The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expanded its pre-approved 14-day visit entry permit to include eligible Filipino travelers flying with Emirates, making short-term visits for tourism, business, or transit more accessible.

The initiative, facilitated by VFS Global through its Dubai Visa Processing Centre, also covers nationals of South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Kenya and Vietnam.

Eligible applicants must travel on Emirates with a confirmed return or onward ticket and intend to stay in the UAE for more than 48 hours but no longer than 14 days. Entry must also take place within 30 days of submitting the application.

Filipino applicants must hold a valid residence permit, with at least six months' validity, from Australia, Canada, a European Union member state, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, or the United States. US applicants must be permanent residents holding a valid Green Card. Student visas are not eligible.

Applications will be processed through VFS Global's online Dubai Visa Processing Centre, allowing eligible travelers to complete the process digitally.

"This initiative marks a significant step forward in enhancing the travel experience for visitors to the UAE," said Jiten Vyas, chief commercial officer and head of business development at VFS Global.

He said the streamlined application process supports the UAE's goal of becoming one of the world's most accessible destinations for tourism and business.

VFS Global has partnered with Emirates for more than 24 years and has processed over three million UAE visa applications. The company currently operates 27 UAE Visa Application Centres across 15 countries and offers online visa services to travelers from more than 180 nationalities.