What to check, what to prepare and what to expect on this route. Every official name and link below comes from a government or ILO page we read; we say plainly where there is none.
Every candidate completes the same intake checklist. Your source country adds its own clearances on top. The destination side (visa type, medical, attestation) depends on the employer and your role, and your specialist confirms what currently applies.
Every candidate
Passport (First Page)
Passport (Last Page)
Photograph
CV
Education Certificate
Health Declaration
Consent
Specific to your source country
Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC): Issued by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) before departure.
OWWA membership: Registered as part of the deployment process with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
NBI police clearance: From the National Bureau of Investigation.
Last checked 29 September 2026.
Links go to official sites we do not control; treat each site as the authority, not this page.
Your Rights, From Official Sources
What the government and the ILO publish, in plain words. Laws change: your contract and the official page always win over this summary.
Who can apply
Anyone who hires, employs or takes on a foreigner in Colombia, including employers, must report the hiring and the end of the employment to Migración Colombia through its SIRE system. The agency calls this a legal obligation. Registering and using SIRE is free, and the employer needs the worker's passport or foreigner ID number.
Migración Colombia lists a free national line on 01 8000 51 55 15 and an anti-corruption line on +57 300 913 39 91. Its administrative headquarters does not receive the public.
How do I check a recruiter for work abroad from Philippines?
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Look the agency up in the DMW list of licensed recruitment agencies, and check that its licence is not cancelled or suspended.
Which authority handles labour matters in Colombia?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) and Migración Colombia. A type M work visa covers only the position, entity and activity it was issued for. A first-time applicant applies at a Colombian consulate abroad.
Which documents do I need to prepare to work in Colombia from Philippines?
Every candidate completes the same intake checklist: Passport (First Page), Passport (Last Page), Photograph, CV, Education Certificate, Health Declaration, Consent. Philippines adds: Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), OWWA membership, NBI police clearance. The destination side (visa type, medical, attestation) depends on the employer and your role, and your specialist confirms what currently applies.
Who pays for the flight and visa?
It depends on the employer and your contract, and it should be written in your offer before you pay or travel. Use the offer checker to see what is missing.
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