UAE visit visas: types, who needs one and where to apply

The simplest way to think about it is three groups. Citizens of the Gulf countries, the GCC, do not need a visa at all. Some other nationalities can get one stamped at the airport on arrival. Everyone else needs to arrange a visa before they travel. Whichever group you are in, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you enter.

One point that surprises many travellers: the official portal does not publish the visa-on-arrival country list itself. It says the lists "may vary from time to time" and directs you to the UAE embassy in your country. The nationality tables online are published by the airlines (Emirates and flydubai), and we treat them as airline-published. They describe three tiers: a 30-day visit visa free on arrival for listed passports; a multiple-entry 90-day visit visa valid for six months from issue with 90 days' stay in total for listed, mainly European, passports; and a 180-day multiple-entry visa for Mexican passports. flydubai adds that "passport holders of all other countries need to have pre-arranged visas."

Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 defines a visa as an official document "that enables a Foreigner to enter the State and stay therein for the period of permit granted thereto." A residence permit is a different document: it allows a foreigner "to reside in the State for the period specified." On the ICP service card, the pre-arranged entry document is called an entry permit, issued "for tourism, visit, or treatment, or to complete the procedures for issuing a work residency or residence for family members."

In everyday UAE usage, "entry permit" and "visa" mean the same pre-arranged document; a visa on arrival is stamped at the border. One timing rule applies to every entry permit: you must enter within 60 days of its issue date, extendable once for a similar period (AED 50 on the ICP extension card), and the stay period starts on arrival. If you are moving rather than visiting, the residence process is under Live in the UAE.

The table below lists each category as ICP, GDRFA Dubai or u.ae describe it, with who sponsors it. Durations are the ones stated on the official pages on 4 September 2026.

Use this table to find the category the official pages point to for common situations. It is a routing aid, not an eligibility decision; each linked page carries the conditions.

Two self-sponsored categories exist for people who are not tourists and have no host. Both are single-trip permits of 60, 90 or 120 days, both require "the prescribed financial guarantee", and the ICP extension card allows both to be extended up to 180 days in total.

Jobseeker visit visa. A visit "to search for a job without requiring a host/sponsor in the country, for one trip" (u.ae). You must be in MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, or a graduate of one of "the best 500 universities in the world" within the last two years, with at least a bachelor's degree. Documents: photograph, passport copy, attested qualification certificate. GDRFA Dubai lists AED 200, 300 or 400 plus VAT, a AED 1,000 deposit and AED 500 if applying from inside the country.

Visit visa to explore investment opportunities. You must be "financially solvent, talent, or a holder of a high qualification" and "a professional in the prospective business in his home country" (u.ae). GDRFA Dubai lists the same fee tiers, a AED 1,000 deposit and a document called "proof of investment".

Medical entry permits are sponsored by a licensed UAE hospital; in Dubai they run 90 or 180 days with a deposit, and a companion's permit can be extended once with a certified medical report.

The u.ae channels page lists the routes: the websites of ICP and GDRFA, the ICP app and Dubai Now, and typing centres (Amer service centres in Dubai). ICP's smart services need a UAE Pass login. Airlines run visa services for passengers on their tickets: Emirates through "Manage your booking" with VFS processing fees, flydubai through its travel shops, and Etihad, which at the time of checking offered only transit visas online. Tracking is separate by authority. The ICP call centre is 600522222; GDRFA Dubai is 800 5111 inside the UAE or +971 4 313 9999 from abroad. Service cards state "48 hours" (GDRFA Dubai) and "2 days" (ICP) for the issuance step only.

Extensions are granted by the issuing authority, not by the airline that sold the visa. The ICP extension card allows a visit or tourism permit to be extended "once or multiple times, provided the total duration does not exceed 120 days", and relative/friend, jobseeker, business and medical permits up to 180 days. GDRFA Dubai's tourist-extension card uses the same 120-day total. The u.ae fees page says charges are stated on each service card, and the overstay fine for visit, tourist and residence visas is AED 50 per day. GDRFA Dubai publishes a fines-inquiry service; see visit visa extensions for the fees each authority lists.

Start with the page that matches your situation in the table above. If you are not sure which category applies, send us your nationality, the purpose and length of the visit and who will host you, and we will name the official route and what the sponsor has to show.