90-day visa on arrival: no application needed
French nationals receive a 90-day multiple-entry visa on arrival at any UAE airport. No prepaid visa, no application, no fee. Your passport is stamped on arrival.
French passport holders
| Detail | What it means |
|---|---|
| Visa type | 90-day multiple-entry on arrival |
| Stay permitted | Up to 90 days total within a 6-month window from first arrival |
| Cost | Free: issued by UAE immigration at the airport |
| Application needed | None. Present your French passport at UAE immigration. |
| Passport validity | Minimum 6 months remaining from date of travel |
No grace period: as of October 2024, ICP removed the grace period on UAE tourist visas. Overstay fines begin from the first day after expiry. Exit or extend before your stamp expires.
If you want to stay beyond 90 days
1 Apply for a UAE tourist visa extension
Apply for a UAE tourist visa extension from inside the country before your on-arrival stamp expires.
2 Exit and re-enter
Exit the UAE and return for a fresh on-arrival stamp. Most visitors in Dubai use the Oman border crossing for this.
3 Apply for a sponsored tourist visa
Once your on-arrival days are used, apply for a UAE tourist visit visa through a licensed sponsor. Available in 30 or 60 days.
Other nationals living in France
If you hold a passport other than French and you live in France, your Dubai visa route depends entirely on your passport nationality, not your French residency. There are two possible routes.
Route 1: On-arrival visa using your French residency permit
If you hold a passport from one of the nationalities listed below AND you hold a valid French residency permit (or any EU member state visa) with at least 6 months remaining validity, you can receive a paid UAE on-arrival visa at the airport.
Eligible nationalities:
India
Indonesia
Kenya
Philippines
South Africa
Thailand
Vietnam
Qualifying document: a French residency permit valid for at least 6 months, or a valid visa issued by any EU member state valid for at least 6 months.
| On-arrival option | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry on arrival | 14 days | USD 63 |
| Single entry on arrival | 60 days | USD 141.36 |
These on-arrival fees are paid at the UAE airport on arrival. No advance application is needed if you meet the residency permit condition above.
Route 2: Apply for a tourist visa in advance
All eligible nationalities living in France can also apply for a standard UAE tourist visa directly through licensed tour operators or airlines in France, without needing to use the residency permit route. A 30-day or 60-day tourist visa is available through this route.
Nationalities not listed above who live in France must use this route: the on-arrival option with a residency permit is not available to them.
Frequently asked questions
No. French passport holders receive a 90-day multiple-entry visa on arrival in Dubai. No prepaid visa is required. Your passport is stamped at the airport and the visa is valid for up to 90 days within a 6-month window.
Yes, if you hold a valid French residency permit with at least 6 months remaining. Indian nationals with this document can receive a 14-day on-arrival visa (USD 63) or a 60-day on-arrival visa (USD 141.36) at the UAE airport. If you prefer to arrange the visa before travel, you can also apply through a licensed tour operator or airline for a 30 or 60-day tourist visa.
India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. You must hold a valid French residency permit or any EU member state visa with at least 6 months remaining validity. Other nationalities living in France must apply for a UAE tourist visa in advance through a licensed tour operator or airline.
If your passport nationality is not on the UAE on-arrival eligibility list and you do not qualify through the residency permit route, you must apply for a UAE tourist visa in advance. This can be done through licensed tour operators or airlines. A 30-day or 60-day tourist visa is available.
Options include applying for a UAE tourist visa extension before the on-arrival stamp expires, exiting the UAE and re-entering via the Oman border crossing, or applying for a sponsored tourist visa once the on-arrival days are used.
No. As of October 2024, ICP removed the grace period on UAE tourist visas. Overstay fines begin on the first day after the stamp expires. French nationals must exit or extend before the on-arrival period ends.