Destination 
Verified Every category issued by ICP and GDRFA explained clearly
Updated 27 August 2026 · Sourced from ICP and GDRFA Dubai · Verified by Martin Muthugumi
The UAE visa system is managed by two government authorities. ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) handles visa matters across all seven Emirates. GDRFA handles Dubai-specific processing. Between them they issue more than a dozen distinct visa categories each with its own eligibility, duration and application channel. This page covers all of them.
The UAE tourist visa formally called a tourist entry permit is issued by ICP or GDRFA as a PDF e-visa, valid across all seven Emirates. It is required by nationalities that do not qualify for a free on-arrival stamp, including Pakistan, India (without a qualifying third-country permit), Jordan, Egypt, South Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
It comes in four variants: 30-day single entry, 60-day single entry, 30-day multiple entry and 60-day multiple entry. Validity starts from the date of UAE entry, not the date of issue. The holder has 60 days from the date of issue to make their first entry.
Arabiers processes tourist visas for Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. For urgent applications, the express visa delivers in 4 to 8 hours. For multiple visits, a multiple entry visa avoids reapplying each trip.
Citizens of 74 nationalities receive a free on-arrival stamp valid for 90 days from the date of entry. No advance application is needed the stamp is issued at any UAE airport, land border or seaport. Citizens of a further 13 nationalities receive a free 30-day stamp on the same terms. Mexican passport holders qualify for 180 days.
90-day stamp holders include: UK, USA, all EU member states, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and 65 others. 30-day stamp holders include: Malaysia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and seven others.
Once the on-arrival entitlement is used, an exit is required before a new stamp can be issued. An Oman border exit resets the 30-day stamp; it does not reset the 90-day entitlement. For re-entry after the 90 days are consumed, a prearranged tourist visa is needed before returning. The UAE visit visa guide lists all nationalities and their eligibility in full.
Introduced by GDRFA in 2021 and updated in July 2026, the 5-year multiple entry tourist visa is available to all nationalities without a UAE-based sponsor. It allows unlimited entries and exits over five years, with each stay limited to 90 days, extendable once for a further 90 days provided the total does not exceed 180 days per year (calculated from the first entry date).
The total fee via GDRFA is AED 3,713.50, which includes a refundable AED 3,000 security deposit. The effective non-refundable cost is AED 713.50. Applicants must demonstrate a bank balance of at least USD 4,000 sustained over the 6 months before the application and hold valid UAE health insurance.
This visa is applied for directly through the GDRFA or ICP portal no travel agency is needed or authorised. The UAE 5-year tourist visa page covers the full fee breakdown, bank balance requirements and application steps.
The UAE transit visa is issued for travellers passing through a UAE airport who are not eligible for on-arrival entry. It is applied for through the operating airline before travel not directly through ICP or GDRFA and not through a travel agency. Two durations are available:
Transit visas are not extendable. They permit movement within the UAE during the transit period but are not renewable or convertible to a tourist visa. Documents required: passport with at least 6 months validity, a white-background photograph and a confirmed onward ticket departing the UAE.
The UAE student visa is issued to two groups: international students enrolled in UAE higher education institutions, and children of UAE residents attending UAE schools or universities. The visa requires an official admission letter from the institution, a UAE-based sponsor (the university itself or a resident parent), a medical fitness clearance and GDRFA or ICP approval.
Student visas are issued for one year and are renewable for a further year provided proof of continued enrolment is submitted. The application is filed through the sponsoring institution, not independently by the student.
The UAE residence visa is issued to foreign nationals employed by a UAE company or sponsored by a UAE-resident family member. It is the most common long-term visa category. The sponsoring employer or relative files the application through ICP. The applicant must undergo a medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometric registration.
Residence visas are issued for 1, 2 or 3 years depending on the sponsor type and are tied to a specific emirate, though the holder may live and work anywhere in the UAE. Holders receive an Emirates ID card valid for the same period. On cancellation, a 30-day grace period applies from the ICP system cancellation date see the UAE grace period page for full rules.
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residency visa valid for 5 or 10 years, self-sponsored and renewable without requiring a UAE employer or resident sponsor. It was introduced in 2019 and has been expanded several times since. Eligible categories include:
Golden Visa holders may sponsor their spouse, children and parents, and are not required to leave the UAE if the visa sponsor relationship changes. The Dubai Golden Visa page covers all categories, investment thresholds and the application process in detail.
The UAE retirement visa was introduced in September 2018 for expatriate residents aged 55 and over. It is a 5-year renewable visa that allows retirees to remain in the UAE without an employer sponsor. To qualify, the applicant must meet one of three financial criteria:
Applications are submitted through ICP Smart Services or in person at a GDRFA Customer Happiness Centre. The visa is renewable on the same financial criteria at each renewal.
The UAE medical visa is issued to international patients seeking treatment in UAE hospitals and clinics. The issuing authority depends on the emirate: Dubai applications are filed through the treating hospital via GDRFA; all other Emirates use the ICP portal directly.
Two types are available: single entry (90 days from UAE entry date, extendable once) and multiple entry. Extension requires a certified medical report confirming continued treatment. A companion visa is also available for one accompanying family member Dubai issues a single or multiple entry companion visa; other Emirates also permit group family companion visas.
UAE residents can sponsor a family visa for their spouse, children and, in some cases, parents and parents-in-law. The sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa and meet a minimum monthly salary threshold typically AED 4,000 for a spouse or AED 10,000 to include parents, though exact thresholds vary by emirate and sponsor type.
The family visa is a residence visa in the same category as an employment visa, with the same medical test and Emirates ID requirements. It is tied to the sponsor's residency and must be renewed in line with the sponsor's visa. If the sponsor's visa is cancelled, the family visa enters the same 30-day grace period.
Overstaying any UAE visa or permit is a violation of UAE immigration law. Since October 2024, tourist and visit visas carry zero grace period fines apply from the first day after expiry at AED 50 per day, plus ICP administrative fees and an exit permit fee on departure.
The 30-day grace period applies exclusively to UAE residence visa holders whose visa was cancelled calculated from the ICP system cancellation date, not the last working day. On-arrival stamp holders, tourist visa holders and visit permit holders have no grace period at all.
The exact verified cost of a UAE overstay sourced from a real ICP receipt is on the UAE overstay fine page. Grace period rules for all visitor types are on the UAE grace period page linked above.
The UAE issues tourist visas (single and multiple entry, 30-day and 60-day), the 5-year multiple entry tourist visa, on-arrival stamps (90-day for 74 nationalities, 30-day for 13), transit visas, student visas, employment and residence visas, the Golden Visa (5 and 10-year), retirement visas, medical visas and family visas. Each is issued by ICP or GDRFA depending on the visa type and the emirate.
ICP is the federal authority and issues visas for all seven Emirates through its online portal. GDRFA is the Dubai-specific authority. For tourist visas, both produce the same approved UAE tourist visa PDF the portal differs but the document is identical. Most non-tourist visa categories (student, residence, Golden Visa) are applied through ICP regardless of emirate.
It depends on your passport. Citizens of 74 nationalities including the UK, USA, all EU countries, Australia and Canada receive a free 90-day stamp on arrival and need no advance application. Citizens of 13 nationalities receive a free 30-day stamp. All other nationalities must apply for a prearranged tourist visa before travelling. The full eligibility list is on the UAE visit visa page linked above.
Yes, in most cases. Prepaid tourist visa holders can extend twice in-country without leaving the UAE, each extension adding 30 days. 30-day on-arrival stamp holders can extend once. 90-day on-arrival stamp holders cannot extend in-country they must exit and re-enter. All extensions must be applied before the current visa expires. Full options are on the UAE tourist visa extension page.
A tourist visa is a short-term entry permit (30 or 60 days) that allows visiting but not working or studying in the UAE. A residence visa is a long-term permit (1, 2 or 3 years) tied to employment or family sponsorship, that grants the right to live and work in the UAE and comes with an Emirates ID. Tourist visas are applied through licensed agencies; residence visas are applied through employers or ICP.
The Golden Visa is a long-term self-sponsored residency visa valid for 5 or 10 years. It does not require a UAE employer or resident sponsor. It is available to investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents, scientists and outstanding students who meet the eligibility criteria. Full details on the Dubai Golden Visa page linked above.
Exiting the UAE to Oman by road and re-entering resets the on-arrival stamp for 30-day nationals. 90-day on-arrival nationals who have consumed their 90 days need a prearranged tourist visa before re-entering an Oman border exit does not reset the 90-day entitlement. The full Oman route, options and what Arabiers arranges are explained on the Oman visa run page.
Visa categories, fees and eligibility are set by the UAE Government and change periodically. Confirm current requirements at icp.gov.ae or gdrfad.gov.ae before travelling. Last reviewed 27 August 2026.
