What documents do I need to move to UAE as a Philippines citizen?

Typical pathway: Freelance Permit

Last verified: August 5, 2026

Valid Philippine passport (before) — Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Republic of the Philippines
Original Philippine passport with at least 6 months' validity beyond the intended entry date; the passport data page is the base document for the freelance permit, entry permit and Emirates ID file. Name spelling must match all attested certificates exactly.
Recent biometric passport-size photographs of the applicant (before) — Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
Colour photos with plain white background meeting UAE immigration specification (head-and-shoulders, no glasses/head covering unless religious). Used for the freelance licence file, entry permit and Emirates ID card — separate from any photocopies of the passport.
Freelance permit / freelancer licence application with declared activity (before) — Source: https://dda.gov.ae/en/registration-licensing/setting-up-a-business/freelancer
Online application to the chosen issuing authority (e.g. Dubai Development Authority / GoFreelance-TECOM, twofour54 Abu Dhabi, RAKEZ, Ajman FZ, UAQ FTZ) selecting one or more approved freelance activities from that authority's activity list. Some Dubai activity packages have been temporarily restricted — verify current availability directly with the issuing free zone.
Attested Philippine degree/diploma (CHED CAV → DFA Apostille → UAE Embassy Manila) (before) — Source: Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippines / UAE Embassy in Manila
Educational certificate authenticated by the Commission on Higher Education (sealed CAV envelope — do not open), then apostilled by DFA Manila, then attested by the UAE Embassy in Manila. The UAE is not a Hague Apostille state for incoming documents, so the DFA apostille alone is not accepted.
Professional portfolio or experience/qualification evidence (before) — Source: https://dda.gov.ae/en/registration-licensing/setting-up-a-business/freelancer
Work samples, client references or CV proving competence in the declared freelance activity. Mandatory for regulated activities (e.g. personal trainer, media, education roles) and optional for others — confirm the exact evidence list with your issuing free zone.
Personal bank statements / certified income records (before) — Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
Statements (typically 6 months for a standard freelance residence visa; around 24 months of income records plus AED 15,000+ average monthly income if applying for the self-sponsored 5-year Green Visa as a freelancer). Philippine-issued statements should be in English or officially translated.
NBI clearance (Philippine police clearance) with DFA apostille (before) — Source: National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippines
Good-conduct certificate issued by the National Bureau of Investigation, apostilled by DFA and — if the UAE authority requests it — attested by the UAE Embassy in Manila. Not demanded by every freelance-permit issuer; verify with the specific free zone, requirements vary by authority and activity.
DMW exit clearance — OFW Travel Pass (formerly OEC) (before) — Source: Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Philippines
Philippine departure clearance for nationals leaving to work abroad, generated digitally via the eGovPH/DMW app once employment or engagement is verified; it replaces the printed Overseas Employment Certificate and gives travel-tax and terminal-fee exemption. Treatment of self-sponsored freelance-permit holders is not uniform — confirm your case with DMW or the Migrant Workers Office before booking a flight.
Certified proof of Philippine civil status (PSA birth / marriage certificate, apostilled and UAE-Embassy attested) (before) — Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) / UAE Embassy in Manila
PSA-issued birth certificate, and marriage certificate if married, apostilled by DFA and attested by the UAE Embassy in Manila. Not needed for the freelance permit itself but required later for family sponsorship, school enrolment and some bank/insurance formalities — process it while still in the Philippines.
UAE entry permit (residence entry visa) sponsored by the free zone (during) — Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
Electronic entry permit issued by ICP or GDRFA through the freelance-licence issuing authority; Filipino nationals are not eligible for visa-on-arrival unless holding a valid US/UK/EU/Australian/Canadian visa or residence permit, so the entry permit must be issued before travel and activated on arrival.
Establishment card / immigration file card of the freelance licence (during) — Source: GoFreelance (TECOM Group, Dubai)
Immigration establishment card issued in the freelancer's own licence name (e.g. AED 2,000 under GoFreelance), which is the mechanism that allows the licence to sponsor the holder's residence visa and, later, dependants.
UAE medical fitness certificate (during) — Source: https://www.ehs.gov.ae/en/services/services-directory/examination-of-medical-fitness-for-residency-visa
Screening at a government-approved centre (Dubai Health/Smart Salem, Emirates Health Services elsewhere) for HIV and tuberculosis — plus syphilis/Hepatitis B for certain occupations. Must be taken after the entry permit is issued and before visa stamping and Emirates ID issuance; applicants must be 18+.
Valid UAE health insurance policy (during) — Source: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/work-permits
Health cover meeting the minimum benefit standards of the emirate of residence (DHA for Dubai, DOH for Abu Dhabi). Self-sponsored freelancers must buy their own policy; the residence file is not completed without it.
Emirates ID application with biometric enrolment (during) — Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
Application submitted to ICP (or via an Amer/typing centre) followed by in-person fingerprint and facial capture at an ICP or authorised enrolment centre. Residency becomes fully active once the Emirates ID is issued.
Issued residence visa (e-visa / residence permit linked to the freelance licence) (during) — Source: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA)
The 1- or 2-year self-sponsored residence permit issued after the medical certificate and Emirates ID biometrics are cleared; issued electronically by ICP or GDRFA Dubai rather than as a passport sticker in most cases.
MOFAIC (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation of Philippine documents (during) — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC), UAE
Final in-country legalisation stamp on the degree, PSA and other Philippine certificates already attested in Manila. Required before UAE bodies (licensing authorities, employers, schools, courts) will accept them; documents lacking the Manila embassy step are commonly rejected at this stage.
Registered UAE mobile number in the applicant's own name (during) — Source: GoFreelance (TECOM Group, Dubai)
A local SIM registered against the passport/Emirates ID; required by freelance-permit issuers and used for all ICP, medical-test and banking OTP verifications.
Registered tenancy contract (Ejari or emirate equivalent) (after) — Source: Dubai Land Department (Ejari)
Attested lease registration in the freelancer's name, used as proof of address for utilities, family sponsorship and bank compliance updates. Registered via Ejari in Dubai; equivalent tenancy registration systems apply in other emirates.
UAE personal bank account file (freelance licence + Emirates ID + address proof) (after)
A freelance licence holder may open a personal account and receive client payments, but cannot hire staff without converting to an LLC. Banks apply their own KYC list on top of the licence, Emirates ID and tenancy proof.
Annual freelance licence and residence visa renewal file (after) — Source: https://dda.gov.ae/en/registration-licensing/setting-up-a-business/freelancer
The freelance permit is renewed yearly (fees roughly equal to setup cost) and the residence visa every 1–2 years, each renewal requiring a fresh TB screening, current health insurance and valid passport.
OWWA membership and Philippine Consulate/MWO registration (after) — Source: https://mwodubai.org
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration membership and registration with the Migrant Workers Office (Philippine Consulate General Dubai for Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Philippine Embassy Abu Dhabi otherwise) — needed for welfare benefits, exit-clearance processing and passport/civil-registry services while resident. Optional for permit issuance, strongly advisable for stability.
UAE Federal Tax Authority registration (corporate tax / VAT, if thresholds met) (after) — Source: UAE Federal Tax Authority
Freelance licence income above the corporate-tax threshold, or taxable turnover above the VAT registration threshold, triggers registration and filing obligations with the FTA. Thresholds and small-business relief change — verify your position directly with the Federal Tax Authority.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

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