How to Check My UAE Visit Visa Validity in UAE?

The UAE government has simplified the process for checking the validity of visas by introducing a website that is accessible to everyone. All you need to do is enter your details and you will see all the details of your visa including when it will expire.

When you login to the ICA website you will be able to access all the details of your UAE visit visa. This website has made it easy for visitors to keep track of their visas and avoid being caught up with an expired visa.

Whether you are in UAE on visit or resident visa, always check the status of your UAE visa to remain informed.  If you want to continue staying in the country, remember to update your visa before the current one expires.

If you fail to check your visa status and then it expires while you are still in UAE, you will be considered to be overstaying. You will be charged fines and penalties for the days that you overstay in the UAE.

You can however avoid these penalties and fines by visiting the government website mentioned above to update your visa before it expires. Depending on the type of visa you have, you may or may not be granted grace period after the visa expires.

Visitors in the UAE with a visit visa are currently not allowed any grace period as it was in the past years. Only those who entered the country with a 30 days on arrival visa can enjoy the 10 days’ grace period.

UAE Government Types of Visit Visas

There are two types UAE visit visa, the single entry and multiple entry visas.

Single Entry Visa

The single entry visa allows you to visit UAE for either 30 days or 60 days. The government allows 10 days’ grace period after expiry of the visa. The validity of the visa takes effects from the date of entry in UAE.

Multiple Entry Visa

Multiple entry visa for UAE have a 30 days’ or 60 days’ validity. You can leave and enter the country with the same visa as long as the validity period has not elapsed. The multiple entry visa does not have a grace period.

You need to exit the country before expiry and if you overstay you will be subjected to fines and penalties. Always ensure that you check your visa status and note the expiry date.

You can extend your UAE visit visa once it is about to expire to avoid penalties. The visa extension process is simple and seamless and all you need to do is visit the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Custom and Port Security website.

According to the most recent visa reforms, you can extend the UAE visit visa twice, each time for 30 days. This gives you a total of 60 days in the country. There are several options to extend your UAE visa including airport to airport transfer and visa extension without having to exit the country.

The prices for extending visas depends on the type of visa you have and the method of extension you are using.  If your visa expires and you have not extended it, you will be penalized for overstaying.

Exception for UAE Visit Visa Extension

Some of the holders of UAE visit visa are not required to extend their visa even when it expires while they are in the country. They need to have the visa to enter the country but by law they are not obliged to extend. These categories of visitors include;

• Special entry permits
• Residents of GCC countries
• 96 hour permits for special missions.

You are expected to exit the UAE or extend your visa once it expires. Failure to take any of these actions, the government subjects you to fines and penalties for every day overstayed.

The UAE government is aware that some visitors may have legitimate reasons for overstaying their visa and that is why they do not blacklist the visa holders. Blacklisting would make things more complicated and this is why they opt for fines and penalties.

They also consider the fact that these holders who overstays their visa were legally granted entry into the country and therefore there is no need to criminalize such an act. This is in cases where the holder does not have criminal history or provocative behavior while in UAE.

Some visitors who overstay may have enjoyed their stay and developed a deep affection for the country which makes them feel the need to overstay.  The government recognizes this possibility and they do not find any need to criminalize such.

However, if you choose to overstay without extending your visa, just be informed that you will be subject to fines and penalties for violating the visa rules.

If you have overstayed and you have accumulated fines, you will be required to pay all the fines and penalties before leaving UAE. The total charges will be computed for every day you overstayed and you will pay the total.

There is no grace period for prepaid visa holders so the fines are calculated from the date your visa expires. You will be fined 50 AED for every day you overstay your UAE visa.

You can visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) if you have overstayed you UAE visit visa and want to know the amount you have been fined.

It is important to ensure that you check your visa status always to avoid overstaying your visa. Always apply for extension if you need to stay longer in the country to avoid being fined.

You can get a 30 days or 60 days’ visit visa to UAE and later convert it to employment or resident visa. If you are visiting the United Arab Emirates, besides the payment for the visa itself, you will need deposit from a local sponsor, family or any resident of the UAE.  This deposit is refundable once the visitor is confirmed to have exited the country.

Employment visa is different from visits visa since in this case the decision depends with the company employing you. Once you have secured employment and signed agreements with your employer, the company is required to submit your details which includes the copy of your passport.

This can be done within two to five working days. The company needs to apply for a resident visa and emirates ID on your behalf. 
Your company will then receive an application form (finished with barcodes and everything) once they have submitted your details. You can use this form for medical examination once it has been made available.

Your employer can opt for either standard or VIP visa application. If the application is standard the test should be ready in three to five days but if it is VIP it should be ready in 24 hours.

The visa application process in for UAE visas is improving every day thanks to continued effort by the government to automate its systems. The results of the physical examination are forwarded to the immigration department for the resident visa processing.

After that you will be issued with your residence visa and an Emirates ID. You can then start working and living in the UAE legally as a resident.