OFW Medical Exam Cost & Accredited Clinics in the Philippines [2026]

Quick Answer: A land-based OFW pre-deployment medical exam in the Philippines costs an estimated ₱2,500–₱7,500 in 2026 for most Gulf and Asia-bound workers. This is our own estimate range, not a published schedule: the DOH regulates the fees of accredited clinics, but we could not find an official fee list. For the Gulf (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman), you book through Wafid, which charges US$10 for a Standard appointment or US$25 for a Premium appointment, plus the medical center's own fee. The exam must be done at a DOH-accredited clinic, and a fit certificate is valid for 90 days under DOH rules (2 months for Wafid Gulf certificates). Visa medicals for countries such as Canada and Australia are priced by their own panel clinics and can cost much more. Some agencies or employers shoulder or reimburse the cost, but under DOH rules the applicant pays the clinic directly, so confirm before you pay.

Table of Contents

• What Is the OFW Medical Exam?
• OFW Medical Exam Cost by Destination
• Why It Must Be a DOH-Accredited Clinic
• Standard Test Battery
• GAMCA / Wafid: The Gulf Exception
• Validity and Timing
• Who Pays for the OFW Medical Exam?
• Tips Before You Book
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What Is the OFW Medical Exam?

Every land-based Overseas Filipino Worker must pass a pre-deployment (or pre-employment) medical examination before a contract is processed and a visa is issued. It certifies that you are medically fit for overseas work and free of conditions — active tuberculosis, certain infectious diseases — that destination countries screen out at the border.

This exam is regulated by the Department of Health under Republic Act 10022 and DOH Administrative Order No. 2013-0006 (Guidelines to Rule XI, Role of DOH, in the rules implementing the Migrant Workers Act), which revised the earlier DOH Administrative Order No. 1, s. 2003 (Operational Guidelines in the Conduct of Pre-Employment Medical Examination of Overseas Workers and Seafarers). Overseas employment itself is handled by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which absorbed the POEA under Republic Act 11641. The exam covers a standardized clinical evaluation plus laboratory and imaging tests, and the panel can expand depending on what your destination country and employer require.

A few important distinctions:

• This guide covers the land-based OFW exam — domestic workers, nurses, construction and oil-and-gas workers, hospitality staff, factory workers, and other land-based deployments.
• Seafarers follow a separate, heavier protocol under DOH rules at DOH-accredited medical facilities for seafarers. See our seafarer medical exam (PEME) cost guide for that deep-dive.
• Gulf-bound workers go through the GAMCA/Wafid system, which has its own accreditation and booking process — covered in detail in our GAMCA/Wafid medical exam Philippines guide.

OFW Medical Exam Cost by Destination

Cost varies most by where you are going, because the destination decides how many tests are required and, for the Gulf, which booking system you use. Here are our estimated ranges for land-based OFWs in 2026.

These are our own estimate ranges, not DOH-published fees. Your actual bill depends on the exact test panel your employer or destination requires, the clinic, and whether add-ons (extra labs, vaccinations, repeat tests) apply. Always confirm the all-in price with the clinic before you pay. For the broader pre-employment context — corporate, executive, and aviation packages — see our pre-employment medical exam cost guide.

Why the Gulf Costs More

The Gulf tier tends to cost more because it is the only one that requires a Wafid booking on top of the clinic's own fee. You pay a Wafid online appointment fee (US$10 Standard, US$25 Premium) in addition to the medical center charge, and only Wafid-approved centers can issue a Gulf-recognized result. Wafid's own list shows 42 approved center entries for the Philippines (checked October 2026). Our ₱5,000–₱7,500 band is an estimate, not an official rate.

Why It Must Be a DOH-Accredited Clinic

You cannot simply walk into any laboratory for an OFW medical. The exam must be performed at a clinic accredited by the DOH for overseas worker examinations. An unaccredited facility's result will not be honored — the agency, embassy, or destination authority will reject it, and you will have paid for an exam you have to repeat.

For Gulf deployments there is a second layer: the clinic must also be GAMCA/Wafid-accredited, meaning it is recognized by the GCC's medical examination system. A DOH accreditation alone is not enough for Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, or Oman.

Before you book, verify accreditation:

• Check the DOH's list of accredited Medical Facilities for Overseas Workers and Seafarers on the DOH HFSRB website, which is updated quarterly. The latest edition we read is as of March 31, 2026 and lists 185 facilities, 120 of them in Metro Manila. Under Republic Act 10022, you may choose any DOH-accredited clinic, and an agency cannot require you to use only its designated clinic. Gulf-bound workers book through Wafid, which assigns the center on a Standard appointment.
• For the Gulf, confirm the clinic is active on the Wafid system for your destination country.
• If you are choosing your own clinic, ask the front desk to show their current DOH accreditation certificate and confirm it covers overseas worker examinations.

Going to a non-accredited facility means paying twice, so confirm accreditation first.

Which agency publishes which clinic list, DOH, GAMCA/Wafid or the embassies, is mapped out in Medical Exam for Abroad: Who Publishes What.

Standard Test Battery

A land-based OFW medical exam typically includes the following. Your destination country and employer may add or remove items, but this is the common core:

The DOH's earlier operational guidelines (AO No. 1, s. 2003) list a stool exam, blood typing and a dental exam in the standard exam, and the DOH PEME also includes psychological screening. Destinations can add more, such as Hepatitis C testing. The Gulf panel set in Wafid's regulations is not identical: it adds a blood smear for malaria and filaria plus kidney and liver function tests, and it reports a strict "fit / unfit" outcome to the destination authority.

If you want to understand the individual tests and their standalone prices, our component guides break them down: chest X-ray cost, CBC test cost, and urinalysis cost.

GAMCA / Wafid: The Gulf Exception

If your destination is a Gulf Cooperation Council country — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, or Oman — your medical is processed through Wafid, the online portal of the Gulf Health Council's expatriate medical check-up program (still widely called GAMCA).

How it works in brief:

1. You book an appointment online on Wafid and pay the booking fee: US$10 for a Standard appointment (the center is assigned automatically for your chosen city) or US$25 for a Premium appointment (you choose the center and date).
2. You attend a GAMCA/Wafid-accredited medical center for the exam.
3. The center reports a fit / unfit result directly into the GCC system, which your visa processing draws from.

The all-in 2026 cost, Wafid booking plus the medical center fee, is an estimated ₱5,000–₱7,500, because Wafid does not publish the center's fee. Under Wafid's regulations the certificate is valid for 2 months from the issue date. Because the rules, accredited-center list, and booking steps are specific to the Gulf, we cover the full process in the dedicated GAMCA/Wafid medical exam Philippines guide. Read that one if you are Gulf-bound.

Validity and Timing

• Validity: Under DOH rules, a fit-to-work PEME certificate is valid for 90 days from the date of fitness, or less if the host country or employer requires. Wafid Gulf certificates are valid for 2 months from the issue date. Plan your exam so it does not expire before your visa and deployment are finalized.
• Turnaround: DOH rules require accredited clinics to release PEME results within 72 hours of the examination. Wafid's rules give the center up to 3 days to issue the certificate.
• Re-exam: If your deployment is delayed past the validity window, you will need to repeat the exam — and pay again. Do not book the medical too early in your processing timeline.

Who Pays for the OFW Medical Exam?

In practice, this varies:

• Agency- or employer-shouldered: Some agencies and employers pay the clinic for you. That is a private arrangement, not a DOH rule: DOH's guidelines say the applicant pays the clinic directly, except for seafarers whose principal pays. Confirm with your agency before you pay anything.
• Reimbursed: Some employers have you pay first and reimburse after the contract is signed. Keep the official receipt.
• Out-of-pocket: If you are processing independently or the agency does not cover it, you pay the clinic's full fee yourself (our estimate is ₱2,500–₱7,500 for most Gulf and Asia-bound workers).

Beware of agencies that steer you to an unaccredited "partner" clinic at an inflated price. Under Republic Act 10022 it is prohibited to require an OFW to take the medical exam only at specifically designated clinics (the exception is seafarers whose principal pays), and the DOH regulates what accredited clinics may charge. If something feels off, verify the agency's license with the DMW and confirm the clinic's accreditation on the DOH list.

Tips Before You Book

• Check the DOH accredited-clinic list first. You may choose any DOH-accredited clinic: your agency can recommend one, but it cannot make you use only its own. You can only be required to take the exam when your agency certifies that you will be hired and deployed. A foreign employer who refuses to honor a valid DOH-accredited result can be disqualified from the overseas employment program.
• Confirm the all-in price, including any booking fee (especially for the Gulf), before you pay.
• Fast 8–10 hours if fasting blood sugar or an abdominal ultrasound is part of your panel. Water is fine; skip coffee and food.
• Bring a valid government ID, recent ID photos, your passport, and a list of any current medications.
• Disclose maintenance medications truthfully — undisclosed conditions discovered abroad can void a contract.
• Time it right. Because the certificate is valid for only 90 days (2 months for Gulf Wafid results), schedule the exam once your deployment timeline is firm to avoid a costly re-test.
• Keep copies. Scan or photograph the certificate and receipt before handing the original to your agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an OFW medical exam cost in the Philippines in 2026?

Our estimate for a land-based OFW pre-deployment medical exam is ₱2,500–₱7,500 in 2026, depending on your destination. For Asia-bound workers (Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia) we estimate ₱2,500–₱4,500 for the standard battery, though Japan visa applicants for mid- and long-term stays also need JPETS TB screening at ₱7,445 or ₱8,755 depending on age. Gulf-bound workers using a Wafid-approved center pay Wafid's US$10 booking fee (US$25 for Premium) plus the center's fee, which Wafid does not publish, so we estimate ₱5,000–₱7,500 all-in. Visa medicals for destinations such as Canada, Australia and Europe are priced by their own panel clinics and can cost much more (SLEC's published adult fee for Canada is ₱13,270). These are estimates, not DOH-published fees: the DOH regulates what accredited clinics charge, so confirm the all-in price with the clinic before paying, since add-on tests and vaccinations can raise the bill.

Where do I take the OFW medical exam?

At a DOH-accredited clinic authorized to conduct overseas worker examinations. For the Gulf, the clinic must additionally be Wafid-approved. Check the DOH's published list of accredited clinics: you are free to choose any DOH-accredited clinic, and your agency can suggest one but cannot require it (Republic Act 10022). Gulf-bound workers book through Wafid, which assigns the center on a Standard appointment. Never use an unaccredited facility; the result will be rejected and you will pay again.

What tests are included in the OFW medical exam?

The DOH's operational guidelines (AO No. 1, s. 2003) list a complete history and physical exam, chest X-ray, CBC, blood typing, urinalysis, fecalysis, a dental exam and psychometric evaluation, plus an ECG if you are 40 or older. HIV, Hepatitis B or VDRL tests are done when the destination country or principal requires them, and the DOH PEME also includes psychological screening. Destinations may add more, such as Hepatitis C testing. A drug test and a pregnancy test are not in the DOH list we could read; some clinics, employers and destinations add them. The exact panel is set by your destination country and employer.

How long is the OFW medical exam valid?

Under DOH rules a fit certificate is valid for 90 days from the date of fitness, or less if the host country or employer requires. Gulf results issued through Wafid are valid for 2 months from the issue date. If your deployment is delayed past that window, you will need to repeat the exam and pay again, so time your booking once your visa and deployment schedule are firm.

Do I have to pay for my own OFW medical exam?

It depends. DOH's guidelines say the applicant pays the accredited clinic directly (seafarers are the exception, because the principal pays). Some agencies and employers shoulder the cost anyway, for example through a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to the clinic, and others have you pay first and reimburse after the contract is signed, so keep the official receipt. If you process independently, you pay the clinic's full fee yourself. Confirm the arrangement with your agency before booking.

Is the GAMCA/Wafid exam the same as the regular OFW medical?

It overlaps with the regular exam but is not identical: it is processed through the Wafid online system specifically for Gulf (GCC) destinations, requires a separate Wafid booking fee (US$10 Standard, US$25 Premium), adds a malaria and filaria blood smear plus kidney and liver function tests, and reports a strict fit/unfit result into the GCC system. Only Gulf-bound workers need it. See our GAMCA/Wafid medical exam Philippines guide for the full process.

What is the difference between the OFW medical exam and the seafarer PEME?

The land-based OFW exam covered here is for workers deployed to onshore jobs. Seafarers follow a separate, more extensive protocol under DOH rules at DOH-accredited medical facilities, with additional tests and a different validity period (up to 2 years, if the seafarer is deployed within 90 days). See our seafarer medical exam (PEME) cost guide for the maritime version.

Can I fail the OFW medical exam?

Yes. Common disqualifiers include active pulmonary tuberculosis on chest X-ray, certain infectious diseases, severe uncontrolled hypertension, and other conditions the destination country screens out. If you receive an "unfit" result, you may be able to treat a reversible condition and re-test. Note that HIV status alone is not a lawful basis for refusal under Philippine law (RA 11166), though destination countries set their own entry rules.

Conclusion

A land-based OFW pre-deployment medical exam in the Philippines costs an estimated ₱2,500–₱7,500 in 2026, with the Gulf (Wafid) tier at an estimated ₱5,000–₱7,500 and Asia destinations at an estimated ₱2,500–₱4,500. The non-negotiables are the same everywhere: use a DOH-accredited clinic (a Wafid-approved center for the Gulf), complete the required test battery, and remember the certificate is valid for only 90 days (2 months for Wafid Gulf results). Check the DOH list of accredited clinics, confirm the all-in price, and time the exam to your deployment so you do not pay twice.

For related deep-dives, see our GAMCA/Wafid medical exam Philippines guide if you are Gulf-bound, the seafarer medical exam (PEME) cost guide for maritime workers, and the broader pre-employment medical exam cost guide for corporate and executive packages.

Ready to book? Find a clinic on ClinicFinderPH to compare DOH-accredited diagnostic centers and clinics near you.