Do Filipino citizens need a visa for the UAE?
Yes. Most Filipino citizens need a pre-approved UAE tourist visa before they fly, because an ordinary Philippine passport is not on the UAE visa-free list. The one exception, since 25 June 2026, is Filipinos who also hold a qualifying US visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence document: they can get a visa on arrival instead.
This page covers tourist and family-visit travel only. If you are going to the UAE for a job, the rules are different; see our guide to working in Dubai from the Philippines. All details are as of September 2026, so check the official source before you pay or book.
| Your situation | Route | Stay and government fee |
|---|---|---|
| Philippine passport only | Pre-approved tourist visa (airline, agent or UAE sponsor) | 30 days AED 200 or 60 days AED 300, plus 5% VAT (GDRFA Dubai) |
| Philippine passport plus valid US visa, US green card, or UK/EU residence document | Visa on arrival | 14 days AED 100 or 60 days AED 250 |
| Visiting a relative who lives in the UAE | Visit visa sponsored by the resident, or a tourist visa | Depends on visa type; sponsor applies |
| Travelling for a job | Employer-sponsored work visa, not a tourist visa | See our employment guide |
New since June 2026: visa on arrival for some Filipinos
On 25 June 2026 the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) added six nationalities, including the Philippines, to the scheme that gives a visa on arrival to travellers holding certain foreign residence documents or visas. For a Filipino, that means a valid US visa or green card, or a residence permit issued by the UK or an EU country.
- 14-day visa on arrival: AED 100.
- 60-day visa on arrival: AED 250.
- Your qualifying document and your passport generally need to be valid for at least six months. Confirm the exact validity rules with ICP or your airline, because the scheme is new and airlines apply it at check-in.
The full list of passports and document types is on our UAE visa on arrival countries page, and what happens at the immigration counter is covered in the visa on arrival process at the airport. If you do not hold one of these documents, you still need a pre-approved visa.
Standard UAE tourist visa for Philippine passport holders
Most Filipino visitors use a pre-approved tourist visa, issued electronically. You do not visit an embassy; an airline, a licensed travel agent, a hotel or a UAE resident sponsor submits the application for you, and the approved visa arrives as a PDF.
| Visa | Government fee (GDRFA Dubai) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day tourist visa | AED 200 + 5% VAT | A holiday or short family visit |
| 60-day tourist visa | AED 300 + 5% VAT | Longer stays with relatives |
Airlines and agents add a service charge on top, and some ask for a refundable deposit or insurance. Ask for an itemised quote that shows the government fee separately. For multiple-entry options and longer visas, compare the choices on our UAE tourist visa page.
Not sure whether your US visa or EU residence card qualifies you for the new visa on arrival? Send us your details.
Check my entry optionHow Filipinos apply, step by step
- 1. Pick your channel. Book flights with a UAE carrier that offers visas to its passengers, use a licensed travel agent, or have a UAE resident relative or hotel sponsor you.
- 2. Prepare scans. Passport bio page, a recent photo on a white background, and any documents the channel asks for.
- 3. Pay and submit. Keep the receipt showing the government fee and the service charge.
- 4. Receive the e-visa. Check that your name, passport number and dates match exactly before you fly.
- 5. Clear Philippine departure checks. Carry printed copies of the visa, return ticket and hotel booking for the Bureau of Immigration officer at NAIA or your departure airport.
Apply well before your flight. Processing times vary by channel and season, and no provider can guarantee approval.
Documents to have ready
- Philippine passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
- Recent colour photo with a white background.
- Confirmed return or onward ticket.
- Hotel booking, or your host's address and residence details if you are staying with family.
- Recent bank statement or other proof you can fund the trip, if requested.
- For the visa on arrival: your valid US visa, green card, or UK/EU residence card.
A detailed checklist, with photo and passport specifications and common mistakes, is on our UAE tourist visa documents checklist.
Leaving the Philippines as a tourist
Philippine immigration officers check departing tourists for signs of illegal recruitment and trafficking. Expect to be asked about the purpose of your trip, who is paying and when you will return. Travel with your return ticket, accommodation proof and, if a relative is sponsoring you, their invitation and ID copies. Answer honestly: saying you plan to look for work on a tourist visa is likely to lead to offloading.
Staying legally once you arrive
- Your permitted stay starts on the day of entry. Note the expiry date on the visa.
- Extensions are possible for many tourist visas, subject to approval and a fee; see how UAE visa extensions work.
- The UAE overstay fine is AED 50 per day as of September 2026 and must be paid before you leave. Details are in our UAE overstay fines guide.
- A tourist visa does not allow paid work.
Before you go, check your government's travel advice. The regional security situation in 2026 has caused flight disruption, including a drone strike near Dubai International in March 2026 that halted flights for more than seven hours. For neighbourhoods, food and Filipino community tips, read our Dubai guide for Filipino visitors.
Planning a family visit to the UAE from Manila or Cebu? Tell us your dates and who is travelling.
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