UAE is perhaps one of the fastest developing countries in the world, with Dubai being a major attraction. Individuals who wish to visit Dubai need to get a UAE visa, choosing from the many options available. Listed below are the different types of visas offered by UAE:
- Entry Service Permit Visa – Individuals who are required to perform certain tasks by their company in the UAE are eligible for this visa. Their physical presence in the UAE should be mandatory in order for them to get this visa. Under this visa, they are entitled to stay in the country for 14 days. Their immediate family can also accompany them on this visa.
- Visit Visa – This visa can be used for purposes ranging from visiting relatives to doing business. It is valid for a period of 2 months and needs to be supported by relevant documents. One should have a sponsor in the UAE in order to get this visa.
- Tourist Visa – This visa is a modified version of the visit visa. It is valid for a period of 30 days and cannot be extended. Individuals can apply for this visa through a hotel or a licensed tour operator.
- Multiple Entry Visa – This is designed for individuals who spend a considerable time in UAE/Dubai. It is valid for a period of 6 months, enabling an individual to stay in the country for 30 days at a time. Individuals should first enter the country on a visit visa in order to be eligible for this visa. Once in the country, they can apply for a multiple entry visa.
- Transit Visa – This visa is granted to individuals who arrive at the Dubai International Airport en route to another destination (a different country). Valid for a period of 96 hours, it can be availed if one is spending more than 8 hours in the country. This visa can be obtained only if the applicant is sponsored by the airline they are travelling in.
- Visa on Arrival – This facility is provided to citizens from certain countries from Western Europe and the Pacific region. This visa has a validity of 60 days, with extension permitted only under certain conditions.
- Diplomatic Visa – This is granted to those individuals who hold a diplomatic passport and are coming to the country on official visits.
How To Get A Visa For Dubai
Getting a visa to visit Dubai is not very hard, provided that one has all the relevant documents in place. There are a number of authorized travel agencies who can assist in the process, with it possible to apply for a UAE visa through them. Individuals can download the visa application form from the internet and enter certain basic details like their name, address, nationality, marital status, passport details, purpose of visit, local contact in the UAE, and past applications, if any. The requisite fee needs to be paid with the application, with the authorities granting the visa based on their discretion.
Individuals who are from certain countries with whom UAE has close diplomatic ties can get a 30 day visa on arrival, with no need to apply for a visa if their stay is under 30 days. This visa does not attract any fee.
Additionally, individuals who are flying into the country on an Emirates flight can apply for a Dubai visa online, through the official portal of the airline. This can be done by using the “manage a booking” tab on the website. It should be noted that this can only be done if one has purchased a ticket from the airlines.
Documents Required To Get A UAE/Dubai Visa
Individuals looking to apply for a UAE visa will need to submit supporting documents in order for their application to be processed. Listed below are some of the basic documents which should be submitted:
- Passport – Applicants should have a valid passport with sufficient blank pages. The passport should not expire within 3 months of travel. The details of the applicant should be clearly visible in the first pages.
- Travel itinerary – Applicants should provide information about their travel plans, including the date of arrival and departure. All flight details should be mentioned with the application. Individuals who are applying for a transit visa should provide proof of onward travel. This means that they should provide details about their flight ticket out of Dubai.
- Proof of residence – This applies in those cases where there is a difference between the permanent residency status and the current nationality of an applicant.
- Proof of income – This is asked only under certain circumstances. It is used to gauge whether an applicant has sufficient funds to visit and stay in the country.
- Photograph – Applicants need to submit a recent photograph with their application.
There could be cases where additional documents are required to process an application. Individuals should check this before applying for a visa.
How To Check The Status Of Your UAE/Dubai Visa
Individuals who have utilized the services of a travel agency can check the status of their application through the official portal of said agency. Online status check requires one to provide the reference number (given at the time of application) and the passport expiry date. This would show the current status of the UAE visa application.
Dubai Visa Processing Time
A visa application for UAE is typically processed in around 3 business days, depending on the kind of visa applied. Almost all visa applications are processed within 5 days, subject to them meeting all the basic eligibility criteria. Individuals should plan their trip keeping this processing time in mind.
Dubai Visa For Indians
India and UAE share strong diplomatic ties, with thousands of Indians working in Dubai. While Indians are not exempt from a visa or eligible for a visa on arrival, they are eligible to visit the country or work there. According to records, close to 2.2 million Indians work in the UAE, with thousands more visiting the nation for recreational purposes.
Indian citizens with a valid visa can apply for a visa, subject to their passport being valid for a minimum of 6 months. One can apply either through Emirates airlines/Air Arabia or approach a registered travel agency who will apply on their behalf. Diplomats can apply for a Diplomatic Visa through the UAE Embassy by providing necessary proof. The Embassy will not issue travel visas.
In case an individual wishes to cancel his/her visa, he/she should get it done by the agency/individual who had helped them with their visa formalities. The Embassy in India cannot cancel the visa. Individuals who do not get the visa cancelled will not be eligible to get a new visa to travel to the country.
Dubai Visa Fees For Indians
The table below highlight the fee applicable for a UAE visa.
| Visa | Fee in Rs. | Fee in $ |
| Transit Visa (96 hours) | 3,000 | 44 |
| Tourist Visa (30 days) | 4,700 | 68 |
| Visit Visa (90 days) | 11,200 | 164 |
| Multiple Entry (short visit) | 10,200 | 150 |
| Multiple Entry (long visit) | 29,000 | 422 |
Note: The fee mentioned above does not include the service charge. Agencies can charge an additional amount as service charge. Taxes are not included here. The amount can change with changes in currency values. Individuals should check the prevailing rates while applying.
Certain travel agencies provide the same visa services for an all-inclusive fee. Listed below is a table highlighting the cost for a visa from such agencies?
| Visa | Fee in Rs. |
| Transit Visa (96 hours) | 4,800 |
| Tourist Visa (14 days) | 6,400 |
| Tourist Visa (30 days) | 6,700 |
| Visit Visa (90 days) | 20,500 to 23,000 |
This fee includes the service charge and taxes. While it is higher than the basic visa charge, individuals should remember that an additional amount will be charged over and above the basic visa fee in most cases.
How To Fill Your Dubai Visa Application Form
Individuals looking to visit UAE should fill up an application for a UAE visa. They will be expected to provide the following information in the form.
- The visa they wish to apply for. They should choose an option which corresponds to their needs. For example, an individual going to Dubai for a business visit can apply for a 14 day visa. They should also mention the purpose of visit.
- Personal details of the applicant. This includes the name, address, nationality, name of parents, marital status, occupation, religion, date of birth, educational qualifications, gender, etc.
- Passport details of the applicant. This should include the passport number, the government which issued it, place of issue, date of issue, and the expiry date.
- Information about local contact. This typically includes details about any local contact in UAE. It could be a family member or the hotel where an applicant intends to stay. Applicants should provide the name, address and phone number of said individual/hotel. They should also mention the relationship they have with the local host.
- A recent, color photograph should be attached with the application.
- Applicants should also mention the names of the people who are accompanying them (if any). In addition to their names, the relationship shared between them should also be mentioned in the form.
The form should be supported by relevant documents in order for the application to be processed.
Dubai/UAE Visa Photo Requirements
Individuals applying for a UAE visa must ensure that their photograph meets certain established guidelines, as listed below:
- The image should be recent (not more than 6 months old).
- The image should be in color. Black and white images are not permitted.
- The photograph should be taken against a light background. Images with dark backgrounds will be rejected.
- The image should be of standard size (45mm by 35mm).
- There should be no shadows on the image. It should be clear.
- Glasses should not be worn unless prescribed for medical reasons. It is recommended to remove the glasses while taking the picture. The eyes should be clearly visible in the image.
- Individuals should avoid wearing headgear in the picture. Headgear is permitted only for religious reasons, subject to it not covering the face.
- The image should not be edited/pixelated.
- The photograph should not have the face at an angle. A full frontal view of the face should be presented. The face should account for around 80% of the image size.