Here’s everything you need to know about Dubai visas
As well-known global trade hubs and popular tourist destinations, Dubai and other parts of the UAE receive a huge number of visa applications from visitors, new employees and business travellers. The government grants several different types of entry permits and visas based on the purpose of your stay. The most common types of Dubai visas include tourist visas, transit visas, residence visas and business visas. Read on as we delve into all the essential Dubai visa information you could ever need.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DUBAI VISAS
Anyone who wants to visit the city can apply for one of the following Dubai visas, depending on the purpose of their visit.
DUBAI TOURIST VISA
The tourist visa allows people from all around the world to visit Dubai for a 30 to 180-day duration. These visits could be for tourism, leisure or business.
Dubai tourist visas are valid for single entry or multiple entries, depending on the application. The tourist visa is for those not eligible for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry to the UAE.
To apply for a Dubai tourist visa, one must be 18 or above. Female travellers under 18 are not eligible for a tourist visa in Dubai unless their parents or legal guardians accompany them. The cost of tourist visas ranges from AED 250 to AED 1,740.
You don’t need a sponsor for a multi-entry tourist visa and the duration can be a maximum of 180 days. A bank statement with a minimum $4,000 balance would be necessary for this visa.
Earlier, the UAE government allowed a 10-day grace period before imposing an AED 50 per day fine. However, that relaxation has been removed and the fine is now imposed right after your visa expires.
DUBAI TRANSIT VISA
This visa is perfect for travellers with long stopovers at the Dubai International Airport. Visitors who do not qualify for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry can apply for a UAE transit visa. The transit visa is issued for either 48 hours or 96 hours. Once issued, you cannot extend the 48-hour transit visa to a 96-hour.
While the 48-hour Dubai transit visa is free, the 96-hour transit visa costs AED 50. You must have the following documents to apply for a transit visa:
- A passport with minimum three-month validity for the 48-hour transit visa.
- A passport with minimum six-month validity for the 96-hour transit visa.
- A recent photograph with white background.
- A ticket to your final destination after the stopover in Dubai.
STUDENT VISA IN DUBAI
Students who wish to pursue higher studies in Dubai must have a valid student visa. To be eligible for the Dubai student visa, the applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass the medical fitness test
- Have a visa sponsor (university, relative or parent)
- Get the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) approval
The Dubai student visa is valid for one year and can be renewed for the same duration upon proof of continuing study from the respective university. Visa renewal would also add to your total cost of living in Dubai.
You can also read about sponsoring family members as a student.
WORK PERMIT/RESIDENCE VISA IN DUBAI
Anyone who wants to work in Dubai legally needs a Dubai work permit. The sponsor or the company that hires you takes care of the work permit requirements and application in Dubai. However, you do need to get:
- A medical test
- Your educational certificates attested
- Recent photographs
- Copies of your passport (with at least six months validity)
Once the Dubai work permit is finalised, it doubles as your residency permit for living in Dubai. The permit can be transferred if and when you change jobs within the UAE.
As long as you have a valid residency permit and meet the salary criteria, you can apply for visa for family in UAE. Men sponsored by their wives can also apply for UAE work permits for husbands.
As per the new rules enforced from September 2022, parents can sponsor their male child until the age of 25 and daughters until marriage.
RESIDENCE VISA FOR REMOTE WORKERS
Dubai’s latest residence program grants a one-year residence visa to remote workers and their families to live and work in the emirate. Remote workers across the globe can now live in Dubai and enjoy the city’s distinctive lifestyle, top-notch amenities and well-planned public services, with corporate tax only applicable if annual turnover exceeds AED 1M.
To be eligible for the Dubai remote workers residence visa, one must have
- A passport which is valid for at least six months
- Health insurance that includes valid UAE coverage
- Proof of employment/ownership (in the case of business owners)
- Employment contract/Company ownership documents with at least one-year validity
- Previous month’s payslip
- Bank statements for the three preceding months
- Monthly salary or an average monthly income of at least USD 5,000 (in the case of businessmen)
The cost of this Dubai visa is AED 1,054 (USD 287) per person. The remote worker residence visa in Dubai is valid for one year.
RETIREMENT VISA
The retirement visa in Dubai is issued only to residents who meet the eligibility criteria. Retired residents or foreign nationals who wish to obtain a long-term visa for retirement in Dubai must be more than 55 years old and be able to meet at least one of the requirements listed below:
- Purchase a property worth at least AED 1M and financial savings of AED 1M.
- Have at least AED 1M in financial savings
- Have at least AED 20k of active income every month (In Dubai, it is AED 15k)
The retirement visa is valid for five years after issuance and can be renewed if the applicant still meets the eligibility criteria.
BUSINESS AND OTHER VISAS IN DUBAI
There are certain types of Dubai visas especially handed out to entrepreneurs, investors and other specific related categories. These visas include:
GOLDEN VISA
The UAE long-term visa, more commonly known as the UAE Golden Visa, allows people who meet specific criteria to apply for long-term residency in Dubai and the UAE. The golden visa is available in 5-year and 10-year categories.
Those eligible for the UAE golden visa include:
- Investors
- Real estate investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Supremely talented individuals such as doctors, researchers, innovators, scientists and outstanding students
- PhD holders in the UAE
- UAE-based doctors and physicians
- UAE-based biotechnology, computer science, programming, electronics and electrical engineers
- Specialists in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, epidemiology and virology
- Top graduates from UAE’s high school and their families
- Religious researchers, preachers, muezzins and imams who have served 20 years or more in Dubai
DUBAI BUSINESS VISA
The UAE Business Visa is another category of the Golden Visa scheme. Entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world can apply for the UAE Business Golden Visa as long as they have set up their own business at least once in their professional careers.
To get a UAE Business Golden Visa, the eligible entrepreneur must:
- Authenticate their entrepreneurial experience
- Hold/have held the majority shares in a startup and/or a senior leadership position in it
- Be willing to set up a business and relocate to the UAE legally
- Have a business plan or ideas for their entrepreneurial venture in the UAE
Besides setting up your business in Dubai, the business visa allows you to:
- Obtain a long-term residency visa for your dependents (parents, children and spouses), subject to certain conditions
- Get an initial 6-month multiple-entry visa to expedite business establishment procedures
- Nominate up to 3 senior business personnel for residency
DUBAI INVESTOR OR PARTNER VISA
This type of Dubai visa is ideal for foreign nationals who want to start their own business in the emirate or invest in an existing business. The Dubai investor visa is valid for three years and allows the holder to live and work in the UAE and sponsor their family members.
To be eligible for the partner/investor visa in Dubai, an individual must:
- Have shares worth a minimum of AED 72,000 in an existing UAE company or
- Establish a company with a capital investment worth AED 72,000
JOB EXPLORATION ENTRY VISA
Aspiring job seekers can apply for this Dubai visa without any sponsor or host. It will be granted to individuals who fall in the first, second, or third skill level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Plus, graduation from any top 500 global universities is mandatory. The maximum duration of this visa is 120 days.
GREEN VISAS FOR INVESTORS, PARTNERS, SKILLED EMPLOYEES AND FREELANCERS
As per the latest changes announced by the UAE government, new Green Dubai visas will be handed to investors or partners, skilled employees and freelancers. The duration of the visa is 5 years.
Skilled workers or freelancers must have a bachelor’s degree, and their salary must not be less than AED 15k. They will not need a sponsor or an employer to apply for this visa.
Investors and partners need to get relevant approval for their investment and provide proof.
In this category, applicants are offered a sixty-day permit. The purpose is to allow entry while the process of residency is being completed.
PATIENTS AND COMPANION ENTRY PERMITS
Foreigners who wish to be treated in the UAE can obtain a patient’s entry permit with the sponsorship of a hospital registered in the country. A companion can travel with the patient with a similar entry permit for them. These entry permits in Dubai come in two categories for both the patient and the companion:
- Single Entry Medical Treatment Permit
- Multiple Entry Medical Treatment Permit
- Single Entry Permit for Patient’s Companion
- Multiple Entry Permit for Patient’s Companion
Both types of Dubai medical entry permits are extendable. However, the patient companion permit is only extendable where the sponsor certifies the need to continue the patient’s treatment and verifies a companion requirement in the UAE.
Documents required for these entry permits in Dubai include the following:
- Passport copy (patient and companion)
- Health insurance (patient and companion)
- Financial security (patient and companion)
- Letter from a UAE-registered hospital stating reasons for the visit (patient)
Here is how to go for the DHA medical report check online in Dubai.
EVISA FOR GCC RESIDENTS
GCC residents who wish to visit Dubai only need to apply for an eVisa before arriving in the city. This Dubai visa has a 30-day validity and can be extended once for 30 days. To be eligible for the eVisa, applicants must have a passport and GCC residency valid for at least three months from the date of arrival.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO I NEED A VISA OR ENTRY PERMIT TO ENTER THE UAE?
Yes, in most cases, people travelling to the UAE need a visa or a permit to enter. There are exceptions to the rule in the case of GCC citizens, who can enter the UAE without a visa. Citizens from countries with a visa-on-arrival accord with the UAE are exempted from entry permits.
Read our guide about the difference between an entry permit and a visa for further clarity.
HOW IS A RESIDENCE VISA DIFFERENT FROM AN ENTRY PERMIT?
The UAE government allows you to enter the country for a specific time and purpose through an entry permit. In contrast, the residence visa will enable expats to continue living in the UAE for an extended period. The UAE Residence Visa is issued to foreign nationals already residing in the UAE with an entry permit.
WHERE CAN I APPLY FOR A DUBAI VISA OR ENTRY PERMIT?
You can apply for Dubai visas through the GDRFA official website or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship smart services portal.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A DUBAI VISA?
If you have submitted the complete and correct information/documents required for the visa, it usually takes four to seven working days to get the entry permit.
HOW DOES THE VISA AUTHORITY IN DUBAI SEND THE VISA TO THE APPLICANT?
The visa, once granted, is sent to the same email address that the applicant used to apply for one.
IS A DUBAI VISA REQUIRED FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN?
Yes, UAE law requires all individuals – adults, children and infants – to have a valid visa to visit Dubai.
That’s all we have for you regarding different types of Dubai visas and entry permits. While we have covered basic types of visas in Dubai, it should be noted that there are specific sub-categories for exceptional circumstances. Just be sure to do your research to ensure you’re getting the correct visa that perfectly suits the purpose of your visit.
Looking to move to a different emirate? Read about how to get UAE property investor visa.
A note of caution – anyone visiting Dubai must ensure they do not stay beyond their visa expiry date to avoid any overstay fines in the UAE. You can quickly check your UAE visa status online to cross-check your Dubai visa validity.
