A UAE visa is an entry approval granted to a person under the UAE’s requirements and conditions allowing the person to visit, remain or leave after some time. It is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave or stay for a stipulated period in the UAE.
Citizens of some nationalities may need to obtain visas on arrival while others may need to apply in advance. However, GCC citizens (citizens of the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar) do not need a visa to enter the UAE.
Visa on Arrival
A 30-day visa on arrival
There are countries whose citizens are not mandated to have advance visa arrangements to enter the UAE. These citizens can obtain a visa upon arrival for 30 days with a 10-day grace period for an extension. These countries include:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
If you intend to stay beyond 30-days, you may request more time from the immigration officer at the airport to contact the local immigration office in the United Arab Emirates and request an extension.
90-day Visa on Arrival
There are countries whose citizens are not mandated to have advance visa arrangements to enter the UAE. These citizens can obtain visas upon arrival for 90 days. These countries include South Korea:
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Solomon Islands
- Nauru
This type of visa must be used within 180 days from the first entry. If you intend to stay beyond 90-days, you may request more time from the immigration officer at the airport to contact the local immigration office in the United Arab Emirates and request an extension.
To receive a Dubai visa on arrival, you are mandated to:
- Have a valid passport for at the latest 6 months on entry with a blank visa page.
- Have proof of sufficient funds.
- Have proof of return flights.
- Have all the documents required for your next destination.
- Confirm with the destination’s airline that boarding is possible without a visa.
Visa-Free Entry
The citizens of GCC countries are not mandated to have a visa or permit to be sponsored by a national or resident in the UAE. They are only required to present their GCC country passport or national ID card at the point of entry into the UAE.
What Type Of Dubai Entry Permit /Visa Do You Need?
The type of Dubai visa/entry permit you need depends on the reason for your entry. The entry permit could be for:
- Work
- Tourism
- Transit
- Visit
What Are The Requirements For A Dubai Entry Permit/Visa?
There are certain requirements that prospective visitors seeking a Dubai Entry Permit applicant must meet. They include:
- A genuine passport that is valid for at least 6 months.
- A sponsor. The sponsor could be an Emirati citizen, a UAE-based airline, a hotel or tour agent based in UAE, a government entity, companies in the private sector or free zones, a foreigner with a valid residency permit in the UAE.
- Prospective visitors must have no history of deportation or ban in the UAE. A visa ban forbids a person from entering the country or taking a new job. In this case, the person is required to obtain special permission to re-enter.
What Are The Types Of Visas And Entry Permits In The Uae?
The government of the UAE issues several kinds of visas and entry permits depending on the purpose of the visit. They include:
- Business visa
- Work visa
- Tourist visa
- Transit visa
- Student visa
- Freelance Visa
- Maid visa
- Patient and companion entry permit
- eVisa for GCC residents.
Learn more about the various kinds of visas here.
What Is The Validity Of Visas/ Entry Permits In The Uae
The validity of visas and the period within which the visitor should enter the UAE is based on the type of entry permit issued.
The validity permit for employment visas, visit visas, and tourist visas is 60 days from the issue date while the validity of entry permits for GCC residents is 30 days from the issue date. Different validity periods apply for the various entry visas and work permits.
You can check your visa validity on the eChannels platform of the ICA or on the Dubai GDFRA website.
