Do I need a visa for Dubai?
Pick the situation that matches your passport. Dubai is one emirate of the UAE, so the same entry rules apply across the whole country.
You do not need a visa
GCC citizens can enter the UAE freely with their national ID card or passport and stay as long as they wish. No application, no fee, nothing to arrange before you travel.
Free 30-day visa on arrival
With a UK, US, Canadian or Australian passport (and several other nationalities), you receive a free 30-day visit entry permit stamped at the airport on arrival. Nothing to apply for in advance — just make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months.
Free 90-day visa on arrival
Citizens of most European countries receive a free multiple-entry 90-day visit visa on arrival. Nothing to apply for in advance — just make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months.
You need a pre-arranged tourist visa
Your nationality is not on the visa-on-arrival list, so you must have an approved UAE tourist visa before you fly — airlines will not board you without one. Apply through your airline, a hotel, or a licensed travel agent. See visa types & fees and how to apply below. Processing usually takes 48–72 hours, so apply well before your flight.
Confirm your status on the official portal
If your nationality is not listed above, check the official UAE government portal and ask your airline before booking. Most nationalities outside the visa-on-arrival list need a pre-arranged tourist visa, arranged through an airline, hotel or licensed travel agent.
Visa types compared
Pre-arranged tourist visas for visitors who do not qualify for a visa on arrival. Processing usually takes 48–72 hours.
All figures below are approximate. Government fees are set by GDRFA / ICP; the total you pay also includes airline, hotel or agent service charges, which vary. Confirm the exact fee on GDRFA / ICP before applying.
| Visa type | Stay & entries | Official fee | Typical total you pay | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day tourist — single entry | 30 days, enter once | AED 252 + 5% VAT (GDRFA fee) | Around AED 350–489 with agent / airline fees | The most common choice for a first holiday or family visit. |
| 30-day tourist — multiple entry | 30 days, enter multiple times | AED 300 + 5% VAT | Around AED 650–990 with agent / airline fees | Useful if you will leave and re-enter the UAE during the 30 days. |
| 60-day tourist — single entry | 60 days, enter once | AED 352 + 5% VAT | Around AED 650–689 with agent / airline fees | For longer stays without needing an extension right away. |
| 60-day tourist — multiple entry | 60 days, enter multiple times | AED 500 + 5% VAT | Around AED 1,050–1,190 with agent / airline fees | Longer stay plus the freedom to come and go within the 60 days. |
| 5-year tourist — multiple entry | 90 days per visit, max 180 days per year | Total around AED 3,713.50 | Around AED 3,713.50 in total | Requires a bank balance of USD 4,000 maintained over 6 months, 180-day UAE health insurance, and a refundable AED 3,000 security guarantee. |
| Transit visa | 48 hours or 96 hours | Arrange via your airline | Ask your airline when booking the connection | For passengers passing through a UAE airport with a long layover who want to leave the airport and see the city. |
Single entry or multiple entry?
A single-entry visa ends the moment you leave the UAE, even if days remain. Choose multiple entry if your trip includes a side trip to another country, or if you expect to cross in and out during the visa period. Frequent visitors who come several times a year should look at the 5-year multiple-entry visa — one approval covers five years of trips.
Documents checklist
Tick each item as you prepare it. This list covers a standard pre-arranged tourist visa application; your airline or agent may ask for more depending on your nationality.
0 of 6 documents ready
Your ticks are only shown on this screen while you use the page — nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
How to apply, step by step
A visit visa always needs a sponsor inside the UAE system. For most tourists, the sponsor is the airline, hotel or licensed travel agent handling the application — you do not apply alone.
Choose your route
Decide who will sponsor and submit your application: your airline, your hotel, a licensed travel agent, or a UAE resident if you are visiting a relative or friend.
Prepare your documents
Work through the documents checklist above — passport, photo, ticket, insurance, and ID card or bank statement where they apply.
Submit and pay the official fee
Your sponsor submits through GDRFA (for Dubai visas) or ICP (federal, for the other emirates). Pay only through official portals or a licensed business — never to a personal WhatsApp account.
Wait for approval — usually 48–72 hours
Most tourist visas are processed within 48–72 hours. Apply at least a week before you fly so there is time to fix any document issue.
Check the visa, then fly
Verify your name, passport number and dates on the issued visa, and confirm your status on the official portal. Keep a copy with your passport when you travel.
GDRFA — Dubai visas
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs handles visas for Dubai. Official site: gdrfad.gov.ae
ICP — federal (other emirates)
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security handles visas federally and for the other emirates. Official site: icp.gov.ae
Airline, hotel or licensed agent
Airlines such as Emirates and flydubai, many hotels, and licensed travel agents can sponsor and arrange a tourist visa for their customers.
Visiting a relative or friend
This visit visa is sponsored by the UAE resident you are visiting, who applies using their Emirates ID. It can later be extended up to 180 days in total.
Extending your visa
Need more time in the UAE? Visit visas can be extended in 30-day blocks — but you must apply before your current visa expires. There is no grace period.
The extension rules
- Each extension adds 30 days.
- A tourist visa can be extended up to 120 days in total.
- A relative / friend visit visa can be extended up to 180 days in total.
- Dubai (GDRFA) extension: about AED 1,150 in total per extension.
- Other emirates (ICP): AED 100 + AED 500 per extension.
Extension fees are approximate — confirm the current fee on GDRFA / ICP before applying.
Extension cost calculator
Estimate your total stay and what the extensions will cost. The price of your original visa is not included.
Extension cost: AED 1,150
Overstay rules — read this carefully
The rules tightened in 2026. Staying even one day past your visa expiry now costs money from day one.
No grace period since 11 February 2026
There is no grace period anymore. The overstay fine of AED 50 per day starts from the first day after your visa expires, and it is uniform across all emirates.
- AED 50 per day of overstay, counted from day one after expiry.
- Overstay of more than 30 days? You will also need an Exit Permit, costing about AED 250–300, before you can leave.
- Repeated overstaying can lead to a re-entry ban — you may not be allowed back into the UAE.
- The safe options are simple: leave before expiry, or extend before expiry (see extensions).
Overstay fine calculator
Count every day from the day after your visa expiry date.
10 days × AED 50 per day.
Stay safe from visa scams
Only use official channels
- Never pay an "agent" on WhatsApp or into a personal bank account. Scammers take the money and send a fake visa — or nothing at all.
- Apply only through the official portals — ICP (icp.gov.ae) and GDRFA (gdrfad.gov.ae) — your airline, your hotel, or a licensed travel agent with a real office and trade licence.
- Check every web address letter by letter. Fake sites copy the official design but change the domain.
- Never work on a visit visa. Working while on a visit or tourist visa can mean a fine of AED 50,000, deportation, and a labour ban. Anyone offering you a "job" on a visit visa is putting you at risk, not helping you.
Which visa fits you?
Answer three quick questions and get a recommendation. It is a guide only — confirm on the official portal before applying.
Question 1 of 3What is your nationality group?
Question 2 of 3How long is your trip?
Question 3 of 3How often will you travel to the UAE?
Answer all three questions to see your recommendation.