There may be many reasons why you would want to visit or move to the UAE. However, whatever these reasons may be, you should first get fully acquainted with the rules and requirements for entering the country. Here's what you need to know about traveling to the UAE.
An eclectic mix of tradition and innovation, the UAE is a very interesting place to visit — and one of the most popular expat destinations in the world. In fact, as of 2023, close to 89% of the UAE population are expats: out of the 10 million people living in the country, expats make up close to 9 million. As of August 2023, the country had already welcomed 9.78 million international tourists.
Do you need a visa to the UAE?
Before you make plans to travel to the UAE, we strongly suggest you get in touch with an embassy or consulate in your home country and check about the most recent entry requirements for the citizens of your country. You can also visit the UAE government website, which is frequently updated, to check for information or requirement changes.
Most nationalities will require a visa to visit the UAE, but there are some exceptions. We've put together a list of all the different visa exemptions available.
GCC citizens
If you are a citizen of one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries, you can travel to the UAE without a visa, permit, or sponsor. This includes the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait. GCC citizens will only need to provide either their passport or national ID at UAE points of entry.
30-day visit visas on arrival
If you are a citizen of one of the countries below, you can get a 30-day visit visa on arrival. This visa is free of charge and can be extended for a similar period. Visitors from the following countries who obtain this visa have a 10-day grace period (if issued in Dubai) to extend:
- Andorra;
- Australia;
- Brunei;
- Canada;
- Hong Kong;
- Ireland;
- Japan;
- Kazakhstan;
- Malaysia;
- Mauritius;
- Monaco;
- New Zealand;
- People's Republic of China;
- Singapore;
- Ukraine;
- United Kingdom;
- United States of America;
- Vatican City.
90-day visit visas on arrival
If you are from the following countries, you may obtain a 90-day multiple entry visit visa on arrival, valid for 6 months from the date of issue. This visa is for a stay of 90 days in total and is extendable:
- Argentina;
- Austria;
- Bahamas Islands;
- Barbados;
- Belarus;
- Belgium;
- Brazil;
- Bulgaria;
- Chile;
- Colombia;
- Costa Rica;
- Croatia;
- Cyprus;
- Czech Republic;
- Denmark;
- El Salvador;
- Estonia;
- Finland;
- France;
- Georgia;
- Germany;
- Greece;
- Honduras;
- Hungary;
- Iceland;
- Italy;
- Kiribati;
- Latvia;
- Liechtenstein;
- Lithuania;
- Luxembourg;
- Maldives;
- Malta;
- Montenegro;
- Nauru;
- Netherlands;
- Norway;
- Paraguay;
- Peru;
- Poland;
- Portugal;
- Romania;
- Russia;
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
- San Marino;
- Serbia;
- Seychelles;
- Slovakia;
- Slovenia;
- Solomon Islands;
- South Korea;
- Spain;
- Sweden;
- Switzerland;
- Uruguay.
Citizens of the European countries listed below can also apply for a pre-arranged visit visa if they have fully used their 90-day visa on arrival:
- Austria;
- Belarus;
- Belgium;
- Bulgaria;
- Croatia;
- Cyprus;
- Czech Republic;
- Denmark;
- Estonia;
- Finland;
- France;
- Georgia;
- Germany;
- Greece;
- Hungary;
- Iceland;
- Italy;
- Latvia;
- Liechtenstein;
- Lithuania;
- Luxembourg;
- Malta;
- Netherlands;
- Norway;
- Poland;
- Portugal;
- Romania;
- Russia;
- San Marino;
- Serbia;
- Slovakia;
- Slovenia;
- Spain;
- Sweden;
- Switzerland.
Other visas on arrival
Indian citizens can also obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days, extendable for an additional 14 days if they hold any of the following documentation:
- Visit visa issued by the USA;
- Green card issued by the USA;
- Residence visa issued by the UK;
- Residence visa issued by the EU.
Mexican citizens can obtain a visa on arrival, which is valid for 180 days and is extendable. It is important to note that passports should be valid for more than 6 months from the date of arrival.
Purpose of visit to the United Arab Emirates
In general, entry conditions to the UAE vary from one nationality to another. The entry permit you need will also depend on the purpose of your visit to the United Arab Emirates. Visas can be obtained for the following purposes:
- Transit;
- Tourism;
- Visiting a friend or relative;
- A mission;
- Exploring business opportunities;
- Exploring job opportunities;
- Medical treatment;
- Study and training.
It is extremely important to note that it is illegal to work in the UAE on a tourist visa or visit visa.
Types of visit visas for the UAE
There are five different types of visas available for those who wish to visit the United Arab Emirates:
- Transit Visas;
- Single Entry Tourist Visas;
- Multiple Entry Tourist Visas;
- eVisas for GCC Residents;
- Multiple Entry Visit Visas for Family or Friends.
Transit Visas
The UAE offers two types of transit visas:
- 48-hour transit visa (free of charge);
- 96-hour transit visa (AED 50).
Transit visas can only be sponsored by UAE-based airlines and need to be processed and approved before arriving in the UAE.
The following is a list of UAE-based airlines that will be able to sponsor your UAE transit visa:
- Emirates;
- Fly Dubai;
- Etihad Airlines;
- Air Arabia.
Transit visas are valid for 14 days from the date of issuance. It is important to note that transit visas are not eligible for extension.
Single-Entry Tourist Visas
The UAE offers two types of single-entry visas:
- Short-term, valid for 30 days from arrival date (AED 300 + VAT and additional fees);
- Long-term, valid for 90 days from arrival date (AED 500 + VAT and additional fees).
Single-entry tourist visas need to be applied for online through a UAE-based airline, travel agency, or hotel and can be extended for a fee.
Multiple Entry Tourist Visas
The UAE offers three types of multiple-entry visas:
- Short-term, valid for 30 days from arrival date (AED 300 + VAT and additional fees);
- Long-term, valid for 60 days from arrival date (AED 500 + VAT and additional fees);
- Five-year tourist visa (ranges from AED 2,420 to AED 2,870 + VAT and additional fees).
The five-year tourist visa grants multiple entry and is valid for 5 years from the date of issue. When applying, you can choose to be given 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days of consecutive stay in the UAE, each for a different price.
In addition to the standard visa requirements, applicants must have the following in order to be eligible for the 5-year visa:
- A bank balance of USD 4,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) over the last 6 months;
- A health insurance policy with coverage in the UAE;
- A return ticket to the UAE;
- Proof of accommodation in the UAE (hotel or residential address).
Short-term and long-term tourist visas need to be applied for online through either a UAE-based airline, travel agency, or UAE-based hotel and can be extended for a fee.
The applicant can apply for a multiple-entry 5-year tourist visa online on the basis of self-sponsorship. The visa can be issued for people of all nationalities as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
eVisa for GCC residents
Foreigners with a valid residency in any of the GCC countries are able to apply for an eVisa for themselves along with their companions.
This eVisa is valid for 30 days from the date of entry and is extendable for an additional 30 days.
The cost of this eVisa is slightly less than the single entry tourist visa, with a fee of AED 250.
It's important to note that the person applying for the visa must be traveling with their companions; otherwise, the visa will not be approved.
Multiple Entry Visit Visa for Family or Friends
UAE residents can apply for multiple-entry visit visas for their family or friends, essentially making them the applicants' sponsors.
The visa can be issued for 30, 60, or 90 days and comes at a cost ranging between AED 2,420 to AED 2,870, depending on the selected duration.
The multiple-entry visit visa needs to be applied online.
It is important to note that the fees for each visa may vary and change occasionally. It is advisable that you check with the official UAE government's website for the latest fees.
Visa extensions in the UAE
Whether you're having too much fun or haven't gotten around to doing all the things you set out to do, there are many reasons you may want to extend your visa in the UAE. Most visa types allow for extension, but other requirements need to be met before you can proceed.
You must first ensure that you are eligible to extend your UAE tourist visa:
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months past the expiry date of your visa extension. This means that if you want to extend your visa for an additional 30 days, your passport must be valid for 6 months past those 30 days;
- You must have enough funds to support yourself during your extended stay in the UAE and be able to provide proof of this (usually through bank statements).
Visa extension fees are currently at AED 600 and can be paid when the request is submitted online or at one of the UAE typing centers.
The time to process a visa extension is typically 48 hours but may take longer during peak season.
Failure to extend your visa when staying longer will result in a fine of AED 50 per day. It may also lead to a re-entry ban depending on the duration of your overstay and other circumstances as determined by the immigration authorities.
If you do find yourself in this situation, these fines must be paid to avoid potential arrest and detention, as well as additional financial penalties.
Canceling unused visas in the UAE
Once your visa has been issued, there will be a specific time frame during which you will need to enter the country. This time frame varies depending on the type of visa you have applied for.
If you are unable to enter the UAE within the specified time period, your first option is to extend your entry by 2 additional months. Extending the entry of an issued visa costs AED 200.
In the case that you are unable to fly into the UAE, even with a two-month extension, you will be expected to cancel your visa.
In the past, unused visas would be automatically canceled. However, as of late, the cancelation must be initiated by either your sponsor or yourself (depending on the visa you obtain) and comes at a cost of up to AED 300.
You will not be able to apply for a new visa without canceling the unused one, so it's an important point to keep in mind!
How to apply for a visa to the UAE?
If you need a visa to the UAE (whether it is for tourism, work, visiting relatives or other purposes), you must be sponsored, either by a resident in the country or a company such as a travel agency.
Applications can be made either online or at the United Arab Emirates Embassy or consulate in your home country, or even from the United Arab Emirates by a resident third party. Most visas require a processing time of 48 hours but may take longer depending on the time submitted.
Standard visa requirements in the UAE include:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity and at least one blank page;
- Passport-size colored photo;
- Confirmed airline booking;
- Birth certificate for minors (where applicable).
There may be additional documents required depending on your nationality. It's best to always check online through the UAE government website or through the UAE consulate in your country of residence.
Important:
Women under 18 are not eligible to apply for a tourist visa unless they are accompanied by their parents.
Useful link:
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
