If Dubai or Abu Dhabi are on your travel bucket list, you’ll be happy to know that you may not even need a visa to travel to the UAE.

Don’t worry if your nationality is not on the list of visa-exempt countries – the process to acquire a tourist visa is simple and straightforward.

We break down the steps to take, and all the information you need to get a tourist visa for the UAE.

Do I need a visa to enter the UAE?

The UAE offers visa-free entry to citizens of 90 countries – an initiative by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to simplify travel for tourists and foster a more streamlined visitation process to the country. Based on your nationality, you are eligible for a 30- or 90-day visa on arrival.

You can check if you are eligible for visa-free entry, or if you will need to apply for a tourist visa in advance, by using MOFA’s online visa check tool.

Here are the steps to follow:

Visit MoFA's Visa Check tool: http://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/visa-exemptions-for-non-citizen
Here, you will see a snapshot view of every country, and whether its citizens will require a visa, or if they can get visa-free entry.
Use the filters on the side to highlight only visa-free options. The page will show a list of 90 countries. You can check if yours is on the list.

Indian passport holders: Visa-on-arrival rules

If you are an Indian citizen holding an ordinary passport, you are eligible to obtain a single-entry, 14-day visa-on-arrival at all UAE entry points, provided you have the following:

A valid tourist visa or residence permit from the United States, European Union or United Kingdom. US Green Card holders are also eligible.
A valid residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore.

The passport must be valid for at least six months, and the foreign visa or residence permit must also be unexpired.

Cost: The fee is approximately Dh253, depending on where you apply from.

UAE tourist visas: What to expect

If you learned that you will require a tourist visa, you can apply for one for 30, 60 or 90 days, depending on the purpose of your travel and where you’re applying from. You can also apply for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, based on your requirements.

Visa categories

Single-entry tourist visa: A single-entry tourist visa permits you to enter the UAE only once. When you leave, the visa is no longer valid. This is a good option for travellers who have a pre-set itinerary and plan on coming to the country for a one-time visit.

The UAE offers a 30- and 60-day single-entry visa. According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP), visit/tourism entry permits may be extended by the issuing authority once or multiple times, provided the total duration does not exceed 120 days.

Average cost: Dh500, plus a Dh1,000 refundable deposit.

Multiple-entry tourist visa: If you foresee regional travel or want flexibility in your itinerary, you’ll likely need to ensure you can keep returning to the UAE. In this case, opt for the UAE’s most flexible visa category: multiple-entry 30-, 60- or 90-day tourist visas that are also extendable.

Average cost: Dh550, plus a Dh2,000 refundable deposit.

Multiple-entry five-year tourist visa: This five-year visa allows multiple entries to the UAE, provided that each stay does not exceed 90 days. This type of tourist visa is issued for all nationalities. It’s ideal for frequent travellers to the UAE and remote workers who travel regularly.

The authorities have also simplified the process for families who make repeated trips back and forth throughout the year. According to the ICP, a multiple-entry five-year visa application for a family group can be submitted if there are children included, provided that minors under the age of 18 are accompanied by one or both parents. The head of the family is required to enter the country alongside the rest of the family members, once the visa is issued.

Average cost: Between Dh1,500 to Dh2,600, plus a Dh2,000 refundable deposit.

Sponsored visa: UAE residents who would like to invite family or friends to the country, can do so by applying for a 30-, 60- or 90-day, single- or multiple-entry visa through the ICP portal. The visa can be extended if required. You can avail this service from any of UAE’s emirates, and visit an ICP-authorised typing centre, or log into their app or website to apply (see application steps below).

There are additional considerations to note, for this type of visa:

The ICP website states that sponsors must show evidence of a minimum monthly salary of Dh4,000 for first-degree relatives, Dh8,000 for second- and third-degree relatives, and Dh15,000 for friends, with proof of kinship according to the degree. According to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), first degree relatives include: father, mother, spouse, son, daughter. Second degree includes: siblings, grandparents, grandchildren. Third degree includes: aunts, uncles, cousins. Friends classify in the non-relative category.
A health insurance policy for the duration of the stay may be required, depending on the visa processing authority.

Average cost: Dh550, plus a refundable deposit of Dh1,000.

eVisa for GCC residents: GCC residents and their families must apply for a UAE eVisa before travel. This visa is valid for 30 days and extendable once, for the same duration. In order to apply, your GCC residency must be valid for at least one year from the arrival date, and your passport must be valid for at least six months from the arrival date. Moreover, your profession must be mentioned on the list of professions approved for issuing the visa – this information is subject to evaluation by the authorities. You can find the list on GDRFA’s website: gdrfad.gov.ae

Average cost: Dh253

How to apply for a UAE tourist visa

It’s important to note that the UAE's embassies do not issue tourist visas.

In order to acquire a tourist visa to the UAE, it’s common practice to apply for a pre-arranged visa by connecting with a UAE-based airline, a travel agency or a hotel (where you intend to stay when you land in the country). These establishments will apply for a visa on your behalf by coordinating with the official visa-issuing authorities in the UAE.

Other visa application avenues include official channels, such as the ICP, the GDRFA, and the DubaiNow app. Specialised service centres, like Amer centres in Dubai, and visa application centres, like VFS Global, also process tourist visas for visitors to the UAE. These can be used by UAE residents who are applying on behalf of friends or family who are visiting from abroad.

Required documents

There are some standard criteria you must meet before preparing to apply. To obtain a tourist visa, applicants must have:

A passport with at least six-month validity.
A passport photograph.
The completed application form, available via all the channels mentioned above.
Proof of kinship, if you are a UAE resident applying for a family member. Accepted documents include attested birth certificates and marriage certificates.
A confirmed return or onward travel ticket. If you are applying for your visa via an airline, the flight ticket must be from the same airline. The departure and return dates on the ticket must match the dates of your hotel reservation (if you are staying in a hotel).
A confirmed hotel reservation for the duration of your stay in the UAE. If you are applying for a tourist visa through a hotel, your reservation must be at the same hotel.
For sponsored visas: If you are staying with a family member instead, you must provide a copy of a valid tenancy contract with your family member’s name and contact information.
For multiple-entry five-year visas: A bank balance of $4,000 (Dh14,692) or its equivalent in foreign currencies, maintained over a period of six months before application. The document should be stamped and signed by the bank.
For multiple-entry five-year visas: A valid health insurance policy applicable in the UAE, valid for 180 days.

Additional documents may be required, depending on your country of residence.

Application process

Applying via a hotel, airline or travel agency:

Follow these steps to apply:

Visit the website of the organisation.
Follow the instructions to apply. You may be asked to upload digital copies of your documents, so ensure they are available to you.
Pay the fees.
Submit the application online. Visas are usually processed within three to four working days.

Applying via official channels:

This option is available for UAE residents who are applying for a visa for their friends or family members. Although the websites differ, the steps to apply are similar.

Follow these steps to complete the process online via ICP’s website:

Download and log into the UAEICP app using your UAE Pass. Alternatively, you can visit smartservices.icp.gov.ae.
Select the service ‘Issuance of a Visa’, then select the type of visa as ‘Visitor – For visiting relatives, friends’.
Next, select which type of visa you would like to apply for – single- or multiple-entry – and then select the duration of stay.
Confirm your personal information.
Finally, pay for the visa. The cost varies depending on the duration of the permit. However, the ICP does outline the following service fees:
- Application fees: Dh100
- Visit visa issuance fee for a single entry per month: Dh100
- Visit visa issuance fee for a multiple entry per month: Dh200
- Smart Service Fees: Dh100
- Single entry financial guarantee fee: Dh1,000
- Multiple entry financial guarantee fee: Dh2,000

Note that the financial guarantee fee is a refundable deposit required by the GDRFA and ICP for single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas. It ensures the visitor exits before their visa expires.

Once the process is complete, you can expect to hear back from the authorities within a maximum of 48 hours.

If you wish to follow up on your application, you can track it online on ICP’s website (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or call the ICP on 600522222.

Other considerations:

Ensure your date of exit from the UAE is within the parameters of your visa’s duration. The UAE imposes an overstay fine of Dh50 for each day that you remain in the country, after the entry permit has expired or been cancelled.

The applicant or their sponsor is responsible for paying the overstay fines.

Toyota to fix Prius pumps