No Philippine embassy in Zagreb: who covers Croatia, and how to handle passports and the OFW Pass

Filipinos in Croatia are served by the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, with an honorary consul general in Zagreb and regular outreach missions to Croatian cities. Labour matters, contracts and the OFW Pass go through the Migrant Workers Office in Vienna. A practical guide to who does what.

Published 2026-10-13 · Source checked 2026-10-13

The Philippines has no resident embassy in Croatia. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs directory, Croatia falls under the Embassy of the Philippines in Vienna, which also supervises an honorary consulate general in Zagreb (Tomašićeva 7) headed by Dr Davor Stern.^[1] Honorary consuls can help with information and some formalities, but passports and most consular services are handled by the Embassy.

The Embassy’s consular section is in the ARES Tower, Donau-City-Strasse 11, 1220 Vienna, and is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 15:00. Consular enquiries go to [email protected].^[2] For emergencies – arrest, accident, serious illness, a death – the Embassy publishes an assistance-to-nationals number, +43 676 442 2474, which GMA News also gave for Croatia-based Filipinos during the August wildfires in Dalmatia.^[2][3]

Also read:Life in CroatiaSending money home from Croatia: how to see what a transfer really costs

Passport renewal requires an application to the Embassy, either in Vienna or at one of its consular outreach missions in Croatia. The most recent took place from 23 to 27 September in Split and Zagreb, together with an OWWA service caravan: according to OWWA, 3,661 transactions were processed, from passports and overseas voter registration to OWWA membership and e-Cards.^[4] Outreach dates are announced on the Embassy’s website and social media, usually with a registration deadline. Check your passport’s expiry date now; renewing early avoids problems with a residence-permit renewal or travel home.

Labour matters are separate. Employment contracts, verification of job orders, the OEC and the OFW Pass, and welfare assistance are handled by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Vienna, which lists dedicated addresses: [email protected] for the OEC/OFW Pass and contract verification, and [email protected] (+43 676 4808886) for labour and welfare assistance. OWWA can be reached at [email protected].^[2]

The OFW Pass is the Department of Migrant Workers’ digital exit clearance, replacing the paper Overseas Employment Certificate. It is issued free of charge, carries a QR code, and is generated through the DMW Mobile App or the eGovPH app after your employment details are verified.^[5] Its validity rules have changed during the roll-out: a DMW advisory reported in February 2026 described a 90-day validity,^[6] while the DMW verification portal links validity to the employment contract.^[5] Check what your app shows before you book a flight home.

Practical advice: keep copies of your passport, residence permit, contract and payslips in one place, and register any change of employer with the MWO. If a recruiter or ‘agent’ offers to arrange your OFW Pass or passport for a fee, decline – both are handled directly by the government offices above. This guide is general information; for your own case, write to the Embassy or the MWO and keep their reply.

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