Airport to Airport Visa Change: Quick, Easy, Hassle-Free

Q: Is it suitable for Nigerians to do Airport to Airport visa change?

It is best if Nigerians don't do this method because it takes 3 to 4 working days for immigration to process the visa applications for Nigerians.

Q: Can I extend my UAE visit visa without leaving the country?

If you are holding a tourist visa,visit visa or on arrival visa then you can opt for a visa change without exit. If you are a resident then you can perform a status change.

Q: Do I need to pay any security deposit?

Most nationalities don't require a security deposit to be paid at the airport. Certain nationalities might have to make a refundable deposit between 1000 to 1500 AED.

Q: How can I settle my overstay fine?

All overstay fines need to be settled at the airport's immigration counter..

Q: What if the visa is rejected by immigration while I am in the airport?

The approval of visas are the decisions of the immigration authorities. In case of visa getting rejected we are not responsible for providing a refund for the charges. If it happens during a visa change by flight, the applicant can be at the airport for a maximum of 48 hours within which they have to book a flight ticket back to their home country.

Q: What should be the validity on my passport?

To apply for a tourist visa you passport needs to be valid for a minimum of six months from travel date.

Q: If I hold a valid Sharjah or UAE visa, will I be able to visit the other Emirates?

Yes, you can travel to any Emirate with a valid UAE visa.

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Prices

30+10 days new on arrival Airport Exit

Airport to Airport visa change return flight ticket (from Dubai or Sharjah)

1050-1150 AED

Only for 30 days on arrival nationals

30 days new tourist visa

Airport to Airport visa change return flight ticket (from Dubai or Sharjah)

1590 AED

All nationals

60 days new tourist visa

Airport to Airport visa change return flight ticket (from Dubai or Sharjah)

1790 AED

All nationals

Video Guide

Airport To Airport Visa Change Steps

Step 1

Send your documents via WhatsApp

Send us a copy of your previous visa, a clear colored scan of passport and a photo taken against a white background. Also, send the residence visa page of your reference person.

Step 2

Make payment

Pay the visa change fees and send us the receipt.

Step 3

Book a visa change ticket

We will assist you to book a visa change ticket at the available time slots. The visa change ticket is a special type of ticket that includes a visa change stamp.

Step 4

Get exit stamp and boarding pass-through WhatsApp

Arrive at the airport by 8 am and send us a photo of your exit stamp and boarding pass before 9 am.

Even if you are travelling later in the day, the airport only issues an exit stamp and boarding pass early in the morning.

Step 5

Fly and come back

Fly from the UAE to another foreign airport and then come back.

Step 6

Get New UAE Visa via WhatsApp

We will send you the new visa through WhatsApp.

Step 7

Enter UAE

Enter the UAE with your new visa.

What is airport to airport visa change

The airport-to-airport visa change option is prominent among visitors whose visa is about to expire or the grace period for their cancelled resident visa is about to end.

This visa renewal method visitors to exchange visa from old to new and remain legal in the UAE. Loal tour operators partner with Fly Dubai through the Dubai airport to complete the service.

You fly to the closest gulf countries airports like Musat, Kuwait, Salalah, Bahrain, Sohar and then fly back to the UAE when your new visa is approved.

Airport -to-airport transfer allows visitors to quickly get a new visa by exiting to a nearest gulf city rather than flying back to their home country. It saves you both money and time.

This visa change method is also way cheaper than the inside the country or extension without exit. On the other hand, A2A is a bit expensive compared to the visa change through Oman visa run by bus or self-drive.

Documents required

For Prepaid visa holders

Your recent, colored photograph
A colored copy of your passport valid for at least 6 months
A copy of your current UAE visa
Your reference person’s UAE residence visa page. This could be a relative, friend or a professional contact
Additional documents like national ID and depending on the nationality of the applicant. For example, a Pakistan should provide their ID and passport signature page
A birth certificate if the applicant is a minor

For On arrival nationals

A Your recent, colored photograph
A colored copy of your passport valid for at least 6 months
A copy of your current UAE visa
Your reference person’s UAE residence visa page. This could be a relative, friend or a professional contact
A birth certificate if the applicant is a minor
Your visa extension page if you have done any online visa extension services in the past. (The Amer services visa extension page)

Cancelled Residence visa

Your recent, colored photograph
A colored copy of your passport valid for at least 6 months
A page of the resident visa cancellation
A copy of your current UAE visa
Your reference person’s UAE residence visa page. This could be a relative, friend or a professional contact
Additional documents like national ID and depending on the nationality of the applicant. For example, a Pakistan should provide their ID and passport signature page
A birth certificate if the applicant is a minor

Nationality check

Mostly, it is the prepaid visa and cancelled resident visa holders who request for the airport-to-airport visa change. The on-arrival visa holders can also take advantage of the visa change options because it is easier than driving to the Oman boarder.

Following are the list of nationals who can benefit from airport to airport visa renewal facility

Prepaid visa holders

Almost all Asian countries nationals, Arabic nations and some African countries nationals with a prepaid visa can use the A2A visa change method.

Asian Countries Eligible for A2A visa change

Bangladesh

India

Indonesia

Myanmar

Nepal

Pakistan

Philippines

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Turkey

Vietnam

Arabic countries eligible include Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco & Algeria.

African countries eligible include Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Fiji, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

Prepaid visa holders of other nationalities are advised against the airport-to-airport visa change as the process may be delayed due to security checks and black list checks.

Airports must adhere to the 24 to 48 hours deadline for an applicant to use the airport.

On Arrival nationals

A 30-day on arrival nationals

Nationals of the countries listed below are eligible for a 30 days complimentary visa when they enter the UAE. This on arrival visa holder may opt for the airport-to-airport visa change.

When you use this option, you get a new free 30 days visa to the UAE. Your only expenses will be the round ticket which costs about 800 to 900 AED.

Andorra	Australia	Brunei
Canada	China	Hong Kong, China
Japan	Kazakhstan	Macau, China
Malaysia	Mauritius	Monaco
New Zealand	Republic of Ireland	San Marino
Singapore	Ukraine	United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
United States of America	Vatican City

B 90-day on arrival nationals

Nationals of the countries listed below qualify for a multiple entry 90 days visit visa to the UAE. The visa is valid for 6 months from the date of issue but you cannot exceed a total 90 days in the country.

When the 90 days limit expire, nationals of these countries need to apply for a new visa to extend their stay. You may use the A2A option for visa change instead of the expensive in country extension option.

Argentina	Austria	Bahamas Islands
Barbados	Belgium	Brazil
Bulgaria	Chile	Colombia
Costa Rica	Croatia	Cyprus
Czech Republic	Denmark	El Salvador
Estonia	Finland	France
Germany	Greece	Honduras
Hungary	Iceland	Italy
Kiribati	Latvia	Liechtenstein
Lithuania	Luxembourg	Maldives
Malta	Montenegro	Nauru
Netherlands	Norway	Paraguay
Peru	Poland	Portugal
Romania	Russian Federation	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino	Serbia	Seychelles
Slovakia	Slovenia	Solomon Islands
South Korea	Spain	Sweden
Switzerland	Uruguay

Airport to airport visa change procedure

A2A visa change can only be done in Dubai and Sharjah airport. The process used differs depending on the airport you choose to use.

Dubai Airport to airport visa change procedure

1. First, submit all the required documents either through WhatsApp or our office in Dubai. Confirm with us the payment channel to use
2. Confirm the last date of your current visa to decide the perfect day to do the A2A visa change. We advise you select a day on or between Sunday and Wednesday when the approval and procedure is usually faster.
3. Arrive at the airport by 9 am even if you have booked an afternoon flight to get the visa change stamp. If you have a morning flight, arrive at least 4 hours to your flight time.
4. Report to the relevant airline counter where you booked a ticket
5. Get a boarding pass from the airline counter
6. Move to the immigration counter to get the exit stamp. If possible, get the manual stamp on the passport rather than the e-gate
7. Send Arabiers a clear photo of your boarding pass and exit stamp
8. Relax at the waiting area as you wait for your boarding time
9. Fly out of Dubai and arrive at the nearest middle-eastern airport
10. Some airlines like Fly Dubai allow you to remain in the plane until its time to fly back to Dubai while others like Jazeera Airways request you to exit the plane and wait at the airport until it is time to fly back to Dubai.
11. We will send you your evisa either before or on your arrival to Dubai
12. Head to the immigration counter to receive an entry stamp and do the eye scan
13. Exit Dubai airport12. Head to the immigration counter to receive an entry stamp and do the eye scan13. Exit Dubai airport

Sharjah Airport to airport visa change procedure

1. First, submit all the required documents either through WhatsApp or our office. Confirm with us the payment channel to use and make payments
2. Check the last date of your current visa to decide the perfect day to do the A2A visa change. We advise you select a day on or between Sunday and Wednesday when the approval and procedure is usually faster.
3. Arrive at the airport by 9 am even if you have booked an afternoon flight to get the visa change stamp. If you have a morning flight, arrive at least 4 hours to your flight time.
4. Head to the Hala counter located at the first floor of the airport and show the officials there your passport and e-ticket. They will stamp you’re your ticket with the ’OK to accept pax’
5. Proceed to the Air Arabia counter to get a boarding pass
6. After that, head to the immigration counter for exit procedures. If possible, get a manual exit stamp rather that the e-gate
7. Send Arabiers a clear photo of your boarding pass and exit stamp
8. Relax at the boarding gate awaiting your flight
9. Fly out of Sharjah Airport to an airport in the nearest country
10. Relax at the plane until its time to go back to Sharjah
11. We will send you a new e-visa before or on your arrival to Sharjah. Head to the immigration counter to get entry stamp and do an eye-scan
12. Exit Sharjah airport

2025 updates & rules

January 08, 2024
The UAE immigration authority scrapped the 10-day grace period for prepaid visa holders. Prepaid visa holders may apply either a 30 days or 60 days visa, which upon expiry, must exit the country or extend the visas.
You can opt for the Airport-to-Airport visa change, Oman visa run or an express visa to extend your visa in the UAE.
Source: Arabiers Processing Team
December 13, 2023
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holders, can now enter the UAE visa free and acquire a on arrival visa at the airport. Those travelling for short term visits like tourism or business can take advantage of this reform and plan trips to the UAE.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UAE decided on this move to deepen their diplomatic connections and increase the number of people visiting both countries.
Source: Arabiers Processing Team
September 29, 2023
The UAE is planning to implement a GCC visa which will work exactly like the Schengen visa in Europe. GCC countries include the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. When you obtain a visa to any of the above countries, you will be allowed to visit all the other GCC countries without any limitations.
For instance, when you apply for the UAE tourist visa, you will be eligible to visit Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia without necessarily applying for a new visa.
Currently, citizens of the GCC countries can cross borders of every country without limitations, but the residents of these countries must obtain a visa in advance.
Source: Gulfnews
January 23, 2023
The UAE Integrated Government Services (ICP), will start charging 100 AED for every service offered to the public. The fee applies to services like applying for an emirates ID, obtaining or renewing a resident visa, processing a visit visa among others.
Source: ICP UAE

Inside country visa change

After the new UAE visa amendments, the immigration authority has suspended the in-country visit visa extension as from December 24, 2022. Temporary visa extension was issued between December 14 and December 22 after which, the process was discontinued.

Visit visa holders must now exit the country or extend their visa through Airport-to-airport transfer or Oman visa run when their visa expires.

Visa change through bus

A budget traveler would benefit from this visa change option to extend their visit visa or resident visa. most Indians and Filipino nationals opt for this method as it is relatively cheap compared to the others.

1. First, apply for an Oman visa at least 3 working days before your visa expiry date

2. Book a seat on a bus heading to Oman

3. Travel to Oman through the Khasab or Hatta boarders

4. We will process your new UAE visa when you are travelling to Oman or the next day

5. Travel back to the UAE with your new visa

If your visa delays, you can stay at the accommodation we provide for one day without any extra charges.

The Oman visa run package includes a 10-day Oman visa, bus ticket to Oman, 1-day free stay in Oman and a 30 0r 90 days UAE tourist visa.

You are expected to cater for your border fees during exit.

FAQ

Is it suitable for Nigerians to do Airport to Airport visa change?

We recommend that Nigerians try other visa change method because the immigration takes 3 to 4 working days to process their visa.

can I extend my UAE visit visa without leaving the country?

Individuals with a tourist or visit visa an apply for a visa change without exiting the UAE. Those with a cancelled visa can also undergo visa change status while in the country.

Do I need to pay any security deposit?

Visitors from most countries do not have to make a security deposit at the airport. However, some may need to pay a refundable deposit of between 1000 to 1500 AED.

How can I settle my overstay fine?

Head to the immigration counter at the airport and clear your overstay fines.

Can Pakistani nationals opt for a visa change by bus?

Pakistanis are not allowed to extend their visa by travelling to Oman by bus.

What if the visa is rejected by immigration while I am in the airport?

In such unfortunate cases, you are allowed to stay in the airport for up to 48 hours and then book a flight to your home country. We do not take responsibility for visa rejection as it a decision only the immigration can make.

What should be the validity on my passport?

Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months when applying for a tourist visa to Dubai.

If I hold a valid Sharjah or UAE visa, will I be able to visit the other Emirates?

You can travel to any Emirate if you have a valid UAE visa.