UAE grants visa-on-arrival to eligible Filipino passport holders from June 25

The privilege applies to Filipinos holding valid visas, residence permits, or green cards from the US, EU, Australia, Japan, and five other countries

Filipino passport holders who carry a valid visa, residence permit, or green card from one of eight qualifying jurisdictions can now obtain a visa on arrival in the UAE, effective June 25, 2026. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the new arrangement, noting that the UAE extended the privilege "in view of the excellent bilateral relations between the Philippines and the UAE," according to the Philippine News Agency.

The qualifying documents must be issued by the United States, any European Union member state, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, or New Zealand. Travelers need to present their Philippine passport alongside the valid visa, residence permit, or green card at any UAE airport upon landing.

How much it costs and how long you can stay

Eligible Filipinos arriving in the UAE can choose between two visa options. The first is a 14-day stay for AED 100 ($27), which can be extended once for an additional 14 days at a fee of AED 25 ($7). The second option is a non-extendable 60-day stay for AED 250 ($68).

Diplomatic backdrop

The announcement followed a meeting between Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi. The two discussed ways to deepen the bilateral relationship between Manila and Abu Dhabi.

A major Filipino community in the UAE

The new visa-on-arrival option is particularly significant given the size of the Filipino population already living in the Emirates. The UAE is home to approximately one million Filipinos, making it one of the largest hubs for overseas Filipino communities anywhere in the world. The biggest concentrations are in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.