U.A.E Visa Charges and Types of Visas

People from different nationalities have to satisfy different criteria to get a valid visa to enter the United Arab Emirates while travelling to any of the Emirates Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah

Visa requirement for US citizens

American citizens who have regular passports do not need to have a visa to visit the UAE. However, please make sure you fulfil following criteria’s:

 Original passport signed by the bearer, should not expire within six (6) months from the expected time of arrival in the UAE.

 Confirmed round-trip airline ticket or airline ticket to other destinations

The visas are available upon arrival at the UAE airports and the American citizens can stay for 1 month in the UAE. However, if you are going to stay longer, you have to contact the immigration officer at the airport or the local immigration office in the UAE and apply for the same.

Visa requirement for Non-US citizens

It is mandatory that your original passport (not a travel document), should not get expired within 6 months from the expected date of arrival in the UAE.

    Confirm round-trip airline ticket or airline ticket to other destination.

 If you are a citizen of one of the following countries:

    Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brunei, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Kuwait, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (Except the British overseas citizens), Vatican.

 Upon your arrival to UAE airports, the visas will be granted to you. This also includes those who hold visas in their passports or entry stamps from other countries and visa is valid for a one month stay in the UAE. However, if you are going to stay longer, you have to contact the immigration officer at the airport or the local immigration office in the UAE and apply for the same.

 Visa requirements for GCC nationals

 If you are a national citizen of a GCC ( Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) country you do not require a visa to visit the UAE. You will simply need to produce your GCC country passport or ID card upon arrival at the point of entry into the UAE.

 

The GCC residents who are not the national citizens but are working as high-level official such as doctors, managers, engineers or public sector employees along with their families can have a 30-day non-renewable visa at all the airports in the UAE upon arrival.

Visa requirements for other nationalities

Tourists from all the other nationalities must apply for a visa before they enter the country. They can do so through their respective embassy, a local UAE sponsor or even a local hotel in the UAE.

About Sponsors:

The travellers can get a Tourist Visa which is valid for 30 days, a Service Visa for 14 days or even a Visit Visa from a hotel or a travel company, but must first make a reservation. They must then transfer a copy of their passport and other documents to the hotel or travel agency along with their plan and arrival date. The hotel or the respective organisation will then fax you a visa copy when it is ready.

Other individuals, organisations who are based or residing in the UAE can apply on your behalf for a Visit Visa. Also, Work Visa can be obtained on your behalf from the employer or sponsor if you are planning to work in the UAE.

Airlines and airlines-handlers can apply for a 96-hour Transit Visa on behalf of their crew members.

Other UAE companies may apply only for Service Visa or a Visit Visa.

Types of Visas

Visit Visa

Tourists who wish to stay in the UAE for more than 14 days or those coming on family or business visits can apply for Visit Visas. These are valid for either 30 days (short term visit visa) or 90 days (long term visit visa). Both visas are non-renewable. Apart from the visa fees, a deposit is to be paid by the local sponsor/relative/resident which is reimbursed after the Visit Visa holder has left the country.

90-Day Long-Term Visit Visa for individuals is valid for 60 days from the issue date and non-renewable. Valid for 90 days from the arrival date and non-renewable

30-Day Short-Term Visit Visa for individuals is valid for 30 days from the issue date and non-renewable. Valid for 30 days from the arrival date and non-renewable

Tourist Visa

The Tourist Visa is a special category under the Visit Visa type and entitles the holder to a 30-day stay and in non-renewable. If visa holder of the Tourist Visa stays for more than 30 days, that person has to pay a fine per day plus some charges for an out pass.

Multiple-entry Visa

Multiple-entry Visas are issued to cruise ship passengers since their schedule entitles them to enter the country more than once in a single trip. Such visas are also issued to business visitors who are frequent visitors to the UAE due to their ties with a multinational company or a reputable local company. Multiple-entry Visas are valid for six months from the date of issue and the duration of each stay is 30 days. The visa is non-renewable. The individual must enter the UAE on a Visit Visa and then obtain a Multiple-entry Visa.

Transit Visa

Transit passengers stopping at the UAE airports for a minimum of 8 hours are eligible for a 96-hour Transit Visa. A valid onward ticket is required. Passport and other travel documents should be valid for at least three months.

There are different types of UAE visas

Visa type               Validity                        Cost                 Extensions

96-hour          4 days from arrival date      AED 200        Non-extendable

Tourist - short term (single entry) 

30 days from arrival date                           AED 330      Non-extendable

Tourist - short term (multiple entries)

30 days from first entry                              AED 650      Non-extendable

Tourist - long term (single entry)

90 days from arrival date                           AED 800      Non-extendable

Tourist - long term (multiple entries)

90 days from first entry                              AED 1,750   Non-extendable

Entry Permits for medical treatment   Single visit Dh700

                                                    Multiple visits Dh1,550

Entry permits for study    Depends on university or college

Entry Permits for exhibitions and conferences   Depends on travel agency

Tourist Visas                                                  Depends on travel agency

GCC resident entry permit                             No fees

Work- related entry permit for 14 days          Dh370

Work- related entry permit for 90 days          Dh1,320

 Entry permit for work 2 years                        Dh350

 Entry permit for residence 2 years                Dh270 (Dh370 express service)

 Entry permit for work 3 years                        Dh470

 Entry permit for residence 3 years                Dh370 (Dh470 express service)

Documents required (Individuals):

• Clear passport copy of the sponsor
• Clear passport copy of the sponsored person
• A copy of the salary certificate or employment contract of the sponsor (resident) must be attached
• Proof of family relationship (kinship)
• Travel insurance
• Copy of confirmed flight booking
• Passport-sized colour photographs
• Visa fee
• Visa application form, duly filled

 Rules and conditions:

•     Entry into the UAE is subject to immigration approval.
•     The ticket is non-refundable if the visa has been issued and utilised.
•     Visa processing time is approximately three to four working days.
•     Visa fees once paid are non-refundable.

 The UAE has revoked the condition of a one-month gap for renewing visit visas. People on such visas will no longer need to exit the country to get an extension of their stay here. They can now do it by paying Dh570 and stay for a month more without exiting the country.

For more accurate and latest information please visit your nearest embassy or dnrd.ae/en/visa-information-and-tips

New visa fee system to be launched in UAE from August 2014

The General Directorates of Residency and Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Interior has completed its technical and services preparations to ensure a flexible implementation of the new visa and fees system across the naturalization, residency and ports affairs sector.

The system will be effective August beginning, by virtue of the Cabinet`s resolution number 22 for the year 2014, regarding the organisation and development of the services at the MoI`s naturalization, residency and ports affairs sector.

Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, issued the ministerial decision number 377 for the year 2014, which amended the applicable regulations on foreigners’ entry and residence. The ministry has announced the promulgation of the new visa fees within the next few days on their website: http://moi.gov.ae.

Major-General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs, mentioned that the next stage will include the issuance of a new array of entry permits and visas, such as the multiple entry permits for visit or work; the activation of study visas, and entry permits for medical care and attending conferences.

“This comes in response to community members needs and supports various activities, in accordance with the Cabinet`s decision,” Maj-Gen Al Khaili explained.

He also said that the ministerial decision number 377 for the year 2014 coincides with the Cabinet`s decision. The approved amendments take into account the quality and development of services, in addition to meeting social requirements and activities in a way that supports various aspects of economic, touristic and social activities.

The new decision also focuses on violators, which is the key issue in the suggested amendments, as part of an integrated system, which ensures the field efficiency of executive authorities and customers’ satisfaction.

UAE allows multiple entry visit visas to foreigners

In a move set to redraw and further strengthen the tourism and trade sector in the UAE, which is already doing very well, UAE has just announced and confirmed that Multiple Entry Visit Visas may be issued for three categories of visitors. This will give tremendous boost for the UAE economy especially in the tourism, airline, hotel and restaurant sectors aside from strengthening various trade related sectors.

Note: Visit visas only allow persons to visit and will not allow tourists to open bank accounts or buy a car or obtain a driving licence etc, for all of which, a UAE residence visa is mandatory. However, the owner of real estate in UAE with a value in excess of AED 1m / USD 273k becomes eligible to obtain a UAE residency visa and enjoy a tax free and crime free lifestyle and can thereafter open a bank account or buy a car etc.

The UAE has allowed multiple entry visas in keeping with the requirements of some foreigners who need to visit the country from time to time.

A ministerial decree No. 418 of 2012 allowing for multiple entry visas was issued by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. It amended some provisions of the law of entry and residence of foreigners, Al Bayan newspaper said.

Multiple entry visas can be issued by both the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and UAE’s Consular offices abroad.

Those eligible for the multiple entry visas include businessmen, property investors and tourists.

Businessmen and professionals abroad who have dealing with a public or private institution or a company in the UAE, and who require frequent visits, are eligible for multiple entry.

Also, those foreigners who own property in the UAE – and their spouse and children - can avail that the multiple entry visa.

Tourists on board cruise ships will be eligible for multiple entry as their schedule includes entering the country more than once.

Conditions

• However, in order for the multiple entry visas to be granted, certain conditions have to be fulfilled.
• For the business visitor, the multiple entry visa allows him to enter the country several times during the six months from the date of issuance of the visa. The stay during each visit should not exceed 30 days.
• If the foreign visitor to UAE owns a property, the visa allows him to enter the country several times during the six months from the date of issuance of the visa and allow him to stay as long as the visa is valid.
• If the purpose for visiting the country is tourism and the visitor is coming on board one of the cruise ships, the permission allows him or her to enter the country several times during the three months from the date of issuance of the visa and stay a maximum of 14 days each time from date of entry.

UAE Missions Abroad

The UAE’s ambassadorial and consular mission abroad can issue a ‘courtesy visa’ to certain categories of visitors.

They have been allowed to issue visit visas exempt from the requirement of a sponsor.

Holders of diplomatic and United Nations passports can be given multiple entry visas for three months by UAE mission abroad.

These visas allow entry to the UAE for multiple times during three months from the date of the issuance. It also allows the holder to stay during each visit for nor more than 30 days from the date of entry as long as the visa is valid.