Basically, POEA, or Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, supervises the overseas employment process for Filipinos who want to work abroad. More info about POEA on their site.
For this post, I am going to describe the POEA processing for Direct/Name Hires, or those who were directly employed by a foreign employer without the help of a recruitment agency.
What to bring:
- Original and 2 copies of employment contract
- Original passport and 2 copies of the picture page last page (the one with the emergency info)
- Original and 2 copies of VISA
- Php6,000-7,000 for the processing fees
Where is POEA Region XI:
- POEA in Davao is located at the 2nd floor of AMYA building, Tulip Drive, Ecoland, Davao City. It's a few steps across SM City Davao.
What to do:
1. Bring all the requirements and the copies. Sign your name in the logbook at the guard's table at the entrance to the POEA office and get a priority number.
2. Wait for your number to be called at table 2. When called, present your passport, preferably with the contract and VISA attached. You will be directed to table 3 for the evaluation of documents.
3. Wait for your name to be called at table 3. Be ready with all the originals and photocopies to avoid hassle. The lady there will ask some questions about your employment and such. You will also be told to get 4 forms from the photocopy center on the first floor. The lady will give you a small piece of paper with the names of the forms that you have to get. You will have to fill up these forms in order to continue with the evaluation process.
4. Head to the photocopy center on the first floor (you can't miss it because it's rｉｇｈｔ beside the stairs that lead to the second floor). Just show them the piece of paper given to you and they will know what to do. Be aware, however, that these forms are not for free. Each page costs Php 2.00 so be ready with around Php 20.00 because there are quite a lot.
5. Also, before heading back, drop by the guard'ｓ table at the office entrance to get the OFW Information Sheet. You also have to fill this up and this one's given for free.
6. Fill up everything. After that, head back to table 3 and give the lady all of the forms. There's one form that you need to have notarized at the Public Attorney's Office, located inside Hall of Justice. NOTE: The Hall of Justice is in front of Ecoland Terminal. From POEA, you can ride Bangkal, Puan, Bago Aplaya, and Ecoland routes as these will stop right in front of HOJ.
7. VERY IMPORTANT! A very important step in the POEA process is attending the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar or PDOS. I am not sure if I should place it in this step, but in any case, the lady at table 3 will ask you if you have already attended. If you haven't yet, she will give you a slot for the next seminar. YOU HAVE TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR or you won't ever be able to proceed with your processing.
8. You also have to undergo a medical examination in one of the four accredited clinics of POEA. You need the medical certificate and a copy of it to proceed. You can find the list of clinics at the guard table. (See my post about: Medical Examination Process for OFWs)
9. After complying with the PDOS and medical examination, go back to POEA and to table 3. The same lady will continue your evaluation. If everything is okay, you will be told to pay the OWWA, PhilHealth, and POEA processing fees. These agencies have their representatives inside the POEA office so you don't have to go anywhere else to pay. It's also best to carry some loose change with you when you pay because the amounts are not exact, except for PhilHealth, which is constant at Php900.00.
10. After paying everything, go back to table 3 to finish your processing. You should get several copies of your Permit to Exit, which the lady at the table will explain to you. There should also be a copy of your PDOS certificate attached to your passport. Also, before you go, you will be asked to submit 1 copy each of all your receipts.
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now ready to work abroad!
Hi, just want to ask.. is this info updated?.. 'coz somebody told me that the rules and the requirements for direct/name hire are more complicated now... Thanks.
ReplyDelete@^:
ReplyDeleteHi, sorry for the late reply. These are the steps based on what I underwent when I applied last December.
hi, i would like to ask how long did it take to finish all the process? how many days or weeks?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteIt took about 2 weeks to finish everything but we didn't have to go there everyday for two weeks. It took 2 weeks because we had to wait for our seminar schedule before we can proceed to the rest of the process.
is the seminar will be schedule the other day not on the same day you come to POEA?
DeleteFUCK YOU POEA it took me 2months just for dis bullshit thing!
ReplyDeletehow about the tesda
ReplyDeleteembassy for her visa apllication. The agency was the one who searched the employer and became a third party in LMO. She wana come home in Phils then fly from Manila to Canada. But, she heard and red a blog that it takes time and will ask many supporting docs from her employer if she will process her docs in POEA. She got 2 weeks vacation given by her employer in Canada.
ReplyDeleteAnybody can help me. My sister got work permit visa in UAE as food counter attendant in Canada thru the help of agency from Canada but submitted the papers direct to Canadian embassy for her visa apllication. The agency was the one who searched the employer and became a third party in LMO. She wana come home in Phils then fly from Manila to Canada. But, she heard and red a blog that it takes time and will ask many supporting docs from her employer if she will process her docs in POEA. She got 2 weeks vacation given by her employer in Canada.
ReplyDelete@"Anybody can help me...":
ReplyDeleteI don't know the case with Manila, but in Davao, I believe 2 weeks is enough to finish the POEA processing.
It might help if you call POEA ahead and ask about the requirements so that your sister can prepare them before she goes back to the Philippines. That way, she can start processing right away.
Hi everyone thanks for this blog. Just wanna ask if I need to rebook my ticket? I already got the ticket.. the problem is that the release of my visa is on tues(2pm). so I need to finished everything on tuesday afternoon and on wednesday cause the flight schedule is wed at 9pm. Is it possible to finish everything in a day and a half? Or should I ask the employer to just rebook me?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
hi just want to ask if is it really necessary to passed through POEA as a direct hired? i just so confused about my situation,my employer told me that there's no need to pass through POEA, she processed and already got my visa and now she ask me if when i love to fly to Dubai, is it ok if my travel documents is only my passport and my working visa?
ReplyDeletehope to hear from you soon..
really need help and advice
tnx
you need to pass through POEA
Deletesame situation with me.
ReplyDeleteGreat. Just exactly what I need. Detailed. thanks for this post:)
ReplyDeleteHow about the required validation of the working contract with the philippine embassy in other country before it will be submitted to POEA? Is this a requirement?
ReplyDelete[How about the required validation of the working contract with the philippine embassy in other country before it will be submitted to POEA? Is this a requirement?]
ReplyDeleteActually, when we processed my requirements at POEA, they asked us to have our employer fill out this form regarding housing, food, etc. What we did was send it to our employer in Japan and they checked the working conditions applicable to our contract. Then they sent it back to us to be submitted to POEA. I'm just not sure if this is the case for everyone, but I think it has something to do with working conditions not stipulated in your working contract.
Hi! I'm also on "direct-hire", a research and consultancy firm in Japan hired me. They already sent me the agreement etc and the same instructions, to have them authenticated by the employer in Japan. Do I really need to pay 6k - 7k for processing? There's no agency involved and my employer will be the one to process my COE in Japan and will send to me for me to get my visa. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteto all direct hire it's better to let the accredited agency to handle this ,just for the formalities . because ,if you don't the next problem will be at the immigration in naia . to much problem here processing of documents here . fuck the corrupt people !!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, tanong ko lang kung original copy ba ng Visa at Contract ang kailangan? or pwede na scanned tapos se2nd nila sa email ko then print ko n lang?? need an answer ASAP. ayaw kasi sagutin sa POEA ang phone nila. :(
ReplyDelete@Sandra Guitierrez:
ReplyDeleteYung visa po kailangan yung original and photocopy. Yung sa contract naman, okay lang na scanned copy.
thanks! sa POEA ba dapat dumiretso? naguguluhan kasi ako ano dapat unahin poea or sa embassy?
ReplyDeleteand dapat ba authenticated ng philippine embassy doon ang visa at contract bago ipadala? sensya na kulit ko..hehe
ReplyDelete@Sandra Gutierrez:
ReplyDeleteKailangan po authenticated lahat, visa at contract.
Thank you Kate for this post! This is very helpful! I just hope that it will not take long for POEA to process everything!
ReplyDeletepano b ang process ng direct hire going to dubai
ReplyDeletehi miss kate,,ang case kc ng live in partner ko y direct hire sya ng employer from dubai.ano b ang d best and safe way n steps n dapat namin gawin.dpat b ay sa poea o by agency.my offer sa akin but it cost 40k..OMG...ganun b tlga kamahal ang processing ng papers if direct hire at anu ano po ung mga requirements n dpat namin icomplete?pls give me some advise...
ReplyDeletenga po pala waiter ang job title ng live in partner ko..anu po ung mga required documents and how much it will total cost..give me even maximun cost..plssss help me
ReplyDeletehi,,,ask ko lang po kung fix na po yong 7k kasama na mdical at mga seminars?reply po asap
ReplyDeletehi.direct hire po ako may employer ask me to have my medical exam here in our place sealed by the clinic and send to her i already did it.pag magprocess na ako sa poea do i nid to take my medical exam again sa accredited clinic nila?
ReplyDeleteim hoping for your help thanks
same post as miss.lelay thank you for ur favorable response ;;;
ReplyDeleteKate, thank you for this blog and kudos for becoming an OFW! :)
ReplyDeleteSa mga nagtatanong re: medical, mag-a-undergo ka na nyan before ka pa pumunta sa POEA. Kelangan iyan para maprocess ang Visa/Work Permit dahil kahit saang bansa nirerequire yan para mabigyan ka ng working visa.
Icheck nyo nalang po sa POEA kung ano ang current accredited clinics nila at icheck din sa pupuntahang bansa kung ano ang accredited clinics nila. Based from that malalaman nyo kung aling lugar pina okay magpamedical na tatanggapin sa visa processing nyo at sa POEA.
Ang medical ay valid for 3 months, provided sa accredited clinic ng embassy (kung san ka pupuntang bansa) at POEA yung pinili mo.
Ang 7k na sinabi sa blog na 'to ay for POEA processing only. Di pa kasama dun ang medical at visa. Inuulit ko, yang 6-7k ay eto lamang ang covered na bayarin:
POEA Processing Fee - US$100 or its peso equivalent
OWWA membership fee - US$25 or its peso equivalent
OWWA Medicare - Php900.00
as ko lang po ulit, pwede bang dito sa POEA Satellite Office Region II cagayan na mismo magprocess ng papers at my nabasa din ako may accredited clinic din dito sa amin.kahit di na need pang pumunta ng manila ang mga direct hired?
ReplyDeletehi guys...anyone knows when is the latest pdos sched here in davao?pls i need to know asap..
ReplyDeletehello po,hepa b positive po ako,gusto ko lng po malaman kung may pag asa po b akong makapag abroad canada? nsa canada po asawa ko at plano nya n kunin ako don may chance po b kya akong makapunta doon.
ReplyDeleteleolandodulatre@yahoo.com yan po email ad ko help po
Ask ko lng po if ok lng ba ang working contract ko na stamp at signature lng ng employer walang stamp from philippine embassy sa saudi taz yong contract send lang thru email? ok lng ba ba ung visa naka stamp sa passport?..pls help me, thank you.
ReplyDeletethanks Kate for this blog especially the detailed processing steps in Davao POEA, my sister was hired directly by my employer but they said maybe they will forward her to their agency in manila which is very far from davao and besides she has to spend a lot for her plane ticket..what is better, the easiest & cheapest through agency in manila or to process by herself..? because as i ask the POEA here in Qatar, that direct hiring is not allowed...so i'm confusing now...please help...
ReplyDeletened p po bng mag tesda?
ReplyDeleteI have only offer letter and employment visa without contract coz the employer will give me the contract after i arrived in UAE. Please can you help what will be the procedures for my case. Need your help thnx.....
ReplyDeletehelow po..ask lng f nd pa bng mag training sa tesda f direct hired??help nmn jn..slmt po
ReplyDeletehi ms. kate :)
ReplyDeleteask ko lng kung anu requirements pg direct hire at anu kelangan ng employer na documents from me to start the processing? kelangan ba mauna muna sa embassy before mgprocess sa POEA? kc po sis ko tinutulungan nya ako, may frend sya na employer na mgdidirect hire sa akin.. anu po mga needed documents? salamat ng marami, hope to hear from u soon :)
ask lang po pag apply ka working permit kailangan ba me employer kana na naghihintay sau? what if me work na naghihintay sau then apply kalang tourist visa tapos don kana process ng working permit mo possible kaya un?
ReplyDeletehi, ndi po b ang meaning ng POEA ay Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, not Philippine Overseas Employment Agency?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous:[hi ms. kate :)
ReplyDeleteask ko lng kung anu requirements pg direct hire at anu kelangan ng employer na documents from me to start the processing? kelangan ba mauna muna sa embassy before mgprocess sa POEA? kc po sis ko tinutulungan nya ako, may frend sya na employer na mgdidirect hire sa akin.. anu po mga needed documents? salamat ng marami, hope to hear from u soon :)]
Actually, YOU will need your passport with the visa attached, and the employment contract from your employer in order to start processing.
hi ms. kate,
Deleteis the seminar will be schedule the other day not on the same day you come to POEA? tnx po...
Hi, warden! The seminar is held every Wednesday so if you came to POEA on a Wednesday, I think you can still join the seminar on that day, given that there are still slots available for that day. I forgot the maximum number of participants per session, though.
Deletehello po, i just want to ask if need ko pa mag take ulit ng PDOS? Nakapag take na po kasi ako last 2010,or puwede po ba renew lang ng OEC na new employer? same country po yung 2010 work ko and itong 2012 contract ko which is in China,magkaiba lang ng employer. Natapos ko po ng maayos yung last contract ko with proper release papers. thanks.
ReplyDeletejust wanna share my experience.. to those who have a valid employment visa already (e.g. UAE) dumaan na kayo sa POEA and pumunta sa legal na proseso. I learned the hard way, sa pagmamadali namin na makarating sa UAE..thou may visa na naman na-issue sa akin....some advised me na dumaan na lang sa ibang bansa as tourist then lumipad pa Dubai...jusko ang higpit ng immigration natin...magagastusan lang kau tapos haharangin lang nila kau ..ang ending offload ka rin..sayang lang ang ticket ko..roundtrip pa naman un.....parang alam na nila ang modus ng ibang pinoy na me balak lang mag-dive sa ibang bansa...haaayyy..sana ng POEA na lng me from the start...
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. For all those who are aspiring to work abroad, I strongly urge you to undergo the proper process under POEA's supervision because it is for our own safety and insurance while working abroad. We have a lot of benefits as "legal" OFWs. :-)
DeleteHi. Is the job offer letter accepted as substitute for the contract? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi...sa mga nakakaalam..wla na daw bang direct hire pa UAE? Direct hire kase ako ng friend ko doon..pero ng ng-aayos na cla ng papers ko doon.sabi ng Phil Consul di na raw allowed direct hire..help..info naman ..
ReplyDeletety!
ellaine
Hello po, Gus2 q lng po mgask, sbi ng agency q my working visa na daw aq sa Dubai, iproprocess nlng nila sa POEA. mga ilng weeks po ba processing sa POEA? pra san po ba un? kc pra nmn alam q, n mkapghanda aq ng dapt gagawin..thanks po!
ReplyDeleteYou will need the exit permit from POEA. That's why kailangan pang dumaan doon. You will have to present the exit permit at the airport during check-in. Also, if you have the permit from POEA, you don't have to pay the terminal fee.
Deletehello po.. sa feb 6 darating na po ung employment visa ko... anu pa po ba kailangan ng poea pra mkalabas na aku...kailangan pa bo ba medical? thanks po!
ReplyDeleteYes, medical examination is required by POEA.
Deleteask ko lang po ganu katagal process ang papers sa poea kapag direct hiring kc ung kapatid ko she have already employment visa sa agency ko nalang pa process para mas madali daw...pls help me po
ReplyDeletethen ung agency po is 38k daw po processing fee
DeleteIf you have all the documents required by POEA, you can finish processing in a day or two. Processing at POEA does not take time at all - it's the gathering and preparation of the documents required that take time. :-)
Deletehi ms.kate ask k lng sna kung may direct hire tlga goin to japan?wla kc involve n agency.pro may consultancy xa mismo ngaackaso frnd ng employer.ang tgal n kc last dec pko apply ang sb finorward s poea documents then waiting plng s approval.ganon b tlga yun?tnx.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, the company has to be "registered" in POEA. If not, then the company first has to register before they can hire Filipino workers. So maybe they are still processing the registration that's why it's taking some time.
DeleteNeed po ba talga may agency pag direct hire or pwede kahit ako na lang mag asikaso mismo gaano naman po katagal ang aabutin ng pag aayos , ? thanks po waiting for your answer
ReplyDeleteI think it would take about a month or two if you do the processing by yourself...
Deletehi ask ko lang sana ano bang pwedeng gawin if ikaw yung naghanap ng trabaho then gusto ka ng i-hire ng employer. but i want to go to POEA to make it all legal so kahit anong mangyari sau sa abroad sagot ka ng POEA
ReplyDeleteHi! I would suggest you ask POEA directly or visit their site. It lists the requirements for namehires(land-based), etc.
Deletehttp://poea.gov.ph/ARTA_ISO/ofw_services.html
thank you po!!
Deletehi po s direct hire ng japan possible po b n ang ngaasikaso ung consultancy ng employer?tnx po.
ReplyDeletehi po.. just want to ask nagpprocess po kami sa poea direct hire mag 2weeks na po hindi pa po reease un work visa tapos na po lahat naisubmit na bat they said it takes 2-3weeks????.. dibah madali lang naman po yun kasi natapos nman na niya lahat ng requirements
ReplyDeleteAs with our case, acquiring the visa took the longest time even if we already submitted all the requirements. But after you get your visa, I believe it will be smooth-sailing. :-)
DeleteI just want to know how to authenticate a contract here in qatar without passing thru agency, is it possible? Kukunin ko sana yung pamangkin ko but POEA Cebu asked him an authenticated contract which the employer here wants to authenticate from qatar but POLO needs an agency but the agency wants the employer pays one month salary amount, is it possible to authenticate a contract without passing any agency in qatar? the employer itself will let it authenticate to POLO? pls give me an advise. thanks...
ReplyDelete