If you are currently in the UAE on a tourist visa and wish to extend your stay, you have the option to apply for an entry permit extension for an additional 30 days.
Recently, on Sunday, June 4, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) released a video tutorial on their official social media channels. This tutorial guides how to extend entry permits within the UAE using their official service platform, which can be accessed at smartservices.icp.gov.ae.
How to extend the tourist visa inside the UAE?
If you possess a tourist visa for Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah, the overseeing authority for visas is the ICP. However, if you wish to extend your stay in Dubai, the authority responsible for approving and issuing the extension is the General Directorate of Foreign Affairs Residency – Dubai (GDRFA).
Below are the complete details for your reference.
Extending a tourist visa online through ICP
To extend your entry permit, ICP requires that the online application be completed by tourism companies in the UAE.
Requirements
To apply for the extension, you must possess a copy of your passport, which must be valid for at least six months.
Extension Period
The ICP website states that the tourist visa can be extended twice for an additional 30 days. Three types of entry permits can be extended for 30 days according to ICP:
1. Extension of entry permit for tourism
2. Extension of entry permit for visitation
3. Extension of entry permit for residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
How long does it take to receive the extension?
According to the Immigration Control Policy (ICP), the entry permit will be electronically issued within 48 hours of receiving and approving the application.
Entry permit extension fees
Here is the breakdown of the cost, as per the ICP website:
• Request fee: Dh100
• Issuance fee: Dh500
• E-Services Fee: Dh10
Total: Dh600
Extending tourist visa online through GDRFA – Dubai
According to the official website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, only accredited tourism offices in Dubai are authorized to apply for visa extensions for tourists visiting Dubai on a tourist visa. To learn more about the visa extension process, please visit gdrfad.gov.ae.
Requirements
To apply for the service through a tourism office, the tourist visa holder must provide a valid copy of their tourist visa, as stated on the GDRFA website.
Extension period
“It may be extended by a decision of the issuing authority for one or more times, not exceeding 120 days in total,” according to the GDRFA website.
Entry permit extension fees
– Visa extension fee: AED 600, plus five percent Value Added Tax (VAT).
Additional fees for sponsored individuals already within the country include:
– Knowledge Dirham: AED 10
– Innovation Dirham: AED 10
– In-country processing fee: AED 500
Please note that all fees are subject to change and additional charges may apply.
Total: Dh1,120
The website adds: “The total amount of the visa may vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the sponsored person or for any other reasons that may require that.”
Also Read: ICP allows UAE residents to apply for 90-day visit visas for friends and family
