DUBAI //Filipinos travelling to the UAE or returning from trips overseas are being asked to ensure their passports are valid for at least six months and free of defects.
The Philippine consulate, in an advisory issued yesterday, warned residents and tourists that immigration authorities would deny entry or exit to those whose passports have been tampered with or are defective.
Frank Cimafranca, the consul general in Dubai, said the advisory comes after a Filipina failed to renew her passport before travelling to Kish island for a visa-change run.
"Her employer, who's based in Al Ain, had to request the Philippine embassy in Tehran to extend her passport's validity so she could fly back to the UAE," he said.
"To renew the visa, she would need to get a visa to get out of Kish and travel to the mainland but her passport's validity was less than five months."
The embassy had to make some exceptions so she could return to the UAE on a valid passport.
Those who are uncertain about their passport's validity or who spot any noticeable passport defects are asked to visit the Philippine consulate in Al Ghusais or the embassy in the Al Bateen district of Abu Dhabi.
"If the defect is distinguishable, we can issue a certification confirming its authenticity but it's only for emergency cases," Mr Cimafranca said. "The passport needs to be replaced and it could take four to six weeks to renew it."
A tampered, defective or expired passport may lead to questioning or detention at the airport, being stranded in a location where consular services are not readily available such as Kish Island in Iran, or deportation.
