PH Embassy in Abu Dhabi Pilots Philippine e-Visa Issuance in the Middle East Region

The interface of the Philippine e-Visa platform features the country’s natural attractions. (Abu Dhabi PE photo)

ABU DHABI 07 April 2025 — The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi PE) has officially launched the issuance of the Philippine e-Visa, marking a significant milestone as the first and, to date, the only Philippine Foreign Service Post in the Middle East to offer this service. This initiative caters to foreign nationals residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who wish to visit the Philippines and need a visa.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) fully rolled out the Philippine e-Visa system in the Middle East and North Africa on 24 March 2025, with the Philippine Embassies in Abuja, Nigeria, and Nairobi also piloting the system.

The first batch of foreign nationals from the UAE issued with Philippine e-Visas have begun arriving in the Philippines as of 28 March 2025. Among them was a Lebanese national based in Dubai, serving as a Regional Manager at a multinational firm specializing in automation, aviation, and energy transition. This individual was the first foreign tourist to be granted a Philippine e-Visa by Abu Dhabi PE.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver hailed this development as a testament to the Philippines’ commitment to deepening its bilateral relations with the UAE while enhancing engagement with the broader international community in the country.

"This milestone represents another important advancement for the Philippine Foreign Service and the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, as we continue to enhance our bilateral relations with the UAE while also fostering stronger engagements with the diverse international community in this country and the broader Middle East region,” Ambassador Ver said. “The selection of Abu Dhabi PE as the pioneering Philippine Foreign Service Post to introduce the innovative Philippine e-Visa underscores the high priority the Philippines attaches to its partnership with the UAE, recognizing the presence of over 200 nationalities that contribute to the dynamic and multicultural environment of the Emirates," he adds.

Foreign nationals residing in the UAE who wish to apply for a Philippine e-Visa through Abu Dhabi PE must first create an account on the official e-Visa platform at https://evisa.gov.ph/.  The e-Visa application process maintains the same eligibility criteria and documentary requirements as regular Philippine visas, including a valid UAE resident visa and proof of financial capacity, among others.

Further details can be accessed on the Visa Services page of the official website of Abu Dhabi PE at https://abudhabipe.dfa.gov.ph/sample-sites/visa-services.  Additionally, applicants must have a valid PayIT account, powered by First Abu Dhabi Bank, to facilitate online payment and complete the application process.

The introduction of the Philippine e-Visa is expected to benefit the large expatriate community across all the seven Emirates of the UAE who require a visa to visit the Philippines. Prior to this official launch, Abu Dhabi PE conducted a beta-testing phase between 10 to 21 March 2025. Since then, the platform has received a significant number of e-Visa applications from foreign nationals residing in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras al-Khaimah. END

For more information, visit https://www.abudhabipe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinUAE/, https://twitter.com/PHinUAE or https://www.instagram.com/phinuae/.