What are the Types of UAE Visas?
The four main types of visas that the UAE offer are:
- UAE Tourist Visas, which, as the name suggests are issued for tourism purposes or any other purpose which is shorter than 30 days and does not require you to take up employment and long-term residence in the UAE.
- UAE Residence Visas are for foreigners who wish to relocate to the UAE. This includes:
UAE Student Visa
UAE Work Visa
UAE Family Visa
UAE Retirement Visa
Dubai Digital Nomad Visa - Long-Term Residence Visas (Investor Visa), which is issued for a period of 5-10 years and does not require a sponsor. However, you must invest a substantial amount of money in the UAE to qualify for this type of visa.
- UAE Transit Visas, which are issued to foreigners who have to transit through the UAE. These types of visas are issued for 48 or 96 hours.
Do I Need a Separate Dubai Visa if I Have a UAE Visa?
No, you do not. There is actually no separate “Dubai Visa” since Dubai is not a country on its own; it is part of the UAE. If you have a visa allowing you to enter the UAE, then you can travel to any of its emirates, Dubai included.
Do I Need a Separate Abu Dhabi Visa if I Have a Dubai/UAE Visa?
Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates making up the UAE, as well as the capital. As such, if you are planning on visiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you do not need to get a separate visa for each. If you are a visa-required national, you only have to apply for a UAE Tourist Visa and you can visit all seven of its emirates, including Abu Dhabi.
If you are exempt from UAE Tourist Visas, the process is even simpler since you can travel with just your passport.
What is a UAE Residence Visa?
Foreigners who want to move to the UAE need to have a Residence Visa. However, prior to that, they must also obtain an Entry Permit. The difference between an entry permit and a residence visa for the UAE is:
The UAE Residence Visa is the document you have to obtain after you are already in the UAE with an Entry Permit and want to stay longer than the number of days the permit allows. Your sponsor (who must meet GDRFA’s requirements) has to apply for your Residence Visa.
UAE Visa Requirements
When applying for a tourist visa for the UAE, you must have several documents to support your application, such as:
- Photocopies of your passport and the passport of your sponsor. You need a passport that has at least 6 months validity.
- Photocopy of the passport’s relevant pages. In some cases, you may not need to submit your original passport at all. You may include photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport (or all the pages on your passport).
- Passport-size pictures, in line with UAE visa photo requirements.
- If you are a female travelling alone: A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your father or husband.
- A confirmed round-trip airline ticket or an airline ticket for onward travel. If you are applying through an airline, the ticket must be from that airline.
- Proof of accommodation, such as your hotel.
- Proof of purchased travel medical insurance for UAE
- A letter from you, stating the purpose and duration of your visit
- Proof of legal residence in your country (ie. your visa or residence permit). This only applies if you are not a citizen of the country in which you are living.
- If you have a host:
Proof of your relationship to the host
Proof of their residential status: A copy of your host’s UAE Resident Visa and/or their Emirates ID
Proof of their financial status: Certified copy of their work contract or their salary certificate - Proof of previous travels:
If you have been to the UAE in the last year, submit copies of the entry and exit stamps on your passport
Copies of any visas to the USA, UK, Schengen Area, Canada, Russia, Australia or New Zealand you have received within the past 5 years - You may also be required to provide:
Proof of your financial status
Proof of your current address
Marriage certificate - Any additional documents required by the relevant visa issuing authorities in Dubai/UAE
How to Apply for a Visa for UAE?
Unlike most countries, the UAE does not issue visas through its embassies or consulates overseas. Additionally, you cannot submit a UAE Visa application yourself – you must have a sponsor in the UAE or apply through an authorized agency to submit it on your behalf, such as:
- A host or sponsor who is living in the UAE.
- A licensed travel agency through which you purchase the travel ticket. Travel agencies in your country may also be collaborating with a local tour operator in the UAE and offer tourist packages. Make sure that the travel agency you hire is reputable and licensed before you pay them.
- The hotel in which you are staying in the UAE.
- One of the following airlines provided that you’ll be flying with them:
- Etihad Airways
- Emirates Airline
- Fly Dubai
- Air Arabia
How Long Can I Stay in the UAE With a Visa?
When you receive a UAE visa, you will usually have about 60 days to use it to enter the country. Upon entry, the number of days you are allowed to stay in the UAE depends on the purpose of your travel.
As a tourist, you can stay for up to 30 days. If you are transiting, you are allowed to stay only for up to 4 days. UAE visas for employment are issued for a maximum of 2 months, during which time you have to convert it into a Residence Visa or leave the country.
What Happens if I Overstay in Dubai on a Tourist Visa?
If you overstay your Dubai visa, you will have to pay a fine of AED 100 for every day that you have overstayed. If you know you need to stay longer, you should apply for a visa extension.
Can You Work in Dubai With Tourist Visa?
No, you cannot. A tourist or visitor visa for UAE does not authorize the holder to work. If you want to take up employment, you must apply for a UAE Work Visa and Work Permit.
If you work in the UAE without authorization, even if you’re not paid, you will be deported and may have to pay a fine.
Where to Apply for a UAE Visa?
UAE visa applications can be submitted either online or in-person at one of the following agencies:
- Through the eChanel portal of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship ICA ,through which hosts, travel agencies or other sponsors can apply for a UAE Visa on your behalf. (online only)
- Through the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – GDRFA (online and in-person).
The websites of the GDRFA in each emirate:
Abu Dhabi
Dubai (see also Amer, a website which Dubai citizens and residents can use to apply for family reunion and visitors can use to extend their Visa On Arrival)
Sharjah
Ajman
Ras Al Khaimah
Fujairah - Mobile apps:
ICA’s eChanel portal (for Apple and Android) - Your sponsor or host can also apply through one of the licensed typing centres of the GDRFA in each Emirate or through one of the Amer centres in Dubai.
Is UAE visit visa open for Pakistan?
All COVID-19 restrictions have been removed as of November 9, 2022. Most visitors need a UAE online tourist visa to enter. You can also check the visa Policy of United Arab Emirates to find out the requirements you need to meet in order to travel to the country.
How much is a Pakistani visa for UAE?
This visa permits a stay of up to 30 days in the United Arab Emirates and is valid for 58 days from the date of issuance. It typically costs 41,000 PKR and is a single-entry visa. It’s vital to remember that the UAE visit visa open for Pakistanis might alter based on UAE government laws and regulations.
Is visit visa open in UAE?
Note: The UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. In order to get a tourist visa to the UAE, you need to get in touch with one of the UAE-based airlines, a tour agency or a hotel (where you intend to stay) in the UAE who will apply for visa on your behalf to the official visa-issuing authorities in the UAE.
What is the cheapest visa in UAE?
The TECOM freelance permit is the cheapest freelance visa in Dubai. It costs about AED 7500; however, there might be additional fees that you might need to pay throughout the application process for a freelance visa in Dubai.
How can I get free UAE visa from Pakistan?
Simply disembark your flight at Dubai International and proceed to immigration, where your passport will be stamped with a 30‑day visit visa free of charge.