The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai and Northern Emirates announced the process and requirements needed for overstaying overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will avail of the amnesty program organized by the UAE government.
The initiative, dubbed as the “Protect Yourself by Modifying your Status” campaign, will allow overstaying expatriates, including OFWs, to leave the country without paying outstanding fees or fines or change their status while paying nominal fees.
The initiative will also cater to those who were able to enter the country illegally.
For OFWs in Abu Dhabi
Rowena Pangilinan Daquipil, Chargé d’ Affairs at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, announced that OFWs in Abu Dhabi who wish to avail of the amnesty program need to provide necessary travel documents and passport.
Those who will avail of the amnesty program will be eligible to receive the following benefits.
- Exemption from all immigration fees
- Departure without ban stamp
- Ability to modify status inside the country for minimal fee of Dh500
- Job opportunities by registering at the virtual labor market which can be accessed on the official website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization
- Obtain temporary residence
The Embassy may be contacted through email at [email protected].
For OFWs in Dubai and Northern Emirates
The Philippine Consulate announced that OFWs have two options.
Those who wish to rectify their status must go to Amer centers. They will be:
- Exempted from all applicable financial penalties (Penalties for residency, Emirates ID, Labor card)
- Asked to pay fee of Dh521 for rectifying status
- Asked to adhere to the residency conditions in case of renewal of visa or new sponsor
Meanwhile, those who will choose to leave UAE to return to the Philippines will be:
- Exempted from penalties and closing absconding case
- Asked to submit passport
- In case of lost passport, travel documents should be issued from the consulate after submitting certificate for lost passport
- Able to leave the country without being banned of future entry
For other questions:
The Philippine Government has announced that they will shoulder the required fees, as well as the one-way plane ticket for OFWs who are planning to take advantage of the Amnesty period granted by the UAE from August 1 to October 31.
In a post from the Facebook page of the Philippine Embassy in the UAE, the financial assistance will only be provided for those who will be going home: “Assistance will cover for payment of exit passes, fees for absconding lifting, and airfare to the Philippines.”
