What is a UAE Tourist Visa?
A UAE tourist visa is a travel document that allows the holder to enter the country for leisure purposes for a specified duration of stay. Tourist visas can be issued for stays of 30 or 90 days, with single or multiple entries.
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Who Needs a UAE Visa?
Foreign nationals from the following countries must obtain a tourist visa before traveling to the UAE:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palau, Palestinian Territories, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
UAE Tourist Visa Application
In most cases, a UAE tourist visa application can be completed online and the approved visa is sent by email.
Applicants can take the following steps to complete and submit their UAE tourist visa application:
You can log on and create a secure account on one of the official websites or mobile applications.
All forms must be completed accurately and any personal or travel details should match your official documents.
You will be required to upload some required documents for the tourist visa application. It’s important to upload all files in the correct format.
Visa fees can be paid online using a valid method of payment such as a valid credit or debit card. Fees will depend on the number of entries and your intended duration of stay in the UAE.
After submission, the application will be processed by the relevant authorities. If the visa application is approved, you will be issued an eVisa by email. This document will allow you to travel to the UAE.
In the case that the tourist visa application is sponsored by an individual or an accredited UAE-based enterprise such as a hotel, airline, or travel agent, they will be responsible for completing the visa application and sending it to you before you travel to the UAE.
UAE Tourist Visa Requirements
The applicant should hold a passport valid for at least 6 months and make a clear photocopy of the bio-data page containing all relevant identification information.
Passport
The applicant should hold a passport valid for at least 6 months and make a clear photocopy of the bio-data page containing all relevant identification information.
Personal photo
The applicant is required to submit one recent passport-sized personal photo.
National identity card (if applicable)
Nationals of Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan must submit a valid national identity card along with their passport.
Return/onward travel ticket
Tickets must show that you plan to continue your journey or leave the country within the expiration date of the visa.
Valid health insurance
Travel insurance must be valid for the duration of your stay in the UAE
UAE Tourist Visa Fees
The fees for UAE tourist visas depend on several factors such as the duration of stay, number of entries, and validity period of the visa (as in the case of the five-year tourist visa).
The cost you will have to pay also vary based on the sponsor or entity through which you submit your application. Typically, applicants can pay tourist visa fees online using credit or debit cards.
Where to Apply
Most foreign nationals who require a UAE tourist visa can submit their application online through one of the two available websites: the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) eChannels portal and the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)- Dubai. They can also apply through the ICP App or the Dubai Now applications which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.
Sponsors can apply for a visa offline through a typing center that is registered by ICP or GDRFA. These service centers can type and process the online application for your sponsor. If the application is approved, your sponsor will receive a digital notice and is responsible to ensuring you have the correct visa documentation to travel to the UAE.
National airlines such as Etihad Airways, Emirates, Flydubai, and Air Arabia, hotels, and travel agencies can also serve as sponsors. They can complete the tourist visa application for you provided they are accredited by the relevant authorities.
Embassies and consulates in the UAE may also accept applications for UAE tourist visas depending on your country of residence and the visa type.
UAE Tourist Visa Processing Time
The processing time for the UAE tourist visa will depend on the method of submission, your nationality, and your intended duration of stay in the country. Applications submitted online will have a different processing time than those submitted from within the UAE by a sponsor.
Approved Visa Applications
If you applied from outside the UAE and completed the tourist visa application online, you will receive an email with the approved electronic visa.
If an individual or enterprise sponsor submitted the application for you, they will be informed once it has been approved. They are responsible for ensuring you have the appropriate tourist visa to travel to the UAE.
UAE Tourist Visa Validity
The UAE tourist visa is a type of visit visa that allows the holder to stay either 30 or 90 days for the purpose of leisure. Holders are not permitted to work on a tourist visa. Tourist visas are valid for 60 days to enter Dubai from the date of issue and are available as long-stay (90 days) or short-stay visas (30 days) with single or multiple entries.
UAE Tourist Visa Extension
It is possible to extend a UAE tourist visa. Extensions can be made twice for all four types of visit visas. The first extension can be made for up to 30 days and the second extension can be made for up to 20 days.
Extensions can be made through the official websites or mobile applications of the ICP or GDRFA. If you would like to request an extension for your UAE tourist visa, you must present a passport copy and pay the fee of AED 600.
This service allows extending a tourist visa for one or more trips for the same period.
FAQ
The fees for a UAE tourist visa will vary depending on your intended duration of stay in the country, the number of entries you request, and the method you use to submit your visa application.
A visa sponsor can either be an individual or a UAE-based enterprise. Individuals might include family members or employers, while enterprises can include hotels, airlines, or travel agencies.
Yes, in most cases it is possible to extend your UAE tourist visa. The first extension granted will be for an additional 30 days, while the second will be for a stay of 20 days.