New DOLE OFW Identification Card Benefits and Uses

The Department of Labor and Employment launches today the iDOLE or OFW Identification Card. This new ID will replace the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or Balik Mangagawa Certificate.

The OFW ID will suffice as proof that the worker has been legally processed for employment abroad by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

DOLE has also plans to link the iDOLE with other government agencies like the Social Security System, PhilHealth, Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-ibig, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TEDA).

Likewise, the Labor Department is also considering linking the ID with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in the future.

Benefits and Purpose of iDOLE OFW Card

• Since the iDOLE OFW Card is a replacement for Overseas Employment Certificate, migrant workers will no longer endure the long queues in POEA to process their OEC when they go for work abroad or upon return to the country.
• Also, the ID will help Filipino workers pass through Philippine Immigration gates quickly without providing an Exit Clearance.
• The iDOLE serves as universal ID of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) for all their government transactions. The ID will become the overseas worker’s membership ID in Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth and Pag-ibig Fund and thus can be used in transactions with these government agencies.
• Maybe used to secure a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance
• The OFW ID can be utilized as a beep card for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
• Aside from the above, the ID card can be presented to avail terminal fee and travel tax exemptions when departing for employment abroad.
• Eventually, the OFW ID shall be used as debit card or ATM card for the proposed OFW Bank which is intended to further improve the lives of the migrant workers.

The Department of Labor is also considering adopting a system that would make the new OFW ID as electronic passport for overseas workers. Secretary Silvestre Bello III of DOLE, said in a conference last July 4, that he would coordinate with Department of Foreign Affairs and Bureau of Immigration on the plans of converting the OFW card as electronic passport for OFWs.

According to Secretary Bello III, the iDOLE OFW Card shall be given free to all bona fide OFWs. DOLE is planning to let the employers shoulder the cost of the ID as part of the hiring expenses.

After today’s launching of the iDOLE OFW ID, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) clarified that the new OFW cards will not be issued yet.

As per POEA’s website, the program implementation guidelines are still on the wrap up process, thus,  OFWs need to wait for the announcement of the proper application procedure for the OFW ID card.

Steps in How to Get the OFW iDOLE Card

• Visit the Department of Labor head office or regional office near you. Here is the directory of Department of Labor and Employment Regional and Field Offices.  After the launching today, POEA advises OFW to wait for the announcement for the ID processing commencement before visiting DOLE. For the meantime, OFWs are instructed to get their OECs at bmonline.ph.
• Be ready with secondary identification cards for confirmation of your identity (IDs which can be used: Philippine passport, Driver’s License, SSS UMID card, GSIS ID, PRC ID, Postal ID (digitized), IBP ID, Voter’s ID, Senior Citizen’s ID, OFW ID).
• At DOLE, approach the Officer in charge for the iDOLE and request processing.
• The Personnel In-charge may ask you to provide your OEC or Overseas Employment Certificate, employment contract to establish that you are a bona fide OFW and you are processing the iDOLE card for the first time. 
• The DOLE Officer will begin the verification process. Your name will be check if it is in the List of Official OFWs as provided by POEA.
• Once verification is successful and your identity as OFW is confirmed, the DOLE personnel will commence processing of your new iDOLE OFW card bearing your unique OFW ID. 
• After processing is completed, your new iDOLE OFW Card will be given to you.

Who can Avail the New ID

All overseas foreign workers shall be issued their new OFW ID. However, OFWs who will be departing for work abroad or newly joining the overseas workforce will get the ID first. The iDOLE ID will be issued in batches.

The new OFW ID is not yet available via online application. So, for workers who are presently abroad, you need to wait for further announcement on this concern from DOLE and POEA.

Note: We will update this post once DOLE or POEA will announce changes in guidelines in securing the iDOLE OFW Card. You may also log-on to the POEA website for further details.

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