The first batch of Filipino amnesty applicants safely arrived at NAIA on Friday (September 13). OWWA

The first batch of overstaying Filipinos, repatriated to the Philippines after applying for the UAE visa amnesty, arrived safely at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday (September 13). According to the social media post of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the batch arrived on board the Philippines Airlines flight PR659. Personnel from OWWA, led by Repatriations and Assistance Division chief Falconi Millar, along with representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the NAIA Medical Team, welcomed and assisted the first batch upon their arrival. The batch, composed of 35 Filipinos from Abu Dhabi and 29 from Dubai, was among the first to successfully benefit from the ongoing amnesty programme, allowing them to leave the UAE without paying fines and facing entry bans or legal consequences. His Excellency Alfonso A. Ver, the Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, led the One-Country-Team UAE, which includes the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and the Migrant Workers Offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in organizing the repatriation of Filipino amnesty seekers to the Philippines. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), through the Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), covered the airfare for the repatriates. They were also provided with financial support, food, and transportation assistance from OWWA to help them return to their respective provinces. The visa amnesty programme in UAE will run until October 31 and will cover all types of visa including tourist and expired residency visas. During the programme's first week, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai have assisted 2,053 overstaying Filipinos. The Philippine missions, in earlier statements, urged Filipinos with visa issues to take advantage of the amnesty and advised them to visit the Embassy or Consulate to inquire about how they could fully benefit from the program. They assured that those who come forward will be provided assistance subject to existing laws and regulations. They also cautioned against dealing with unauthorized individuals or entities during the amnesty application process and reminded Filipinos to conduct all transactions through the Philippine Embassy or Consulate or the appropriate UAE authorities to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of the information and services provided. For Filipinos who wish to regularise their residency status and apply for the amnesty, learn the full details here. They can also contact the following: Philippine Embassy +971508137836 or +971504438003 Philippine Consulate +971 4 2207100 +971 56 4177558 (WhatsApp) Assistance to Nationals +971 56 5015756 FLE/Expat Media
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