Do you want to visit Dubai but aren’t sure where to begin? Is a visa required? How do you go about getting one?
If you wish to visit Dubai but are unsure where to begin, here is a guide to the various visa choices available to you.
How to get a tourist visa for Dubai
Does one need a visa to enter Dubai?
Any foreign national seeking to visit or live in Dubai must obtain the appropriate visa. If you are visiting Dubai on a tourist visa, you may not need to apply for a visit visa in advance, as several nations provide visas on arrival in Dubai.
What is the validity period of my visa?
Except for the 48-hour and 96-hour Transit Visas, which are only valid for 30 days, all visas are valid for 60 days from the date of issue until entry into the UAE.
What should one check before traveling to Dubai?
At the time of admission, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months. Depending on your nationality, you may also need to apply for a tourist visa in advance.
Can one get a visa on arrival?
A pre-arranged visa is not required for citizens of more than 50 countries to enter Dubai. Citizens of GCC nations and citizens of the following countries can receive a visa on arrival, according to the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA):
- 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
Indian citizens
A visa on arrival may be available to some Indian citizens. This comprises Indian nationals who have a regular passport and one of the following:
- a visit visa issued by the USA or
- a green card issued by the USA or
- a residence visa issued by the UK or
- a residence visa issued by the EU
In such instances, you can get a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days, as long as your visa or green card is valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival in the UAE.
If you are not qualified for a visa on arrival, the following are your additional visa options:
1. Tourist visa – 30-day or 90-day
Tourist visas are available to visitors from all around the world. Tourist visas to the UAE can be given for 30-days or 90-days, with single or multiple entries, depending on your plans.
Who can apply for your tourist visa?
- Airlines
Each airline has its own set of requirements that must be met in order for them to arrange your visa. One of the requirements is that you fly with them. You can also inquire about filing for a visit visa when buying your flight.
- Tourist visas through agencies and hotels
Licensed travel agents and hotels in the UAE can assist you in obtaining a tourist visa if you purchase your ticket via them and keep your hotel reservation with that hotel.
In partnership with a local tour operator, you may also contact travel agents in your nation to inquire about any tourist packages available in the UAE.
- Through UAE-based family and friends
UAE citizens (friends or family) can apply on your behalf, according to the VisitDubai website, subject to guidelines.
How can one extend the visa?
While you may not be in the UAE when you apply for a visit visa, you will need to file for a ‘within-country visa change’ if you want to extend your visa for another 30 or 90 days.
By submitting the required documentation and paying the price, the visa can be renewed.
Documents required for visa change processing within the country:
- A copy of your passport (which should be valid for at least six months)
- Photo (passport size)
- A copy of an expired tourist visa or a visa that has been revoked
- If entering the UAE through the on-arrival service, nations will just need a copy of their passport and a photograph
- If a relative or acquaintance applied for the visa, they may be required to give a copy of their resident visa page and UID number.
Cost
A one-month visa costs around Dh320 and a three-month visa costs around Dh700. If you are applying for a new visa while in the UAE, the fee for a one-month visa is Dh960, and a three-month visa is Dh1,250.
2. Transit visa – for 48 to 96 hours
This sort of visa, which is valid for 48 to 96 hours and is available to all passport holders, is suitable for a quick stopover in the UAE.
Here’s how to apply for a 96-hour transit visa – also known as an entry permit – when you arrive in the UAE, according to GDRFA.
Service requirements
To obtain a transit visa at the immigration desk, you must show the following documents:
- Passport (original)
- An airline ticket indicating the continuation of your travel, with the connecting flight being no less than eight hours after your arrival in the UAE and no more than 96 hours, and the arrival and departure destinations not being the same.
- Show proof of a valid hotel reservation in the United Arab Emirates.
Service procedures
Follow these steps to apply for a transit visa:
- Go to the airline’s website or call customer support.
- Submit a request to the airline’s service officer for a 96-hour entrance permit.
- You will receive approval of the request if it is approved.
- Complete the procedure with the passport officer at the immigration counter.
Who needs a transit visa?
If you are not one of the nationalities eligible for a visa on arrival or visa-free admission to the UAE, you will need a transit visa, according to the UAE government’s official website – u.ae.
Who can apply for your transit visa?
Your transit visa can be arranged by the airline you are flying with if it is based in the UAE. If you book your trip through a travel agency, the firm can also assist you in obtaining a visa; nevertheless, all visas must be obtained through the airline.
Also Read: Everything you need to know about Dubai visas
3. Long-term, multiple-entry tourist visa for five years
If you plan on visiting the UAE on a regular basis in the next years, a new tourist visa option has become available. The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has posted information on its website about the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for all nationalities.
Is a UAE-based sponsor required for the visa?
The visa does not require a UAE-based individual or organization to sponsor it, according to the information supplied when the visa was introduced. Tourists can apply for a visa on their own behalf.
What is the maximum duration of stay on the visa?
Tourists are allowed to stay for 90 days on each visit, according to the announcement. It is possible to extend this for another 90 days.
Tourist visas were previously exclusively available for 30-day or 90-day periods.
How to apply for the five-year tourist visa
Step 1: Log on to the ICA website – http://www.ica.gov.ae
Step 2: Select ‘E-channel Services’ from the main module on the website.
Step 3: Select ‘Public services’.
Step 4: Select the service ‘Visa – multi-trip / tourist long-term (5 years) for all nationalities/visa issuance’
Step 5: Fill in the application form with your personal details as well as your passport details.
Step 6: Attach the following documents:
- Colored photograph
- Passport Copy
- Medical Insurance copy
- A bank statement during the previous six months showing a balance of at least $4,000 (Dh14,700) or its equivalent in foreign currencies.
Step 7: Review your application.
Step 8: Make the payment for the fees. The application fee is Dh650.
How to get a work visa in Dubai
If you wish to work in Dubai, you can start looking for a job even before you arrive. Online sites such as getthat.com might help you learn about job openings in the UAE.
If you receive an offer letter from a company, you should always double-check the validity of the letter. You can check an offer letter with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation in the United Arab Emirates.
The business will commence the recruitment and visa application procedure after you sign the offer letter. The process begins with the employee receiving an e-visa or entry permission, which will be delivered to you. This entry permit allows you to travel to the United Arab Emirates.
Your employer will begin the visa application procedure once you arrive in the UAE. This entails having your medical fitness tested, providing your fingerprint biometric for the Emirates ID, having your visa stamped on your passport in some situations, and receiving your Emirates ID.
Your residence documentation will be complete once you have finished this process.
Documents required
– Both the original and a duplicate of your passport (the passport should be valid for the next six months)
– A photograph the size of a passport
– Attested educational degrees – the degrees must be attested by your home country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE Embassy in your home country, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC).
Cost of employment visa
It’s worth noting that, according to UAE labor law, the employer is responsible for all recruitment and visa-related charges, including work permits, visa applications, medical fitness, and any other occupation license-related costs that may apply.
