UAE Visa for Filipinos 2026: Visa on Arrival, Cost in PHP & How to Apply

Last reviewed: 16 October 2026

SA

Written by S. Ahmed & S. Shumairi

UAE Visa Specialists · evisa-uae.org · 10+ Years in UAE Immigration

Quick answer: Most Filipinos still need to apply for a UAE visa before travelling. But since 25 June 2026, eligible Filipino passport holders can get a visa on arrival if they already hold a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence permit, or residence in Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. Everyone else applies for a UAE eVisa online before flying, exactly as before.

If you’re reading older guides online, be careful — most still say Filipinos must apply in advance with no exceptions, and several (including Wego and Trip.com's own Philippines guide) haven't caught up with the June 2026 change. This guide reflects the current rules, with every figure sourced and dated below.

Philippine passport and travel documents for a UAE visa application

Do Filipinos Need a Visa for Dubai?

It depends on what travel documents you already hold. Work through this in order:

Step	If you have…	Then…
1	A valid US, UK or EU visa/residence permit, or residence in Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand — plus a regular Philippine passport valid 6+ months	You likely qualify for a UAE visa on arrival — apply at the airport counter or in advance via ICP Smart Services.
2	None of the above, but you want to travel soon	Apply for a UAE eVisa online before you fly — this is the route most Filipino travellers still use.
3	A UAE-based sponsor, hotel booking, or an airline offering visa sponsorship	Ask your sponsor, hotel or airline (e.g. Emirates, Etihad) whether they can process a sponsored visa for you instead.

Sources: Khaleej Times · Manila Bulletin / DFA.

UAE Visa on Arrival for Filipinos (June 2026 Rule, Updated August 2026)

Since 25 June 2026, the UAE grants visa on arrival to Filipino passport holders who also hold one of the following, valid for at least 6 months:

A valid US, UK or EU member-state visa or residence permit (UK added in the 18 August 2026 update)
A valid residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand

Your Philippine passport must also be valid for at least 6 months from your travel date.

14-day vs 60-day visa on arrival

14-day visa on arrival — AED 100, extendable once for 14 more days for an extra AED 250.
60-day visa on arrival — AED 250, not extendable.
Both can reportedly also be pre-applied online via ICP Smart Services for an extra ≈AED 150, letting you skip the airport counter queue.

Entry isn’t guaranteed. Getting a visa on arrival, and admission into the UAE generally, remains at the discretion of UAE immigration officers at the border — carry proof of your qualifying visa/permit, a return ticket and your hotel booking regardless of which route you use.

Sources: Khaleej Times · GMA News.

Cost of a UAE Visa for Filipinos: AED and PHP

Figures below are approximate. PHP amounts use AED 1 = PHP 17.16 (XE.com, 16 October 2026) and the UAE’s fixed currency peg of AED 3.6725 = USD 1 where a fee is billed in USD. Exchange rates move daily — confirm the exact amount at checkout or on arrival.

Route	Fee (AED)	Fee (≈PHP)	Notes
Visa on arrival – 14 days	AED 100	≈PHP 1,716	Extendable once, +AED 250 (≈PHP 4,291)
Visa on arrival – 60 days	AED 250	≈PHP 4,291	Not extendable
Optional online pre-application (ICP)	+AED 150	+≈PHP 2,574	On top of the visa-on-arrival fee above
evisa-uae.org eVisa – 30 days, single entry	≈AED 694 (USD 189)	≈PHP 11,910	For travellers who don’t qualify for visa on arrival
evisa-uae.org eVisa – 60 days, single entry	≈AED 1,836 (USD 500)	≈PHP 31,510	Government + service fee combined
Airline-sponsored visa (e.g. Emirates, Etihad)	Varies	Varies	Price and availability depend on your airline, route and fare class — ask your airline directly

Sources: visa-on-arrival and ICP fees — Khaleej Times. eVisa fees — evisa-uae.org current pricing. FX rate — XE.com, 16 Oct 2026.

UAE immigration visa-on-arrival counter at the airport

Traveller completing a UAE eVisa application form online

How to Apply for a UAE eVisa Online with evisa-uae.org

If you don’t qualify for visa on arrival — or you’d rather have your visa approved before you fly — apply through evisa-uae.org:

1
Fill out the online form
Enter your personal details, passport information and travel dates.
2
Upload your documents
A clear passport bio-page scan and a recent passport-style photo on a white background.
3
Choose your visa type
30-day or 60-day, single entry, based on how long you plan to stay.
4
Pay securely online
Card payment for the total government + service fee shown at checkout.
5
Receive your eVisa by email
Processing takes 24–48 hours; print or save a digital copy to carry with you.

Documents you’ll need:

Passport valid 6+ months from your entry date
Recent colour photo, white background, passport-style
Confirmed return or onward flight ticket
Hotel booking or accommodation proof

Apply a few days before you travel to leave room for any document corrections.

Other Ways to Get a UAE Visa from the Philippines

Besides visa on arrival and an online eVisa, Filipino travellers sometimes get a UAE visa through:

Airline-sponsored visas — Emirates and Etihad can arrange a visa as part of certain fares or add-ons through their own booking channels; check directly with the airline for current pricing and eligibility. (We could not confirm whether Cebu Pacific offers this on UAE routes — ask Cebu Pacific directly if relevant to your booking.)
UAE-based sponsor — a relative or friend who is a UAE resident can sponsor a visit visa for you through their own residence status.
Travel agencies in Manila — many agencies process UAE visit visas on your behalf; they're forwarding your application to the same UAE-based sponsorship channels, so compare their fees against applying directly online.

One thing worth knowing: the UAE embassy in Manila does not issue tourist or visit visas directly. Like most nationalities, Filipino visit visas are sponsored by a UAE-based entity — a hotel, airline, online facilitator like evisa-uae.org, or a UAE resident — not processed over the counter at the embassy.

Leaving the Philippines: Bureau of Immigration Checks and Offloading

Before you can board your flight out of the Philippines, Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers carry out routine departure formalities for outbound Filipino travellers, under the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) guidelines on departure formalities. Most travellers pass through in minutes; officers can refer anyone for a more detailed secondary interview, commonly called “offloading,” before departure clearance.

Documents commonly requested at the counter:

Valid passport and, if required for your destination, your visa or visa-on-arrival eligibility document
Confirmed round-trip or onward ticket
Hotel booking or proof of accommodation
Proof of financial capacity to travel (e.g. a bank certificate)
Certificate of employment, income tax return, or business documents, where relevant
A letter of invitation or affidavit of support, if someone else is sponsoring your trip

Officers may also ask about your travel history and the purpose of your trip. Being able to answer clearly and consistently, with your documents ready, is the best way to avoid a lengthy secondary interview.

Source: Philippine Bureau of Immigration guidance on departure formalities for international-bound passengers (IACAT framework).

OK to Board (OTB)

“OK to Board” is an airline requirement, not a Philippine or UAE government check: some airlines must get electronic clearance from the destination country’s immigration system before they’re allowed to let a passenger board, to avoid being fined for carrying an inadmissible passenger. For UAE-bound flights, airlines typically obtain this clearance automatically once your visa (eVisa or visa-on-arrival eligibility) is confirmed in the system — it isn’t something you request separately. Check with your airline at check-in if you’re unsure whether OTB applies to your specific booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Filipinos need a visa to go to Dubai?

Most do. Since 25 June 2026, Filipinos who already hold a valid US, UK or EU visa/residence permit (or residence in Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand) can get a visa on arrival instead. Everyone else applies for a UAE eVisa online before travelling.

Are Filipinos visa-free in Dubai?

No. There is no visa-free entry for Philippine passport holders. The June 2026 change introduced visa on arrival for an eligible group, which still requires a fee and approval at the border — it is not visa-free entry.

Is a Dubai visa free for Filipinos?

No. Every route — visa on arrival, the online eVisa, or an airline/sponsor-arranged visa — carries a fee. Visa on arrival is the cheapest option where you qualify, from AED 100 (≈PHP 1,716).

How do I apply for a Dubai visa from the Philippines?

If you qualify for visa on arrival, travel with your Philippine passport and qualifying visa/permit and apply at the airport (or online via ICP Smart Services beforehand). If you don’t qualify, apply for an eVisa online through a facilitator like evisa-uae.org before you fly.

How do I get a tourist visa for Dubai from the Philippines?

Apply online through evisa-uae.org: fill in your details, upload your passport and photo, choose a 30- or 60-day single-entry visa, and pay the fee. Approval typically takes 24–48 hours and is emailed to you.

How much is a visit visa to Dubai from the Philippines?

Through evisa-uae.org, a 30-day single-entry eVisa is about AED 694 (USD 189, ≈PHP 11,910) and a 60-day single-entry eVisa is about AED 1,836 (USD 500, ≈PHP 31,510), government and service fee combined. If you qualify for visa on arrival instead, it's AED 100 for 14 days or AED 250 for 60 days.

How much is a Dubai visa from the Philippines in pesos?

Visa on arrival (where eligible) is roughly PHP 1,716–4,291. The evisa-uae.org online eVisa is roughly PHP 11,910–31,510 depending on duration, at the AED/PHP rate stated above — your bank's own conversion rate will vary slightly.

Where do I apply for a Dubai visa in the Philippines?

There's no walk-in UAE visa office in the Philippines for tourist visas — the UAE embassy in Manila does not issue them. Apply online through evisa-uae.org (or ICP Smart Services if you qualify for visa on arrival), or through a Manila travel agency that forwards your application to the same channels.

Can I get a UAE visa on arrival as a Filipino?

Yes, if you hold a regular Philippine passport valid 6+ months plus a valid US, UK or EU visa/residence permit, or residence in Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand, also valid 6+ months. Entry is still subject to UAE immigration's discretion at the border.

What happens if I don't qualify for a UAE visa on arrival?

You apply for a UAE eVisa online before you travel, the same way Filipino travellers have always done — this hasn't changed for anyone outside the newly eligible group.

Sources

Khaleej Times — Updated UAE visa-on-arrival guidelines for Filipinos
Khaleej Times — UAE grants visa-on-arrival to eligible Filipinos starting June 25
Manila Bulletin / Philippine DFA — Filipinos with US, EU, UK visas can get UAE visa upon arrival
GMA News — Eligible Filipino citizens, UAE visa on arrival from June 25, 2026
Philippine Bureau of Immigration — departure formalities guidance (IACAT framework)
XE.com — AED/PHP exchange rate, 16 October 2026

evisa-uae.org is a private visa facilitation service, not a UAE government agency. Visa eligibility, fees and processing are ultimately determined by UAE immigration authorities; confirm current rules with ICP (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or the Philippine DFA before booking non-refundable travel.

Ready to apply? See the exact UAE visa requirements and fees for Philippines passport holders. Start your UAE visa application.

Planning to visit Dubai as part of your trip? Read our how to apply for a Dubai visa guide for the full step-by-step process, fees and documents.

UAE Visa for Filipino Passport Holders (2026 Guide)