Phl e-visa debuts in Dubai

Foreign nationals living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates who need visas to visit the Philippines can now apply online without visiting the Philippine Consulate General.

Personal appearances and interviews are no longer required unless consular officers request further evaluation.

The service covers short-term visits for tourism, business, conferences, training and seminars under the 9A visa category.

Single-entry visas take seven to 12 days to process, while multiple-entry visas require 15 to 40 days.

Application fees range from AED260 for single-entry visas to AED420 or AED580 for multiple-entry visas. All fees are non-refundable.

However, electronic visas cannot be extended or converted into other visa categories.

Foreign nationals seeking employment, education or other types of visas must still apply for traditional sticker visas at the consulate.

Consul General Ambrosio Brian Enciso said the initiative aims to simplify travel to the Philippines while maintaining border security.

The Dubai consulate joins 94 other Philippine foreign service posts using the electronic system, including the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, which introduced the service in March 2025.

The Dubai consulate processes visa applications from nationals of 37 visa-required countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Ukraine.