DMW Direct Hire Process Checklist

Get the DMW direct hire process checklist so you know exactly what to gather and file before your PH to NL move.

Who this is for

Filipino devs and tech workers who landed a job directly with a Netherlands employer, no agency in between, and now have to clear the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) process before you can leave the Philippines. If you went through an agency, some steps differ, so confirm your route first.

What this helps you decide or do

This walks you through the direct hire path end to end so you can prep documents in the right order instead of getting bounced back at the counter. It also helps you sanity check what your NL employer needs to send you versus what you handle yourself. For my own direct hire, my total DMW related out of pocket came to 6,703.75 pesos, so this is not the expensive part of the move.

Quick checklist

1. Confirm your hire is a true direct hire (employer hired you directly, no PH recruitment agency). Your route decides which DMW forms apply, so verify this before anything else.
2. Get your signed NL employment contract in hand, ideally in English. Check it states your role, gross salary in euros, and start date.
3. Ask your NL employer for a copy of their company registration / proof they are a legitimate business abroad. DMW commonly asks for this for direct hires.
4. Get your passport valid well past your intended departure (check it has enough months left for the IND/visa side too).
5. Prepare a PSA birth certificate and, if married, a PSA marriage certificate. These are commonly asked for, not guaranteed, so bring them to be safe.
6. Sort your NBI clearance and any police clearance early. These are case specific and can take time, so start them before you think you need them.
7. Check whether your role needs the Bureau of Local Employment / DMW direct hire authority or exemption document for your category. Ask DMW directly which one applies to you.
8. Register and book your appointment through the official DMW online system (the e-services portal), not a fixer. Screenshot every reference number you get.
9. Complete the required Pre Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and keep the certificate. Confirm the current format and schedule with DMW.
10. Pay only the official DMW fees at official counters and keep every receipt. Direct hire is cheap, so a large quoted fee is a red flag.
11. Get your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) / exemption once cleared, and confirm it matches your passport and flight details exactly.
12. Keep digital plus printed copies of everything, contract, OEC, clearances, in one folder for airport immigration on departure day.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the agency placement fee rules apply to you. For agency hires the DMW cap is up to one month basic salary; direct hire is a different track, so do not let anyone quote you a percentage of your salary.
• Starting NBI and police clearances last. They are the slowest items, so they should be first.
• Treating documents like NBI, police clearance, or PSA certificates as a fixed universal list. They are commonly requested, but your exact requirements depend on your case.
• Paying a fixer to “speed up” DMW. The official portal is the path, and large unofficial fees are a warning sign.
• Mixing up the DMW exit process with the IND/MVV visa side. They are separate. Clearing DMW does not mean your NL entry visa is done.

What to verify

• The exact direct hire documents and forms for your job category, confirm directly with DMW.
• Whether you need a direct hire authority or an exemption, ask DMW, do not assume.
• Current PDOS format, fees, and appointment steps on the official DMW portal.
• Your NL side requirements (MVV, IND, 30% ruling which is changing from 30% to 27% in 2027, not disappearing) with your employer and the IND.
• Any tax questions with the Belastingdienst or a qualified adviser.

Jake note

I did the direct hire route myself and the DMW part felt scarier than it actually was. The real cost was small, the real work was getting my clearances done early and keeping every receipt. Confirm your specifics with DMW, because my case is not automatically your case.