How to get an OEC at NAIA

IMPORTANT: This post is already outdated. Please follow the new instructions here: How to get OEC Online

First, let me make it clear: you can only do this if you satisfy the following conditions:
1. You’re an OFW (currently and ‘officially’ employed abroad)
2. Will be visiting the Philippines for 5 days or less.
The OFW counters at the airports would only give you clearance (called emergency OEC) when you have your work visa and would be going back to your country of employment within 5 days. Anything other than that, you should go to POEA offices or distribution centers (i’ve read they have one in SM Manila and one in Trinoma).
You would be given an OEC that is valid for only 24 hours, so you’d typically do this right before leaving Manila, on the same day as your flight.

Here’s what you will need:
1. Passport with attached OWWA receipt
- if you don’t have it, you can actually apply for OWWA membership right at the terminal
2. Work visa
- for my case, it’s the Singapore pass (which is a separate ID)
3. Employment contract**
4. Pag-ibig and Philhealth contribution receipt**
5. Fee of PHP100
**The staff at the counter didn’t check these documents but it would be better to have them ready.
**For Philhealth, you can just pay at SM Bills payment
**For Pag-ibig you can actually pay your contributions at on-line here!

Here’s what to do:
1. In NAIA Terminal 1, go to the OFW lounge POEA counters inside the passenger area.
In Terminal 3, i’ve read that the OWWA and OEC validation are in separate areas but it shouldn’t be much of a hassle since T3 is a lot better (in terms of everything).

2. Tell the staff at the OEC counter that you’re getting an emergency OEC.
- They would inquire how long you’re staying in the Philippines and ask for your passport and tickets. Then, they will hand you a form. Just fill it up and submit it to the OWWA booth. If you’re passport already has the attached OWWA receipt, they’d just validate it for you.

3. Go back to the OEC counter and get your OEC.
- You’d have to pay a fee of PHP100, which is way cheaper than the tourist tax and terminal fee.

4. Check everything and make sure they validated the OEC you just received.

5. Proceed to check-in.
It’s actually a very quick and smooth process. The good thing about the setup in T1 is that the OWWA and OEC counters are just right next to each other, and they are open 24 hours every day.

Just as a tip, always have a copy of your employment contract with you. They didn’t ask mine but that is a requirement listed in the OEC application.

Speaking of requirements, an OEC is really a requirement for overseas workers. It’s not just for getting exempted from paying tourist tax and terminal fees.

Tip: Now that BM online is up and running, you can just get your OEC using the official website.

Happy Trip!