Dubai Visa Guide

Dubai Visa

About requirements

Visa Information

Visa Requirements: Required

Visa issuance:

  1. E-visas can be obtained before departure at https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/HomePage.aspx(for Dubai) or https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/login (for other emirates). Passengers must have a printed e-visa confirmation.
  2. Customers on a Family Visa are as follows:
    1. Even if the parents of the passenger reside in Dubai, the individual cannot travel alone on a family visa and must be accompanied by another family member or Minors (under 18 years) must have the Unaccompanied Minor service booked if traveling alone on a tourist visa.
  3. Nationals of India with a normal passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date with a visa issued by the USA which is valid for a minimum of 6 months can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days. They can apply to extend their stay for an additional 14 days.
  4. Passengers with a normal passport and a confirmation that a visa has been approved before departure can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 96 hours, 30 days or 90 days. Passengers must have a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date. The visa approved before departure must be deposited by the sponsor at the Immigration Authorities.
  5. For passengers travelling to Ras-al-Khaima:
    1. Only passengers with hardcopies of the VISA shall be permitted entry in RKT. Passengers with softcopies shall not be accepted.
    2. Any passenger who has overstayed outside UAE for more than 180 days has to apply online for a request to issue a permit seeking entry in the UAE by paying the necessary applicable fees via https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity
    3. Passengers travelling to RKT with a green card, USA/UK VISA need to have an international debit/credit card for processing the payments for applying for a VISA on arrival in RKT. No cash payments shall be accepted by the immigrations.
    4. For passengers carrying a tourist visa with Multiple entries of 60 days the first entry date in the UAE shall be considered for counting the validity of days left from there on.

Information 1: Deportation on the same flight will follow if sponsor (or representative) is not present at the time of passenger's arrival at the airport.

Additional information:

  1. Valid visas in expired passports are accepted provided accompanied by new passport.
  2. TWOV (Transit without VISA):
    1. Holders of confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit time of 24 hours. For details, click here.
    2. Visa is required for transit between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai Al Maktoum International (DWC).
    3. Passengers travelling to RKT with a green card, USA/UK visa need to have an International debit/credit card for processing the payments for applying for a VISA on arrival in RKT. No cash payments are accepted by the immigrations.
    4. Effective 21st November’22, below shall be applicable on all inbound & outbound flights to/from UAE:
      1. All customers travelling with single name on passport on residence/employment visa shall be allowed to travel
      2. All customers travelling with single name on passport on tourist/visit visa or any other visa shall not be allowed to travel

Warning: Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry

Passport Information

Passport Requirement: Passport Required

Document Validity: Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date.

  1. Any Passport without clear date of birth DD/MM/YYYY will not be accepted in UAE and no XX/XX/XXXX or 00/00/0000 will be accepted.
  2. Any mismatch of physical gender appearance and the gender stated in the visa and passport will lead to denial for entry in UAE.

    M: for Men’s, Boy’s no matter of age.

    F: for Women’s, Girls no matter of age.

Admission and Transit Restrictions:

Passengers are not allowed to enter.

Information 1: This does not apply to domestic workers who are traveling with the sponsor or with the first degree family members of the sponsor.

Information 2: This does not apply to passengers with an entry permit issued by United Arab Emirates.

Exceptions:

  1. This does not apply to passengers traveling as tourists to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Dubai (DXB), Ras-al-Khaima (RKT) or Sharjah (SHJ) with a return/onward ticket.
  2. This does not apply to nationals of India with a visa issued by the USA traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH).

Information 3: This does not apply to domestic workers who are traveling with the sponsor or with the first degree family members of the sponsor.

Information 4: This does not apply to passengers with an entry permit issued by United Arab Emirates.

Exceptions:

  1. This does not apply to passengers traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH) with a pre-arranged visa issued by any emirate.

Information 5: This does not apply to passengers with an entry permit issued by United Arab Emirates.

Additional Information:

  1. Passengers with a handwritten passport are not allowed to enter.
  2. Passengers with dual nationality must arrive and depart with the same passport.
  3. Effective immediately, UAE will not allow any customer to Inbound with one name mentioned in the passport.

Exceptions to the Above

  1. This does not apply if an additional name of parent/guardian is listed on the travel document.
  2. This does not apply to residents of the United Arab Emirates.
  3. This does not apply to passengers with A United Arab Emirates ID Card.

Warning:

  1. Passengers traveling as tourists arriving at Dubai (DXB) or Sharjah (SHJ) must have health insurance.
  2. Visitors with an extended validity in their passports are not allowed to enter.

Everything to know while applying for a Dubai visa

Dubai is one of the most popular destinations in the world, and we bet it is on your bucket list too.

One can expect Dubai to be as pretty as a picture with ultra-modern architectural marvels. Some of the major attractions that excite travellers to visit Dubai are to see the Burj Khalifa which is the tallest building in the world, explore old Dubai at Al Fahidi Quarter, witness exotic aquatic life at the Dubai Aquarium, and take a selfie with the iconic Dubai frame.

Apart from the historical and modern attractions, Dubai is famous for its desert safari, vibrant nightlife, and luxurious shopping centres. All this makes Dubai one of the most visited cities in the world.

So, if you are planning to visit Dubai, here is all the information you need on how to get a visa.

How to apply for a Dubai visa?

E-visas can be obtained before departure at https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/HomePage.aspx (for Dubai) or https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/login (for other emirates). Passengers must have a printed e-visa confirmation.

How to track UAE visa application?

You can check your visa application from their official website. Their website makes it easy to check your application status, pending documents, visas, etc. You can use your visa number or your passport number to check the status of your visa application.

If you have applied for UAE visa for places like Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah then you can track your visa on Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security- ICP website.

And if you have applied for Dubai visa, track your visa application at General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai website. There is also a mobile app which enables a convenient way to keep track of the status of GDRFA service. Download the app ‘DubaiNow’.

Types of Dubai visa

There are various types of Switzerland visas depending on your purpose of travel. Their details are given below.

  1. Tourist visa
  2. Transit visa
  3. Golden visa

1. UAE Tourist visa

Visa Information

Visa Requirements: Required

Visa issuance:

  1. E-visas can be obtained before departure at https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/HomePage.aspx(for Dubai) or https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/login (for other emirates). Passengers must have a printed e-visa confirmation.
  2. Customers on a Family Visa are as follows:
    1. Even if the parents of the passenger reside in Dubai, the individual cannot travel alone on a family visa and must be accompanied by another family member or Minors (under 18 years) must have the Unaccompanied Minor service booked if traveling alone on a tourist visa.
  3. Nationals of India with a normal passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date with a visa issued by the USA which is valid for a minimum of 6 months can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days. They can apply to extend their stay for an additional 14 days.
  4. Passengers with a normal passport and a confirmation that a visa has been approved before departure can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 96 hours, 30 days or 90 days. Passengers must have a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date. The visa approved before departure must be deposited by the sponsor at the Immigration Authorities.
  5. For passengers travelling to Ras-al-Khaima:
    1. Only passengers with hardcopies of the VISA shall be permitted entry in RKT. Passengers with softcopies shall not be accepted.
    2. Any passenger who has overstayed outside UAE for more than 180 days has to apply online for a request to issue a permit seeking entry in the UAE by paying the necessary applicable fees via https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity
    3. Passengers travelling to RKT with a green card, USA/UK VISA need to have an international debit/credit card for processing the payments for applying for a VISA on arrival in RKT. No cash payments shall be accepted by the immigrations.
    4. For passengers carrying a tourist visa with Multiple entries of 60 days the first entry date in the UAE shall be considered for counting the validity of days left from there on.

Information 1: Deportation on the same flight will follow if sponsor (or representative) is not present at the time of passenger's arrival at the airport.

Additional information:

  1. Valid visas in expired passports are accepted provided accompanied by new passport.
  2. TWOV (Transit without VISA):
    1. Holders of confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit time of 24 hours. For details, click here.
    2. Visa is required for transit between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai Al Maktoum International (DWC).
    3. Passengers travelling to RKT with a green card, USA/UK visa need to have an International debit/credit card for processing the payments for applying for a VISA on arrival in RKT. No cash payments are accepted by the immigrations.
    4. Effective 21st November’22, below shall be applicable on all inbound & outbound flights to/from UAE:
    1. All customers travelling with single name on passport on residence/employment visa shall be allowed to travel
    2. All customers travelling with single name on passport on tourist/visit visa or any other visa shall not be allowed to travel

Warning: Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry

Passport Information

Passport Requirement: Passport Required

Document Validity: Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date.

  1. Any Passport without clear date of birth DD/MM/YYYY will not be accepted in UAE and no XX/XX/XXXX or 00/00/0000 will be accepted.
  2. Any mismatch of physical gender appearance and the gender stated in the visa and passport will lead to denial for entry in UAE.

M: for Men’s, Boy’s no matter of age.

F: for Women’s, Girls no matter of age.

Admission and Transit Restrictions:

Passengers are not allowed to enter.

Information 1: This does not apply to domestic workers who are traveling with the sponsor or with the first degree family members of the sponsor.

Information 2: This does not apply to passengers with an entry permit issued by United Arab Emirates.

Exceptions:

  1. This does not apply to passengers traveling as tourists to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Dubai (DXB), Ras-al-Khaima (RKT) or Sharjah (SHJ) with a return/onward ticket.
  2. This does not apply to nationals of India with a visa issued by the USA traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH).

Information 3: This does not apply to domestic workers who are traveling with the sponsor or with the first degree family members of the sponsor.

Information 4: This does not apply to passengers with an entry permit issued by United Arab Emirates.

Exceptions:

  1. This does not apply to passengers traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH) with a pre-arranged visa issued by any emirate.

Information 5: This does not apply to passengers with an entry permit issued by United Arab Emirates.

Additional Information:

  1. Passengers with a handwritten passport are not allowed to enter.
  2. Passengers with dual nationality must arrive and depart with the same passport.
  3. Effective immediately, UAE will not allow any customer to Inbound with one name mentioned in the passport.

Exceptions to the Above

  1. This does not apply if an additional name of parent/guardian is listed on the travel document.
  2. This does not apply to residents of the United Arab Emirates.
  3. This does not apply to passengers with A United Arab Emirates ID Card.

Warning:

  1. Passengers traveling as tourists arriving at Dubai (DXB) or Sharjah (SHJ) must have health insurance.
  2. Visitors with an extended validity in their passports are not allowed to enter.

2. UAE Transist visa

Layovers can be fun if you are in a city like Dubai. The UAE issues two types of transit visas – for 48 hours and 96 hours. Transit visa cannot be extended and is arranged either by your travel agent or UAE-based airlines that you are travelling with.

Eligibility for Dubai transit visa

  • You must have Indian passport
  • Your confirmed return ticket
  • Confirmed round-trip flight tickets
  • Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the day of departure
  • You must have proof of the accommodation
  • Completed payment processes

Documents for Dubai transit visa

  • Original Passport, at least 6 months validity
  • First and last page of your Passport (scanned colour copy)
  • Passport size photograph with white background
  • Confirmed flight ticket to third country

3. Golden visa UAE

Golden Visa has exclusive benefits that enable individuals to obtain a visa for a long-term stay. This visa enables you to live, work, and study in the UAE. The business visa also comes under the Golden Visa system for business owners. By obtaining the visa, you can enter Dubai for a period of six months on a multiple entry basis or a long-term, renewable residence visa that is valid for 5 or 10 years. Further, an individual can sponsor their family members.

The Golden Visa is provided based on your talent, type of residence, and occupation. Those who are eligible for the Golden Visa include real estate investors, entrepreneurs, doctors, scientists, creative people, humanitarian workers, and students, among others.

Who can apply for the UAE Golden visa?

The UAE Golden visa has exclusive benefits that enable individuals to live, work, and study in the UAE. The business visa also comes under the Golden visa system for business owners. By obtaining the visa, you can enter Dubai for a period of six months on a multiple entry basis or a long-term renewable residence visa that is valid for 5 or 10 years. Further, an individual can sponsor their family members. To know more about the Golden Visa, visit our UAE Golden visa guide.

The UAE Golden visa is provided based on your talent, type of residency, and occupation. Those who are eligible for the Golden visa UAE include the following:

Let’s scroll through the Golden Visa eligibility for some of the above mentioned categories:

Investors in public investments

  • You will be granted a Golden Visa for 10 years without a sponsor if you invest in an investment fund.
  • You will need to submit a letter from the investment fund accredited in the UAE. You will need to state that the investor has deposited two million AED. Or, you can submit a valid industrial/commercial licence and a memorandum of association. You need to state that the investor’s capital is not below two million AED.
  • You will need to submit a letter from the Federal Tax Authority. Herein you need to state that the investor pays no less than AED 250,000 to the government annually.
  • Additionally, an individual must own the invested capital completely (not loan) and provide proof of medical insurance.

Real estate investors

  • Golden Visa for real estate investors will be granted for 5 years.
  • For this, you will need to provide a letter from the land department stating that you own one or more properties. The value must not be less than AED 2 million.
  • If you bought the property with a loan from a bank, approved by a competent local entity.

Entrepreneurs

You will get a Golden Visa for 5 years if you have an economic project of a technical or future nature based. For this, you will need an approval letter from the following -

  • The auditor in the UAE declaring the project value is not below AED 500,000
  • Your project is of technical or future nature, based on risk and innovation, as declared by relevant authorities.

Outstanding specialised talent

For outstanding specialised talents, such as doctors, scientists, athletes, and specialists in the fields of engineering and science, you will receive the Golden Visa for 10 years if you meet the following requirements.

  • An approval letter from the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE.
  • A recommendation letter from Emirates Council of Scientists, which must state that the applicant is awarded the Medal of Scientific Excellence.

Dubai Visa Extension

Loving Dubai more than you expected? That’s no surprise and for that, UAE now allows travellers to extend their visa twice, without leaving the country. Dubai visa can be extended to a maximum period of 60 days. However, take caution as there is a fine of AED 100 for extending your visa on the last day.

The documents required for Dubai visa extension are:

  • Passport of the applicant (copy)
  • Passport-size photographs
  • A cancelled visa/old tourist visa (copy)

Guidelines to keep in mind while applying for a Dubai Visa

Applying for a Dubai visa is an easy process. But, just to make sure you are on track, avoid any possible last-minute confusion by going through these guidelines. Here are the rules and regulations:

  • The type of Dubai visa depends on several factors like your purpose of visit, nationality, and duration.
  • Based on your travel plan, make sure to apply for the right kind of visa.
  • You can book flight tickets to Dubai before applying for a visa.
  • The tourist visas are valid up to 60 days from the date of issue. However, a transit visa, the 48-hour and 96-hour visa, is only valid for 30 days after issuing the visa.
  • If you hold a transit visa, both the entry and exit have to be from Dubai Airport.
  • Dubai visa for Indian nationals is electronic (e-visa). You will need a printout of the e-visa to show it to the immigration officer.
  • Apply for the Dubai visa at least a month prior to your travel.
  • To be eligible for a travel visa, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months.
  • Remember to carry scanned copies of all your documents - Passport, confirmed return ticket and passport size photographs.
  • Before travelling, check the updated rules and regulations, on carrying of Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test result, from your local government sites/airlines.

Reasons why your Dubai visa could get rejected

  • Incomplete application is a major reason why a visa gets rejected. If you give false information such as inconsistency with the travel dates, or damaged passport and tampered documents, the visa will get rejected.
  • If you failed to apply for a visa extension and overstayed during your previous travel, it is likely your visa may get rejected.
  • Handwritten passports are no longer accepted.
  • Any error on application with false names, spelling mistakes, or wrong date of birth is not accepted.
  • Another chance your Dubai visa may get rejected is if you did not use your previous visa.
  • Your Dubai visa is likely to get rejected or delayed if your photograph is blurred or has certain marks on it.
  • Avoid mentioning your profession as unskilled as this may affect your chances of getting the visa. However, always give correct information. Do not lie on the application.
  • Having a clean criminal record is always a good way to go. UAE will not accept visa application if you have any past criminal history.
  • If you have a Dubai residence visa and choose to leave the country without cancelling the visa, then it is likely that Dubai immigration may reject your tourist visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my visa get rejected?

You can appeal to the UAE High Commission by sending them a mail or visiting the centre with your concerns.

Will I get a refund if my visa gets rejected?

No. Once you have paid the visa fee, it will not be refunded.

Is the UAE visa different from Dubai visa?

No. Oftentimes people get confused with these two types of visas. Since Dubai is one of the popular cities in the UAE, the UAE visa is basically synonymous with the Dubai visa. Travellers use this term interchangeably while applying for the visa.

Can I reapply for Dubai visa after it has been rejected?

Yes, you can reapply for a tourist visa even though it has been rejected. However, if you have appealed to the UAE commission for the reason for your visa rejection, you will need to wait for the response.

What are the different types of tourist visa for Indian nationals?

You can apply for the visa from India not earlier than six months and less than 15 days before your actual date of departure.

What is the Golden Visa for the UAE?

Golden Visa is a newly introduced scheme where an outsider can apply for a long-term stay. Indians are eligible for this visa.

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