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Your entry route to Dubai depends on your passport, not your Irish address. Irish passport holders get a free 30-day stamp on arrival. Indians, Filipinos, Indonesians and other nationals with a valid Irish Residence Permit may also qualify for a paid on-arrival visa. Pakistanis, Nigerians and some other nationalities need a prepaid UAE tourist visa regardless of their Irish residency document.
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Written by Martin Muthugumi
Quick answers,
No advance application, no fee. Present your full Irish passport at UAE immigration and the 30-day stamp is issued on arrival. Extendable once for a further 30 days.
Source: UAE Embassy Dublin / Irish DFA, 2026Some nationalities (Indians, Filipinos, Indonesians etc.) with a valid Irish Residence Permit qualify for paid on-arrival. Others (Pakistanis, Nigerians, Turks etc.) need a prepaid UAE tourist visa regardless of their Irish IRP.
Source: ICP on-arrival eligibility, UAE MoFA, 2026| Passport and Irish document | Dubai entry route |
|---|---|
| Full Irish passport | Free 30-day on-arrival stamp. No application, no fee. Free on arrival |
| Indian passport + valid Irish IRP card (min 6 months remaining) | Paid UAE on-arrival at airport. EUR 55 (14-day) or EUR 123 (60-day). Paid on arrival |
| Filipino passport + valid Irish IRP card (min 6 months remaining) | Paid UAE on-arrival at airport. EUR 55 (14-day) or EUR 123 (60-day). Paid on arrival |
| Indonesian passport + valid Irish IRP card (min 6 months remaining) | Paid UAE on-arrival at airport. EUR 55 (14-day) or EUR 123 (60-day). Paid on arrival |
| Sri Lankan or Bangladeshi passport + valid Irish IRP card (min 6 months remaining) | Paid UAE on-arrival at airport. EUR 55 (14-day) or EUR 123 (60-day). Paid on arrival |
| Pakistani passport + Irish IRP card | Prepaid UAE tourist visa required before travel. Irish IRP does not qualify Pakistani nationals for UAE on-arrival. Prepaid visa needed |
| Nigerian passport + Irish IRP card | Prepaid UAE tourist visa required before travel. Irish IRP does not qualify Nigerian nationals for UAE on-arrival. Prepaid visa needed |
| Turkish or Egyptian passport + Irish IRP card | Prepaid UAE tourist visa required before travel. Irish IRP does not qualify Turkish or Egyptian nationals for UAE on-arrival. Prepaid visa needed |
| Irish temporary passport | Not accepted for UAE entry. A full Irish passport is required. Full passport required |
The qualifying mechanism has two parts: your passport nationality must be on the UAE ICP on-arrival qualifying list, AND your Irish Residence Permit must have at least 6 months remaining validity. If either condition is not met, a prepaid UAE tourist visa is required before travel. Your UAE residency status and how long you have lived in Ireland are not factors in this check.
| Detail | Rule |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Free on-arrival visa waiver (visit/tourist stamp) |
| Duration | 30 consecutive days from date of entry |
| Cost | Free. Issued at UAE immigration counter with no charge. |
| Application needed | None. Present your full Irish passport at UAE immigration. |
| Extendable? | Yes. Once in-country for a further 30 days. Contact GDRFA Dubai before your stamp expires. |
| Passport required | Full Irish passport only. Temporary/emergency passports are NOT accepted for UAE entry. |
| Passport validity | Minimum 6 months remaining from your travel date. |
Only full Irish passports are valid for entering the UAE. A temporary or emergency Irish passport is accepted only for airside transit and exit from the UAE. If you are travelling from Ireland to Dubai, you need your full Irish passport. Source: Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, 2026.
No grace period: since October 2024, all UAE on-arrival stamps carry zero grace period. Overstay fines begin from approximately EUR 12 per day from the first day after the stamp expires. If you want to stay beyond 30 days, contact GDRFA Dubai or apply for a UAE tourist visa extension before your stamp expires.
Ireland is an EU member state. An Irish Residence Permit (IRP card) is an EU member state residency document, and EU member state residency documents are on the UAE ICP qualifying country list for paid on-arrival visas.
However, qualifying is not automatic. Two conditions must both be met:
| Duration | Entry | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days | Single entry | EUR 55 |
| 60 days | Single entry | EUR 123 |
The IRP card must be the physical card. A photograph of the card or a printout may not be accepted at UAE immigration. Carry the physical card in your wallet alongside your passport.
If your passport nationality is not on the ICP on-arrival qualifying list (including Pakistani, Nigerian, Turkish, Egyptian and other nationalities), or if your Irish IRP card has less than 6 months remaining, you need a prepaid UAE tourist visa before travelling. The application is fully online from anywhere in Ireland.
Submit before 12:00 PM UAE time on a UAE working day (Monday to Thursday, and Friday until 12:00 PM). No processing on Saturday or Sunday.
Lower cost, same visa outcome.
| Visa duration | Entry type | Price | Processing | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Days | Single entry | EUR 119 ~ 134 USD |
2 to 4 working days | PDF by email All fees included |
| 60 Days Most booked | Single entry | EUR 167 ~ 188 USD |
2 to 4 working days | PDF by email All fees included |
| 30 Days | Multiple entry | EUR 240 ~ 270 USD |
2 to 4 working days | PDF by email All fees included |
| Visa duration | Entry type | Price | Processing | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Days | Single entry | EUR 191 ~ 215 USD |
4 to 8 hours | PDF by email All fees included |
| 60 Days Most booked | Single entry | EUR 239 ~ 269 USD |
4 to 8 hours | PDF by email All fees included |
| 30 Days | Multiple entry | EUR 288 ~ 324 USD |
4 to 8 hours | PDF by email All fees included |
All three entry routes (Irish 30-day stamp, paid on-arrival via IRP, and prepaid tourist visa) cover the same scope: entry to all seven UAE emirates including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. There is no separate Abu Dhabi visa or emirate-specific visa.
Tourism, family visits and short business meetings are all covered. Employment in the UAE requires a separate work permit and residence visa.
Several people searching this page ask about the AED 3,000 rule in Dubai. Here is the clear answer:
UAE immigration may ask any visitor to show they can support themselves financially during their stay. The figure commonly cited is AED 3,000 per person (approximately EUR 720). This is not a formal written visa condition. It is a discretionary check applied by immigration officers on arrival at the UAE border, not a visa application requirement.
For Irish passport holders arriving on the free 30-day stamp, the practical approach is to carry: a confirmed return ticket, a hotel booking or accommodation confirmation, and a bank card with accessible funds. You are not required to carry AED 3,000 in cash. A return flight booking and a hotel confirmation together satisfy the typical concern immigration officers have.
UAE immigration does not publish a formal minimum bank balance requirement for tourist visa applications. Bank statements may be requested at immigration discretion during processing for some applications. This varies by passenger profile and is separate from the visa fee.
A large share of searches on this page come from UAE residents looking to visit Ireland. Here is what UAE residents need to know:
Arabiers processes UAE tourist visas for people travelling to Dubai. Ireland visa applications for UAE residents are outside Arabiers scope. For Ireland visas, use VFS Global Dubai or contact the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi directly.
No. Holders of a full Irish passport receive a free 30-day on-arrival stamp in Dubai at no charge. No advance application needed. Only full Irish passports are accepted : temporary Irish passports are not valid for UAE entry. Source: UAE Embassy Dublin and Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, 2026.
30 consecutive days from the date of entry on the free on-arrival stamp. The stamp can be extended once in-country for a further 30 days by contacting GDRFA Dubai before the 30-day stamp expires. There is no grace period : act before the stamp runs out.
Yes. The 30-day on-arrival stamp for Irish passport holders is extendable once in-country for a further 30 days. Contact GDRFA Dubai or apply through our team before your current stamp expires. There is no grace period : the extension must be initiated before the 30 days are up.
No. Irish temporary passports are not valid for UAE entry. Only full Irish passports are accepted. If your full passport has expired and you are travelling on a temporary passport, you need a prepaid UAE tourist visa and even then your acceptance at the UAE border is not confirmed. Source: Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, 2026.
Yes, if your IRP card has at least 6 months remaining validity from your UAE travel date. Ireland is an EU member state and an Irish IRP card is an EU residency document, which qualifies Indian passport holders for UAE paid on-arrival: EUR 55 for 14 days or EUR 123 for 60 days. Present your Indian passport and your physical IRP card at UAE immigration on arrival.
Yes, if your Irish IRP card has at least 6 months remaining. Filipino passport holders are on the UAE ICP qualifying list. Present your Filipino passport and your Irish IRP card at Dubai airport immigration. Paid on-arrival: EUR 55 (14-day) or EUR 123 (60-day).
No. Pakistani passport holders are not on the UAE ICP on-arrival qualifying nationality list. Holding an Irish IRP card does not change this. Pakistani nationals living in Ireland need a prepaid UAE tourist visa before travelling to Dubai, regardless of their Irish residency document. Apply online from Dublin, Cork or anywhere in Ireland.
An Irish Residence Permit (IRP card) is issued to non-EEA nationals registered as legal residents in Ireland. Since Ireland is an EU member state, an Irish IRP is treated as an EU member state residency document by UAE ICP. For passport nationalities on the UAE qualifying list (including India, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh), a valid IRP card with at least 6 months remaining qualifies for UAE paid on-arrival. For nationalities not on the qualifying list (Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt and others), the IRP card alone is not sufficient.
Yes. All three entry routes (Irish 30-day stamp, paid on-arrival via IRP, prepaid tourist visa) cover all seven UAE emirates. There is no separate Abu Dhabi visa.
Yes. If you qualify for the IRP on-arrival route but prefer certainty before you travel, or need a 30-day or 60-day prepaid visa rather than the 14-day on-arrival option, you can apply for a prepaid UAE tourist visa before your trip. Apply online from Ireland and receive the approved visa by email.
It depends on your passport. Full Irish passport holders do not need a visa: they receive a free 30-day on-arrival stamp at Dubai airport with no application or fee. Indian, Filipino and Indonesian nationals with a valid Irish IRP card (min 6 months remaining) may qualify for a paid on-arrival visa. Pakistani, Nigerian, Turkish and Egyptian nationals living in Ireland need a prepaid UAE tourist visa regardless of their Irish residency document.
Yes, if you need a prepaid UAE tourist visa. Express processing typically delivers the approved visa within 4 to 8 hours on a UAE working day. Submit before 12:00 PM UAE time (Monday to Thursday, or Friday until 12:00 PM) for same-day delivery. UAE does not process on Saturday or Sunday. If you hold a full Irish passport, you do not need a prepaid visa at all: the free 30-day stamp is issued on arrival at Dubai airport.
A recent colour photograph is required: plain white background, full face visible, neutral expression, no glasses recommended. Taken within the last 3 months. Headwear is accepted for religious purposes. Standard passport photo dimensions apply. This applies to the prepaid UAE tourist visa application only. Irish passport holders receiving the free on-arrival stamp do not submit a photo in advance.
Yes. A 30-day multiple-entry UAE tourist visa is available for those who apply for a prepaid visa and need to leave the UAE and return within the visa validity period. Irish passport holders receiving the free 30-day on-arrival stamp receive a single-stay stamp, not a multiple-entry visa.
Full Irish passport holders do not need a transit visa. Airside transit at Dubai airport requires no visa for Irish nationals. If you exit the airport during a layover, the free 30-day on-arrival stamp is issued. Non-Irish nationals living in Ireland who require a prepaid visa should check whether a transit visa or tourist visa is needed based on their layover duration and whether they plan to exit the airport.
The UAE tourist visa application is fully online for those who need a prepaid visa. No office visit in Dublin is required. Submit your passport copy and photo digitally through a licensed UAE visa agency, pay online, and receive the approved visa by email. The official UAE visa authorities are ICP at icp.gov.ae and GDRFA Dubai at smart.gdrfad.gov.ae. There is no UAE embassy tourist visa counter in Dublin for standard tourist visa applications.
Key 2026 updates relevant to travellers from Ireland: (1) the grace period on all UAE tourist visas was removed in October 2024 : overstay fines begin from approximately EUR 12 per day from the first day after expiry; (2) the UAE expanded its paid on-arrival programme in June 2026 to include nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa when holding qualifying residency permits; (3) four new specialist visa categories for remote workers, teachers, nurses and professionals in emerging industries were introduced. For most Irish passport holders, the entry rules remain the same: free 30-day on-arrival stamp.
UAE residents applying for an Ireland visa from Dubai do so through VFS Global Dubai (vfsglobal.com/ireland/uae). UAE nationals enter Ireland visa-free for 90 days. Indian, Pakistani and other nationals need an Irish tourist visa: processing typically takes 5 to 15 working days, costs approximately EUR 60, and requires bank statements, return ticket, accommodation proof, travel insurance and UAE employment or study documentation. For Ireland work visas, an Employment Permit from the Irish Department of Enterprise is required before applying through VFS.
