90-day visa on arrival: no application needed
Swiss 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.
Swiss 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 Swiss 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 via Oman
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 Switzerland
If you live in Switzerland but hold a passport from a different country, your Dubai visa route is determined by your passport nationality, not your Swiss residency.
Important: Switzerland is not an EU member state. ICP's on-arrival eligibility rules for residents of EU countries refer specifically to EU member state visas and residency permits. Whether a Swiss residency permit qualifies under the same conditions should be confirmed at icp.gov.ae or with our team before you travel.
Route 1: On-arrival visa: select nationalities with Swiss residency
The following nationalities may qualify for a paid UAE on-arrival visa if they hold a valid Swiss residency permit with at least 6 months remaining validity. Confirm eligibility before travel.
Nationalities to check:
India
Indonesia
Kenya
Philippines
South Africa
Thailand
Vietnam
Qualifying document: a valid Swiss residency permit with at least 6 months remaining. Confirm whether a Swiss permit qualifies under the same ICP rules as EU member state permits.
| On-arrival option | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry on arrival | 14 days | USD 63 |
| Single entry on arrival | 60 days | USD 141.36 |
If you qualify, these fees are paid at the UAE airport on arrival. No advance application is needed. Contact our team to confirm your eligibility before travel.
Route 2: Apply for a tourist visa in advance
All eligible nationalities living in Switzerland can apply for a UAE tourist visa directly through licensed tour operators or airlines, without relying on the residency permit route. A 30-day or 60-day tourist visa is available. This route avoids any uncertainty around the Swiss residency permit qualifying conditions.
Nationalities not listed above who live in Switzerland must use this route.
Frequently asked questions
No. Swiss 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 covers up to 90 days within a 6-month window.
Possibly, if you hold a valid Swiss residency permit with at least 6 months remaining. However, Switzerland is not an EU member state, so whether a Swiss permit qualifies under the same ICP on-arrival conditions as EU permits should be confirmed before travel. You can also apply for a 30 or 60-day tourist visa in advance through a licensed tour operator or airline: this route avoids any uncertainty.
Nationalities on the ICP on-arrival eligibility list include India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. Whether a Swiss residency permit qualifies should be confirmed at icp.gov.ae or with our team. If unsure, applying for a tourist visa in advance is the safer route.
You must apply for a UAE tourist visa in advance through licensed tour operators or airlines. A 30-day or 60-day tourist visa is available through this route.
Options include applying for a UAE tourist visa extension before the stamp expires, exiting via the Oman border crossing for a fresh stamp, or applying for a sponsored tourist visit visa once on-arrival days are used.
No. As of October 2024, ICP removed the grace period on UAE tourist visas. Overstay fines begin from the first day after the stamp expires. Swiss nationals must exit or extend before the on-arrival period ends.