General requirements in getting OEC or Balik Manggagawa and FAQs

Our kababayans particularly those who are first time OFW are asking about the requirements and basic guidelines in securing OEC.

We compiled information that we found from POLO OWWA website to provide you a quick guide.

Overseas Employment Certificate – is the certificate by the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) that verifies that a person is a registered overseas Filipino worker. The worker will be exempted from paying the travel tax and terminal fee once the OEC is shown to the immigration officer at the Philippine airports.

VISIT: http://www.bmonline.ph/ (for registration and appointment)

1. Print-out of BM ONLINE appointment form.
2. Passport valid 6 months from time of departure
3. Valid working visa
4. Airline ticket indicating dates of Departure and Arrival
(Note: OEC is only valid for 60 days from date of issue)
5. Proof of employment such as Employment Contract, Certificate of Employment, Salary Certificate (Basic pay not lower than 160 OMR).

Note: Contracts must be verified by POLO.

In case of verification prepare the following:

1. Three (3) copies of Contract;
2. Copy of Passport;
3. Copy of Visa stamp in passport;
4. Copy of labor card / ID card of the worker / sponsor’s ID and
5. Medical and Accident Insurance
6. Fee of four (4) Omani rials.

6. Present valid OWWA membership. ie: receipt, certificate

* Note: In case of renewal and new member, payment of 10 Omani Rials valid for 2 years or based on employment contract)

7. Payment of 1 Omani Rial for processing of OEC

Frequently Ask Questions

What is a Balik-Manggagawa (BM) Online Processing System?

BM Online Processing System is a web-based facility that enables the Balik-Manggagawa (BM) or vacationing OFW to apply online for Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and have the approved OEC printed by him / her anywhere, anytime. This aims to expedite the issue of OEC to vacationing OFWs who will return to their respective foreign employers / principals. The opening page of the system contains an instructional video that will guide the BM in using the facility.

Who may avail of the BM Online Processing System?

OFWs on vacation returning to the same employer / principal and jobsite, with employment visa / work permit, have a record in the POEA database, and previously issued OEC / E-Receipt under the same employer / principal may avail of the BM Online Processing System .

What will happen to BM workers who do not meet the above-mentioned requirements for online processing?

BM workers who do not meet the said criteria are advised to still access the BM Online Processing System for them to avail of the appointment service through its APPOINTMENT PAGE for regular processing of their OECs on their preferred processing site and appointment date and time. Those with appointment will be prioritized in any of the POEA processing sites within the country and even in the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs).

I am returning to the same employer and jobsite and have previous OEC but the System still redirects me to Appointment page. What happened?

The system automatically redirects to Appointment Page BMs who may be in any of the following situations and there before agreements personal processing at the POEA / POLO or any processing site:

• No POEA record / No record found / Discrepancy in any record
• Undocumented workers (ie, Tourist to OFW, Dependent to OFW, Student to OFW, etc.)
• Change employer and / or jobsite
• Watchlisted worker and / or OFW with watchlisted employer
• OFW returning to restricted or non-compliant country
• Seabased to Landbased Worker
• I am a holder of Multiple Travel Exit Clearance (MTEC) previously issued to me by POEA. What will happen to this?

MTECs and other OECs / e-receipts issued before under the MTEC system and are still valid and have not been used will still be honored as exit clearance and for all existing exemptions like travel tax, terminal fee and documentary stamp.

Can I request for multiple OEC online?

No. The System will allow you one OEC at a time. You have to use your valid OEC first before you can request for another OEC.

I already have an appointment with the mall processing center for the processing of my OEC scheduled in December this year under the old appointment system of POEA. Now that I’ve learned about the BM Online, can I just instead avail of this new system?

Yes. BMs with appointment secured under the old appointment system are encouraged to try the BM Online System if the criteria are met. If not, they can still pursue their previously set appointment and our personnel recruited in the chosen processing site will process their OEC.

For how many times I can use the OEC issued online? Does it have a validity period?

Online OEC like the existing OECs / e-receipts can only be used once. While its validity period is 60 days, it can only be used for single exit.

Why is the System asking for my last issued OEC number? What does it mean?

Your last issued OEC number is your latest transaction record with POEA. The System needs this information to retrieve your record and latest employment details.

What happens next if the System finds my latest POEA record?

You will be asked if you are returning to the same employer and jobsite. If Yes, you will be allowed to acquire your OEC online. The System will generate your previous employment data and you can proceed with your online transaction, payment, up to printing of your electronic OEC.

What happens if I do not know my OEC number?

The System will redirect you to APPOINTMENT page where you need to personally appear to POEA for processing of your OEC.

I clicked Yes but some of the information on my Personal and Employment Details are outdated. How do I fix this?

The System will allow you to edit your profile such as Personal Data, Contract Particulars and Beneficiaries. However, there are some fields you can not edit like Employer’s Name and Jobsite. Fields with asterisks (*) are mandatory.

I already updated my profile but I can not proceed to the next step. . .

You can not proceed to next step if you do not complete filling up all required fields. Take or upload your photo which must not exceed one (1) MB. Your photo must be the picture of your full face similar to your passport picture

 

What do I do if I lose my OEC?

Log in to your BM Online account and reprint your OEC.

I already got my OEC online, do I need to go to POEA office?

No. You just need to print your OEC in three (3) copies. This will serve as your travel exit clearance and basis for tax and terminal fee exemption. We already formally requested the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to honor the online OEC as exit clearance and for exemption from the said fees.

Is there anything else I need to bring at the airport side from my OEC?

Yes. Do not forget to bring your passport, visa and other travel documents.

Should I still go to the POEA Labor Assistance Center (LAC) for re-validation of my OEC?

Yes, meantime since we are still under transition phase. We will issue a notification later if all the online OEC holders can already proceed to the immigration counters. There will be less need to pass through the LAC later since the information of those which OECs are processed online are automatically shared with the Bureau of Immigration.