Going overseas to work for bigger pay is one of the many things Filipinos consider. Can you imagine not just earning in dollars but also earning twice or thrice more than your salary here? It’s tempting, don’t you think?
Apparently, working abroad is not easy. Aside from the gruesome application process, applying for work overseas means there is a price to pay as well – and it’s not a cheap one. This could be the reason why many Filipinos sell whatever they could sell just to pay for these fees.
This leads you to the next question: how much does it cost to apply for work abroad?
PLACEMENT FEE
POEA-licensed recruitment agencies are allowed to charge placement fee, which is equivalent to one-month worth of your salary abroad. This is necessary because said amount is used by recruitment agencies to sustain their businesses. Take note that the basis of computation should be on the salary stated in the POEA-approved employment contract.
Can the recruitment agency require you to pay the placement fee upon application? The answer is no.
In fact, the agency could only deduct the fees once you signed the employment contract. In return, the agency will give you BIR-registered receipt, which shows the total amount paid. If they insist on you paying the said fee, then you need to think twice about your chosen recruitment agency because there is a possibility that you will be scammed.
Can you pay only half of the placement fee first? That would depend on your arrangement with the recruitment agency.
You can choose to pay half of the fee upon signing of contract and the other half once you have the plane ticket and other travel documents. This could be a good arrangement if you cannot raise the entire amount upon signing of contract.
READ: Practical Ways to Raise Money for Placement Fee
Nonetheless, not all overseas workers are obliged to pay placement fee. Seafarers, household service workers, and caregivers are exempted. There are also countries that ban collection of placement fee, which includes:
- United Kingdom
- USA (under H2B visa)
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Canada
- New Zealand
PROCESSING FEE
The good news is you won’t shoulder all expenses. There are fees that must be shouldered by employer, which includes:
- Working visa
- Roundtrip airfare
- Work and residence permit
- OWWA membership fee amounting to USD 25
- POEA processing fee of P200
- Insurance coverage
- Transportation to the jobsite
- Additional tests or assessment, especially when the job so requires
DOCUMENTATION FEES
You will need to submit certain documents in order to process your job application. This would also mean shelling money to produce these documents.
Here are the requirements you need to submit:
- Passport – P950.00 for regular and P1,200.00 for express
- NBI Clearance – P150.00
- Police and Barangay Clearance – amount depending on your location
- PSA-authenticated birth certificate – P330.00
- Philhealth contribution – P2,400.00
- PAG-IBIG contribution – P100.00
- Medical Exam – amount varies per clinic
You might find these fees overwhelming and too much for you wallet to handle. Unfortunately, not all fees can be waived completely, so it is best to save up for these fees as early as possible.