How To Get An OFW ID Card In The Philippines (Requirements, Registration, And Application)

The new OFW ID card also known as the iDOLE was launched by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on July 12, 2017. In coming up with the card, the agency partnered with the Social Security System (SSS), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost), and other government agencies and departments. All overseas Filipino workers can avail of the ID card for free. You don't have to pay anything to get the card. The new system will likely replace the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).

Steps On How To Get An OFW ID Card
Note 1: If you are already an OFW, you don't have to register and apply for the card. According to DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, as long as you legally processed all your documents through POEA, your OFW ID will be processed and given to you. This is because your name is already in the official roster of OFWs. In short, you can only avail of the card if you have been legally processed for deployment abroad.

Note 2: If you are an inactive OFW, you can still avail of the card. But you must submit your old record of employment abroad when you apply for the card.

Note 3: As of this time, no IDs will be distributed because DOLE is still finalizing the guidelines on the implementation of the program. The agency will be announcing the proper procedure soon.

1. Go to the official website of the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) then fill out the necessary information. (Online application and verification is not available as of this time.)
2. Go to the nearest DOLE office near you to inquire. Don't forget to bring identification documents with you. If you are an inactive OFW, bring your old record of employment abroad. Also bring your Overseas Employment Certificate with you.
3. Follow the processing steps as provided by the officer in charge.
4. If the processing is complete, you just have to wait for the card to be delivered to your home address by PhilPost.

OFW ID Card Sample

Benefits Of Getting The OFW ID Card
1. If you are a Filipino migrant worker, processing of your documents will be a lot faster.
2. The card serves as proof that all the documents you have were legally processed through the POEA.
3. The card will serve as your travel exit clearance and it has a validity of up to two (2) years.
4. With the card, you don't have to pay for travel tax and terminal fee.
5. The card can be used for transactions with the SSS, Pag-ibig Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
6. Talks are currently ongoing between DOLE and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to allow OFWs to use the card in lieu of their passports.

How Much Does The OFW ID cost?
It's free. You don't have to pay anything. According to DOLE, the cost will be shouldered by your employer. The agency added that employers will be mandated to provide their employees with the ID card.

What About OFWs Who Are Currently Living Outside The Philippines?
For workers who are already outside of the country, an online application will be available soon according to DOLE. The cards will be printed locally. For example, if you are in the United States, you can apply online but the card will be printed in the Philippines.

How To Get A Postal ID In The Philippines

In this comprehensive guide, I am going to tell you everything you need to know about getting a new postal ID in the Philippines. I will show you the exact steps on how to avail of the ID as well as the requirements you must fulfill to ensure that you get the card as quickly as possible. The good thing about postal IDs is that you can get them in any post office in the country. It's one of the easiest and fastest to obtain identification cards in the Philippines. Since it's issued by the government, it's widely accepted as a means of identification in both public and private transactions. Most banks and other financial institutions in the country honor the ID as proof of identity for sensitive banking transactions.

Here are the steps you need to take in applying for a postal ID in the Philippines:
1. Get at least two copies of the application form. You can get them at the nearest postal office or you can download them from the PhilPost website.
2. Completely fill up the forms.
3. Gather all the requirements.
4. Submit the required documents for screening.
5. Go to the nearest PhilPost ID capture station to have your photo and fingerprints taken.
6. That's it. If you complete all of the above, all you need to do now is wait for the new ID card to be delivered to you. Delivery can take between 15 to 30 days.
7. If the card isn't delivered to you, visit the postal office where you applied to check the status of your card.

How much does a new postal ID cost?
According to the official website of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost), the price of a new Philippine postal ID is five hundred and four (504) pesos. The breakdown of the cost is as follows: 450 for the card including the delivery fee and 54 for the 12% value-added tax (VAT). According to PhilPost, this amount remains the same for all postal offices in the country. However, this doesn't seem to be true because some people are reporting that they paid more while others say that they paid less. In short, the fee for the card may either be higher or lower in your location.

How To Get The New Philippine Postal ID

How long will the ID be valid?
It will be valid for three (3) years starting from the day you received the card. This validity period applies to all Filipinos and for foreign residents who have a Special Retiree's Resident Visa or SRRV. For foreign residents who don't have an SRRV, the validity period is only one (1) year. You can see if your card is still valid or not by looking at the expiry date which is clearly imprinted on the card.

Here's the updated list of requirements when getting a postal ID in the Philippines:
1. Two (2) copies of duly-accomplished application forms.
2. Proof of identity. (See below list of documents that are accepted by PhilPost as proof of identity.)
3. Proof of address. (See below list of documents that are accepted by PhilPost as proof of address.)

List of documents that are accepted by PhilPost as proof of identity:
1. Birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or local civil registry
2. GSIS or SSS UMID card
3. Driver's license
4. Passport
5. BIR ID
6. Baptismal certificate
7. Certificate of birth from the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
8. Certificate of birth from the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF)
9. Certificate of marriage from the NCIP
10. Certificate of marriage from the NCMF
11. College or post-graduate transcript of records (TOR) with readable dry seal
12. Confirmation certificate
13. Elementary or high school form 137 with readable dry seal
14. Marriage certificate in SECPA issued by NSO
15. Marriage certificate issued by LCR
16. Alumni ID
17. School ID
18. Company ID
19. Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID
20. NBI clearance bearing digitized photo
21. OWWA ID
22. Pag-ibig ID
23. PhilHealth ID
24. PRC ID
25. Police clearance
26. Seaman's book
27. Senior citizen ID
28. Voter's ID

List of documents that are accepted by PhilPost as proof of address:
1. Barangay certificate of residency
2. Certified true copy of lease
3. School billing statement
4. Utility bill
5. Credit card statement
6. Bank statement
7. Certified true copy of real estate tax receipt
8. Certified true copy of titles issued by the Land Registration Authority (LRA)

Other important notes:
1. Married women should bring with them a marriage certificate in the event that they need to validate the change in their surname from the one one shown in their birth document.
2. With regards to replacement of a lost or stolen ID, most of the steps and requirements are the same. it's still advisable that you visit where you registered and ask what steps you must take.