OWWA Membership Fee 2026: USD 25, Valid 2 Years, Renewal
Quick answer
OWWA membership costs USD 25 and lasts 2 years from the day you pay. There is no fixed peso amount: you pay USD 25 at the exchange rate of the day, so check the exact amount in the OWWA Mobile App or at the cashier before you pay. Some Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) post a local amount, for example AED 92 in Dubai, SGD 36 in Singapore and JPY 4,000 in Tokyo. You can pay in the OWWA Mobile App, through GCash as OWWA announced, at the OWWA desk of your MWO abroad, or at an OWWA regional office in the Philippines. Members and their families can get a death benefit of up to PHP 200,000, MEDplus of up to PHP 50,000 and scholarships. The full table is below.
How much is the OWWA fee in pesos?
The OWWA fee is set in US dollars: USD 25, "or its equivalent in the prevailing foreign exchange rates", under Republic Act 10801. So there is no fixed peso amount. When you pay in pesos, the amount is USD 25 converted at the exchange rate of the day, and it moves with the rate.
Abroad, the Migrant Workers Office collects the same USD 25 in local currency, at the amount it posts:
| Where you pay | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MWO Dubai, UAE | AED 92 | Local equivalent of USD 25 |
| MWO Singapore | SGD 36 | Local equivalent of USD 25 |
| MWO Tokyo, Japan | JPY 4,000 | Rate posted for August 2026; follows the exchange rate |
| Any other MWO or OWWA office | USD 25 | Or the local or peso equivalent of the day |
You get an official receipt. The law says no extra charges may be added on top of the contribution.
What are the requirements?
For a first membership or a new employer (list used by MWO Dubai; other MWOs ask for similar papers):
- A filled-in OFW Information Sheet.
- Your passport and your residence ID in the host country.
- Your employment contract verified by the MWO.
- A recent certificate of employment or your latest payslip.
To renew with the same employer, the contract is not needed again. Bring the information sheet, passport, residence ID and a recent certificate of employment or payslip.
To renew in the app, you only need your OWWA Mobile App account and a way to pay online.
How do you apply, step by step?
Online
1. Download the OWWA Mobile App from the App Store or Google Play
Use only the store links on owwa.gov.ph.
2. Verify your account
Enter your full name and a working email address. OWWA emails you a username and password.
3. Check your status
The Personal Information tab shows if you are Active or Inactive, your payment history and your latest contract.
4. Renew and pay
In-app renewal opens up to 90 days before your membership expires. OWWA also accepts membership payments through GCash.
5. Wait for the payment to post
Bank and e-wallet payments take 1 to 3 banking days to show in the app.
Walk-in
1. Go to the OWWA desk of your MWO
(called the Overseas Welfare Office) or, when you are home, to an OWWA regional welfare office. MWO Dubai does not need an appointment for OWWA; check your own MWO's page.
2. Hand in the documents listed above
3. Pay the fee in the local currency and keep the official receipt
Your country page lists the local desk and fee: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Italy and the United States.
Benefits
The amounts below are the ones OWWA publishes for each program. Each program has its own rules, so read the OWWA page before you apply.
| Benefit | Amount | Who can get it |
|---|---|---|
| Death benefit, natural cause | PHP 100,000 | Beneficiaries of a member who was active at the time of death |
| Death benefit, accident | PHP 200,000 | Beneficiaries of a member who was active at the time of death |
| Burial gratuity | PHP 20,000 | Paid on top of the death benefit |
| Disability benefit, partial | PHP 2,500 to PHP 25,000 | Members with an accident-related partial disability |
| Disability benefit, total or permanent | PHP 50,000 to PHP 100,000 | Members with an accident-related total or permanent disability |
| MEDplus | Up to PHP 50,000 | Active OWWA and PhilHealth members hospitalized for a dreaded disease, abroad or at home |
| ELAP education aid | PHP 5,000 to PHP 10,000 per school year | Dependents of a member who died while active, from kinder to college |
| ELAP livelihood aid | PHP 15,000 | The surviving family of that member |
| EDSP scholarship | Up to PHP 60,000 per school year | Dependents who qualify through the DOST exam, for a 4- or 5-year course |
| ODSP scholarship | PHP 20,000 per school year | Dependents of members earning USD 600 a month or less |
| Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! | PHP 20,000 | Returning members, as start-up capital, with business training |
Other help does not have a fixed amount:
- Welfare Assistance Program (WAP). Cash relief for members, active or not, and their families after a calamity, a crime or accident, an illness not covered by MEDplus, or a mass layoff.
- Repatriation. OWWA and DMW help distressed members come home.
- Pre-departure education. Orientation and training before you leave, including the program for household service workers.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Membership, new or renewal | USD 25 | Paid in local currency at the MWO; AED 92 at MWO Dubai |
| Validity | 2 years | Counted from payment; not shortened by a shorter contract or a new employer |
| In-app renewal | USD 25 | Opens up to 90 days before expiry; payment posts in 1 to 3 banking days |
How long does it take?
- At the MWO desk: your payment is recorded when you pay and get the receipt.
- In the app: bank and e-wallet payments take 1 to 3 banking days to show.
Where to go
- Online: the OWWA Mobile App.
- Abroad: the OWWA desk (Overseas Welfare Office) at your Migrant Workers Office. See your country page.
- In the Philippines: OWWA regional welfare offices, and the OWWA Center on F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City, open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Hotline: 1348, open 24/7. From abroad, dial +632 1348.
Frequently asked questions
How much is OWWA membership in 2026?
USD 25, paid in the local currency of the country where you work. At MWO Dubai it is AED 92.
How much is OWWA membership in pesos?
There is no fixed peso price. The fee is USD 25, and when you pay in pesos you pay its equivalent at the exchange rate of the day.
How much is the OWWA renewal fee?
The same as a new membership: USD 25, valid for 2 years from payment. Renew in the OWWA Mobile App (from 90 days before expiry), through GCash, at the OWWA desk of your MWO, or at an OWWA regional office in the Philippines.
Can I pay OWWA membership with GCash?
Yes. OWWA announced a partnership with GCash for membership payments, so GCash is an accepted channel. You pay USD 25 at the exchange rate of the day. Keep the receipt until the payment shows in the OWWA Mobile App, which takes 1 to 3 banking days.
Can my family renew my OWWA membership in the Philippines?
Yes. The OWWA Citizen's Charter says your next of kin or relatives may renew your membership at the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office.
How long is OWWA membership valid?
Two years from payment. A shorter contract or a change of employer does not cut it short.
Can I renew OWWA online?
Yes, in the OWWA Mobile App, starting 90 days before your membership expires. If that window has passed, renew at the OWWA desk of the MWO or at an OWWA regional office.
How do I check if my OWWA membership is active?
Log in to the OWWA Mobile App. The Personal Information tab shows Active or Inactive and your payment history.
Can I renew OWWA while I am on vacation in the Philippines?
Yes. Go to an OWWA regional welfare office with your passport and proof of employment.
Can my family claim benefits?
Yes. Death and burial benefits go to your beneficiaries, and ELAP and the scholarships are for your dependents.
Is OWWA the same as SSS or PhilHealth?
No. OWWA is a separate welfare fund for OFWs. You still need SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG. MEDplus even requires an active PhilHealth membership.
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