2024 April 24, Updated
A Complete guide for 2024, Plan your Dubai trip wisely with this Arabiers Visa Guide
Yes, if your country is included in the visa-on-arrival list.
Check the on-arrival visa list mentioned below.
Yes.
With Dubai's smart e-Government services, you will be getting your visa-on-arrival in minutes.
3 visa-on-arrival are free, 1 paid.
There are multiple ways, checkout below.
The different types of visas and their procedures can be confusing, read the following comprehensive guide for a smooth and comfortable trip.
The Visa-On-Arrival is a facility offered by the UAE immigration that has the following features :
Can be obtained after landing at the Dubai airport and does not need to be pre-arranged.
The visa is stamped at the immigration counter after you arrive at the airport and go through required biometric procedures.
The visa is updated into the Amer system and ICA system.
Only given to individuals originating/holding passports from specific countries upon arrival.
Three of the four visa types are provided free while one is issued after paying a fee.
Dubai immigration issues 180 days/90 days/30 days and 14 days of on-arrival visas. The eligibility will depend on the country of origin or the passport you hold.
1Three of the four visa types are provided free while one is issued after paying a fee.
2The nationals/passport holders of Australia, Canada, UK, USA etc. can get a free 30-day on-arrival visa.
3The nationals/passport holders of Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Italy etc. can get a complementary 90-day visa-on-arrival.
4Indians who hold a valid green card/visit visa to the US or a UK/EU residence visa are eligible for a 14-day paid visa on-arrival.
Free
Free
on arrival
on arrival
Entry type: Multi Entry
Validity period: 6 months from date of issue
Visa requirements:
Originate from or hold passports from any of the 48 countries mentioned below:
| 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 |
Cost: Free
Is the visa extendable?
This visa is non-extendable. However, there are ways in which you can extend your stay, learn more about these procedures, at UAE Tourist Visa Extension Options 2024.
Permitted stay duration:
- 90 days during the 6 months with no grace period.
Entry type: Single Entry
Visa requirements:
Should be nationals or hold passports from either of the 19 countries or territories mentioned below :
| 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 |
Cost: Free
Is the visa extendable?
Yes, it is extendable once for an extra 30 days and may cost approximately 1000 AED.
Permitted stay duration:
- 40 days from the date of issue; 30 days including 10 days grace period (failure to exit the country or extend the visa will result in fines).
- 70 days if extension is taken via Immigration authority.
- You can stay longer if you choose an extension procedure via Arabiers, which are mentioned below.
- A new 30-day visa-on-arrival will be issued every time the individual exits and enters the country.
- There is no limit to the number of 30 days on-arrival visas issued per person, annually. Rejection or issuance of a visa is the sole discretion of the Immigration authorities.
Entry type: Single Entry
Visa requirements: Indian passport-holders who fulfill either of the following:
- Hold a valid residence visa issued by UK or EU countries(with minimum validity of 6 months), Or
- Hold a green card or visitor visa (at least valid for 6 months) issued by USA
Cost: 120 AED (subject to change)
Is the visa extendable?
Yes, it can be extended once for an additional 14 days and may cost approximately 250 AED (subject to change).
Permitted stay duration:
- 14 days from date of issue (failure to exit the country or extend visa will result in fines)
- 28 days if extension is also taken
Entry type: Multiple Entry
Validity period: 6 months from date of issue
Visa requirements: Individuals who hold Mexican passports.
Cost: Free
Is the visa extendable?
This visa is non-extendable. However, you can extend your stay by contacting Arabiers.
The stay duration can be used in multiple entries until the permitted 180-day duration is consumed.
Permitted stay duration:
- 180 days from the date of issue that can be used within the span of 6 months
No, you can’t get this visa type online. As the name suggests, a Dubai visa on arrival is issued at the Dubai airport’s immigraton counter. The issued visa will be updated into the AMER and ICA systems after all biometric procedures are completed.
You should belong to any of the eligible countries, with your passport having a minimum of 6 months validity.
The process of getting a Dubai on arrival visa is very easy:
There are no fees for the 30-day, 90-day and 180-day on-arrival visas but a fee of 120 AED for a 14-day on-arrival visa.
Yes, you can get a paid Dubai visa on arrival if you hold a valid US visa.
The cost for this type of visa is 120 AED which is subject to change.
Indian nationals who do not hold a US Visit Visa/Green Card or a UK/EU Residence Visa cannot get an on-arrival visa. They have to apply for a prepaid Dubai visa.check available prepaid visa options for Indians.
As of now, Pakistani nationals or passport holders are not eligible for a Dubai on arrival visa.
You will have to apply for a prepaid visa and wait until it is issued. If booking a prepaid visa, you can choose from any of the following :
Yes, the 30 day on-arrival visa can be extended once via the immigration services for a cost of approximately 1000 AED
30-day on arrival visa holders have three options to choose from if they want to extend their visa:
Option 01Extend with amer services
Option 02Extend with an Oman border run
Option 03Extend with inside country visa without exit
Option 04Airport to Airport visa change
Holders of the 90-day on arrival visa have three options to extend their stay:
Option 01Oman visa run and re-enter with prepaid visa
Option 02Airport to Airport visa change
Option 03Inside country visa without exit
If you extend with an Oman border run, you can choose either of below methods to stay longer:
First, apply for an Oman visa by visiting the official website. Drive to the border or book a bus after your Oman visa is approved. Pass the Oman border and re-enter Dubai with a new 30-day visa for free.
Contact a tourism firm that can issue an Express Visa and apply for an Oman Visa through their website. After your Oman visa is approved, drive to the border or travel by bus with a visa run package. Upon receiving confirmation from the travel firm that your visa has been issued, re-enter Dubai with your new prepaid visa. You can choose from the 4 prepaid visa types mentioned below.
Although slightly costlier than the other two options, the inside country visa does not require you to exit the country or visit any immigration office. The procedure to obtain the visa is as follows :
The Airport-to-Airport procedure is also recognized as A2A. The first step is to approach a tourism firm that offers an A2A package. Arrive at the Dubai or Sharjah airport at approximately 8:00 AM. You can choose the most convenient airport for you while purchasing the A2A package. Proceed to the immigration counter and get the exit stamp on your passport. A photo of this stamp needs to be sent to the representative from your firm. Fly to either Bahrain or Oman and wait until your visa has been processed. Return to Dubai or Sharjah airport and your new visa will be active.
Unfortunately, not all on-arrival visa types have this perk. 30-day on arrival visa holders can exit and enter with a new free visa. Holders of other on-arrival visa types are not eligible for this service. They can get a new free on arrival visa only if they have been out of the country for 6 months or more. Issuing an on-arrival visa is the sole decision of the immigration authorities.
Update 08.03.2022
Wearing masks is still mandatory in closed public settings but are not required to be worn in open-air public places. This announcement was made by the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai and is effective starting from Saturday, February 26. Effective from February 26 onwards, the UAE's National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority announced that PCR testing has been eliminated for fully-vaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated travellers need to show a recovery certificate with a QR code that is taken within one month of the scheduled travel date or a negative PCR test certificate that was taken within 48 hours before departure.The UAE authorities of ICA and NCEMA announced on 28th August, 2021 that tourist visas will be issued starting from 30th August, 2021 for fully vaccinated tourists.Tourist visas will be issued to travellers irrespective of their country of origin from August 30th, 2021.Travellers need to be fully vaccinated with any of the Astrazeneca/Johnson and Johnson/Moderna/Pfizer/ Sinopharm/Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines approved by WHO.Tourist visas will also be issued for travellers from countries where travel was previously restricted.Individuals arriving with tourist visas must take a compulsory PCR test on arrival at the Dubai airport.The previous rules are applicable for any non-vaccinated applicant, including exempted categories.Vaccinated travellers who want to enjoy the benefits given by UAE for vaccinated individuals can register via the Al Hosn app or the ICA platform.If you have a valid passport, you can apply for a Dubai Prepaid Visa. There are no specific eligibility criteria.
You need to hand over the following documents:
Colour photo of applicant Colour copy of applicant’s passport (must be valid for at least 3 months) Completed application form Copy of return flight ticket Applicants from certain countries might have to submit additional documents along with those listed above, namely:Pakistan/Iran and Iraq nationals: National ID card
Afghanistan: Tazkira ID/National ID card
This visa is ideal for transit passengers with layovers at Dubai airport.
48-hour transit visa:
This is a non-extendable visa that permits the user to be in Dubai for approximately 2 days.
96-hour transit visa:
Also non-extendable, the visa permits the user to stay in Dubai for 4 days from the date of entry.
30-day tourist visa (short-term):
An extendable visa that allows the holder to stay in Dubai for 30 days. The 30 days can be used in a single entry.
90-day tourist visa (long-term):
This visa is also extendable and permits the holder to stay in Dubai for 90 days.
30-day tourist visa:
This visa permits the holder to stay in Dubai for a total of 30 days that can be used up in different entries.
90-day tourist visa:
The extendable visa allows the holder to stay in Dubai for a total of 90 days that can be used up in a single entry, or multiple entries.
There are both single and multiple-entry prepaid visas. Applicants can choose the visa type according to the reason of their visit.
The processing duration is roughly 3 to 4 working days excluding any public holidays.
Both types of transit visas are valid for 30 days from the date of issue while all other visas are valid for 60 days from the date of issue.
Unfortunately, the visa fees are non-refundable for different prepaid visa types.
As the following countries might face some issues in securing visas due to certain issues in the region, the nationals are recommended to be updated accordingly.
Overstaying fines are the fines charged by the Immigration authorities if a visa holder exceeds the stay duration.
The fines need to be settled at the time of exit at the airport’s immigration counter.
The Dubai immigration has implemented a new fine system for visitors who overstay more than their allowed duration. According to the new fine system, there will be a standard fine amount of 50 AED/ day until the final exit or status change duration. Furthermore, there will be an additional exit clearance charge of 350 AED which need to be paid to clear the fine/s.
Suppose Mary overstayed 5 days past her visa expiry date. At the time of her exit, she will pay a fine of 600 AED. Following is the breakdown of her fine :
| Fine day 1 | 50 AED | |
| Fine day 2 to 5 | 4 x 50 AED | 200 AED |
| Exist charge | 350 AED | |
| TOTAL | 600 AED |
“Save yourself from any unnecessary fines by knowing your visa expiry date. For easier calculation of your last date of stay, use the Arabiers visa calculator.”
Passport bio page (Soft copy) Dubai visa page (Soft copy) Attested marriage certificate (Soft copy) Passport’s bio page of spouse (Soft copy) Spouse’s coloured photograph (Soft copy) Attested Child birth certificate (Soft copy) Passport’s bio page of child (Soft copy)
If you have all the documents with you, then you can go ahead with changing your on-arrival visa to a residence visa. Although the procedure is done by the employer, here is a rough outline of the steps.
Search your job, attend interviews and get selected. You are allowed to attend interviews and visit prospective employers while holding an on-arrival visa. Apply for quota. This process can take roughly 2 to 3 days. Get the offer letter from your employer/company. This process can take anywhere between 1 to 3 days. Labour payment (1 day) Entry permit inside (1 day) Change status (1 day) Medical (3-4 days) Emirates id biometric (1day) Stamping (4-5 days)There are no required documents for an on arrival visa. You only need to have your passport with a minimum 6 months validity.
The duration for issuing a residence visa is unpredictable. Some companies get the residence visa within a matter of days. Whereas, for some companies it can take as long as 2 to 3 months. This could be dependent on the employing company’s reputation or standing in Dubai.
“ The Arabiers team helped me extend my 30-day on arrival visa because I wasn’t able to find a good employment opportunity. I did an inside country Dubai visa with them. They were very responsive and answered all my questions. After I found a prospective employer, they advised me to purchase a prepaid visa”
“ I was clueless about the extension procedures. My friend recommended Arabiers to me. They were very interactive and helped me to extend my stay by setting me up with an inside country visa. ”
“ The Arabiers team helped me extend my 30-day on arrival visa because I wasn’t able to find a good employment opportunity. I did an inside country Dubai visa with them. They were very responsive and answered all my questions. After I found a prospective employer, they advised me to purchase a prepaid visa”
“ I was clueless about the extension procedures. My friend recommended Arabiers to me. They were very interactive and helped me to extend my stay by setting me up with an inside country visa. ”
The UAE immigration has currently approved on arrival visa for Indian passport holders who fulfill either of the two visa requirements:
Indian nationals who don’t fulfill either of these requirements have to apply for a prepaid Dubai visa.
Yes, Indian nationals who hold valid US B1 and B2 visas can get an on-arrival visa at Dubai Airport for a fee of AED120. This feature is not applicable for any other nationality travelers who hold any of these 2 US visa types.
Yes, it is possible for Indians holding this type of US visa to get an on-arrival Dubai visa.
Denial or approval of on-arrival visas is the sole discretion of the Dubai Immigration. If there is something suspicious, your on-arrival visa can be rejected.
Individuals eligible for an on-arrival visa do not require a transit visa whereas all other nationals need to apply for a transit visa.
No, Indians need to apply for a transit visa prior to arriving in Dubai. This can be done via an airline while booking the ticket.
Yes, you can as long as you hold a US passport, you will be eligible for an on-arrival visa. Otherwise, you will have to apply for a prepaid visa before traveling.