UAE Introduces Visa-on-Arrival for Eligible Filipino Passport Holders

The UAE has extended a visa-on-arrival facility to Filipino citizens travelling on Philippine passports, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced. The arrangement takes effect on 25 June 2026 and, in the DFA’s words, was extended "in view of the excellent bilateral relations between the Philippines and the UAE." It removes the need for eligible travellers to secure a UAE entry visa before flying, provided they already hold a qualifying residence or visa document from a designated country.

These are UAE government visa fees set by the immigration authorities, not service charges. The visa-on-arrival is issued at the UAE port of entry after standard immigration checks, so it is a facilitation for eligible travellers rather than a guarantee of admission.

The qualifying document must be valid and held at the moment of entry. Travellers will be asked to present their Philippine passport together with the qualifying visa, residence permit or Green Card at the UAE port of entry, where immigration officers issue the visa-on-arrival after their checks.

Filipinos are one of the UAE’s largest expatriate communities, so this is a meaningful change for many households. For Filipino residents in the UAE, it makes it easier to bring eligible relatives and friends over to visit: a family member living in the US, the EU, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada or New Zealand — and holding that country’s visa, residence permit or Green Card — can now travel to the UAE without applying for an entry visa first.

It also simplifies trips for Filipino professionals and students based in those countries who want to visit the Emirates. Your existing UAE residence visa is unaffected; this is purely an additional entry route for eligible Philippine passport holders arriving from abroad. If a relative does not hold one of the qualifying documents, they will still need a standard UAE visit visa — which a sponsor in the UAE can arrange on their behalf.

1. 1Check eligibility: confirm the traveller holds a Philippine passport plus a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card from the United States, an EU member state, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada or New Zealand.
2. 2Choose the right option before travelling — a 14-day stay (AED 100, extendable once for AED 250) or a 60-day stay (AED 250, non-extendable) — based on how long the visit will be.
3. 3Carry the qualifying document on the journey, as it must be presented with the Philippine passport at the UAE port of entry.
4. 4If the traveller does not qualify, arrange a standard UAE visit visa in advance instead. OraVisa can sponsor and process UAE visit visas, extensions and status changes from start to finish.
5. 5Always confirm the current rule with official UAE channels before booking, as entry requirements can change.

This update is based on the advisory issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as reported by the Philippine News Agency and other outlets, as of 25 June 2026. The visa-on-arrival facility takes effect on 25 June 2026 for eligible Filipino passport holders. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help the UAE’s Filipino community understand the change. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information, always refer to the Philippine DFA and the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP, icp.gov.ae) and the UAE Government Portal (u.ae).