UAE is an experience rather than just a holiday destination and there is a lot to explore. For families that meet after some time, the first week is always packed with reunions, catching up and family meals, and before you know it, the visa will get expired.
For many families, 30 days is not enough to experience what they want to experience. You travel with beautiful landscapes, cultural attractions, beaches and many more and time eventually comes to an end. When you also plan trips to places like Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, it is easy to see why many people want to and request to extend a family visit visa in the UAE.
Understanding the basics of a visit visa is important before discussing extensions.
Family members that are visiting residents in the UAE normally comes in:
● 30 days visit or tourist visa.
● 60 day tourist visa which depends on nationality and application method.
Most of the short visits to the UAE start with 30 days which can be extended further without having to leave the country.
Visa extensions are available for:
● Parents
● In-laws
● Adult children
● Siblings
● Any other close relatives visiting UAE residents
Most families are eligible to have a visa extension as long as the visa is valid and if extension rules are followed.

You can request for an extended visa while staying in the UAE.
Earlier, visitors had to visit a neighbouring country and then revisit to stay longer in the country. But now the allowance of applying for an extended visa without leaving the country has created less stress and trouble to the visitors.
This option is mainly perfect for:
● Elderly people.
● Families that have young children.
● Residents with busy schedules.
● For visitors who do not like getting interrupted while on holiday.
Normally the 30 day visit can be extended for another 30 days which gives a total of 60 days for your family to stay.
Some visas allow:
● One extension only.
● Many extensions which depend on nationality and the visa type.
It is important to check early that the visa is not expired to avoid fines for overstaying.
Before applying for an extension, you need to check:
● Your visa expiry date.
● The number of extensions that have already been used.
● Visa type, which is tourist or visit.
Applying several days before is better than waiting for the last minute.
Many people now choose private and professional visa services to avoid any delay or mistakes. Trusted agencies handle submissions, paperwork and approvals on your behalf.
Normally the documents that you need are:
● A passport copy of the visitor which can be valid for like 6 months.
● The current visa copy.
● A passport size photo.
● Extension application details.
These requirements may change a little depending on the nationality.
Many in-country extensions are processed quickly after being submitted.
After your application is approved, your family members can continue to stay and enjoy legally and with the new expiry date will be stated.
Extending the visit visa gives a lot more time for families to explore the UAE and spend more time together.
With having extra time, families can enjoy a lot outside Dubai too:
● By visiting Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
● Can enjoy beach resorts in Ras Al Khaimah.
● Can take scenic drives to Fujairah or Hatta.
If you are overstaying at least one day, it can lead to many fines and can cause trouble when applying for a visa to other places. Having an extension before your visa gets expired makes you legal to stay in the country.
It is a simple way to apply for an extension and so you do not have to book flights and you do not have any border runs as you are applying the visa while staying in the country.

Even though the process is simple and fast, families can sometimes run into issues. You need to avoid these common mistakes:
● Waiting for the last minute until the visa expires.
● Thinking that all visas can be extended.
● Giving the wrong passport details.
Planning earlier is the best option to avoid any problems.
If a visa gets expired without being extended, it can lead to:
● Many overstay fines.
● Immigration records are affected.
● Future visa applications can get rejected or delayed.
The cost depends on many things such as:
● The type of visa.
● The time of extension.
● The service provider.
Even though you can apply visit visa by yourself, applying through professional visa services has many advantages such as:
● They have all updated knowledge about immigration.
● It is a faster process.
● Has a reduced risk of rejection to your visa.
● Have clear communication and help.
This is the best option for families that are unfamiliar with immigration processes.
When your family stay is approved, you can enjoy and spend time together. You can also:
● Visit theme parks.
● Plan relaxed trips.
● Explore cultural places.
● Celebrate family time together and have gatherings.
From the older generation to the younger generation, The UAE always offers something special and unique.
Extending a visit visa is no longer hard or complicated when you do not want to say goodbye to your family that early. With having the opportunity to apply in-country extensions, visitors can spend a good amount of time with their loved ones without having to leave the country and coming back like in the past. This helps visitors to spend more time with families without any disruptions.
Planning earlier and looking for the immigration rules and choosing the right support when needed is the best option to have a meaningful and peaceful experience in the UAE with the family.
Yes, elderly people can extend their visa by in-country extensions.
It is needed in some cases and it depends on the nationality and type of visa.
It depends on the immigration rules and original visa. You need to always check it before planning to stay longer.
Yes. Any visitor with any age needs to have a separate visa extension application. And must have their visa extended individually.