COVID-19 Dubai Travel Requirements for Passengers from the Philippines
COVID-19 Dubai Travel Requirements – Arriving Philippine Passengers: This is the updated advisory for local or domestic passengers arriving in Dubai coming from the Philippines. This is sourced from both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific COVID travel advisories.
Note: Entry requirements for various countries have been updated recently. For more information, please check the government website of your country of destination. Additionally, you may also check this advisory.
Here are the travel requirements when departing from or arriving in Manila.
Here are the travel requirements when departing from or arriving in Cebu.
Here are the travel requirements when departing from or arriving in Clark.
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Covid Dubai Travel Requirements per Philippine Airlines Advisory
Updated November 22, 2021
Travel Restrictions
- Passengers allowed to enter:
– Nationals of United Arab Emirates
– Residents of United Arab Emirates.
– Passengers traveling as tourists to Dubai (DXB).
– Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia with a United Arab Emirates
Identity Card arriving at Dubai (DXB).
- COVID 19-Amendment of the conditions related to suspension of international air services from the restricted countries (August 04, 2021) – effective from Thursday 5th August 2021 00:01 hrs, the following amended conditions will be applicable for the operation of international air services:
– Read the complete guidance from Dubai Airports as received from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
– With reference to the above subject and the circulars communicated to you on 4th August 2021 with regard to the listed countries, please be informed that, for clarification and avoidance of any doubt, in addition to the PCR test that should be conducted 48 hours prior to the departure from the time of sample collection:
(a) A Rapid PCR test shall be conducted at the departure airport prior to 4 hours of departure;
(b) The Rapid PCR test should be based on molecular diagnostic testing intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid for SARS-COV-2 viral RNA;
(c) In the absence of such method of testing, a classic PCR test report will be accepted provided that, it is conducted at the airport prior to 4 hours of departure and a negative result is received.
- COVID 19 – Travel protocol for Inbound Passengers as of October 30, 2021: effective from Sunday 31st October 2021 until 21st November 2021, the below updated conditions/procedures shall be followed, with regard to the inbound passengers traveling to Dubai from France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland:
- hold any type of PCR test certificate or present a vaccination certificateof which the vaccine was obtained either from the aforesaid countries or the United Arab Emirates
- The vaccination certificate(s) shall reflect the completion of doses of vaccine, of type that is approved by the WHO,which are accepted by the aforementioned countries and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- The inbound passengers required to complete the recommended doses of the vaccines.
- COVID-19 Inbound Passenger Protocol as ofOctober 18, 2021: Resident Businessmen/Passengers and Visiting Businessmen/Passengers from the list of countries below are required to comply with the following, as applicable:
- Present an approval granted by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) Communicated through a QR code, based on the registration of arriving passenger(s) (Register Arrivals) through Website: https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae GDRFA approval for the holders of visa issued from Dubai, remains as a requirement to enter the emirate of Dubai.
- Present a VALID Negative Covid-19 Test certificate that is issued within the valid time frame, namely, within (48) hours from the time of collecting the sample and from and approved health service, which use the QR code System; and present a Rapid PCR test report that should be based on molecular diagnostic testing intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid for SARS-COV-2 viral RNA; conducted at the departure airport prior to six (6) hours of departure, provided with QR code system.
- List of Restricted Countries (as of October 18, 2021): Bangladesh Congo, Ethiopia, India, Liberia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia
- For more information, go to www.dcaa.gov.ae
- UAE Nationals, who are eligible to travel to the aforementioned Restricted Countries are (as of October 27, 2021) :
- UAE Nationals who had completed the approved covid-19 vaccines and the recommended number of doses;
- The UAE Nationals who are not vaccinated and/or completed the recommended doses of the vaccines are not permitted to travel to the aforesaid countries. Exception will be granted for ( official trips- medical cases – Humanitarian cases – International Scholarship/Study mission) which will be evaluated and approved by the relevant Authorities
- Below is the link for the “Return Permit for Resident outside UAE form” which will be issued to the passenger(s) from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), based on the passenger submission for permission via the link: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitService.aspx
- Kindly note that permission granted by the GDRFA before 5th August 2021 will NOT be acceptable under the aforesaid circular. Hence all operators shall accept the GDRFA permission issued on 5th August 2021 onward.
- Effective August 18, 2021, based on the instructions received from the COVID-19 Command and Control Center (CCC) an exemption is extended to the below categories of passengers from the requirement of mandatory PCR test prior traveling to Dubai, from all destinations.
The categories that the decision is applicable to:
– The inbound passengers escorting a 1st degree UAE nationals’ relative.
– Domestic labor escorting a UAE national sponsor during travel.
As of August 20, 2021, in addition to the exemption extended to two categories, further exemption is granted to the below category of passengers from the requirement of mandatory PCR test prior traveling to Dubai, from all destinations. The category this decision is applicable to:
– The UAE-Nationals/UAE-residents visa holder, who have completed 6 months after recovering from COVID-19, subject to presenting a certificate of Completing the quarantine period issued from official entities in the UAE.
- The airlines shall ensure and/or verify the authenticity of the above requirement(s) prior to the passenger(s) boarding the aircraft and shall not accept any passenger(s) who does not fulfill the aforesaid condition(s) and/or requirement.
COVID-19 Health Requirements
- Dubai Travel Protocol Update Guidelines for DXB/DWC Passengers as of November 07, 2021. The following conditions must be met for all flights to/from DXB or DWC:
1. UAE residents, GCC citizens & tourists arriving to DXB/DWC: All UAE residents, GCC citizens, and visitors traveling to Dubai will need to do a pre-travel (before departure) PCR test, irrespective of the country they are coming from.
All Negative COVID19 Certificates must be printed in English or Arabic languages only (No Handwritten Reports). PCR test validity for all other destinations that are not mentioned in the below lists is no more than 72 hours before departure of flight inbound to DXB/DWC. Children under 12 and passengers with moderate to severe disabilities are exempt from PCR.
2. UAE Nationals from all countries arriving to DXB/DWC: All UAE Nationals are Not required to conduct PCR test before arriving at DXB/DWC, PCR Test on arrival only.
An exemption is also extended to the below categories of passengers from the requirement of mandatory PCR test or GDRFA pre-approval prior traveling to Dubai, from all destinations.
– The inbound passengers escorting a 1st degree UAE nationals’ relative.
– Domestic workers escorting a UAE national sponsor during travel.
Given that they are traveling on the same flight with the relative or sponsor.
3. If travelling from one of the countries mentioned below all arriving passengers require a negative PCR test validity no more than 72 hours before departure of flight inbound to DXB/DWC, and a second PCR test will also be conducted upon arrival in Dubai:
| Middle East and Africa | |||
| Angola | Iran | Morocco | Syria |
| Djibouti | Iraq | Rwanda | Tanzania |
| Egypt | Ivory Coast | Senegal | Tunisia |
| Eritrea | Jordan | Somaliland | Zimbabwe |
| Ghana | Kenya | South Sudan | Somalia |
| Guinea | Lebanon | Sudan |
| Europe | |||
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Georgia | Greece | Russia |
| Croatia | Hungary | Montenegro | Slovakia |
| Cyprus | Malta | Poland | Ukraine |
| Asia | |
| Azerbaijan | Turkmenistan |
| Cambodia | Uzbekistan |
| Kyrgyzstan | Turkey |
| Myanmar | |
| Philippines | |
| Tajikistan |
| South America | ||
| Argentina | Brazil | Chile |
4.Holders of type of visa and/or entry permission granted by the appropriate authority in the United Arab Emirates (i.e. employment visa, short stay/long stay visa, visit visa, residence visa newly issued…etc.,) are permitted to travel to Dubai, from the following countries: Bangladesh, Congo, India, Liberia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Indonesia (72 hour PCR), Afghanistan, Ethiopia-no approval is required from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) OR from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)
5.Transit passengers from all countries arriving at DXB/DWC
All transiting passengers excluding the below listed are not required to present a COVID 19 PCR test certificate unless it is mandated by their final destination.
Transiting from restricted countries:
- The People’s Republic of Bangladesh
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- The Republic of India
- The Republic of Liberia
- The Republic of Namibia
- The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
- The Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- The Republic of Sierra Leone
- The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Republic of South Africa
- The Republic of Uganda
- Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- The Republic of Zambia
All passengers who are traveling from the above listed countries and transiting through UAE, shall ensure that the following preventive measures are compiled by them:
- Obtain necessary entry permission/approval from Country of the final destination;
- Hold a VALID Negative Covid-19 Test certificate that is issued within the valid time frame, namely, (72) hours from the time of collecting the sample. Issued from approved health service, which use QR code System;
- The airlines shall ensure and/or verify the authenticity of the above requirement(s) prior to the passenger(s) boarding the aircraft and shall not accept any passenger(s) who does not fulfill the aforesaid condition(s) and/or requirements;
If the airline carries any passenger(s) who fails to meet the aforesaid requirements, the airline will be held responsible to return such passenger to the point of embarkation and also any other matters that may arise therefrom.
6. GDRFA Approval: For Dubai issued residents visa, all arriving passengers from Bangladesh, Congo, India, Liberia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Indonesia should obtain GDRFA Return Permit approval via https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitService.aspx
7. Tourists with valid visa or visa on arrival are not required to get any approvals from GDRFA.
Note: Passengers carrying passports of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal Uganda, Nigeria with tourist visas can also be accepted if they have not entered or been in those Countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal Uganda, Nigeria) in the previous 14 days. PCR requirements will be based on their Country of departure
8. Departing from DXB to all countries: All passengers are required to follow final destination requirements.
- Download the COVID 19 DXB Smart App before arriving at DXB/DWC.
- Authentication of the PCR Certificates
- Children under 12 and passengers with moderate to severe disabilities are exempt from taking the RT-PCR test.
- The airline will verify the authenticity of the PCR certificate of the passenger before accepting him/her on board.
- The previous announcement requiring the PCR certificate to display a QR code for arriving passengers, is now NOT required until further notice as instructed by the DCAA.
- Passengers must be tested at a government-accredited COVID-19 health facility: https://doh.gov.ph/licensed-covid-19-testing-laboratories
Required Forms
- Passengers arriving from restricted countries are required to obtain a “Return Permit for Resident outside UAE form” which is issued to the passenger(s) from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)
- Below is the link for the “Return Permit for Resident outside UAE form” which will be issued to the passenger(s) from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), based on the passenger submission for permission via the link: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitService.aspx
- Sample Return Permit Form for Resident outside UAE
Kindly note that permission granted by the GDRFA before 5th August 2021 will NOT be acceptable under the aforesaid circular. Hence all operators shall accept the GDRFA permission issued on 5th August 2021 onward. - Fill the Undertaking Form before arriving at DXB. Submitted before PCR test on arrival in DXB. Undertaking Form
- Download the COVID 19 DXB Smart App before departure. Click the DXB Smart App Guide for the step by step instruction on how to download.
- PH Bureau of Immigration (BOI) Declaration of acknowledging the risks involved in travelling. Click to download the BOI Declaration form.
- Registration to PAL’s passenger contact tracing forms:
All passengers must register to the PAL Passenger Information Form as early as 24 hours before their flight. A separate form shall be filled out by passengers whose COVID-19 test will be taken with any of PAL’s Partner Laboratories, please register to PAL Laboratory Partner e-CIF as early as 5 days before departure.
Other Requirements
- SEA CREW:
– Valid Seaman’s Visa
– Seaman’s Book
– Original Copy of the Letter of Guarantee
Other Information
- For the latest advice, information and resources, go to:
– https://www.dubaiairports.ae
– https://www.iata.org/en/programs/covid-19-resources-guidelines/covid-gov-mitigation/
– https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php
Philippine Airlines’ Disclaimer: Per PAL’s Conditions of Carriage, the passenger is solely responsible for verifying and complying with all applicable government laws/regulations of all destinations/countries to be flown from, to, or through. PAL shall not be liable for the passenger’s failure to comply with said laws/regulations, or for any aid or information given here or by a PAL agent or employee in connection with said laws/regulations.
Covid Bacolod Travel Requirements per Cebu Pacific Advisory
Updated as of September 30, 2021
As per government regulations Dubai-bound guests must present the following, to be accepted for flight:
For UAE Passport Holders
- Valid Passport upon arrival
- RT-PCR test upon arrival (except for children below 12 years old and PWDs)
For First Time Resident Visa Holders
- Passport valid for three (3) months upon arrival
- Valid Visa
- OEC or applicable PH Travel Tax
- Negative RT-PCR test result, conducted within seventy-two (72) hours before departure (except for children below 12 years old and PWDs)
For Returning Resident Visa Holder issued by Dubai
- Valid Residence Visa upon arrival
- Passport valid for three (3) months upon arrival
- Applicable Philippine Travel Tax Certificate (PH Tax)
- Negative RT-PCR test result, conducted within seventy-two (72) hours before departure (except for children below 12 years old and PWDs)
For Returning Resident Visa Holder issued be other UAE
- Valid Visa
- Passport valid for three (3) months upon arrival
- OEC or applicable PH Travel Tax
- Re-entry permit issued by ICA for other emirates
- Negative RT-PCR test result, conducted within seventy-two (72) hours before departure (except for children below 12 years old and PWDs)
For Tourist Visa Holders
- Passport valid for six (6) months upon arrival
- Applicable Philippine Travel Tax Certificate (PH Tax)
- Negative RT-PCR test result, conducted within seventy-two (72) hours before departure (except for children below 12 years old and PWDs)
For Transiting Passengers
- Valid documents up to the final destination
- Onward flight with a minimum of three (3) hours transiting time, but not more than twenty-four (24) hours
- Negative RT-PCR test result, if needed by onward destination/s
- Marhaba Baggage Transfer Service (if with baggage)
For those securing a Visa on Arrival
- Passport valid for six (6) months upon arrival
- Negative RT-PCR test result, conducted within seventy-two (72) hours before departure (except for children below 12 years old and PWDs)
- Health Insurance
Please make sure that you have a valid health insurance that can be used in the United Arab Emirates, as required by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
Please print and fill out the Bureau of Immigration form before your flight. Click here, and have it ready upon check-in.
All guests bound for Dubai must download the COVID-19 DXB Smart App and create an account. Once completed, make sure to save a printed or digital copy of the QR code which will be scanned upon arrival.
These are requirements we have as of the date indicated. Requirements may change from time to time without prior notice. Please continue checking with the Dubai government for the latest updates.
Source: Cebu Pacific COVID-19 Travel Advisory