Dubai: Are you considering a quick stopover in the UAE? The UAE has four international airports, which handle millions of passengers a year. In order to make the most of your stopover, you may want to apply for a transit visa, which allows you to exit the airport and visit the many tourist attractions in the UAE.
GDRFA, the General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), posted on social media how passengers can apply for an entry permit or 96-hour transit visa when they reach the UAE.
Service requirements
Among the documents that you will need to present before an immigration counter to receive a transit visa are:
- The original passport.
- A flight booking that shows the continuation of your journey, so that your connecting flight is not less than eight hours after you land in the UAE, nor is it longer than 96 hours away, and the destination of arrival and departure are not the same.
- Valid hotel reservation in UAE is required.
Service procedures
Follow these steps to apply for a transit visa:
- Visiting the airline company.
- You must submit an application to the airline’s service officer for a 96-hour entry permit.
- You will be notified if the request has been approved.
- You will need to approach an immigration officer at the passport counter to complete the procedure.
Who needs a transit visa?
According to the UAE government’s official website – u.ae – if you are not one of the nationalities that are eligible for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry to the UAE, then you will need a transit visa.
Who can apply for a transit visa?
The airline you are flying through in the UAE can arrange your transit visa in advance. The agency can also help you with getting the visa if your trip is through an agency, but all visas must be obtained through the airline.
According to Shafiq Muhammad, Public Relations Officer of Muhaisnah Documents Clearing Services in Dubai, if a passenger books their ticket through a travel agency, the agency can also apply for their transit visa.
“This type of Transit Visa is a non-extendable single entry visa, valid for 30 days from the date of issue, and the duration of stay is up to 96 hours (four days) from the time of entry. Transit passengers stopping at Dubai International Airport for a minimum of eight hours are eligible for a 96-hour Transit Visa,” he said.
“This type of visa is preferred by passengers having business meetings or taking a stopover en route to their next destination.,” he added.
Transit visas for 96 hours
To transit through the UAE’s airports, passengers can apply for 96-hour transit visas for Dh50. It is necessary to apply for the visa in advance through the UAE’s airports. The visa cannot be extended or renewed. Visas are valid for 96 hours from entry into the UAE, and you must leave the UAE within 96 hours.
COVID-19 regulations
As you travel to your final destination, you will need to make sure to take the required PCR tests in time to meet their requirements, based on the COVID-19 related travel guidelines.
The COVID19 PCR test will be required upon arrival at Dubai International Airport. The Emirates airline’s website states that if you take a test at the airport, you have to remain at your hotel or residence while they send you the results.
Also, since you are planning to stay in the UAE for 72 hours, you may need to re-test in the UAE to meet the COVID-19 requirements of your final destination. Testing centres operated by health authorities and private healthcare providers offer PCR tests throughout the UAE. In order to receive the results, you must provide your passport information as well as a mobile phone number, and you will be sent a text message with a link to the full report.