Can a Filipino be divorced in Dubai?

anonymous
This person has chosen to hide his/her identity.

Hiwalay po ako sa asawa ko bago pa magpunta dito sa dubai. Gusto po ako pakasalan ng bf kong british na nasa UK ngayon. Pwede po ba ako magfile ng divorce dito sa dubai para po makapagapply ng uk fiance visa. Pag po citizen na ako ay tsaka ko po ididivorce ulit ang filipino husband ko.


Question: I'm separated from my husband before I left here for Dubai. My boyfriend who is British and currently in the United Kingdom, would like to marry me. Can I file for divorce here in Dubai so that I can apply for U.K. fiance visa? When I'm a British citizen, that's when I would divorce my Filipino husband again.

 

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Adelaimar C Arias-Jose
is a Legal expert in the Philippines
I cannot really answer your question unless you answer mine: WHERE were you and your Filipino husband married?

If you and your Filipino husband were married in the Philippines, you cannot divorce your husband effectively in Dubai. You can only dissolve your marriage in the Philippines.

kasi, Philippine laws do not allow divorce. So, if you are Filipinos, it doesn't matter where you are married -- you cannot get divorced. Ang lusot dito, if you and your Filipino husband are married abroad, and the NSO does not know that you are married abroad (wari hindi kayo magpa-palit ng passport to reflect that you are married and that you are changing your name), then, under Philippine law, you are not really "married" as there are no records of your marriage in the Philippines.

I think, I guess, that you were married in the Philippines. Even if you get a divorce from Dubai, that divorce will not be acknowledged or countenanced in the Philippines. Dahil sa ikaw ay holder of a Philippine passport, kapag magpakasal ka sa iyong British na boyfriend, the UK government will still ask you to produce a certificate of eligibility to marry or to remarry na dapat ay mag-mula sa sa NSO sa Pilipinas. Hindi nila tatanggapin ang certificate of divorce mo mula sa Dubai kasi, ikaw ay hindi nman citizen ng Dubai. Ang hahanapin nila ay ang CeNoMarr -- ang Certificate of No Marriage na mula sa NSO sa Pinas.

Dahil sa hindi naman tatanawin ng NSO ang iyong divorce sa Dubai na legally binding sa Pinas, ang lalabas ay married ka pa rin dito sa Pilipinas.

May I make a suggestion? In the UK, you don't have to marry your partner to get a visa. Kasi, tinatanaw nila ang mga unions without marriage. Ang kailangan lang ay proof na kayo'y domestic partners -- it is as good as marriage. Sa Australia, ganoon din, ang mga nagli-live-in ay may parehong mga rights doon sa mga legally married. Kaya nga pati mga same-sex na domestic partners ay may parehong karapatan -- at hindi na nila kailangang magpakasal pa upang ma-enjoy ang mga rights na ibinibigay sa mga married couples.

You can use this habang wino-work out mo ang iyong annulment sa Pilipinas. I am afraid but an annulment in the Philippines is the only way through which you can sever your marriage to your former husband so that you can be free to marry your British partner.

Good luck to you.
1 person likes this
Vhines Dela Cruz
is in United Arab Emirates
Pwede po ba mag file ng divorce sa Dubai kahit na kasal ako sa Pilipinas?
Matagal na po kami hiwalay ng ex wife ko. Nagfile po siya sa Pilipinas ng Annulment kasi gusto niya magpakasal sa bf niya. Pero hanggang ngayon i'm still waiting for the result. Matagal napo niya pinapa-proccess annulment na Pilipinas. Ako naman po 7 years na ako nandito sa Dubai. Attorney gusto ko po malaman kung pwede po ba ako mag file ng divorce dito sa Dubai habang hinihintay ko po ang annulment result na file ng ex wife ko sa Pilipinas. Gusto ko na po kasi magpakasal kami ng fiancee ko dito sa Dubai. Possible po ba na magpakasal kami ng fiancee ko dito sa Dubai after ng Divorce ko sa ex wife ko?

Please help me Attorney Bimbi

Thank you and Godbless

About the author

Adelaimar C Arias-Jose

I am a graduate of the UP College of Law. Member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines since 1995. I am currently involved in private practice in criminal, civil and labor law.
Profession: Lawyer
Adelaimar C. Arias-Jose
Office Address: #34 St. Michael Street
Philippines , Manila , Makati
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