To streamline its services and reduce congestion at its offices, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai and Northern Emirates will implement updated contract verification procedures for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) starting May 1, 2025. In an advisory, MWO-Dubai announced two available options for employment contract verification: online submission of documents and walk-in verification a day before the flight.
Under Option 1, OFWs may submit their documents through the online system for contract verification. A new submission form will open every Monday at 8:00 AM with a limited 800 slots. The form closes either once all slots are filled or by Wednesday at 11:59 PM, whichever comes first. The submission link is posted on the MWO-Dubai website and official Facebook page every Monday. The processing cycle time for submitted documents is 11 working days. Once approved, applicants will receive a scheduled date for collection and payment of their verified documents. For reference, an application submitted on May 5, 2025, will have its result released by May 15, and documents will be available for release, collection, and payment from May 19 to 21. The estimated processing time during collection is 15 to 20 minutes.
The online contract verification system applies to OFWs with visas issued in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, and Ras Al Khaimah, or those currently working in any of these Emirates. OFWs are strongly encouraged to use this online option to avoid physical queuing at the MWO-Dubai office.
For Option 2, OFWs may walk in at the MWO-Dubai office one working day before their confirmed flight to the Philippines to have their documents verified. This is applicable to OFWs who were unable to submit their documents online in advance. If the flight falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, workers may visit MWO-Dubai on the nearest preceding Thursday or Friday. In cases where the day before the flight is declared a holiday or a non-working day, the worker must visit the MWO on the closest earlier working day.
The walk-in option also covers OFWs who are already in the Philippines and were unable to verify their documents before departure. These workers may authorize someone in the UAE to submit their documents on their behalf. Authorized representatives will be granted entry into MWO-Dubai one to three days before the worker’s confirmed OEC appointment in the Philippines or two to five days before the worker’s scheduled flight back to the UAE.
The second option is specifically for OFWs with immediate confirmed flights, those unable to visit the office in advance, or those required by the MWO-Dubai to appear in person.
Meanwhile, OFWs who are only renewing their OWWA membership and are still employed by the same registered employer may visit OWWA-Dubai directly on any working day without a prior appointment. Those availing Pag-IBIG services can also visit without booking in advance. However, OFWs who wish to access SSS services are advised to set an appointment via https://bit.ly/SSS_Appointment.
The MWO-Dubai emphasized that these revised procedures aim to improve public service and manage the growing number of OFWs seeking contract verification, while also expanding access through digital platforms.