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Many Filipinos look for job opportunities abroad across a wide range of industries and destination countries. If you’re thinking of becoming an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) it’s crucial that you understand the requirements for working abroad from the Philippines, which include government registration and mandatory pre-departure training.

This guide explains how to work abroad from the Philippines, including legal requirements and the step-by-step process most OFWs follow. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

Requirements for working abroad from the Philippines

To protect Filipinos working overseas, the government requires several mandatory steps before departure. The government supports OFWs with learning tools to help understand the risks and benefits of working overseas, and can also help you secure employment through a licensed agency.

It’s helpful to know that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is now part of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the main source of information and support when seeking overseas employment. We’ll cover the POEA requirements for working abroad in more detail in this guide. First, here’s an overview of the end to end process most OFWs follow:

Prior to looking for overseas work:

• Check the requirements for working overseas, and gather the documents needed for working abroad (more on that later)
• Register online with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)¹
• Attend a pre-employment orientation seminar (PEOS)² organised through the DMW
• Complete the PEOS exam to confirm your understanding

Finding and securing overseas work:

• Decide if you want to apply for jobs through a DMW licensed recruiter or DMW government placement branch
• Approach the chosen agency or DMW for screening, taking your documents
• Complete the medical exam
• Sign your contract and ensure you’re up to date with any required fees or payments
• Arrange the necessary visas or permits depending on where you will be working (your agency may do this for you)

Before departure:

• Complete the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS)
• Get either a OEC or OFW Pass, depending on preference and destination
• Book your travel and complete the clearance process at the airport

Basic requirements for working abroad from the Philippines

The exact requirements for working abroad from the Philippines depend to an extent on the type of work you intend to do and the country you’re heading off to. However, in all cases there are some important personal and professional qualifications, and essential documents you’ll need to show to prove your suitability for a job.

Common documents required for working abroad include³:

• Your passport, plus passport-size photographs
• Your birth certificate, and marriage/divorce certificates if relevant
• Your school or college diploma and Transcript of Records (TOR)
• Your resume and employment contracts from previous jobs
• Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
• Copies of any relevant professional certifications or licenses
• Medical certificate and clearance (details can vary depending on destination country)

POEA requirements for working abroad

POEA requirements for working abroad (now overseen by the Department of Migrant Workers) aim to ensure OFWs are able to find legitimate employment overseas, and have the tools and information needed to assess the benefits and risks of working abroad.

You’ll need to complete DMW registration⁴ before you start to look for a job abroad, and will be invited to attend a pre-employment orientation seminar (PEOS) which covers important information about finding a job, the costs likely to be involved, and the country you’ll be moving to.

Once you’ve completed this and passed the end of course exam, you can start to look at finding a position, usually through a DMW licensed recruitment agency. Once you have found a position which is suitable, you’ll be given a verified employment contract and can apply for an overseas employment certificate (OEC). Prior to departing for your new job you'll also attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) to help get ready for your move.

Medical requirements for working abroad

As part of the OFW process, you must pass medical examinations conducted by accredited clinics. The exact checks undertaken may depend on the nature of the work you’ll be doing, or the country you’re planning to move to. Common checks include:

• Chest X-ray to check for tuberculosis
• Check for HIV and syphilis
• Tests for intestinal parasites
• Drug screening
• Pregnancy test
• General physical examination

Some destination countries require additional medical checks after arrival. For example, if you’re coming to Singapore as a migrant domestic worker you must undertake checks for several infectious diseases (TB, HIV, syphilis and malaria) on arrival⁵, and then have 6 monthly medical exams on an ongoing basis.

Your recruitment agency can help advise you on the medical requirement based on your specific type of work, and you can also ask questions during the DMW seminars you must complete prior to travel.

Legal requirements for working abroad

Recruitment agencies and employers may request legal documents during the application process. You may also be asked for specific paperwork by any prospective employers when you apply for work, or by border control authorities when you leave the country.

Some of the important documents to know about include National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance⁶, needed when applying for work, and the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate), which you’ll need to travel.

To get NBI clearance you can apply online or in person, providing the NBI with:

• Barangay Certification, signed and sealed by authorized person
• 2 forms of government issued ID document

You’ll be asked for this document when you apply for jobs through a licensed recruitment agency.

Once you have secured a job you’ll also need to get your OEC, which is your travel exit clearance, allowing you to leave the Philippines without payment of travel tax or terminal fees. This is issued by the DMW and lasts for 60 days to give you time to travel.

How to prepare financially before working abroad

Moving overseas for work will mean paying some fees, as well as covering the costs of preparing many of the documents needed for your application. The process isn’t cheap, but the PEOS covers some of the expected costs, and how to look out for scams or illegal charges, in the module called ‘The Price is Right’.

Prior to moving you’ll need to ensure you have all the legal documents needed, including a passport and various clearance documents. There can be fees involved with preparing this paperwork. You’ll also need to cover the costs of any required medical exam, PhilHealth contribution and Pag-IBIG contribution.

The other key cost is in agency fees, which can be as much as one month’s wage. Agencies can not charge more than this, and several destination countries ban the practice of charging a placement fee, so do check the rules based on your destination.

Prior to moving it’s a good idea to build an emergency fund to cover unexpected costs involved in your move. You’ll also need to take time to understand the currency conversion from PHP to the currency you’ll be paid in, as well as the general costs of living you can expect on arrival.

If you’ll be sending money back home to loved ones, finding low cost international transfer services is also crucial, so more of your money gets to your recipients. We’ll look at how Wise can help with this, next.

Move money between countries with low fees and the mid-market rate: Wise

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.

Sending money or making payments abroad? Wise also offers fast, low cost transfers to 140+ countries - you can track your transfer in your account and your recipient will also be notified when a transfer reaches them.

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Sources:

1. Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)
2. Pre-employment orientation seminar (PEOS)
3. Philippine Association of Service Exporters - documents needed as OFW
4. DMW registration
5. Singapore MOM - health checks for MDW
6. NBI clearance