Work visa application and Overseas Employment Certificate checklists

I love checklists.

Let me correct that.

I love ticking off items in my checklist.

So my job offer and employment contract came in October and my employer told me that I could already apply for work visa. Good thing I already had a “practice” in applying for visa when I initially applied for visitor visa (which got approved, by the way), so I already know how the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) online application works. It’s just a matter of gathering heaps of documentation. I needed to have to-do lists and start checking them one by one.

Applying for work visa with INZ

I’m sharing here my checklist for my work visa application:

• Employer Supplementary form
• Evidence of Advertising (from employer) – proof that there are no New Zealanders qualified for the role
• Job offer and position description
• eMedical Information Sheet (from the medical exam)
• Police Certificate
• Academic Transcript
• College Diploma
• Letter of Appointment (from previous employer)
• Certificates of Employment (from previous employers)
• Reference letters (from previous managers)
• Training Certificates of Completion
• Certificates of Appreciation
• Certificate of years of service
• Job description (from previous employer)
• Regularisation notice (from previous employer)
• Latest payslips
• Birth Certificate
• Birth Certificate of younger sister
• Permanent resident visa of younger sister
• Latest passport

As you can see, I made sure that I did all my homework–documentation and medical–to ensure that I am substantially covered. If you’re interested in applying for work visa, it’s best to be over-prepared.

Applying for Overseas Employment Certificate with POEA

While I was waiting for my visa approval, I also did my homework to check with Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) regarding the requirements for securing an Overseas Employment Certificate (Philippine exit clearance). All Filipinos with work visas need to go through them before exiting the Philippines. This IS the tricky part. Gathering their documentary requirements was more daunting for me than with INZ.

Here’s my checklist for my Overseas Employment Certificate application:

• Authenticated employment contract (in my case, authentication was done by Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Australia since there’s no POLO Office in NZ)
• Statement of how I was able to get this employment
• Company Profile of employer
• Copy of Certificate of Incorporation / Business registration of employer
• Copy of employer’s passport / driver’s license
• Academic Transcript
• College Diploma
• Certificates of Employment (from previous employers)
• Birth Certificate
• Birth Certificate of younger sister
• Permanent resident visa of younger sister
• Latest passport with work visa
• Personal insurance*
• Pre-Departure Orientation and Seminar (PDOS) Certificate by OWWA
• Fees: POEA processing fee (USD 100.00 or PHP equivalent), OWWA membership fee (USD 25.00 or PHP equivalent)

This checklist of requirements is also in the website of POEA under Name Hires (or direct hires) but my advice is for you is to go to POEA and check with them personally and have your documents evaluated.

*I had to get my own insurance from NZ since POEA was requiring that the employer should include a repatriation clause in the employment contract (In the event of death of the employee…, his remains and personal belongings shall be repatriated to the Philippines at the expense of the employer). Of course, my employer reasoned that they are NOT required to insert such requests in their employment agreements since they operate in NZ, under NZ laws, and their contracts more than reasonably meet NZ laws and are fully compliant. In short, my employer said that it was my responsibility to get adequate insurance policy which covers accidents, deaths, illness, etc., which was fine with me.

Hope these checklists help and you’d be able to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. When you get your work visa, don’t celebrate yet! Remember you still have to meet the requirements of POEA. Once you get that little green paper (the OEC / e-Receipt), now you can officially resign from your current work and throw a send-off party! 😉