DUBAI — Filipino travelers who hold a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card from any of eight countries will be able to obtain a UAE visa on arrival starting Thursday, June 25, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs announced this week, in what officials described as a reflection of strengthening ties between Manila and Abu Dhabi.
The DFA said the new arrangement, announced Wednesday, applies to Philippine passport holders who carry a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card issued by the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand or any European Union member state. Officials said the privilege was extended in recognition of the close bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Who qualifies
Eligible travelers must present a Philippine passport along with one of the following at any UAE airport on arrival:
- A valid U.S. visa, residence permit or Green Card
- A valid visa or residence permit from an EU member state
- A valid visa or residence permit from Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada or New Zealand
No advance application or pre-approval is required under the new system. Travelers simply present their Philippine passport and the qualifying foreign visa, residence permit or Green Card at the immigration counter upon landing.
Fees and validity
Two options will be available:
- A 14-day visa-on-arrival costing 100 dirhams (about 1,650 Philippine pesos). It can be extended once for an additional 14 days for a fee of 250 dirhams (about 4,000 pesos).
- A 60-day visa-on-arrival costing 250 dirhams (about 4,000 pesos). This option is not extendable, according to the DFA.
The DFA advised travelers to confirm that their foreign visa, residence permit or Green Card remains valid before departure, since an expired document would disqualify them from the on-arrival privilege.
A major expatriate community
The UAE is home to an estimated one million Filipinos, among the largest overseas Filipino communities in the world, with concentrations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Many work in hospitality, retail, construction, health care and domestic service, while a growing number hold professional and managerial roles across the country’s free zones and multinational firms.
Filipino community life in the UAE is anchored by churches, cultural associations, hometown organizations and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, which supports workers’ rights and welfare. Dubai and Abu Dhabi host some of the largest overseas Filipino voter turnouts during Philippine elections, and community events — from Independence Day celebrations to barangay-style gatherings — are fixtures of the Gulf’s Filipino calendar.
The new visa-on-arrival option is expected to ease travel for Filipino professionals, dependents and frequent visitors who already hold valid visas or residency from major Western and Asia-Pacific destinations, removing the need for a separate UAE visa application before each trip.
The DFA said further guidance would be issued through Philippine embassies and consulates in the region, including the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
