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 arrival | Fee | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days | AED 100 | Once, for 14 more days, AED 250 |
| 60 days | AED 250 | Not 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
| Visitor | Minimum monthly salary of the sponsor |
|---|---|
| First-degree relatives: parents, spouse, children | AED 4,000 |
| Second and third-degree relatives: siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins | AED 8,000 |
| Friends | AED 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)
| Visa | Single entry | Multiple entry |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days | AED 200 | AED 300 |
| 60 days | AED 300 | AED 500 |
| 90 days | AED 400 | AED 700 |
| Refundable deposit | AED 1,000 | AED 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.
How to apply
- Check your salary against the table above.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pay the visa fee, deposit and insurance. GDRFA says most applications are processed within 48 hours.
- 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.
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
- Balikbayan privilege for foreign spouses and children
- OFW vacation from the UAE
- Visa-free countries for Filipinos in the UAE
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.