The UAE visa on arrival for Filipinos, along with Indonesians, Vietnamese, Thais, Kenyans, South Africans, and more, got significantly easier on 25 June 2026, when ICP announced an expansion of conditional visa-on-arrival eligibility. If you hold valid residence in the US, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, you may now qualify for a 14-day (~AED 100) or 60-day (~AED 250) visa on arrival in the UAE. This guide explains the new rules, who qualifies, the costs, and how it works at the airport.
This expansion was announced 25 June 2026. Eligibility lists and fees can change, verify current rules with ICP or the airline before you fly. Fees below are indicative as of 2026.
What Changed on 25 June 2026
ICP's announced expansion extended conditional visa-on-arrival access to nationals of additional countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Kenya, and South Africa, among others, provided they meet the residence condition below.
The key condition: you must hold valid residence (a residence visa/permit, not just a visit visa) in one of the following: the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.
This is a conditional on-arrival facility, not a blanket visa waiver, the residence permit is what opens it.
Who Qualifies: Country and Condition Breakdown
Newly covered nationalities (announced): Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, and additional countries in the ICP announcement.
The residence condition, you must hold valid residency in:
- United States
- European Union (any member state)
- United Kingdom
- Singapore
- Japan
- South Korea
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Canada
Example: A Filipino passport holder with a valid US Green Card or UK residence permit qualifies. A Filipino passport holder living in the Philippines without such residence does not, they need a standard pre-arranged visit visa instead.
Visa-on-Arrival Options and Fees
| Option | Indicative fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| 14-day visa on arrival | ~AED 100 |
| 60-day visa on arrival | ~AED 250 |
Fees are indicative as of 2026, confirm current fees with ICP before travelling.
Which to choose: the 14-day option suits short trips and transit stopovers; the 60-day option suits longer family visits or scouting trips. Overstaying either option triggers daily fines, see UAE overstay fine rules.
What You Need at the Airport
Carry these, immigration officers verify the condition on the spot:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Valid residence permit/card for the US, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, NZ, or Canada (physical card or official digital proof)
- Return/onward ticket
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host address)
- Sufficient funds for your stay (bank statement or cards)
- Travel/medical insurance for the visit duration, strongly recommended
Tip: check with your airline before departure, carriers verify visa eligibility at check-in and may deny boarding if your documents don't clearly satisfy the condition.
Step by Step: Using Visa on Arrival
Step 1: Before you fly: confirm your residence permit is valid for the entire trip and will remain valid on arrival. Print or save digital proof.
Step 2: At check-in: present your passport and residence permit; confirm with the airline that you qualify under the conditional on-arrival rules.
Step 3: At UAE immigration: proceed to the visa-on-arrival counter (or standard immigration lanes where on-arrival issuance is handled). Present your passport, residence permit, return ticket, and hotel booking.
Step 4: Pay the fee: pay ~AED 100 (14-day) or ~AED 250 (60-day), fees indicative as of 2026.
Step 5: Enter and enjoy: the visa is stamped/issued electronically. Keep within the permitted days, overstay fines apply from day one after expiry.
If You Don't Meet the Condition
If you don't hold qualifying residence, apply for a pre-arranged visit visa before travelling:
- Tourist/visit visas through airlines, hotels, or travel agencies
- 30/60-day visit visa options via authorised typing centres and PRO services
- Family visit visas if you have relatives in the UAE, see the family visa guide
Planning a longer stay to look for work? The UAE job seeker visa (60/90/120 days) may fit better than a tourist entry.
14-Day vs 60-Day: Which Should You Choose?
| Factor | 14-day (~AED 100) | 60-day (~AED 250) |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Transit stopovers, short holidays, business trips | Family visits, property scouting, longer holidays |
| Cost per day | Higher | Lower |
| Planning needed | Minimal | Accommodation and funds for 2 months |
Decision rule: if your return flight is within two weeks and your plans are fixed, take the 14-day. If there's any chance you'll extend, family events, viewing multiple properties, combining emirates, the 60-day costs little extra and removes time pressure. Upgrading after entry isn't guaranteed, so choose generously upfront.
Extending Your Stay
If your plans change mid-trip, check current extension options before your visa expires:
- Extension availability for on-arrival visas changes periodically, verify with ICP or an authorised service centre while you still have valid days remaining
- Apply for the extension early; last-day applications risk system delays pushing you into overstay
- Keep your passport valid well beyond any extended stay
If an extension isn't available for your case, the safe move is a short trip out and back in (a "visa run"), confirm re-entry eligibility before you fly out.
Overstay: Fines and Consequences
Overstaying a visa on arrival triggers daily fines from the first day after expiry, plus potential complications:
- Fines accumulate per day until you regularise or exit
- You must clear all fines before leaving or converting status
- A recorded overstay can complicate future visa applications
The fix is simple: track your expiry date from the day you enter (not the day you planned to leave) and set a phone reminder a week before. Full details in UAE overstay fine rules.
Visa on Arrival vs Pre-Arranged Visit Visa
The on-arrival facility is convenient, but it's not always the best choice:
| Factor | Visa on Arrival | Pre-Arranged Visit Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Conditional (qualifying residence required) | Open to most nationalities |
| Duration options | 14 or 60 days | 30/60/90-day options via agents |
| Certainty | Decided at the immigration counter | Approved before you fly |
| Best for | Confident, well-documented travellers | Anyone unsure about the condition, or staying longer |
When to pre-arrange instead: if your residence permit expires soon, if your documents are hard to verify quickly (digital-only permits), or if you're travelling with family members who don't individually meet the condition. A pre-arranged visa costs a little more but removes all airport uncertainty, worth it for group travel.
Tips for a Smooth Airport Experience
- Keep documents in hand, not in checked luggage, passport, residence permit, return ticket, and hotel booking accessible before you reach the counter.
- Save digital backups, photos of every document in your phone in case a physical card is questioned.
- Know your visa type, tell the officer clearly whether you want the 14-day or 60-day option; don't assume they'll pick for you.
- Have the fee ready, card payment is standard, but a backup payment method avoids embarrassment.
- Check entry stamps, verify the granted duration on the spot. If it's wrong, it's far easier to fix at the counter than days later.
Official sources: UAE Government Portal · ICP – Identity & Citizenship
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Filipinos get a UAE visa on arrival in 2026? Yes, conditionally. Under the announced 25 June 2026 ICP expansion, Filipino nationals holding valid residence in the US, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada qualify for 14-day (~AED 100) or 60-day (~AED 250) visa on arrival. Verify current rules with ICP before flying.
Does the expansion cover Indonesians, Vietnamese, Thais, Kenyans, and South Africans? Yes, these nationalities were included in the announced expansion, subject to the same residence condition.
What counts as "valid residence"? A valid residence visa or residence permit (e.g. Green Card, residence card) in one of the listed countries, not a tourist or visit visa.
How much is the UAE visa on arrival? Indicatively ~AED 100 for 14 days and ~AED 250 for 60 days as of 2026, confirm current fees with ICP before travelling.
Can I extend a visa on arrival? Extension rules change periodically. Plan within your issued days and verify current extension options before expiry to avoid overstay fines.
What if my residence permit expires during the trip? It must be valid at the point of entry. An expired or expiring-during-travel permit risks refusal, renew it before flying.
Travelling to the UAE is easier than ever for qualifying residents, just make sure your residence permit is valid and your documents are in order before you board. PRO VISA UAE (NOR ALAYAM Documents Clearing Services LLC) advises on entry eligibility and arranges pre-approved visit visas when on-arrival doesn't apply. Call +971 52 505 3494 or WhatsApp https://wa.me/971525053494 before you book your flight.