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Filipinos need a Dubai visa issued before departure; the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the Philippines as visa required. The usual routes are a GDRFA tourist visa from AED 210 for 30 days, arranged by a Dubai travel agency or hotel, or an ICP visit visa sponsored by a relative who lives in the UAE. A newer ICP visa covers Filipinos who live in the US, Canada, Singapore and a few other countries.
Pick your route first
You only have a Philippine passport. A tourism establishment in Dubai applies for a 30 or 60-day tourist visa for you. Single entry is AED 210 for 30 days or AED 315 for 60 days; multiple entry is AED 315 or AED 525 (GDRFA, checked ).
Your family works in the UAE. They sponsor you on an ICP visit visa. This is how a lot of Filipino parents, siblings and spouses visit. The sponsor's income decides who they can bring:
| You are the sponsor's | Monthly income needed |
|---|---|
| Parent, child or spouse | AED 4,000 |
| Sibling, cousin, aunt or uncle | AED 8,000 |
| Friend | AED 15,000 |
You live in a third country. ICP announced on that Philippine nationals can use the visa first opened to Indians. On ICP's service page the qualifying documents are a valid visa or residence permit from the US, an EU country or the UK, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. The 60-day version is AED 250 plus AED 100 smart services, single entry, not extendable, and you must enter within 30 days of issue. ICP's announcement also lists a 14-day visa at AED 100 that can be extended once. Filipinos on a work pass in Singapore or a residence card in Japan are the obvious users.
Documents, by route
For a tourist visa:
- Passport scan, valid for at least 6 months
- Photo on a white background
- Return or onward flight booking
- Health insurance that covers the UAE
For a family visit visa, add the sponsor's Emirates ID, residence, salary certificate or contract, and proof of the relationship, usually a PSA birth or marriage certificate. If the sponsor's salary sits near the limit, send the salary certificate rather than the contract; it shows the current figure.
For the ICP 60-day visa: passport, photo and a copy of the foreign visa or residence card. ICP processes in 2 days.
Where Filipino applications go wrong
The sponsor's category is the usual problem. A sister on AED 6,000 a month cannot sponsor a sibling, but she could sponsor her own child or parent. Second, passports renewed in the last weeks sometimes carry a different name format than the old one, and the visa must match the new passport. Third, people book flights before the visa is issued. GDRFA states 48 hours for tourist visas, but a returned application adds days.
Staying longer or changing visa
A tourist visa does not allow work. If a job offer comes during the visit, the employer can apply for a work entry permit and the visa change in Dubai process moves you onto it without leaving. Those coming specifically to look for work should compare the job seeker visa UAE. Never let the visit visa run out: the fine is AED 50 for each day over, and the overstay fine page has a calculator.
Check where your application stands with the GDRFA tool explained on visa status check.
What we do for Filipino visitors
Send the passport scan and photo, the dates and the sponsor's details if a relative is bringing you. The partner team confirms which of the three routes applies, prepares the application in the format GDRFA or ICP accepts and files it; you receive the e-visa by WhatsApp or email. For family visas they check the sponsor's salary against the right tier before anything is paid, which avoids a rejected file and a lost fee. The quote shows one total, with government fees and the service charge listed separately.
More countries are on the Dubai visa by nationality page, and all visa types with prices on Dubai visit visa.
