July 11, 2025
Headlines

How to Apply OEC Certificate in Greece

emma026 mins
How to Apply OEC Certificate in Greece

Securing an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is necessary for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) when vacationing in the Philippines and returning to work abroad. If you are an OFW in Greece or Cyprus, you should obtain your OEC from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Athens, Greece, as it is a requirement before workers are permitted to leave for overseas employment.How to Apply OEC Certificate in Greece

To provide you with more information on how to get your OEC in Greece, here are some guidelines:

  1. Contact POLO Athens, Greece: Get in touch with POLO Athens to inquire about the OEC application process and requirements. You can reach them through their contact details, which you can find on their official website or through the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in Greece.
  2. Prepare the necessary documents: Before applying for your OEC, make sure you have the required documents ready. These documents may include your employment contract, valid passport, work visa or permit, proof of overseas employment, and other supporting documents that may be requested by POLO Athens.
  3. Schedule an appointment: POLO Athens may require you to schedule an appointment for OEC processing. Follow their instructions on how to book an appointment and make sure to arrive on time for your scheduled slot.
  4. Attend the OEC processing: On the day of your appointment, go to the designated location for OEC processing. Submit all the required documents and complete any additional forms or procedures as instructed by POLO Athens.
  5. Pay the necessary fees: There may be fees associated with obtaining your OEC. Ensure that you have the required amount ready and follow the payment instructions provided by POLO Athens. Keep the payment receipt as proof of payment.
  6. Await the issuance of your OEC: After submitting your application and completing the necessary processes, you will need to wait for the issuance of your OEC. This document serves as your exit clearance and certifies that you are legally employed and documented in the POEA database.

Remember that it is crucial to have a valid and correct OEC when leaving the Philippines for overseas work. Immigration officers will check your OEC before allowing you to leave the airport. Failure to present a valid OEC may result in being offloaded, causing delays in your flight and return to overseas employment. Therefore, it is important for OFWs in Greece and Cyprus to request their OEC from POLO Athens to ensure a safe and trouble-free return to their work.

For more specific and up-to-date information, it is recommended to directly contact POLO Athens or refer to official government sources related to overseas employment procedures for OFWs.

How to Apply OEC Certificate in Greece

Requirements

“For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Greece and Cyprus who are vacationing in the Philippines and plan to return to continue or extend their employment contract, it is necessary to bring the original and photocopy of the following requirements from POLO Greece in order to obtain an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC):

  1. POPS-BaM Appointment form
  2. Printed BM Online Information Sheet
  3. Employment Contract verified by POLO
  4. Photocopy of a valid Work Permit, Work Visa, or any equivalent document
  5. Photocopy of the worker’s Passport Data Page (with at least six months validity before the departure date from the Philippines)
  6. Proof of Employment, such as Company ID, Certificate of Employment, or the latest payslip (for skilled workers)
  7. Photocopy of a Confirmed 2-way Airline Ticket
  8. APOPASI
  9. ERGOSIMO
  10. Employer’s ID”

 

Additional Documents

“Alternatively, in the event that the worker is unable to provide a POLO-verified Employment Contract, they should seek Employment Contract Verification with POLO Greece. This can be done by submitting the following documents via email to pologreece.online@yahoo.com, with the subject line EMP ONLINE:

  1. Employment Contract
  2. Copy of the Data Page of the Passport
  3. Copy of the Work Permit or Work Visa
  4. Visit the POEA Online Services Portal/POPS-BaM website.
  5. Under the e-Registration section, click Let’s Go and Register.
  6. Check the I Accept the Terms of Use.
  7. Fill out the required fields and click Register.
  8. Check your email that you registered on POPS-BaM. Then, copy the sent Temporary Password.
  9. Enter the Temporary Password and change it to your preferred password.
  10. On the right of your dashboard, click My Profile.
  11. Fill out the required details.
  12. Double-check your account details and click Update Profile.
  13. Fill out the Identification Details.
  14. Input your Beneficiary details.
  15. Upload a Profile Picture and a copy of your Passport to finish the account setup.
  16. Copy of the Employer’s ID”

    Processing Fees

    “To obtain an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) from POLO Greece, the following fees apply:

    1. There is a processing fee for the OEC amounting to P100, which will be converted to Euros.
    2. Additionally, there is an OWWA membership fee of US$25.00, which will be converted to Euros based on the monthly foreign exchange rate.

    Furthermore, OFWs who need to process their Employment Contract Verification should wait for confirmation from POLO Greece before paying the verification fee at remittance centers. It is also important for the worker to ensure that their Pag-IBIG and SSS contributions are paid before the issuance of the OEC.”

    Qualifications

    The issuance of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) serves to promote legal employment opportunities for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and provides them with certain protections and benefits, such as exemptions from travel tax and terminal fees. However, the issuance of the OEC is limited to specific categories of qualified workers, as determined by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO). The following are the qualified workers eligible for OEC issuance:

    1. OFWs who acquired work directly from an overseas employer or sponsor through a process known as direct hiring.
    2. OFWs who were hired through a recruitment agency, which acts as an intermediary between the OFW and the overseas employer.
    3. OFWs who were hired through the Government Placement Branch (GBP) of the POEA.
    4. OFWs who have existing records in the POEA database and are returning to the same job site after taking a vacation, provided they have an employment contract or a working visa.
    5. OFWs who have existing records in the POEA database and are returning to the same employer but in a different job site.
    6. OFWs who do not have records in the POEA database or who change employers while already on-site.

    It is important for OFWs to meet these qualifications in order to obtain an OEC, which serves as a documentation of their legal employment overseas and allows them to avail of the benefits and exemptions provided by the Philippine government.

    How to Book an OEC Appointment in POLO Greece

    To work in Greece without an existing record on POEA’s (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) database, you need to register an account on POPS-BaM (Pre-employment Orientation Seminar-Booking and Management) and book an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) appointment. After that, you should complete your account details before scheduling an appointment with POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) Greece. If you don’t have a POPS-BaM account yet, follow the steps below:

   How to Register on POPS-BaM (For New Users)

    1. Visit the official website of POEA at poea.gov.ph.
    2. Look for the POPS-BaM section on the website.
    3. Click on the registration link provided for new users.
    4. Fill out the required information accurately in the registration form. This may include personal details, contact information, and employment-related information.
    5. Create a username and password for your POPS-BaM account. Make sure to choose a strong password to secure your account.
    6. Submit the registration form.
    7. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate your account. Follow the instructions and activate your POPS-BaM account.
    8. Log in to your POPS-BaM account using the username and password you created.
    9. Complete your account details by providing all the necessary information requested in the account settings. This may include your educational background, work experience, and other relevant details.
    10. After completing your account details, proceed to book an OEC appointment through the POPS-BaM system. Follow the instructions provided to select a convenient date and time for your appointment.
    11. Once you have successfully booked your OEC appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with the details of your appointment. Keep this information handy for future reference.
    12. Finally, schedule an appointment with POLO Greece by contacting their office or using the designated online appointment system. Provide them with your POPS-BaM account information and OEC appointment details during the scheduling process.

    By following these steps, you will be able to register for a POPS-BaM account, book an OEC appointment, and complete your account details before scheduling an appointment with POLO Greece. This process will help facilitate your employment in Greece and ensure compliance with the necessary procedures.

    How to book an OEC Appointment in POPS-BaM

    Once you’ve registered a POPS-BaM account and provided the required information, you can proceed with booking an OEC appointment with POLO Greece. As stated on the POLO Greece Facebook post, you need to transfer records on POPS-BaM if you have an old BM account since BM Online System became inactive on June 30, 2021.

    Just visit the POPS-BaM website and click Transfer Old BM records on the POEA Helpdesk section to match your details on your newly registered POPS-BaM account. To book an OEC appointment, follow the steps below:

    1. Visit the POEA Online Services Portal/ POPS-BaM website.
    2. Click Let’s Go and log in on the e-Registration section.
    3. On the dashboard, look for My Links. Then, click Balik Manggagawa and Next.
    4. If you have an incomplete account, provide the required data to continue.
    5. Input your Flight Date and click Next.
    6. If not a Balik Manggagawa or not returning to the same employer and job site, answer No to the questions to continue booking.
    7. Update necessary details on your contract and click Submit.
    8. Choose a Processing Site and click Next.
    9. Then, take a screenshot or print your confirmed appointment schedule.

      How to Apply for OEC in POLO Greece

      Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are returning to a different employer and job site or have changed employers on-site need to apply for an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Greece. They also need to book an OEC appointment on the POEA Online Processing System-Balik Manggagawa (POPS-BaM).

      However, POLO Greece will not issue an OEC to workers who arrived in the country holding a tourist or visit visa and acquired a work visa afterward, unless they have a POLO-verified Employment Contract.

      For such workers, the process is as follows:

      1. Apply for an OEC at the POEA offices in the Philippines.
      2. Document your overseas work in the POEA’s database.
      3. POLO Greece can process the verification of your Employment Contract, which is a requirement when applying for an OEC in the Philippines.
      4. To apply for an OEC at POLO Greece, follow these steps:
        • Visit the POLO Greece office on the scheduled appointment date.
        • Proceed to the reception desk and present your requirements.
        • Fill out the forms provided by the reception officer.
        • Pay the applicable fees.
        • Wait for the issuance of your OEC. You can also print it online via POPS-BaM once it is approved.

      Please note that this information is based on the provided text, and it’s always recommended to check with the relevant authorities or official sources for the most up-to-date and accurate instructions regarding specific processes or requirements.

       

      How to Get OEC Online in Greece

      The passage you provided contains information regarding the process of obtaining an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) online for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Greece who are considered Balik Manggagawa or workers returning to the same employer and job site or hired by the GBP (Government Placement Branch). The OEC exemption allows these workers to acquire their OEC online without the need to visit the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and exempts them from paying the OEC processing fee.

      To avail of this online process, OFWs are encouraged to follow the steps outlined below:

      1. Visit the POEA Online Services Portal or POPS-BaM website.
      2. On the e-Registration section, click “Let’s Go” and log in to your account.
      3. If any of your account details are incomplete, provide the missing data to proceed.
      4. Input your Flight Date and click “Next.”
      5. Answer “Yes” to the questions confirming that you are a Balik Manggagawa or a worker returning to the same employer and job site.
      6. After completing the previous steps, you can print your OEC online.
      7. Make sure to request your OEC within 60 days of your return flight date.

      This process aims to reduce the number of applicants visiting the POEA and POLO offices due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, promoting convenience and safety for OFWs.

       How to Get OEC exemption online for OFW / Bagong Website sa pag kuha ng OEC

      For more details on OEC,

      “There’s a recently launched platform called the Department of Migrant Workers, which offers a convenient way to obtain an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). To access the service, navigate to the homepage and select the ‘Online Services’ option. Within the Online Services section, locate and click on ‘E-Registration’ to be redirected to the new POPS-BaM website. From there, follow the provided instructions to apply for your OEC online and take advantage of the Balik Manggagawa OEC exemption.”

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Here are some common questions about the POLO office and the OEC certificate process in Greece:

      1. How can I get an OEC exemption in Greece?

      You can get an OEC exemption on POPS-BaM, but you have to be a Balik Manggagawa or a worker returning to the same employer and job site.

      2. How can I book an OEC appointment online?

      You need to register a POPS-BaM account and provide the necessary details to book an OEC appointment online.

      3. Can I get OEC in Greece without an appointment?

      You need to book an appointment if applying for OEC at the POLO Greece office.

      4. Can I get OEC at the airport?

      You can get OEC at the airport if you have confirmed flight booking or are on emergency leave.

      5. How long is OEC valid?

      OEC is only valid for 60 days.

      6. How much is the OEC fee in Greece?

      The OEC fee in Greece is P100 converted to Euro.

      7. Can I get OEC without OWWA membership?

      No, since active OWWA membership is one of the requirements for OEC issuance.

      Summary

      The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is a mandatory requirement for all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) departing from the Philippines. It serves as an exit clearance at the Philippine airport and allows OFWs to leave the country for employment purposes. How to Apply OEC Certificate in GreeceWhether it’s your first time working abroad or returning to Greece to continue your employment, you need to obtain your OEC each time you depart from the Philippine airport.

      It’s important to note that the OEC has a validity period of 60 days. Therefore, it’s crucial to request your OEC within the timeframe of your confirmed return flight to Greece. If your vacation or stay in the Philippines exceeds 60 days, you must obtain your OEC from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) offices before your flight back to Greece. This ensures that you have the necessary documentation to exit the Philippines and resume your employment in Greece.

      Contact Information

      POLO Greece
      Operating Hours: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday
      Address: 10 Fthiotidos St., Ambelokipi, 115 23 Athens, Greece
      Telephone Number: +30 210 698 3335
      Email: pologreece@yahoo.com
      Website: https://pologreece.dole.gov.ph/
      Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/PHLinGreece/

Related News