Sifqa

Tag: Filipinos in the UAE

Visa, travel and document guides for Philippine passport holders living in the UAE.

  • NBI Clearance from the UAE (2026): Fingerprints at the Consulate or Police, Form No. 5 and a Representative in Manila

    NBI Clearance from the UAE (2026): Fingerprints at the Consulate or Police, Form No. 5 and a Representative in Manila

    Filipinos abroad often need an NBI clearance — the Philippines’ certificate that you have no criminal record — for immigration to Canada or Australia, a new job, or a UAE family visa. You cannot walk into an NBI office from Dubai, so the process has three parts: get your fingerprints on NBI Form No. 5 here, sign a Special Power of Attorney for someone in the Philippines, and have that person file it with the NBI.

    Checked on 21 October 2026 against the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai. Sources at the end.

    At a glance

    FormNBI Form No. 5 (fingerprint card)
    Fingerprints taken byPhilippine Consulate General Dubai (by appointment), or UAE police/CID with official seal and signature
    AuthorisationSpecial Power of Attorney for your representative in the Philippines, signed at the Consulate
    AppointmentNotarial appointment portal; no walk-ins
    Who files with NBIYour representative in the Philippines

    Two ways to get your fingerprints taken

    Option 1: at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai

    Book a slot on the Consulate’s notarial appointment portal. Bring:

    • Completed NBI Form No. 5 (available at the Consulate reception).
    • Two copies of a completed Special Power of Attorney naming your representative in the Philippines.
    • One 2×2 ID photo with a white background, attached to the form.
    • Three copies of your passport identification page.

    A Consulate processor takes your fingerprints. You must sign in person in front of a consular officer.

    Option 2: at a UAE police station

    You can have UAE police or CID take your fingerprints on NBI Form No. 5. The form must carry the office seal and the officer’s signature. Attach a 2×2 photo. You still need the Special Power of Attorney for your representative, notarised at the Consulate.

    NBI clearance from the UAE in 5 steps

    Step by step

    1. Choose your representative in the Philippines — a family member or friend who can visit the NBI.
    2. Book an appointment at the Consulate (notarial services).
    3. Get fingerprinted on NBI Form No. 5 and sign the SPA in front of the consular officer.
    4. Send the originals by courier to your representative: the fingerprint card, the SPA and passport copies.
    5. Your representative files it at the NBI Clearance Center and pays the fee there.
    6. Receive the clearance by courier. If you need it for another country, ask your representative to have it apostilled by the DFA before sending it.
    NBI clearance fees and processing time when applying from the UAE

    Common uses in the UAE

    • Immigration abroad: Canada, Australia and New Zealand ask for police certificates from every country you have lived in, including the Philippines. See UAE police clearance for immigration for the UAE side.
    • Jobs: some UAE employers and licensing bodies, especially in health and education, ask for a home-country police certificate.
    • Apostille: documents used outside the Philippines usually need a DFA apostille. Check what the receiving country or employer asks for.

    Mistakes to avoid

    • Paying a fixer for a “fast” clearance. The Consulate warns that fake or tampered documents are seized and holders can be prosecuted.
    • Smudged fingerprints. A rejected card means starting again.
    • Forgetting that NBI clearances are valid for a limited time. Time your application to the deadline of the visa or job you need it for.

    Questions people ask

    Can I get an NBI clearance online from Dubai?

    Not fully. Applicants abroad need fingerprints on NBI Form No. 5 and a representative in the Philippines to file it.

    Can Dubai Police take my fingerprints for the NBI?

    Yes. The Consulate accepts NBI Form No. 5 completed by UAE police or CID, if it carries the office seal and the officer’s signature.

    Do I need an appointment at the Consulate?

    Yes. NBI-related services are by appointment through the Consulate’s notarial appointment portal.

    Related guides

    Sources

    • Philippine Consulate General in Dubai — NBI clearance: dubaipcg.dfa.gov.ph
    • National Bureau of Investigation: nbi.gov.ph

    Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

    Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.

  • OWWA Membership in the UAE (2026): AED 92 for Two Years, Renewal at MWO Dubai and What It Covers

    OWWA Membership in the UAE (2026): AED 92 for Two Years, Renewal at MWO Dubai and What It Covers

    OWWA — the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration — is the Philippine government’s welfare fund for OFWs. Membership gives access to death and disability benefits, medical assistance, scholarships for your children, livelihood loans and repatriation help. In Dubai and the Northern Emirates, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Dubai charges AED 92, and membership lasts two years — even if you change employer during that time.

    Checked on 21 October 2026 against the Migrant Workers Office in Dubai. Sources at the end.

    At a glance

    FeeAED 92 (MWO Dubai)
    Valid2 years from payment, whatever your contract length or employer changes
    RenewUp to 90 days before expiry
    AppointmentNot needed at MWO Dubai for membership
    ContactOWWA Dubai hotline +971 50 558 5536 · [email protected]

    What you need

    First-time or newly hired members

    • OFW Information Sheet (download from the MWO Dubai website).
    • Passport and Emirates ID (original or copy).
    • Employment contract verified by the MWO.
    • Certificate of employment with company seal (issued within the last month), latest payslip, or latest salary certificate.

    Renewal with the same employer

    • OFW Information Sheet.
    • Passport and Emirates ID.
    • Certificate of employment with company seal (within the last month) or latest payslip.
    OWWA membership from the UAE in 5 steps

    How to join or renew

    1. Check your status in the OWWA mobile app.
    2. Prepare the documents above.
    3. Pay AED 92 at MWO Dubai (Dubai and Northern Emirates), or at the MWO in Abu Dhabi if you live there, or use the app’s payment channels.
    4. Check that it shows as active in the app. MWO Dubai notes that bank and e-wallet payments can take 1–3 banking days to appear.

    Membership takes effect when the contribution is paid. If your membership expired more than 90 days ago, MWO Dubai directs you to the nearest Overseas Welfare Office or Regional Welfare Office.

    OWWA membership fee and benefit amounts

    What active members can use

    AreaProgrammes listed by MWO Dubai
    Social benefitsDeath and Disability Benefit; Supplemental Medical Assistance (MEDplus); Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP); Welfare Assistance Program (WAP)
    Education and trainingScholarships for degree courses; short-term courses
    ReintegrationOFW Enterprise Development and Loan Program; Balik-Pinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay!; on-site skills training
    Pre-departurePDOS; CPDEP for household service workers
    RepatriationRepatriation Program

    Each programme has its own eligibility rules and amounts. Ask OWWA Dubai or check the OWWA website before you apply.

    Questions people ask

    How much is OWWA membership in Dubai?

    AED 92 at MWO Dubai, for two years.

    Does my OWWA membership end if I change employer?

    No. MWO Dubai says membership is valid for two years regardless of contract length or change of employer.

    When can I renew?

    Up to 90 days before your membership expires.

    Related guides

    Sources

    • Migrant Workers Office Dubai — OWWA membership application: mwodubai.org
    • Overseas Workers Welfare Administration: owwa.gov.ph

    Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

    Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.

  • Bringing Family from the Philippines to the UAE on a Visit Visa (2026): Salary Rules, Fees and Leaving Manila

    Bringing Family from the Philippines to the UAE on a Visit Visa (2026): Salary Rules, Fees and Leaving Manila

    Many Filipinos in the UAE want to bring parents, a spouse, children or siblings over for a visit. Philippine passport holders need a UAE visit visa arranged before they fly, and as a UAE resident you can sponsor it. Two things decide whether it works: your salary on the UAE side, and your family’s documents at Philippine immigration when they leave Manila.

    Checked on 21 October 2026 against GDRFA Dubai’s published rules (as reported by Gulf News in July 2026). Sources at the end.

    First check: can they get a visa on arrival?

    Since 25 June 2026, Philippine passport holders who hold a valid US green card, or a valid visa or residence permit from the US, an EU country, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada or New Zealand, can get a UAE visa on arrival, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs:

    Visa on arrivalFeeExtension
    14 daysAED 100Once, for 14 more days, AED 250
    60 daysAED 250Not extendable

    If your relative qualifies, you don’t need to sponsor a visit visa at all. If not, use the sponsored visit visa below.

    Who you can sponsor, by salary

    VisitorMinimum monthly salary of the sponsor
    First-degree relatives: parents, spouse, childrenAED 4,000
    Second and third-degree relatives: siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousinsAED 8,000
    FriendsAED 15,000

    You need a valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID. Income can be shown with a salary certificate, an attested labour contract, or partnership documents if you own a business.

    Visa options and fees (Dubai)

    VisaSingle entryMultiple entry
    30 daysAED 200AED 300
    60 daysAED 300AED 500
    90 daysAED 400AED 700
    Refundable depositAED 1,000AED 2,000

    Fees exclude VAT, medical insurance and service charges. The deposit is returned when the visitor leaves on time. Visitors can stay up to 120 days a year in total, must enter within 60 days of the visa being issued, and extensions from inside the UAE are possible if approved.

    UAE visit visa for a Filipino family member in 5 steps

    How to apply

    1. Check your salary against the table above.
    2. Collect documents: your Emirates ID and passport copy; the visitor’s passport (valid at least 6 months) and photo; proof of income and accommodation; and attested proof of relationship, such as PSA birth or marriage certificates.
    3. Apply through GDRFA Dubai Smart Services or the GDRFA app (with UAE Pass), or at an Amer centre, if your residence visa is from Dubai. Residents of other emirates apply through ICP.
    4. Pay the visa fee, deposit and insurance. GDRFA says most applications are processed within 48 hours.
    5. Send the e-visa to your family. They must enter within 60 days.

    Relationship certificates from the Philippines usually need a DFA apostille before UAE use. Order PSA copies and get them apostilled early.

    UAE visit visa options for Filipino family members compared

    Leaving Manila: Philippine immigration

    Your family also has to clear the Bureau of Immigration when they depart. Officers check that tourists are genuine visitors and not travelling to look for work. For a sponsored visit, prepare:

    • Passport, the UAE visit visa and a return ticket.
    • Their eTravel registration (within 72 hours of the flight).
    • Proof of relationship to you (PSA certificates).
    • An Affidavit of Support and Guarantee from you as the sponsor. The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi provide notarial services for this.
    • Copies of your UAE residence visa, Emirates ID and employment certificate.
    • For their own situation: proof of work or study in the Philippines, if any, to show they will return.

    Don’t use a visit visa to find a job. Working in the UAE needs a work permit and residence visa. Philippine authorities also warn against leaving as a tourist to seek overseas work; workers deployed this way miss out on DMW and OWWA protection.

    Questions people ask

    What salary do I need to bring my mother to Dubai?

    AED 4,000 a month for first-degree relatives, including parents, under GDRFA Dubai rules.

    Can I sponsor my sister on a visit visa?

    Yes, if you earn at least AED 8,000 a month. Siblings are second-degree relatives.

    How long can my family stay?

    30, 60 or 90 days depending on the visa, with a maximum of 120 days in a year.

    Related guides

    Sources

    • Gulf News — “GDRFA clarifies visit visa rules for relatives and friends” (17 July 2026)
    • GDRFA Dubai: gdrfad.gov.ae · ICP: icp.gov.ae
    • UAE Government portal — Residence visa for family members: u.ae

    Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

    Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.