Last checked: 27 October 2026
The Dubai e-visa service started on 26 October 2026. Fees and processing times below come from the official e-visa portal and from what the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai announced at launch. Check the official eVisaPH portal before you pay, because figures can change.
The Philippines e-visa for UAE residents is now handled online through the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai. If your passport needs a visa for the Philippines and you live in Dubai or the Northern Emirates, you can apply on the official portal, upload your documents, pay online and get the visa by email. There is no sticker in your passport, and in most cases no trip to the consulate.
This guide covers who needs the e-visa, which nationalities benefit, the fees in AED and USD, processing times, the documents the Dubai consulate asks for, the steps on the portal, and the eTravel registration you must complete before you fly.
Table of Contents
- Philippines e-Visa for UAE Residents: Key Facts
- What Changed in Dubai
- Do UAE Residents Need a Visa for the Philippines?
- Which Philippine Office Handles Your Application?
- What the Philippines e-Visa Covers
- Philippines e-Visa Fees in the UAE
- Processing Time and Length of Stay
- Documents Required for UAE Residents
- How to Apply for the Philippines e-Visa Step by Step
- Before You Fly: eTravel and Arrival
- e-Visa or Sticker Visa?
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Philippine Consulate in Dubai and Embassy in Abu Dhabi: Contacts
- Planning the Rest of Your Trip
- Frequently Asked Questions
Philippines e-Visa for UAE Residents: Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | Philippine Consulate General in Dubai (Dubai and Northern Emirates) through the DFA e-visa portal |
| Launch date in Dubai | 26 October 2026 |
| Visa type | 9(a) temporary visitor visa: tourism, business, medical treatment, training, conferences, meetings and seminars |
| Fees (consulate) | AED 260 single entry, AED 420 multiple entry (6 months), AED 580 multiple entry (1 year) |
| Fees (portal table) | USD 65 single, USD 105 multiple (6 months), USD 145 multiple (1 year), each including a USD 25 convenience fee |
| Processing | 7 to 12 working days for single entry; longer for multiple entry |
| Length of stay | 7 to 59 days, depending on nationality |
| Extension or conversion | Not allowed |
| Work | Not allowed |
| Before arrival | Register on eTravel within 72 hours of arrival (free) |
What Changed in Dubai
On 26 October 2026, Philippine Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III announced that the consulate in Dubai had joined 94 other Philippine missions that process e-visas, as reported by Khaleej Times. The consulate described the move as part of a push to bring more UAE-based tourists to the Philippines.
Before the launch, visa-required residents in Dubai had to submit paper documents and collect a visa sticker in their passport. With the e-visa:
- You apply and upload documents online at evisa.gov.ph.
- The approved e-visa is sent to your email and to your e-visa account.
- You show it on arrival in the Philippines, either on your phone or printed.
- No visa sticker is placed in your passport.
The sticker visa has not gone away. The consulate will run both systems side by side, and some travellers will still be better off with a sticker visa (see the comparison further down).
Do UAE Residents Need a Visa for the Philippines?
Your passport decides if you need a visa, not your UAE residence. Living in the UAE decides where you apply. Use our visa checker for a quick answer, then confirm on the official Philippine visa policy page.
UAE citizens
Emirati passport holders do not need a visa. The United Arab Emirates is on the Philippines visa-free list, which allows an initial stay of 30 days with a passport valid for at least six months beyond the stay and a return or onward ticket.
Expats with visa-free passports
Many UAE residents also hold passports on the same 30-day visa-free list, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, most EU countries, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Turkey. Brazil and Israel passport holders get 59 days. If your passport is on the list, you do not need the e-visa for a short holiday.
Indian residents
Since 8 June 2025, Indian nationals can enter the Philippines visa-free for 14 days for tourism or business, with a hotel booking, proof of funds and a return ticket. Indians holding a valid US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or residence permit get 30 days visa-free. A UAE residence visa does not count for the 30-day option. Indian residents who want a longer stay, or who are travelling for other purposes, should apply for a visa. Our guide to visa-free countries for Indians covers more options.
Visa-required nationals
Everyone not covered by a visa-free rule needs a visa before travel. The consulate said the e-visa will help nationals of at least 37 visa-required countries. It named the nationalities that make up most of its visa applicants in Dubai:
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- India (for stays beyond the visa-free period)
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lebanon
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Yemen
Which Philippine Office Handles Your Application?
Under Bureau of Immigration rules, a foreign national can apply for a temporary visitor visa at a Philippine post in their country of origin or place of legal residence (BI FAQs). For UAE residents this means:
- Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah: Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, which covers Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
- Abu Dhabi emirate: Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Reports at the Dubai launch said the Embassy already issues e-visas. Confirm with the Embassy before you apply.
When you fill in the e-visa form, pick the post that matches the emirate on your residence visa.
What the Philippines e-Visa Covers
The e-visa is a 9(a) temporary visitor visa. According to the eVisaPH visa policy, it is for visitors coming for:
- Tourism, leisure and visiting family or friends
- Business meetings (with no pay from a Philippine company)
- Medical treatment
- Training, conferences, meetings, workshops and seminars
Three limits apply to every e-visa:
- No work. The consulate stressed the e-visa is not valid for employment.
- No extension. You cannot extend the authorised stay once you arrive.
- No conversion. You cannot switch it to a work, student or other visa in the Philippines.
The portal also notes that an e-visa does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer at the airport makes the final decision.
Philippines e-Visa Fees in the UAE
Two sets of figures are in circulation, and they are close but not identical. The Dubai consulate quoted fees in AED at launch. The official portal’s fee table, which we checked for Pakistani and Bangladeshi passports, lists fees in USD with a separate convenience fee.
| Visa | Consulate fee (AED) | Portal fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry (valid 3 months) | AED 260 | USD 40 + USD 25 convenience fee = USD 65 |
| Multiple entry, 6 months | AED 420 | USD 80 + USD 25 = USD 105 |
| Multiple entry, 1 year | AED 580 | USD 120 + USD 25 = USD 145 |
Pay the amount shown in your application at the payment step. Points to know from the official e-visa FAQs:
- Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
- If you do not pay within 48 hours, you must start a new application.
- Online payment is currently by direct bank transfer.
Processing Time and Length of Stay
Single-entry e-visas take 7 to 12 working days, according to both the portal and the Dubai consulate.
Multiple-entry e-visas take longer. The portal FAQ says 15 to 21 working days. The Dubai consulate quoted 15 to 40 working days, because multiple-entry approval comes from the home office in Manila. Plan on the longer figure.
The number of days you can stay is set per nationality and ranges from 7 to 59 days. Your approved e-visa shows your validity and allowed stay. If you overstay, fines and possible bans apply; our overstay fine calculator explains how penalties work in different countries.
Documents Required for UAE Residents
The Dubai consulate published its own e-visa requirements list. The requirements are the same for the e-visa and the sticker visa. You upload scans to the portal:
- ID photo that meets ICAO standards. Check yours with our passport photo checker.
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended travel date. The portal accepts only machine-readable and e-passports. Check dates with our passport validity checker.
- UAE residence visa. For multiple entry, it must be valid for at least one more year.
- Original no objection certificate (NOC) from your UAE sponsor with a wet stamp, plus the sponsor’s signed ID. UAE business or property owners can give a valid trade licence or title deed instead.
- Bank statements for the last three months, with a wet or digital stamp, showing a balance of at least AED 5,000 each month (tourists).
- Notarised invitation letter from the Philippines with the signatory’s ID (business travellers).
- Tentative return flight booking.
- Tentative hotel booking, or a letter from a Filipino relative with their signed ID.
- Proof of family ties, such as a marriage or birth certificate and the relative’s ID, if you are visiting Filipino family.
- At least three previous Philippine visas if you are asking for multiple entry.
Two details that cause delays
- Enter all your recent travel: the last two months for a single-entry application, and the last two years for multiple entry.
- Type your full name exactly as it appears in your passport.
The visa officer can ask for more documents, ask you to send originals by courier, or call you for an interview at the consulate.
How to Apply for the Philippines e-Visa Step by Step
- Check that you need a visa. Use the “Check if you need visa” tool on evisa.gov.ph or the official policy page.
- Create an account on evisa.gov.ph. You can save your application and return to it later.
- Fill in the form and choose the Philippine post for your emirate (Dubai for Dubai and the Northern Emirates).
- Upload your documents from the list above as clear scans.
- Pay the fee within 48 hours using the payment option shown.
- Respond to any requests. The visa officer may ask for originals or an interview at the consulate.
- Track the status in your account. You also get an email when there is a decision.
- Download your e-visa when it is approved. It is sent to your email and to your e-visa account.
Family members can apply on behalf of a spouse, minor child, parent or sibling who cannot apply themselves, such as an elderly person or a person with a disability. The person applying must upload proof of the relationship.
Before You Fly: eTravel and Arrival
After you get the e-visa, register on eTravel, the Philippines’ arrival declaration, within 72 hours before you land. You can also use the eGovPH app.
- eTravel is free. Sites that ask for payment are not official, and the Philippine government asks travellers to report them.
- Save or print the QR code. Airlines may ask to see it before boarding.
- A green QR code means you go straight to immigration. A red one means a health check by the Bureau of Quarantine first.
- Carry your e-visa on your phone or printed, along with your passport, return ticket and hotel booking.
If you lose the passport linked to your e-visa, the e-visa is no longer valid. You must apply for a new one on the new passport.
e-Visa or Sticker Visa?
The Dubai consulate still issues sticker visas. To book one, you go through its Online Pre-Assessment System. The consulate reviews your documents within four business days and then emails you an appointment.
| e-Visa | Sticker visa | |
|---|---|---|
| How you apply | Online at evisa.gov.ph | Online pre-assessment, then an appointment at the consulate |
| Visa types | 9(a) temporary visitor only | All visa types |
| Passport sticker | No | Yes |
| Extension in the Philippines | Not allowed | Possible through the Bureau of Immigration |
| Conversion to another visa | Not allowed | Possible with the right annotation |
| Fees | Same as sticker visa (consulate figures) | AED 260 / 420 / 580 |
Pick the e-visa for a normal holiday, a business trip or a family visit with fixed dates. Pick the sticker visa if you might need to stay longer or change your status.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying through a website that is not evisa.gov.ph. Unofficial sites may charge extra or collect your data.
- Booking non-refundable flights before the visa is approved.
- Applying too late. Leave at least three weeks for a single-entry visa and longer for multiple entry.
- Uploading bank statements without a stamp, or a NOC without a wet stamp.
- Leaving out recent trips from your travel history.
- Forgetting eTravel, which can hold you up at check-in or on arrival.
- Letting your UAE residence or passport get close to expiry.
Philippine Consulate in Dubai and Embassy in Abu Dhabi: Contacts
- Philippine Consulate General, Dubai: 851 Beirut Street, Al Twar 4, Dubai. Consular line +971 4 220 7800. Visa email: visa@pcgdubai.ae.
- Philippine Embassy, Abu Dhabi: W-48, Street No. 8, Sector 2-23, Plot 51, Al Qubaisat, Abu Dhabi. Email: auhpe@philembassy.ae.
Both mission websites were showing a maintenance page when we checked on 27 October 2026, so email is the most reliable way to ask questions.
Planning the Rest of Your Trip
Once the visa is sorted, start on the fun part. Our Siquijor Island travel guide covers one of the Philippines’ quieter islands. For costs, try the travel budget calculator, and check the public holiday checker so you don’t land in a long weekend rush by accident.
Looking at other trips from the UAE? See our guides to the Japan visa for UAE residents, the Turkey visa for UAE residents, the Qatar visa for UAE residents, the Egypt visa for UAE residents and the full list of visa-free countries for UAE residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can UAE residents apply for a Philippines e-visa?
Yes, if their passport needs a visa for the Philippines. Residents of Dubai and the Northern Emirates apply online at evisa.gov.ph through the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, which started issuing e-visas on 26 October 2026.
Do Emirati citizens need a visa for the Philippines?
No. UAE passport holders can enter the Philippines visa-free for an initial 30 days with a passport valid for six months beyond the stay and a return or onward ticket.
How much is the Philippines e-visa in Dubai?
The Dubai consulate quoted AED 260 for single entry, AED 420 for a six-month multiple-entry visa and AED 580 for a one-year multiple-entry visa. The official portal lists USD 65, USD 105 and USD 145, each including a USD 25 convenience fee. Fees are non-refundable.
How long does the Philippines e-visa take?
Single-entry e-visas take 7 to 12 working days. Multiple-entry e-visas take 15 to 21 working days according to the portal, and the Dubai consulate said up to 40 working days because approval comes from Manila.
How long can I stay in the Philippines on an e-visa?
Between 7 and 59 days, depending on your nationality. The stay cannot be extended, and the e-visa cannot be converted to another visa type.
Do I need to visit the Philippine Consulate in Dubai?
Usually not. You apply and upload documents online. The visa officer can still ask you to send original documents or attend an interview at the consulate.
Can I work in the Philippines on an e-visa?
No. The e-visa is a temporary visitor visa for tourism, business meetings, medical treatment, training and conferences. It is not valid for employment.
Do I need a printed e-visa?
No. You can show the approved e-visa on your phone or as a printout when you arrive in the Philippines. Carrying a printed copy as a backup is a good idea.
Is eTravel required with a Philippines e-visa?
Yes. Register for free on etravel.gov.ph or the eGovPH app within 72 hours before arrival and keep the QR code to show at check-in and on arrival.
Can Indian residents of the UAE travel to the Philippines without a visa?
Indian nationals can enter visa-free for 14 days for tourism or business. A UAE residence visa does not qualify them for the 30-day option, which needs a valid US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or residence permit. For longer stays, they need a visa.