Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad are required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or Peer Counseling Program (PCP). Topics discussed include travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, and rights and obligations of Filipino migrants.
The PDOS is for emigrants aged 20-59 years old who are petitioned by their parents, siblings, or immediate relatives, including independent applicants. The Peer Counseling Program is for emigrants aged 13-19 years old.
There are TWO OPTIONS for the client to choose from to avail of the PDOS or PCP.
OPTION (1) : ON-SITE or WITH FACE TO FACE TRANSACTION (R&R)
All Filipinos who hold an immigrant visa must reserve and register online before attending the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and the Peer Counselling Program (PCP) conducted by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas in Manila, Cebu and Davao.
A. What are the requirements?
1. Barcoded form for confirmation of appointment
2. Valid Passport (must be valid at least six months before date of travel)
3. Valid Visa
4. Other documents issued by the host country:
a) Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR for Canada-bound emigrants)
b) Notice of Visa Grant (page displaying visa class for New Zealand and Australia bound emigrants)
c) Contract (for E13, E21, E31, E32, EW3, EX1 US-visa holders)
5. One valid ID with photograph
After satisfactory compliance with the registration process and attendance to the PDOS, a CFO digital certificate will be sent to your registered email.. This should be presented to the Bureau of Immigration on the day of departure.
B. How to make an appointment?
1.Go to the link below and click the link to register and reserve a slot online:
MANILA OFFICE:
CEBU OFFICE:
DAVAO OFFICE:
BAGUIO OFFICE:
2. Answer all preliminary questions to check if you are required to attend the PDOS or Peer Counseling Program. Provide your email address and click “Submit.”
3. Open your email (including the SPAM folder) and look for a confirmation message from CFO. Click on “Confirm Email” and provide information as specified on the “PERSONAL INFORMATION” page.
4. You will be advised if you are required to attend PDOS/Peer or if exempted:
A. If required to attend the PDOS, you will be directed to the “SET YOUR SCHEDULE” page. Click the calendar to select your preferred date and time to attend the PDOS/PEER session.
Note: There are limited slots per session, per day.
B. If exempted from attending the PDOS/Peer session, please proceed to Step 5.
5. Click “Proceed to Registration” button to complete the on-line registration form.
6. Upload your recent 2 X 2 photo with a plain white background and supply correct and complete information in all the fields required in the registration form.
7. Download and print the Barcoded Confirmation Form. Bring this document together with all the other requirements to the CFO on the date of appointment. There is NO NEED TO PRINT your registration form. Please come to CFO at least an hour before your scheduled PDOS/PEER session for the verification process.
C. Who are exempted from PDOS?
Emigrants who are exempted from attending the PDOS are still required to register personally or by proxy/authorized representative.
The following emigrants are exempted from attending the PDOS:
• Minor emigrants aged 12 and below
• 60-year-old and older Senior Citizens
• Those incapacitated due to permanent or long-term ailments
• Those suffering from mental illnesses or who are psychologically challenged.
• Emigrants who stayed for an aggregate of two months in the destination country
If registered by proxy, representative is required to present the following documents in addition to the usual required documents:
1. Medical certificate/report (except those 60 years old and above)
2. Letter of authorization from the emigrant (if applicable to the case); and
3. Original valid identification card with photograph of the proxy.
Proxies who are NOT the legal/natural/biological adoptive parent of children 12 years old and below must present the following documents:
1. One (1) original valid identification card with photograph of the proxy, and
2. Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or duly notarized authorization letter executed by parent/s or guardian/s, issued in the Philippines or overseas.
Emigrants who have stayed for an aggregate of two months in the destination country are required to present the following documents:
1. Previously obtained visa or landing stamp
2. Foreign government issued identification cards i.e. driver’s license, state identification card
D. What is the schedule of PDOS?
E. How much should I pay?
CFO does not collect registration fees from our clients—Filipino emigrants, spouses and other partners of foreign nationals, and au pair program participants.
Clients who will be processing their CFO documents through face-to-face transactions or Reservation and Registration (R&R) will only be charged a Documentary Stamp Tax amounting to Thirty Pesos only (P30.00) per registrant.
For those who will be registering through full online or the Overseas Filipinos-CFO Online Registration System (OFCORS), there is an additional convenience fee that is required by our partner service providers.
F. Important Reminders for Clients with Reservation and Registration (R&R) for the CFO Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS):
1. Please be advised that securing an appointment for CFO registration and PDOS isFREE. The CFO discourages applicants from securing online appointment through fixers or businesses offering such services for a fee. Do not deal with fixers.
2. Please arrive at CFO at least 1 hour before your PDOS session or refer to the table of schedule here.
3. DO NOT purchase outbound airline tickets until your CFO travel documents are issued. The Commission will not be responsible for any rebooking charges, loss of income, and other financial compensation and/ or personal losses arising from the applicant’s travel arrangements in view of non-attendance or non-completion to CFO pre-departure program.
4. The CFO no longer collects registration fees from our clientele: Filipino emigrants, foreign nationals’ spouses and other partners, and au pair program participants
5. Records from clients with multiple accounts and erroneous entries will be automatically DELETED. Clients will be advised to create their account and register again.
6. Only qualified clients or authorized family representatives may access the CFO online frontline services.
OPTION (2) : ONLINE or NO NEED FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT ANY CFO OFFICES (OFCORS)
All Filipinos who hold an immigrant visa may register online via Overseas Filipinos – CFO Online Registration System (OF-CORS) if they prefer a pure online transaction. Through OF-CORS, clients need not go to any CFO office to avail of pre-departure services. They could just print their own OF-CORS Digital Certificate, which will be presented to the Bureau of Immigration on the day of their departure from the Philippines.
A. How to register for CFO Webinar using the OF-CORS?
To register online via Overseas Filipinos – CFO Online Registration System or OF-CORS to participate in the CFO webinars or virtual PDOS, use the link below:
B. What are the requirements?
After registering using OFCORS, an auto-e-mail notification will be sent to your e-mail address (the one you used for account creation) requiring you to submit the following documents to the assigned verifier: You need to send the digital copies of the following registration requirements for checking/verification to the assigned CFO Officers:
1. Valid Passport;
2. Valid Visa or Visa Grant Notice;
3. Valid ID;
4.
a) Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR for Canada-bound migrants)
b) Contract (for E13, E21, E31, E32, EW3, EX1 US-visa holders)
c) Visa grant notice (page showing visa class for NZ and Australia bound migrants).
5. Additional requirements for Minor registration (12 and below):
birth certificate and biological parent’s valid ID
(If not biological parents, submit SPA/notarized authorization letter of proxy other than the biological parents, and proxy’s valid ID with photo and signature.)
Proxies who are NOT the legal/natural/biological adoptive parent registering children 12 years old and below will have to send the digital copies for verification of the following additional requirements:
1. An original valid identification card with the proxy’s photograph; and
2. A notarized authorization letter signed by the parent/s or guardian/s in the Philippines or elsewhere.
CFO officers will go over your documents, which can take a few days to process. You will be updated once the verification is done through another e-mail from your assigned officer.
C. Helpful materials on Registration and PDOS
Click here for the Step by Step Procedure in using the OFCORS for the Emigrant Registration.
Click here to watch the video on CFO Registration via OF-CORS.
Click here for United States of America (USA) Online PDOS.
Click here for Canada Online PDOS.
Click here for Japan Kakehashi published Bridging the Gap (English and Tagalog version)
Click here for the Step by Step Video Guide on Overseas Filipinos CFO Online Registration System (OF-CORS) for Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS).
D. How much should I pay?
CFO does not collect registration fees from clients – Filipino emigrants, spouses and other partners of foreign nationals, and au pair program participants.
Clients who will be processing their CFO documents through face-to-face transactions or Reservation and Registration (R&R) will only be charged a Documentary Stamp Tax amounting to Thirty Pesos only (P30.00) per registrant.
For those who will be registering through full online or the Overseas Filipinos-CFO Online Registration System (OFCORS), there is an additional convenience fee that is required by our partner service providers.
E. Important Reminders for OF-CORS:
1.Please be advised that registration online using OF-CORS is FREE. The CFO discourages our clients from securing online appointments through fixers or businesses offering such services for a fee. Do not deal with fixers.
2. Please enter the Zoom link or Google link for the webinar at CFO at least 1 hour before your PDOS/webinar session or refer to the table of schedule here.
3. DO NOT purchase outbound airline tickets until your CFO travel documents are issued. The Commission will not be responsible for any rebooking charges, loss of income, and other financial compensation and/or personal losses arising from the applicant’s travel arrangements in view of non-attendance or non-completion of the CFO pre-departure program.
4. The digital certificate willbe presented at the port of exit in the Philippines (Bureau of Immigration) as proof of registration with the CFO.
5. The CFO no longer collects registration fees from our clientele: Filipino emigrants, foreign nationals’ spouses and other partners, and au pair program participants
6. Records from clients with multiple accounts and erroneous entries will be automatically DELETED. Clients will be advised to create their account and register again.
