(Updated on October 31, 2023)
What is OEC?
The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is an exit clearance document that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including domestic helpers, need to exit the Philippines to work abroad. Besides serving as a record of exiting OFWs and verifying them as legal overseas workers, it allows them to be exempted from paying the terminal fee and travel tax at the airport. This lowers the costs for them to get employed. The document also allows OFWs to have a higher chance to get loans in their home country.
Validity
The OEC is valid for 60 days after issuance, or for 1 day if it is issued from the Labor Assistance Counter (LAC) at the NAIA, Cebu-Mactan, or Davao International Airport.
Any OEC is valid only for a single exit from the Philippines.
How to Apply?
Step 1: Register/log-in to the system
To apply for OEC, domestic helpers have to have an account on the Balik-ManggagawaOnline Processing System online. They will then need to log into this portal for each new OEC permit. The workers will have to pay for a processing fee and receive their OEC during the appointment.
Step 2: Schedule an appointment online
Select Online Appointment on the platform. Choose an office location and the date and time. Applicants can have the appointment before departure at the Philippines Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in Hong Kong, or after at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) office in the Philippines.
Step 3: Go to the appointment and get OEC
Bring along these documents to your appointment:
- Appointment Sheet (2 copies)
- Notarized Employment Contract (1 copy)
- Work Visa (original plus 2 copies)
- Philippine passport (original plus 2 copies)
- OWWA membership fee receipt
Cost
The fee for OEC processing in Hong Kong is HK$20. If selecting to process the OEC in the Philippines at a POEA office, the processing costs 100 PHP.
If registered before
Applicants are required to fill in their most recent OEC numbers if they have registered before. The ‘Record found’ message will be shown after the number is entered, then applicants should follow these steps:
- Update Information
- Select Acquire OEC or Exemption.
- Input the date of departure from the Philippines to Hong Kong.
- If returning to the same employer and job site, the applicant will receive a confirmation notice stating an OEC is not needed.
- Print the exemption message and bring this when departing.
Apply at the airport
Domestic helpers who are on an emergency leave of five days or less with confirmed flight booking can get an OEC on their departure date at the NAIA, Cebu-Mactan, or Davao International Airport. The fee is 100 PHP. A valid work visa, OWWA membership fee receipt and copy of their employment contract will be needed for processing the OEC.
Exemption
Appointments at POLO or POEA are not required if a domestic helper has
- registered to the online platform before,
- her previous OEC number, and
- is returning to the same employer and job place.
They will just have to print out the confirmation notice after submitting the application online. They do not have to pay for the processing fee.
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