’s recruitment and documentation and ensures exemption from travel tax and airport terminal fee. It is presented at the POEA Labor Assistance Center (LAC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) counter at the airports prior to departure. The OEC serves as the worker’s guarantee that he/she is covered by government protection and benefits.

The requirements for the issuance of OEC are as follows:

1. Copy of passport (page showing photo and personal data);
2. Copy of valid work visa, work permit or equivalent document (e.g., Form I-797);
3. Accomplished Balik-Manggagawa Information Sheet; and
4. US$ equivalent of P100 (between US$2 and US$3, depending on current Php-US$ exchange rate).

OEC issued by POLO is for one-time use only and valid for 60 days. This means that the vacationing OFW should leave the Philippines within 60 days upon the issuance of OEC.

OEC may be secured personally at the POLO, Philippine Embassy, 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036 or via mail.

If via mail, the OFW should include a self-addressed/stamped return envelope. For security purposes, the payment should be in money order payable to “Labor Office”.

For inquiries, please contact 1-202-467-9425/26 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The POEA requires the verification of the employment contract of the OFW before he/she is granted an OEC. Contract verification ensures that there is actual existence of job and employer for the OFW and that the provisions in the contract meet the minimum requirements of the POEA and that of the host government.

The following are the requirements for contract verification:

1. Approved work permit or visa;
2. Employer’s Information Card. (If the employer in the work permit is an individual, use the Individual Information Card Form. If the work permit is approved under a business, use the Business Information Card Form);
3. Copy of the business license. (If the work permit is approved under business.);
4. Copy of identification of the employer or company representative signing the employment contract (e.g., passport, driver’s license, etc.); and
5. Payment of US$35 in US Bank Draft or Money Order payable to the “Embassy of the Philippines” (or "Philippine Consulate General", if application is made at one of the Philippine Consulates General in the U.S.) for verification and authentication fee.

If the transaction will be done by mail, another US Bank Draft or Money Order should be secured payable to “Fedex”. The amount shall depend on the Fedex quote to be obtained by the employer/company for shipping the verified and authenticated documents from the Philippine Embassy, 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036 to the point of destination of the documents (either back to the employer or company or directly to the address of the worker in the Philippines).

The turn around time for contract verification and authentication is three working days.

Employers/company representatives are advised to contact POLO at 1-202-467-9425/26 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before sending the documents for verification and authentication.

POLO’s mailing address is Embassy of the Philippines, 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20036 U.S.A.

Membership in Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is mandatory for all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). All OWWA members are covered by life insurance and other social benefits implemented by OWWA.

The On-Site Membership Program is an enrolment or registration scheme for OFWs who are in the work destinations. It shall cover the following:

1. OFWs whose OWWA membership had expired; and
2. OFWs who enroll as first-time members, provided they are gainfully employed overseas at the time of registration.

The following are the requirements for OWWA enrolment/registration:

1. Copy of passport (page showing photo and personal data)
2. Proof of employment such as work contract/permit, employment offer, pay slip, certificate of employment from the company/employer, company identification card, and/or other relevant evidence of employment;
3. Accomplished Balik-Manggagawa Information Sheet; and
4. US$25 membership fee.

OWWA enrolment/registration may be done personally at the POLO, Philippine Embassy, 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036 or via mail.

If via mail, the OFW should include a self-addressed/stamped return envelope. For security purposes, the payment should be in money order payable to “OWWA”.

For inquiries, please contact 1-202-467-9413 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF LANDBASED WORKERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

(EMPLOYER-TO-AGENCY RECRUITMENT)

Foreign employers may recruit workers from the Philippines for employment in the United States, Bermuda, the South America or the Caribbean Islands through a licensed Philippine recruitment agency.  Employers must, however, first be registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration prior to any recruitment activity.  For registration purposes, foreign employers must submit certain recruitment documents for verification by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Washington, D.C.  These verified documents are then sent back to the foreign employer for submission to the Philippine recruitment agency for registration purposes.

Below are the documents that foreign employers must submit to POLO for verification.

Payment

• Payment of POLO Verification Fee in the form of Cash, if submitted directly to our office in Washington DC, otherwise, money order or US Bank draft payable to the “The Labor Office, or Office of the Labor Attache or Embassy of the Philippines” (Sum of all the above fees in a single check)

PERSONAL OR COMPANYH CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED

Mailing of Documents

Verified documents are sent back to the foreign agency, and it is that agency’s responsibility to mail these to the Philippine recruitment agency for their application for registration with the POEA.  For mailing of documents, please choose from the following:

• For mailing of documents within the U.S.: Please submit a pre-stamped, self-addressed U.S. Postal Service Express Mail envelope with sufficient postage. 

• For mailing out of documents in other  territories, or countries: contact Fedex for rates and send a separate US Bank draft payable to FEDEX.   We do not ship OUT documents using PREPAID, Individual or company account numbers.

* For principals outside the U.S., check must have a corresponding local bank in the U.S.

** Money orders from the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries cannot be accepted.

POLO-WDC assumes no responsibility for any loss / delay through the mail.