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Written By Arabiers Digital & Reviewed by Robeena Brown
19 March 2026 | 13 Min Read
United Arab Emirates is known as a major tourism destination and a global hub for working remotely. The main authorities who are responsible for issuing the Visas are The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security and the General Directorate of Residency & The Foreigners Affairs in each emirate.
Authorized airlines such as Emirates, Ethihad, Flydubai act as parties which contribute in helping to issue tourist visa.
The services are digitalized for convenience. You can manage the status of your visa easily though mobile apps.
This is a Guide to UAE Tourist Visa Extension for family visitors, digital nomads and tourists. They like to extend the holidays, trips and visits digitally without the hassle to exit the country and the cost.
The 30 Day Tourist Visa is valid for 30 Days. It can be extended for an additional 30 days two times. The fee of is 850 AED charged each time foe extensions.
It is ideal for shorter vacations or business conventions held in UAE.
The 60 Day Tourist Visa is valid for 60 Days it is ideal for longer stays. It can be extended for an additional 30 days two times. The extension fee is 850 AED each time.
These are the best option for families who are visiting UAE or those who are looking for jobs.
The Transit Visas are for a very short term. These types of visas can’t be extended. This is a Single Entry Visa. If you would like to stay for longer then you have to apply for new Tourist Visa for which you might be required to exit.
This is suitable for traveller having business meetings or having stopovers en route to their onward journey.
UAE Visa Holders are able to extend the Tourist Visa without having to leave the country. This process is known as In – Country extensions. You are not required to exit and re – enter the country and therefore the process is convenient.
You can renew your stay while remaining inside the UAE borders through The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security and The General Directorate of Residency & The Foreigners Affairs in each emirate.
An Extension will add the days according to the visa type requested to your current permit. A Visa Status change is a formal process which includes a higher fee. You can check the Guide to UAE Tourist Visa Extensions on the official sites for valid information.
Standard Tourist Visas of 30 Days and 60 Days can be extended two times. Each extension will provide an addition of 30 days. The maximum stay cannot exceed after 120 days for tourists.
The 10 days grace period is removed by the Visitor Visa updates for 2026. You should leave or extend visa on or before the last day to avoid getting fined. You will be subjected to a fine of 50 AED for each day..
The extensions must be through The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security and The General Directorate of Residency & The Foreigners Affairs in each emirate.
The travellers must proactively extend their visa to avoid the penalties as of the 2026 Visa Policies. The visitor must exit the country if the total stay exceeds the 120 days limit.
It is a must to stay updated regarding the Immigration Policies. You should stay updated about the policies on ICP or GDRFA if you wish to visit UAE.
You should use The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or The General Directorate of Residency & The Foreigners Affairs in each emirate (GDRFA) portals to verify the exact expiry dates.
You should keep the digital scans of the following documents ready.
• The Passport copy which is valid for at least 6 months
• The copy of the Current visa
• Passport-size photograph
• Proof of accommodation or the hotel booking
• The copy of the return ticket if required
You should use the GDRFA Dubai Website, ICA Website Online Portal or an approved travel agency to submit your request. You can check the Guide to UAE Tourist Visa Extensions for the valid sources.
You should pay the government’s extension fees visa using the appropriate methods. The extension fee is 600 to 650 AED and the administrative chargers.
Payment methods such as debit and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express) and digital wallets such as Google and Apple Pay, Online Banking (Use the secure government approved gateways) and other methods (Paypal, Union Pay, JCB) are used.
You will receive the updated visa via email or through the travel agency within 3 to 5 business days.
You should present the following documents and information for visa extensions.
• Original Passport which is valid for at least 6 months beyond the extension form
• A clear copy of the current visa
• Passport-size photograph
• Contact details
• Application form
The Standard Extension cost for 30 days is from 600 to 650 United Arab Emirates Dirham (UAE). The Fee for the Inside Country Visa is usually 500 AED.
The cost for a 2 month extension can range from 1000 to 1500 AED. It will cost extra 150 to 250 AED for urgent processing. A cost of 5 percent is charged for VAT.
Some agencies will charge additional service fees and urgent processing will require high fees as well.
Below are the methods of payment used.
The Online Extensions usually takes 3 to 5 working days for standard processing time. The Express Visa options will take around 24 to 48 hours.
It is advised to submit the extension requests before 5 to 7 days of the expiration date to avoid the penalties.
Please consider that the processing time excludes Saturdays, Sundays and the Public Holidays and delays might occur during the peak seasons such as school holidays and the month of December.
You can track your Visa Application status using request tracking on the ICP website using your application number. You can get the real time updates through this site.
The UAE visa authorities have a list of penalties if you choose to overstay without visa.
The Daily fine is 50 AED. If you overstay, you will be required to pay for an Exit Permit which will cost around 250 to 300 AED. You can check the Guide to UAE Tourist Visa Extensions on official sources for the updated and current charges.
You will be denied from future visas or blacklisted if you frequently overstay.
Visa Extension is the better option. It is convenient because you will not be required to travel and you will only be required to pay a lower cost. The visa will be processed through immigration officers or online.
Airport to Airport Visa Change will involve flying to a nearby country like Bahrain or Oman for a couple of hours and then returning with a new visa. You will be requested to pay a higher cost around 1500 to 2000 AED.
You should be proactive to avoid problems during the Visa Extensions. You should always apply before at least 3 to 5 days of your visa expiration date.
You should always use the site and services of the official tourism authorities or reputed travel agencies who are verified by the authorities.
You should always double check the documents and information that you are entering and submitting on the online portals.
It is wise to keep the digital and printed proof copies of the information shared, submissions and the visa documents.
The UAE Tourist Visa can be extended 2 times.
Yes, You can extend your visa after it expires, but you will be charged a fee.
You do not need to exit the UAE for visa renewal. You can renew your visa through the online portals.
Visa extension is available for some nations. You can check the official website or contact your travelling agent for the updated information..