The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in Western Asia. It is a sovereign constitutional monarchy, consisting of seven Emirates: Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, and Abu Dhabi, the largest Emirate as well as the capital.
With the mix of modern architecture right next to the historical and cultural landmarks, UAE attracts millions of tourists every year.
If you are planning a trip to the UAE, you may find that you need to apply for a UAE visa (or not, depending on your country). The UAE government allows nationals of several countries to enter without a visa for short stays.
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Dubai or the Other Emirates?
Whether you need a UAE visa or not depends on your nationality. Citizens of some countries are allowed to enter the Emirates without a visa or obtain one upon arrival, while others have to get it before they travel.
See the lists of who needs a UAE visa and who is exempt below:
| Country | Visa needed? | Country | Visa needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Mauritius | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Argentina | Visa free for up to 90 days | Mexico | Visa free for up to 180 days |
| Australia | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Monaco | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Bahamas | Visa on arrival for up to 90 days | Mongolia | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Bahrain | enter UAE with a passport or ID | Montenegro | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period |
| Barbados | Visa free for up to 90 days | Nauru | Visa free for up to 90 days |
| Brazil | Visa free for up to 90 days | New Zealand | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Brunei | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Norway | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period |
| Canada | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Oman | enter UAE with a passport or ID |
| Chile | Visa free for up to 90 days | Paraguay | Visa free for up to 90 days |
| China | Visa free for up to 30 days | Russia | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period |
| Costa Rica | Visa on arrival for up to 90 days | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period |
| El Salvador | Visa on arrival for up to 90 days | San Marino | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| EU member states (excluding the UK and Ireland) | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period | Saudi Arabia | enter UAE with a passport or ID |
| Honduras | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period | Serbia | Visa free for up to 90 days |
| Hong Kong | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Seychelles | Visa free for up to 90 days |
| Iceland | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period | Singapore | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Ireland | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Solomon Islands | Visa free for up to 90 days |
| Japan | Visa free for up to 30 days | South Korea | Visa on arrival for up to 90 days |
| Kazakhstan | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Switzerland | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period |
| Kuwait | enter UAE with a passport or ID | Ukraine | Visa free for up to 30 days |
| Liechtenstein | Visa free for up to 90 days in any 180 day period | United Kingdom | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Macau | Visa free for up to 30 days | United States | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Malaysia | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Uruguay | Visa free for up to 90 days |
| Maldives | Visa on arrival for up to 90 days | Vatican | Visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
Nationals of the following countries who have a diplomatic or service passport are also exempt from a UAE tourist visa or eligible for a UAE Visa On Arrival:
| Albania | Algeria | Armenia |
| Azerbaijan | Belarus | Colombia |
| Congo | Cuba | Egypt |
| Equatorial Guinea | Georgia | Grenada |
| India | Indonesia | Liberia |
| Morocco | Rwanda | Saint Lucia |
| Serbia | Tonga | Tunisia |
| Turkey | Turkmenistan | Vanuatu |
| Vietnam | Burkina Faso* | Burundi* |
| Chad* | Congo DR* | Ethiopia* |
| Guinea* | Jordan* | Kyrgyzstan* |
| Mali* | Niger* | Senegal* |
| Uzbekistan* |
*Diplomatic passport only
Citizens of all countries not mentioned above have to get a UAE visa before they travel.
What is a UAE Entry Permit?
The UAE Entry Permit is the document you have to obtain if you need a visa to enter the country. It is valid for a certain number of days, depending on your purpose of travel.
Your sponsor has to get an entry permit for you before you travel from by General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). The number of days you are allowed to stay in the UAE with an entry permit depends on the purpose of your travel:
- If you are transiting, you will receive an entry permit (transit visa) for up to 48 or 96 hours.
- If you’ll enter as a tourist, your entry permit is valid for up to 30 days (ie. tourist visa).
- If you’re entering for employment purposes, your entry permit is valid for up to 60 days etc.
As such, a tourist visa and an entry permit are more or less the same thing.
Please Note:
There is some conflicting information online regarding UAE Visa entry requirements for some countries.
Liberia and Mongolia
- It does not claim anywhere else other than the website of the IATA that Liberia and Mongolia citizens are visa-exempt.
Grenada
- The website of the Government of UAE as well as the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in London state that Grenada citizens are eligible for a UAE visa on arrival valid for 90 days.
- The website of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UAE do not support this information.
Nauru
- The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states Nauru citizens do not require a visa for UAE whereas the IATA and the Government of UAE websites do not hold the same information.
Solomon Islands
- According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, citizens of the Solomon Islands do not need a visa for UAE. This information is not supported by the Government of UAE website.
Do I Need a Separate Dubai Visa if I Have a UAE Visa?
No, you do not. There is actually no separate “Dubai Visa” since Dubai is not a country on its own; it is part of the UAE. If you have a visa allowing you to enter the UAE, then you can travel to any of its emirates, Dubai included.
Do I Need a Separate Abu Dhabi Visa if I Have a Dubai/UAE Visa?
Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates making up the UAE, as well as the capital. As such, if you are planning on visiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you do not need to get a separate visa for each. If you are a visa-required national, you only have to apply for a UAE Tourist Visa and you can visit all seven of its emirates, including Abu Dhabi.
If you are exempt from UAE Tourist Visas, the process is even simpler since you can travel with just your passport.
What are the Types of UAE Visas?
The four main types of visas that the UAE offer are:
- UAE Tourist Visas, which, as the name suggests are issued for tourism purposes or any other purpose which is shorter than 30 days and does not require you to take up employment and long-term residence in the UAE.
- UAE Residence Visas are for foreigners who wish to relocate to the UAE. This includes:
- UAE Student Visa
- UAE Work Visa
- UAE Family Visa
- UAE Retirement Visa
- Dubai Digital Nomad Visa
- Long-Term Residence Visas (Investor Visa), which is issued for a period of 5-10 years and does not require a sponsor. However, you must invest a substantial amount of money in the UAE to qualify for this type of visa.
- UAE Transit Visas, which are issued to foreigners who have to transit through the UAE. These types of visas are issued for 48 or 96 hours.
What is a UAE Residence Visa?
Foreigners who want to move to the UAE need to have a Residence Visa. However, prior to that, they must also obtain an Entry Permit. The difference between an entry permit and a residence visa for the UAE is:
The UAE Residence Visa is the document you have to obtain after you are already in the UAE with an Entry Permit and want to stay longer than the number of days the permit allows. Your sponsor (who must meet GDRFA’s requirements) has to apply for your Residence Visa.
UAE Visa Requirements
When applying for a tourist visa for the UAE, you must have several documents to support your application, such as:
- Photocopies of your passport and the passport of your sponsor. You need a passport that has at least 6 months validity.
- Photocopy of the passport’s relevant pages. In some cases, you may not need to submit your original passport at all. You may include photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport (or all the pages on your passport).
- Passport-size pictures, in line with UAE visa photo requirements.
- If you are a female travelling alone: A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your father or husband.
- A confirmed round-trip airline ticket or an airline ticket for onward travel. If you are applying through an airline, the ticket must be from that airline.
- Proof of accommodation, such as your hotel.
- Proof of purchased travel medical insurance for UAE
- A letter from you, stating the purpose and duration of your visit
- Proof of legal residence in your country (ie. your visa or residence permit). This only applies if you are not a citizen of the country in which you are living.
- If you have a host:
- Proof of your relationship to the host
- Proof of their residential status: A copy of your host’s UAE Resident Visa and/or their Emirates ID
- Proof of their financial status: Certified copy of their work contract or their salary certificate
- Proof of previous travels:
- If you have been to the UAE in the last year, submit copies of the entry and exit stamps on your passport
- Copies of any visas to the USA, UK, Schengen Area, Canada, Russia, Australia or New Zealand you have received within the past 5 years
- You may also be required to provide:
- Proof of your financial status
- Proof of your current address
- Marriage certificate
- Any additional documents required by the relevant visa issuing authorities in Dubai/UAE
How to Apply for a Visa for UAE?
Unlike most countries, the UAE does not issue visas through its embassies or consulates overseas. Additionally, you cannot submit a UAE Visa application yourself – you must have a sponsor in the UAE or apply through an authorized agency to submit it on your behalf, such as:
- A host or sponsor who is living in the UAE.
- A licensed travel agency through which you purchase the travel ticket. Travel agencies in your country may also be collaborating with a local tour operator in the UAE and offer tourist packages. Make sure that the travel agency you hire is reputable and licensed before you pay them.
- The hotel in which you are staying in the UAE.
- One of the following airlines provided that you’ll be flying with them:
Where to Apply for a UAE Visa?
UAE visa applications can be submitted either online or in-person at one of the following agencies:
- Through the eChanel portal of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship – ICA ,through which hosts, travel agencies or other sponsors can apply for a UAE Visa on your behalf. (online only)
- Through the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – GDRFA (online and in-person).
- The websites of the GDRFA in each emirate:
- Mobile apps:
- Your sponsor or host can also apply through one of the licensed typing centres of the GDRFA in each Emirate or through one of the Amer centres in Dubai.
UAE eVisa Application for GCC Residents
Residents of any of the GCC countries are not exempt from visa requirements like GCC nationals are, but they are entitled to a facilitated online application process if they are travelling with GCC citizens. The GCC stands for Gulf Cooperation Council, and the countries participating in it are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
If you are a GCC resident, you can apply for a UAE visa through one of the following websites:
Once you apply, you will receive your visa at the address which you provided. Your UAE visa is valid for 30 days, and may be extended once more for 30 additional days.
If you are a GCC resident who will be travelling alone (not with a GCC national) you cannot apply through the online portal.
How Long Can I Stay in the UAE With a Visa?
When you receive a UAE visa, you will usually have about 60 days to use it to enter the country. Upon entry, the number of days you are allowed to stay in the UAE depends on the purpose of your travel.
As a tourist, you can stay for up to 30 days. If you are transiting, you are allowed to stay only for up to 4 days. UAE visas for employment are issued for a maximum of 2 months, during which time you have to convert it into a Residence Visa or leave the country.
Can You Extend a UAE Visa?
Yes, you can. As of 2018, you can extend almost any UAE visa or entry permit two times, each for 30 additional days and for a fee of AED 600. You have to apply for a visa extension before your current visa expires, otherwise you’ll be fined for overstaying.
You may not apply for a UAE visa extension if you fall under one of the following categories:
- You are a visitor or tourist and you are a resident of a GCC country
- You are a GCC resident who is accompanying a GCC national
- You hold a special entry permit
- You have a 96-hour permit for special missions
UAE Residence Visa extension for widows or divorced women
The UAE government offers a Residence Visa extension for divorced women or widows which allows them to remain in the country for another year starting from the time of divorce or death of their husbands without the need for a sponsor. The visa also includes their children.
They must apply through the websites or typing centres of the relevant GDRFA in their Emirate of residence.
What Happens if I Overstay in Dubai on a Tourist Visa?
If you overstay your Dubai visa, you will have to pay a fine of AED 100 for every day that you have overstayed. If you know you need to stay longer, you should apply for a visa extension.
Can You Work in Dubai With Tourist Visa?
No, you cannot. A tourist or visitor visa for UAE does not authorize the holder to work. If you want to take up employment, you must apply for a UAE Work Visa and Work Permit.
If you work in the UAE without authorization, even if you’re not paid, you will be deported and may have to pay a fine.