This winter holiday season, the UAE has become a hub for some of the biggest global events. In the UAE there are many things to do, from Expo 2020 Dubai to the Dubai Shopping Festival. Here is a useful guide for visitors wishing to visit the UAE who are unfamiliar with the visa requirements and the processes that they have to follow.
Is a visa required to enter Dubai?
Visas are required in certain countries while others do not. There are some countries that offer visas on arrival, but in other situations, you may need to apply for a visa before entering the UAE.
What is the validity period of my visa?
Except for the 48-hour and 96-hour Transit Visas, all visas are valid for 60 days from the date of issue until entry into the UAE.
What should I check before travelling to Dubai?
Passports must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a prearranged visa.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Dubai does not require pre-arranged visas for citizens of over 50 countries. According to the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, citizens of GCC countries and citizens of the following countries are eligible for visa on arrival:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Romania
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Vatican
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
For those who are not eligible for a visa on arrival, here are all the other options:
1. Tourist visa – 30-day or 90-day
Tourists from around the world can obtain tourist visas. Tourist visas to the UAE can be issued for 30-days or 90-days durations and may allow multiple entries or single entries.
Who can apply for a tourist visa?
- Airlines
Airlines have certain conditions that must be met in order to arrange your visa. This includes flying with them. You can also inquire about applying for a visit visa when booking your ticket.
- Tourist visas through agencies and hotels
If you book a ticket through a licensed travel agent or hotel in the UAE and maintain a hotel reservation with that hotel, they can arrange a tourist visa for you.
In collaboration with a local tour operator, travel agencies in your country can also offer tourist packages to the UAE.
- Through UAE-based family and friends
The VisitDubai website indicates that UAE residents (friends or family) can apply on your behalf.
How to extend the visa?
You may not be inside the UAE when you apply for a visit visa for the first time, but when extending the visa for another period of 30 or 90 days, you will have to apply for an “inside country visa change”.
By submitting the necessary documents and paying the fee, the visa can be extended
Documents required for processing visa changes inside the country
Passport copy (which should be valid for at least six months)
- Passport size photograph
- Old visa tourist/canceled visa copy
Passport copies and photographs are only required by nationalities who enter UAE through the on-arrival facility.
It may be necessary to submit a copy of the residence visa page and UID number if the visa was applied for by a family member or friend.
Cost
The cost of a one-month visa is around Dh320 and the cost of a three-month visa is around Dh720. Depending on the service charges of the travel agency, the cost may differ.
The second renewal can be applied for before the expiration of the first one at a cost of Dh600 each time.
2. Transit visa – for 48 to 96 hours
A 48- to 96-hour visa, which is available to all passport holders, is perfect for a quick stopover in the UAE.
Recently, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai posted an article on its social media channels about how passengers can apply for a 96-hour transit visa upon their arrival in the UAE.
Service requirements
The following documents are required to obtain a transit visa at the immigration counter:
- Original passport
- An airline ticket showing the continuation of your journey, with the connecting flight not less than eight hours after you land in the UAE and not exceeding 96 hours, and the destinations of arrival and departure are distinct.
A valid reservation for a hotel in the UAE is required.
Service procedures
Follow these steps to apply for a transit visa:
- Visiting the airline company.
- Submit a request to the airline’s service officer for a 96-hour entry permit.
- If the request is approved, you will receive an email approving the request.
- Complete the passport procedure with the passport officer at the immigration counter.
Who needs a transit visa?
According to the official UAE government website – u.ae – if you are not one of the nationalities eligible for visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE, then you need a transit visa.
Who can apply for your transit visa?
Airlines based in UAE can arrange your transit visa in advance. When you travel through a travel agency, the agency can also help you get a visa, but all visas are routed through the airline.
Transit visas are non-extendable, valid for 30 days from the date of issue, and valid for stays up to 96 hours (four days) from the date of entry. Dubai International Airport offers 96-hour transit visas to transit passengers stopping there for a minimum of eight hours
Passengers with business meetings or taking a stopover en route to their next destination may need such a visa
3. Long-term, multiple-entry tourist visa for five years
Those looking to visit the UAE regularly over the next few years now have a new visa option. Through its website, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has provided details about the five-year multiple entry tourist visas for all nationalities.
Does the visa require a sponsor based in the UAE?
Visas do not require sponsorship by an individual or organization based in the UAE, as was stated when the visa was announced. Tourists can apply for the visa on their own behalf.
How long can a visa be used for?
Each tourist can stay for 90 days on each visit, according to the announcement. The stay can be extended for another 90 days.
Until now, tourists could only get visas for a 30-day or 90-day period.
How to apply for a five-year tourist visa
Step 1: Log on to the ICA website – www.ica.gov.ae
Step 2: Go to the main module on the website and select ‘E-channel Services’.
Step 3: Select ‘Public services’.
Step 4: Choose the service ‘Visa – Multi-trip / Tourist long-term (5 years) for all nationalities/visa issuance’
Step 5: Fill out the application form with your personal and passport information.
Step 6: Attach the following documents:
- Colored photograph
- Passport Copy
- Medical Insurance copy
- A bank statement from the last six months with a balance of at least $4,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency.
Step 7: Review your application.
Step 8: Make the payment for the fees. The application fee is Dh650.
Note: Once you have received a visa to travel to the UAE, it is also important to check the PCR test and vaccination requirements before booking a ticket.