The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Qatar has announced its 2026 holiday schedule while also introducing a major digital upgrade for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). On Thursday, October 9, the DMW confirmed that the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) will now be integrated into the OFW Travel Pass, making travel documentation easier through the eGovPH app.
The announcement, made via the DMW’s official Facebook video post, revealed that balik-manggagawa workers—those returning to the same employer, job, and country—can now use the digital OFW Travel Pass as their official exit clearance, eliminating the need for the old OEC.
“The OFW Travel Pass will serve as a digital pass for documentation and exit pass of OFWs. The OFW only needs a mobile phone to download the eGovPH application, follow the steps, and register their information,” the DMW said.
How to access the OFW Travel Pass:
- Download the eGovPH app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Create an account using a valid email address and mobile number.
- Go to the NGA tab, then select DMW.
- Tap Balik Manggagawa.
- On the homepage, click Travel Pass.
- Your OFW Travel Pass profile and QR code will appear—serving as your digital exit clearance.
According to DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, the integration is part of a pilot program under the eGovPH Super App, designed to merge multiple government services, including those of the DMW, into a single digital platform.
Cacdac expressed optimism that by early next year, the Travel Pass will become the standard document for all returning and newly hired OFWs, replacing the paper-based OEC system entirely. “As long as the worker has the eTravel pass and is cleared with the DMW, that will serve as their official document,” he explained.
The initiative highlights the Philippine government’s continued efforts to modernize public services for overseas workers, especially in high-population hubs like Qatar, where thousands of OFWs are employed. The move aims to reduce processing time, minimize paperwork, and ensure smoother travel procedures for Filipinos abroad.
This transition to a fully digital system is expected to benefit millions of OFWs globally by improving accessibility, convenience, and transparency in employment verification and travel clearance.