During the summer, some OFWs opt to escape the heat to colder countries or go home in the Philippines back to their families. But with the recent announcement from the UAE cabinet, OFWs who long to see their children and young ones may not have to leave the country anymore.

Starting July 15 up to September 15 each year, the visa fees for kids under the age of 18 will be waived. With 90-day visas averaging around Dh 900 – Dh 1000, parents can now save that money to pool them to other expenditures during their kids’ vacation here in the UAE. This presents an opportunity for OFWs to bring their children here with lesser costs as well as the chance for the kids to explore the UAE together with their parents.

Bringing the OFW family together in the UAE

Sheryl Palacios-Manalo

Filipino mothers, who after giving birth to their kids here in the UAE had to send them back home, are planning to take advantage of the visa-free rule. Such is the case of Sheryl Palacios-Manalo, a Senior Health Unit Coordinator, who has an 8-year old and a 6-year old back home: “Yung dalawang anak ko, ipinanganak ko dito tapos nasa Pilipinas na sila. Nung malaman ko na visa-free na ang mga bata, naisipan ko nang mag-ipon ng pamasahe nila para next year, God willing, madala ko sila dito sa UAE.”

Edita Bautista

Parents are now excited to grab the chance to bring their kids to the country for a short visit. “I’m excited that the visa has been waived for my kid. Nadala ko siya dito back in 2015… tapos ngayon with the visa-free rule, airfare na lang ang i-intindihin ko.” said Edita Bautista, an HR and Administration Coordinator in Abu Dhabi.

Gypsy Watanabe

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