The Middle East is perhaps another less traveled region of the world, probably because it’s tough to enter especially for Non-Muslims. However, it has one of the best religious histories in the world; Israel is God’s Promised Land, Saudia Arabia has Mecca, Egypt has mummies and pyramids.

A lot has been untouched, views are picturesque, food is unique, and hospitality is warm. It’s a place you should visit at least once!

The Middle East geography according online is composed of Bahrain, Cyprus (though Europe) , Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Here are Visa tips and guides in for Filipinos in traveling to the Middle East.

For Filipinos out there, here are my visa tips and guides to traveling to the Middle East:

Bahrain

Visa Required: 30 days
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Bahrain:

Passport must be valid for at least six months before the application process.
Copy of return air ticket.
Photocopy of the photo page of the applicant's passport
Must be able to support himself or herself during the visit.
Valid confirmed onward ticket to leave the Kingdom of Bahrain.
provide an address in the Kingdom of Bahrain
A recent photo of the Applicant
No Objection Certificate
Invitation letter from sponsor (maybe hotel or travel agent)

Visa Fee: BD 20
Consulate Address: Bahraini Honorary Consulate in Manila, 5470 4th Floor RGV Building, Osmeña Highway cor. General Mascardo Street, Barangay Bangkal, Makati City, Manila

Cyprus

Visa Required: 90 days, Single Entry
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Cyprus:

Valid Passport with a validity of more than six months
Completed application form with 2 passport-size photos
Travel itinerary like a round trip with fixed dates
Proof of accommodation
Proof of financial capacity
Proof or rootedness to the home country
Letter of invitation from sponsor (if applicable)

Visa Fee: EUR 20
Embassy Address: Cypriot Honorary Consulate General in Manila, LG-03, Lower Ground Suite, Crispina Building, 1589 Quezon Avenue, (near EDSA), West Triangle, Quezon City, 1104 Metro Manila, Philippines

Egypt

Visa Required: 30 – 180 days, depending on your application
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Egypt:

Valid Passport with a validity of more than six months
Duly filled-up Visa Application Form;
2 pieces 2x2 size recent colored picture (with white background)
Bank Certificate / Bank Statement
Employment Certificate with Compensation or Business Registration
Travel Tour Itinerary or Tour Program
Marriage or Birth Certificate (if traveling with family members)

Visa Fee: PHP 1,500 (paid when the visa is approved)
Submit at the Embassy (Monday to Wednesdays 9 AM-12 noon)
Embassy Address: Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Philippines at 7th Floor, G.C Corporate Plaza Bldg., 150 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

Iran

Visa on Arrival: 30 days
Arrive at the following Airports:

IKA: Imam Khomeini Airport
TEH: Tehran Mehrabad Airport
SYZ: Shiraz International Airport
MHD: Mashhad International Airport
TBZ: Tabriz International Airport
ISF: Isfahan International Airport
KIH: Kish International Airport

Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Iran:

Valid passport with at least 6 months validity
A confirmed return ticket
Photo for the application form
Hotel Reservation Voucher
Travel Insurance for Iran, I recommend SafetyWing

Embassy Address: Iranian Embassy in Manila, 2224 Paraiso corner Pasay Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City, Manila

Iraq

Visa Required: 30 days
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Iraq:

Valid passport (minimum six months)
Visa application form with 2 photos.
Financial capacity during
No threat to Iraq
Give a convincing reason to visit
No Criminal Charges
No deportation order
Address in Iraq

Visa Fee: $30
Embassy Address: Iraqi Embassy in Manila, Philippines, 2209 Paraiso cor Acacia Street, Dasmariñas Village, Makati City 1202, Manila

Israel

Visa-Free: 3 months
Embassy Address: Israeli Embassy in Manila, 10th and 11th Floors, Avecshares Center, 1132 University Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Manila, Philippines

Jordan

Visa Required: Single Entry, 2 Months
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Jordan:

Passport colored copy (photo and information page only; must be at least 6 months valid)
Completed visa application form with 1 piece 2x2 ID photo (any background color).
Letter of Invitation/Purpose of Travel Letter or Letter of Intent
- The Letter of Intent must be addressed to Consulate for Consul Michael Ang
- If Invitee is Jordanian, please include passport copy of the invitee
- If Invitee is a relative working in Jordan, provide his/her Employment Certificate and a letter stating that he/she would sponsor your trip
Itinerary or Airline booking or reservation
Hotel booking issued by an accredited Jordan travel agency (if applicable)
Certificate or letter from Jordan tour operator with applicants’ names indicated in a list as part of a tour group (if applicable)

Visa Fee: P4,200 per applicant with a deposit fee of P1,000 done first and P3,200 will be done once approved
Embassy Address: Honorary Consulate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Room 315, 3/F Sitio Grande Bldg. (formerly BOC Building), 409 A. Soriano Jr. Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 or e-mail documents at jordanconsulatemanila@gmail.com

Kuwait

Visa Required: 3 Months
It would help if you had a sponsor or hotel residing in Kuwait for your Tourist Visit Visa
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Kuwait

Copy of the visitor's passport
Kuwait visit visa application and security form which is filled out by the sponsor
If a hotel is acting as your sponsor, you must send them your travel itinerary and passport details by fax/email a few weeks before your stay.

Visa Fee: KD 12
Embassy Address: Embassy of the State of Kuwait, 8th Floor, Total Corporate Center, Kalayaan Avenue, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila
Note: The applicant may process his visa application on his own through the nearest embassy or your Kuwait sponsor can send you a soft copy of your visa and you can use it to enter the country. There is a special counter at the airport where your sponsor can leave the original visa. Use the original upon entering immigration.

I worked in Kuwait for 4 years, and I enjoyed my time there. I even wrote this article about Things To Do and Places To Go As An Expat In Kuwait.

Lebanon

Visa Required: 3 months, single entry
Visa Requirements:

Valid Passport (minimum 3 months after the stay) with two blank pages and no Israeli stamps or visas
Copy of the passport pages - cover, bio-page, 7, 9, and last page
Appointment Letter
Recently taken 3.5 x 4.5 cm passport picture with white background
Bank statement (latest 3 months)
Travel bookings with travel
Hotel booking or host’s reference letter
Travel insurance at least $30,000
Approval from the Lebanese Immigration General Directorate for General Security

Visa Fee: $35
Embassy Address: Lebanese Honorary Consulate General in Manila, 905 Park Trade Center, 1716 Investment Drive, Alabang Muntinlupa 1780, Manila, Philippines

Oman

Visa Required: 10 or 30 depending on your application evisa.rop.gov.om
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Oman:

Visit Sponsored Visa (ask a hotel or travel agency to sponsor you)
apply online at evisa.rop.gov.om
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months on entry to Oman.
photograph of the applicant (digital)
copy of the applicant's passport
A typed and stamped letter from the sponsor explaining the purpose of the visit.

Visa Fee: 10 days OMR 5.000, 30 days OMR 20.000
Embassy Address: Omani Embassy in Manila, 26/F NAC Tower Building, 32nd St., Boniface Global, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Palestine

No visa policy, but you should enter via Israel.

Qatar

Visa Required: 30 days
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Qatar

Valid passport (not less than six months)
Visa application form
Passport pictures
bank statement for the latest three months with a minimum balance of 5,000 QR
Hotel reservation

You can also get an e-visa if you have valid USA, Schengen, Canada, UK or Australia visa.

Visa Fee: QR 200
Embassy Address: Qatari Embassy in Manila, Block 4, Lot 6, Santiago Street, Paseo De Magallanes, Brgy. Magallanes, 1232 Makati City, Manila, Philippines

Saudi Arabia

Visa Required: 30 days, visa.mofa.gov.sa
Note: Saudi Arabia is now finally issuing a tourist visa; and there is a family visit visa or personal visit visa. For personal visit visas, you need an individual or company to sponsor you. Or you could check out cultural or sports events as they help you in a Sharek visa. For women traveling solo, it might be hard to get a visa.
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Saudi Arabia

The passport has validity for a period of minimum of six months.
recent passport size color photo with a white background
Visa Application Form

Visa Fee: SAR 200.0
Embassy Address: Saudi Arabian Embassy in Manila, 128 H.V. Dela Costa corner of Sanchez Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Manila

Syria

Visa Required: 14 days
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Syria

Valid passport (at least one month after departure from Syria) with no Israeli stamp or visa
Visa application form.
Two recent 2 x 2 passport size pictures

Embassy Address: Syrian Honorary Consulate General in Manila, Suite 1502, Liberty Center Building, 104 Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Manila, Philippines

Turkey

Visa Required: 30 days
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Turkey

Online appointment at visa.gov.tr
Biometric Photo (2x2 on white background)
Documents attesting to the income status of the applicant and inviting persons if any (e.g., bank statements, bank certificate, ITR, etc.)
Flight reservation
Hotel booking or invitation;
Supporting document on the applicant’s commitment to return (e.g. Land/Condominium unit title, lease contract, car registration, business certificate, certificate of employment, etc.)
Copy of passport
Day-to-day itinerary
PSA Original birth certificate.

If you have a valid Schengen and USA visa then you can easily get an e-visa. You can read it here.

Visa Fee: $60
Embassy Address: Turkish Embassy in Manila, 2268 Paraiso Street, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City 1222, Manila, Philippines

United Arab Emirates

Visa Required: 30 days (short-term)
Note that you need to apply for a Visit Visa to enter UAE. You will need a sponsor, an invitation, a relative or a friend living in the UAE. However, if you have none, then you can request sponsorship from airlines, hotels, or tour operators.
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to UAE

Original + Colored photocopy of the Passport (Valid for a minimum period of 6 months at the time of travel)
Colored passport size photograph
Filled-up Visa Application Form
Resident Visa and their Emirates ID Card of your sponsor (if applicable)

Supporting Documents:

Round Trip flight ticket (if you get your visa through specific airline)
Hotel bookings (if you get your visa through a hotel)
Birth certificate of a minor (if applicable)
Additional requirements asked by the travel agency

Visa fee: 30 days – about USD 90 in Emirates or AED 350 through Etihad
Embassy Address: United Arab Emirates Embassy, Commerce & Industry Plaza, 1030 Campus Avenue, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila, Philippines

Here is a 5-day itinerary in UAE and 7 Romantic Things To Do In Dubai that could help you craft your travel plan ❤

Yemen

Visa Required: 30 days
Visa Requirements for Filipinos traveling to Yemen

visa application form.
Valid passport (at least 6 months)
2 recent passport size pictures
Itinerary.
Letter from travel/tourism company who is organizing the trip OR Airline ticket reservation
Visitors holding Israeli visas (or other Israeli entry documents) are denied entry to Yemen

Nearest Embassy: Yemeni Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7, Jalan Kedondong, Off Jalan Ampang Hilir, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

As you can see, there are countries in which you may need a sponsor to visit. You can get an airline, hotel, or travel agency as a sponsor. If you want to visit all of these, then I suggest going to Israel before going to the countries which may deny you entry if they know you’ve been to Israel.

Though Israel won’t stamp your passport, it’s better safe than sorry. Please also note that most of these countries are Muslim, so wear proper outfits. Likewise please respect their culture and don’t do anything too drastic.

I hope you know this Visa Tips and Guide will help you with your travel in the Middle East. I hope you won’t get scared to apply for a visa; it’s a bit challenging, yes, but not impossible to get. If you need a little more help, just let me know! I can personally train you for interview questions and go through your requirements one by one. We’ll both work hard for you to get that visa of your dreams! Set an appointment now :)