PDOS Requirements for OFWs: How to Register and What to Expect

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PDOS stands for pre-departure orientation seminar, and is a crucial part of the journey for all OFWs, as well as other emigrants from the Philippines. The PDOS is mandatory for all OFWs moving to a new country, and will help you settle in and understand your new home, as well as offering advice and guidance to help stay safe abroad.

This guide covers the PDOS requirements and timeline, and looks at how you can register for your seminar prior to leaving. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

What is the pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS)?

PDOS is the pre-departure orientation seminar which is mandatory for all Overseas Filipino Workers, and is also offered for people moving overseas for other purposes, such as family reunification.

PDOS¹ seminars are designed to help Filipinos moving abroad to understand the country and culture they’re heading for, as well as upskilling on important areas like communication, legal rights and how to manage an emergency abroad. The PDOS is free to attend and country-specific. Some courses are also specifically aimed at individuals going to work in a specific field like healthcare or domestic work.

The PDOS is provided for OFWs by OWWA² in Pasay City and at the offices of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) - now part of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) - in Mandaluyong. There are also additional seminars arranged by private providers and organisations, which can have a specific focus such as emigrants moving overseas with family sponsorship.

If you’re becoming an OFW for the first time, you’ll usually be offered a place on a PDOS once your job contract is confirmed. Your agency can help you manage this, and get all the required details. There’s also a 24 hour OWWA Hotline which you can call on 1348³, which can help you navigate the process if you have any questions.

Returning OFWs who choose to move to a different country may also be required to complete the PDOS again to learn about their new destination.

Who needs to attend PDOS?

Generally you must attend PDOS if you’re a prospective OFW:

• First time OFWs must attend the PDOS prior to moving abroad
• OFWs moving to a new country may be required to attend a new PDOS covering their new destination

There are also some options for people moving abroad for other reasons to attend the PDOS. This may apply if you’re moving abroad to live with family for example. In this case, the PDOS may be slightly different and could be offered through an organisation like the Commission on Filipinos Overseas instead of OWWA. PDOS exemptions may apply for family sponsored emigrants who have already spent significant time in the destination country, or who are under 12, or over 60 years of age.

Why PDOS is required for OFWs

The PDOS is designed to support Filipinos moving abroad, and particularly those moving to work in a new country. It covers information to ensure you’re safe, understand potential scams, and know your legal employment rights, and also has topics to support transition into a new cultural environment.

PDOS courses are country specific and may also be sector specific. They can be run by people who have been OFWs themselves, and offer an opportunity to learn from others, with time to ask questions and get first hand advice.

The topics covered in PDOS may vary slightly depending on the destination of attendees, but can include:

• Employment rights and your contract
• How to avoid illegal recruitment tactics and scams
• Relevant country-specific information based on destination
• What to do in an emergency as well as health and safety considerations
• Financial literacy and how to manage your money as an OFW
• Required travel and airport procedures upon departing
• Government programs and services to offer ongoing support

Attending the PDOS is mandatory for OFWs and you will need to have completed this in order to get your OEC and leave the country.

PDOS requirements

If you’re attending a face to face PDOS you’ll be sent all of the confirmation and timing information by OWWA or the arranging body like the CFO directly. Generally you’ll be asked to arrive up to 1 hour before the course is due to run, and you’ll have to take along some paperwork for verification on arrival. This can include:

• Proof of your PDOS appointment
• Valid passport with at least 6 months left to run
• Visa for your destination country
• Any other country specific documents needed based on visa type
• One valid form of photographic ID

You’re also asked to get fully involved in the seminar including asking questions where necessary.

How to register for PDOS

Once you’ve been offered an OFW position overseas, you’ll usually be scheduled to attend a PDOS automatically, although you can also set up your attendance yourself if you prefer.

If you’ve applied for your new overseas employment through an agency, the direct hire portal (POPS-Direct) which the agency uses to manage your application and paperwork will provide a PDOS application form for you, which is sent automatically to OWWA. You’ll then receive an invitation which shows when your online PDOS will take place⁴.

As an alternative, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas also offers ways to register yourself for either an in person or online PDOS session⁵. This service is intended for family sponsored moves and may not be available for all overseas workers, so you’ll need to check the eligibility requirements as part of the application process.

If you have any questions about the process or the timing for your PDOS session you can ask your agency or reach out to OWWA directly.

How long does PDOS take?

The PDOS takes around 6 hours to complete. You’ll receive all the full details of timing and other practicalities when you’re offered a place on the appropriate PDOS based on your specific destination and work type.

After PDOS: How many days before flight?

You’ll be offered a place on the PDOS once you have secured a job overseas if you’re intending to move overseas for work. You must complete this course prior to departing the country. Don’t forget you’ll also have a few other final things to sort out, such as securing your OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) which is needed to travel. The OEC lasts for 60 days once issued, so you’ll have to book your flights accordingly.

New OFW? Receive your salary and send money home easily with Wise

One of the topics covered during PDOS is financial literacy, including how to manage your salary abroad, avoid scams, and send money home safely. Once you start work overseas, putting this guidance into practice becomes important.

The Wise account is an easy way to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, including PHP, USD, CNY, and more. All you need to do is create a free account to get started.

With Wise, you can exchange currencies at the mid-market rate each time, with low, transparent conversion fees from 0.57% and absolutely no markups. Plus, you can order a Wise card for convenient spending at the same great rate, without any foreign transaction fees. At times you need cash, you can also make up to 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP when you're overseas. You'll even get 8+ local account details to get paid conveniently to your Wise account in PHP and a selection of other major global currencies.

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