Dubai Visa Guide

Visa Requirements: Visa 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:
   • 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 21^st 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 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 passengers traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH) with a resident visa. 

Information 4: This does not apply to passengers traveling to Abu Dhabi (AUH) with a pre-arranged visa issued by Abu Dhabi. 

Exception:

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 traveling as tourists to Dubai (DXB) or Sharjah (SHJ) with a return/onward ticket.

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.
   1. 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.

The tourist visa for Dubai is issued for 30 days. The best part is that you can apply for visa extension, without leaving the country, for an additional 30 days and 90 days. After all, who does not enjoy travelling to Dubai, right? The Dubai visa for tourism is available for individuals who are visiting for leisure purposes and not work.

Eligibility for Dubai tourist visa

• You must have Indian passport
• Your confirmed return ticket
• 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 tourist 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 return tickets
• Proof of hotel reservation
• Bank statement

UAE Visa Processing Time

Waiting is never easy. Here’s a breakdown on how much time it usually takes for the tourist visas to process.

Visa Validity for Dubai

The visa to enter Dubai is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. However, if you are on a transit visa for 96 hours or 48 hours, the visa is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.

There is also a 14-day tourist visa wherein a traveller can stay in the country for 14 days, as the name implies. The 14-day visa is valid for two months.

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
• 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

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.