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UAE work visa requirements for Filipino citizens

For Philippines passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route available

The UAE only issues work visas through a UAE employer, and the Philippine side requires that employer to hire you through a DMW-licensed agency on an approved job order.

What the employer must have

  • A UAE-registered employer must apply to MoHRE for your work permit and sponsor your residence visa — you cannot apply on your own.
  • The standard employment visa the employer obtains is valid for two years, tied to that employer, and renewable.
  • The employer handles the in-country steps after arrival (medical test, Emirates ID, residence stamping).
  • To hire a Filipino it must also be accredited with a DMW-licensed Philippine agency and its job order approved by the DMW.

What you must do before you leave

  1. Go through a DMW-licensed recruitment agency. Direct hiring is banned by Article 18 of the Labor Code — only the narrow categories listed in POEA Memorandum Circular 08-2018 are exempt — and you can check any agency's licence on dmw.gov.ph before you pay or sign anything.
  2. Your employment contract must be verified by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO, formerly POLO) at the Philippine post covering your destination before you can be deployed.
  3. Complete the Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) and the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and keep both certificates — they are part of the documentary requirements.
  4. Get your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) before you leave. Every departing OFW needs one, it exempts you from travel tax and the airport terminal fee, and it is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued.
  5. The UAE employer's offer must be attached to a job order that the DMW has approved — the agency files it, and you can look the order up yourself on dmw.gov.ph.

Things to watch

  • If you are hired as a household service worker you must NOT be charged a placement fee at all — Republic Act 10361 sec. 13 puts the recruitment cost on the employer, and collecting a fee from a domestic worker is a ground for cancelling the agency's licence. For every other job the placement fee is capped at one month's basic salary and may only be collected once you have a signed contract.
  • A job order on the DMW approved list means the government approved the employer's demand and the agency's licence. It does not mean you have been hired, and an order stops being real once its approved slots are filled.
  • The residence visa is tied to the sponsoring employer; moving to another employer means going through the permit process again.

What you may lawfully be charged

THE MOST A LICENSED AGENCY MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU is ONE MONTH of the basic salary written in your DMW-approved contract — and only after you have signed it. Not one month plus extras.

Section 56, Rule V, 2023 DMW Rules and Regulations.

⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.

Official sources

This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.

Common questions

Can a Filipino passport holder work in the UAE?

The UAE only issues work visas through a UAE employer, and the Philippine side requires that employer to hire you through a DMW-licensed agency on an approved job order.

What does an employer in the UAE need before hiring a Filipino worker?

A UAE-registered employer must apply to MoHRE for your work permit and sponsor your residence visa — you cannot apply on your own. The standard employment visa the employer obtains is valid for two years, tied to that employer, and renewable. The employer handles the in-country steps after arrival (medical test, Emirates ID, residence stamping). To hire a Filipino it must also be accredited with a DMW-licensed Philippine agency and its job order approved by the DMW.

What must a Filipino citizen do before leaving to work in the UAE?

Go through a DMW-licensed recruitment agency. Direct hiring is banned by Article 18 of the Labor Code — only the narrow categories listed in POEA Memorandum Circular 08-2018 are exempt — and you can check any agency's licence on dmw.gov.ph before you pay or sign anything. Your employment contract must be verified by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO, formerly POLO) at the Philippine post covering your destination before you can be deployed. Complete the Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) and the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and keep both certificates — they are part of the documentary requirements. Get your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) before you leave. Every departing OFW needs one, it exempts you from travel tax and the airport terminal fee, and it is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. The UAE employer's offer must be attached to a job order that the DMW has approved — the agency files it, and you can look the order up yourself on dmw.gov.ph.

What should Filipino workers watch out for with the UAE job offers?

If you are hired as a household service worker you must NOT be charged a placement fee at all — Republic Act 10361 sec. 13 puts the recruitment cost on the employer, and collecting a fee from a domestic worker is a ground for cancelling the agency's licence. For every other job the placement fee is capped at one month's basic salary and may only be collected once you have a signed contract. A job order on the DMW approved list means the government approved the employer's demand and the agency's licence. It does not mean you have been hired, and an order stops being real once its approved slots are filled. The residence visa is tied to the sponsoring employer; moving to another employer means going through the permit process again.

Should I pay an agent for a job in the UAE?

No. Never pay anyone for a job offer, a visa, or a place on a list. Legitimate recruitment for this route does not require the worker to pay for the job itself. Verify any agent against the official registers linked on this page.

Other countries Filipino citizens can work in

All work visa guides

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