Dubai Visa Requirements

With Dubai’s burgeoning economy, vibrant lifestyle and comfortable standard of living, the emirate is a popular destination for tourists as well as visitors looking to make Dubai their home. Visa requirements for visitors to Dubai vary based on several factors including nationality, intended period of stay and purpose of visit to the emirate. Visa rules and regulations may change without prior notice, so it is always advisable to check with a UAE embassy or consulate nearest to you on whether you require a visa prior to travelling to the UAE.

Currently, all visitors to Dubai require a visa with the exception of nationals of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) countries. These include Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait nationals who only need to present their valid AGCC passport or ID card upon arrival at any entry point into the UAE.

AGCC expats who meet certain conditions can obtain a visa upon arrival, non-extendable and valid for 30 days, at a UAE port of entry. Other nationalities of Western Europe and the Pacific Rim (currently includes 32 countries) who hold regular passports with valid visas or entry stamps from their respective countries do not require a prearranged visa and can secure a free-of-charge visa on arrival at any authorized port of entry into the country.

This allows them to stay for a period of 60 days and can be renewed for 30 extra days for an additional fee. A complete list of these nationalities can be found at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

 

If you do not fall into any of the above mentioned categories, you will be required to present a valid visa upon arrival at Dubai International Airport to secure entry into the emirate. It is important to note Dubai Visa Fees validity and to make sure to exit the country on or before the last day as unauthorized stay incurs a daily fine and an out pass charge when you do exit the country.

 

Types of UAE Visas

 

Entry Service Permit

 

This type of permit is valid for 14 days from the date of issue and allows visitors to stay in the country for a period of 14 days, not including arrival and departure days. Hotels and tourist companies or other organizations may apply on the individual’s behalf for this type of visa; a security deposit is required per person and this is refunded upon exiting the country. An entry service permit may be issued to delegations from companies or establishments required to carry out commercial activity within the UAE on an urgent basis. It applies to the following individuals and their family members: account auditors, company manager’s representatives and sales managers. This type of entry permit is usually only issued on an urgent basis for a fee and is non-renewable. Required documents include a copy of the applicant’s passport and flight arrival and departure dates. Passports should be valid for at least six months to be eligible for application of an entry service permit. Visa costs are non-refundable even in the event of a cancellation, rejection of visa or expiration of issued visa.

 

Visit Visas

Visit visas are issued to those who intend on staying within the country for more than 14 days, either as tourists, to visit friends and family or for long-term business visits. Visit visas require an eligible sponsor which can be either a hotel or company with a valid license to operate within the UAE or a UAE resident with a valid visa. The visit visa is valid for two months from the date of issue and allows visitors to stay in the country for a period of 60 days and can be extended for up to 90 days for an additional fee. Required documents include a copy of the applicant’s passport and flight arrival and departure dates and may also include sponsor’s passport and visa details. Passports should be valid for at least six months to be eligible for application of a visit visa

 

Tourist Visa

This is a special category of visit visa that requires the sponsorship of the tour agency or hotel that is bringing in tourists. It is issuable only to certain nationalities (list can be found here), is non-renewable and allows the tourist to stay in the country for 30 days.

Student Visas

Those wishing to pursue education in the UAE can apply for a student visa through an approved sponsor which can be an educational institution or a university licensed under the Ministry of Higher Education.

[Source: http://www.livingindubai.org/dubai-visa-requirements/]