OFWs and immigration
OFW Pass, Travel Pass and OEC exit clearance
- Digital route
- eGovPH app for eligible balik-manggagawa workers 3
- Eligibility in rollout notice
- Same employer, same job and same country 3
- Rehire or balik-manggagawa fee
- ₱0 under DMW Department Circular 02-2023 1
- Term eC-Pass
- Not identified as a DMW worker-clearance name in the official sources reviewed
What the documents prove
DMW defines the OEC or OFW Pass as electronic clearance attesting that recruitment documents are regular and the worker is registered for overseas employment 2.
The clearance supports eligibility for overseas employment travel under Philippine immigration law and access to privileges granted to OFWs 2.
It does not replace the destination country's visa, work permit or entry rules.
Which route to use
| Worker situation | Official route indicated |
|---|---|
| Returning to same employer, job and country | OFW Travel Pass through eGovPH rollout route 3 |
| Eligible returning worker in DMW records | OEC exemption or digital clearance in the DMW system 4 |
| Changed employer, job or country | Updated DMW processing, not automatic same-employer treatment |
| First-time or direct-hire worker | Category-specific DMW documentation and clearance 2,5 |
How the digital Travel Pass works
The DMW overseas-office rollout notice directs eligible returning workers to create or open eGovPH, choose DMW, select Balik Manggagawa and open Travel Pass 3.
The profile and QR code act as the digital exit clearance for that eligible worker 3.
A red, missing or stale record should be resolved through the official DMW or Migrant Workers Office channel. A screenshot of an error is not a substitute for valid clearance.
OEC and exemption
DMW's official Q&A says a balik-manggagawa returning to the same employer and jobsite with a prior POEA record may qualify for OEC exemption 4.
The traditional OEC is valid for up to 60 days and one exit. The OFW Pass model links validity to the recorded contract 2,4.
DMW continues to use OEC and OFW Pass terminology in official services. The exact route depends on worker category and rollout status.
Fees
Department Circular 02-2023 removed the ₱100 OFW Pass processing fee for rehires or balik-manggagawa OFWs 1.
That does not mean every employment-related cost is zero. Contract verification, welfare membership, insurance or other category requirements have separate rules.
Use only an official DMW, eGovPH or Migrant Workers Office channel. Do not pay a private site to create a purported eC-Pass.
What remains unconfirmed
The official sources reviewed do not identify a DMW departure document called eC-Pass. They use OFW Pass, Travel Pass, OFW Clearance and OEC.
Rollout coverage and system pathways can change. Confirm the active route in the worker's DMW account before travel.
Common questions
Is the OFW Pass the same as an OEC?
DMW renamed OEC as OFW Clearance or OFW Pass and uses the terms for official exit-clearance functions 1,2.
Who can use the OFW Travel Pass?
The cited rollout covers balik-manggagawa workers returning to the same employer, job and country 3.
Is the pass free?
DMW removed the ₱100 processing fee for rehires or balik-manggagawa OFWs 1.
Is eC-Pass an official DMW name?
No official DMW source reviewed for this page uses that name for worker exit clearance.
Fees change. Check your e-ticket's tax lines and the official site before you travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Evidence
Sources
- 1Department of Migrant Workers: Department Circular 02-2023, renaming OEC and lifting the rehire fee↗
- 2Department of Migrant Workers: Administrative Order 04-2025, Manual of Operations↗
- 3Migrant Workers Office Osaka: Roll out of OFW Pass System (22 October 2025)↗
- 4Department of Migrant Workers: OEC exemption Q&A↗
- 5Department of Migrant Workers: Citizen's Charter 2025↗
Related
- OFW departure fees: travel tax, terminal fee and the OFW Pass
OFWs are exempt from the Philippine travel tax and the NAIA terminal fee. See the proof you need, the new OFW Pass and rates for dependents.
- Documents Philippine Immigration asks for at departure
Official departure documents for Filipino tourists, secondary inspection, deferred departure, current rules and the suspended 2023 revision.
- Philippine travel tax exemptions and reduced rates
TIEZA list of who is exempt from the Philippine travel tax, the documents each group needs, how to get an exemption certificate and who pays reduced rates.
- Terminal fees at Philippine airports
How much the passenger service charge costs at NAIA, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Bohol and Iloilo, how it sits in your ticket, and how OFWs get it back.
- eTravel Philippines: free arrival and departure registration
eTravel is the free Philippine arrival and departure registration at etravel.gov.ph. Who must fill it, when, and how to spot fake eTravel sites.