How To Apply For A Tourist Visa In UAE? (updated 2022)

If you are planning to visit UAE for a tourist purpose or to visit your relative or friends, you need to have relevant visa which must be applied in advance before your travel. However, in some cases you may not need to apply for a tourist visa in advance as some nationals can get the tourist visa on arrival.

Your tourist visa can be issued by:

The Airline : In this case the airline may ask you to book the ticket when applying for tourist visa with them. However, each airline has some conditions, which must be met for your visa to be arranged by them.
The Licensed Travel Agents and Hotels in the UAE: They can arrange you the tourist visa provided you have the hotel reservation booking and purchased ticket with them.
As per the VisitDubai website, UAE residents (friends or relatives) can apply on your behalf subject to guidelines.

Article Highlights

What are the requirements to have Tourist Visa in UAE?

Nationals of some countries get a visa on arrival in Dubai. You would need to ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months at the time of entry. You may also need to apply for your tourist visa in advance, depending on your nationality.

All visas are valid for 60 days from the date of issue until entry to the UAE, except the 48-hour and 96-hour Transit Visa, which is valid for 30 days.

The following documents are generally required:

6×6 cm photograph in colour (minimum of 600×600 pixels) with a white background (at least 80 percent of your face must be visible)
A colour copy of your passport showing your full name, nationality, date and place of birth, passport number, date of issue and expiry, name of father/legal guardian, and the name of your mother
Valid passport with at least six months validity at the time of travel
A copy of the flight ticket of your preferred airline
For nationals of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan, a national ID is also required

Please note that depending on the airline, minors and children under the age of 18 may be required to present additional documents such as birth certificates and photo IDs of parents or husband.

Does UAE give visa on arrival?

Citizens of more than 50 countries do not require a pre-arranged visa to enter Dubai. As per the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), citizens of GCC countries and citizens of the following countries can get a visa on arrival:

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

Some Indian citizens may also be eligible for a visa on arrival. This includes Indian citizens holding a normal passport and either:

a visit visa issued by the USA or a green card issued by the USA ora residence visa issued by the UK or a residence visa issued by the EU

In such cases, you can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days, provided that the visa or the green card is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival into the UAE.

How long is a UAE Tourist Visa valid?

UAE’s new visa scheme, all entry visas will now be available for single or multiple entries and will be valid for 60 days from their date of issuance. They can also be renewed for similar periods of another 60 days.

Can You extend Your UAE Visit or Tourist visa?

All types of tourist visas may be extended for 30 days twice. Visa holders will need to leave and re-enter the country to extend their visas and must ensure that the renewal process can be completed before expiry.

Documents required for processing inside the country visa change:

Passport copy (which should be valid for at least six months)
Passport size photograph
Old visa tourist/cancelled visa copy
On arrival nationalities would only require Passport copy and photograph if they have entered UAE using on-arrival facility.
If the visa was applied for by a relative or friend, they may need to submit a copy of their residence visa page and UID number.

How much is Tourist Visa Cost in UAE?

The tourist visas can cost :

One month tourist visa -approximately AED 350
Two months tourist visa – approximately AED 600

Visa holders will need to leave and re-enter the country to extend their visas and must ensure that the renewal process can be completed before expiry.

The listed amounts are just estimates and the final cost will depend on the Emirate from which you apply for the visa as well as any service fees charged by the travel agency, airline or hotel that you use to apply for it.

Do you need a Visa to Transit through UAE?

If you are planning to stopping over in the UAE during a long-haul flight, you might want to step out of the airport to explore the country you have a option to apply for a transit visa in UAE.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai provides the following list of countries whose citizens can get a visa on arrival in the UAE:

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Brunei
5. Bulgaria
6. Canada
7. China
8. Croatia
9. Cyprus
10. Czech Republic
11. Denmark
12. Estonia
13. Finland
14. France
15. Germany
16. Greece
17. Hong Kong
18. Hungary
19. Iceland
20. Ireland
21. Italy
22. Japan
23. Latvia
24. Liechtenstein
25. Lithuania
26. Luxembourg
27. Malaysia
28. Malta
29. Monaco
30. Netherlands
31. New Zealand
32. Norway
33. Poland
34. Portugal
35. Russia
36. Romania
37. San Marino
38. Singapore
39. Slovakia
40. Slovenia
41. South Korea
42. Spain
43. Sweden
44. Switzerland
45. The Vatican
46. United Kingdom
47. United States of America

Additionally, Indian citizens that are holders of:

• 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 European Union

This type of a visa, which is available for all passport holders, from 48 to 96 hours, is ideal for a short stopover in the UAE.

The transit visas for 48 hours are issued free of charge to passengers transiting through the UAE’s airports. You need to apply for the visa in advance through a UAE-based airline. This visa is not extendable, or renewable. The validity of the visa is 48 hours from entry into the UAE, and you must leave the UAE within 48 hours from arrival.

If you want to have a slightly more extended stay in the UAE, a transit visa for 96 hours and must be applied in advance through a UAE based airline. This visa is not extendable, or renewable. The validity of the visa is 96 hours from entry into the UAE, and you must leave the UAE within 96 hours from arrival. This visa is issued for a fee of AED 50 to passengers transiting through the UAE’s airports.

In order to get your transit visa you need to present to the immigration counter:

A passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three months.
A passport size photograph against a white background.
An onward ticket booking to a third destination, other than the one you are coming from.

How Can you Apply for a UAE Transit Visa?

You can get the transit visa by Visiting the airline’s website or service centre.

Complete your ticket bookings.
Visit the airline’s website and select your ticket booking.
You will receive the option for ‘Apply for transit visa’. You need to ensure that you are applying for a transit visa with the same airline that you are flying, as itineraries that include flights from other carriers will not be accepted. Also, the itinerary into and out of the UAE airport should be on one ticket (PNR), with the stay in the UAE being within the visa duration.
Once you have made the payment for your transit visa, it will be issued by the airlines

The departure fee of AED 30 is levied on each passenger passing through the UAE’s airports.

How can You get 5-year Multiple Visa in UAE?

If you are looking to visit the UAE regularly over the next few years, a new visa option has opened for tourists. The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has provided details of the five-year multiple entry tourist visa for all nationalities through the authority’s website.Tourists can apply for the visa on self-sponsorship and can stay for 90 days on each visit and can be extended for another 90 days.

You can apply for 5 year multiple by visiting ICA website – www.ica.gov.ae and following the link procedure for applying 5 year multiple visa.

The application fee is would be approximate AED 650.

Here is a breakdown of the cost for this visa:

Application fee: Dh100
Issuance fee: Dh500
Electronic services: Dh50
Urgent application fee: Dh100 (if requested)

How can you apply for e-visa for GCC residents?

If you live in a GCC country and want to visit the UAE, you can apply for an e-visa online through the ICP or the website of the Dubai General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). The 30-day entry permit is valid and GCC e-visa holders can stay for 30 days in the UAE from the date of entry.

If you are applying for the e-visa through ICP, here is the amount you will pay, as per the ICP website:

• Request fees – Dh100
• Issue fees – Dh100
• E-services fees – Dh28
• ICP fees – Dh22

Total: Dh250

How to apply for 90-day visit visa for friends and family in the UAE?

The residents who have residence visa issued in the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain can now apply for a 90-day single or multiple-entry visit visa through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) for their friends or family.

UAE residents planning to invite their friends or family to the country can apply for a 90-day single or multiple-entry visit visa through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).

The visa application can be made through three channels:

The ICP Smart Services website: smartservices.icp.gov.ae
The ICP mobile app – ‘UAEICP’, which is available for Apple and Android devices.
A typing centre authorised by ICP – you can find the list of approved typing centres in each Emirate by visiting this link: https://icp.gov.ae/en/typing-offices/

What are the documents required for applying 90 day visit visa for friends and family in the UAE?

Recent passport size coloured photograph of the relative or friend.
Proof of kinship (birth or marriage certificate) – this is required in case you are sponsoring your family member’s visit visa.
A copy of the relative’s or friend’s valid passport.
A copy of your Emirates ID.
Proof of residence for the sponsored. You may be able to provide your rental contract or details of the hotel reservation for the relative or friend.
Copy of the return ticket.

Depending on the information entered in the application you may also need to provide additional information in case required by ICP.

How much does the 90 day visit visa cost for friends or family in UAE?

Here are the approximate charges for the visa .

Security deposit: Dh1,025
Request fees: Dh100
Issue fees: Dh300
E-services fees: Dh28
ICP fees: Dh22
Smart services fee: Dh100

Total: Dh1,575

How to apply for a 90 day visit visa for friends and family in UAE?

To apply for the visit visa through the ICP Smart Services platform, you must first visit this link: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/login and follow the steps below:

Step 1: Log in using your UAE Pass , or through an ICP online account, if you already have one.
Step 2: Once you are logged in, you will be transferred to a personal dashboard on the app.
Step 3: Next, click on the ICP department in your Emirate, for example – Federal Authority For Identity and Citizenship\Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.
Step 4: Search for the ‘Visit Visa For Friend or Relative 90 Days (Single Entry) – Issue’ in the search bar. The service will appear below.
Step 4: Click on ‘Start Service’
Step 5: Fill in the application and upload the required documents.
Step 6: Next, pay the service fee using a credit or debit card.

Once you have made the payment, you will receive a confirmation from ICP that the application has been submitted.

According to the ICP call centre – 600522222, it will take approximately two to five business days for a visit visa to be issued, once approved.

You will receive an e-visa on your the email address that you have provided in the application form.

How to Apply for a Tourist Visa in UAE?