Dubai Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a UAE tourist visa to visit Dubai for tourism or business. A standard tourist visa allows up to 30 days (extendable to 90 days). Some eligible nationalities holding a valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, or South Korea can get a 14-day visa on arrival. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Dubai visa at a glance
- Government fee
- The official Dubai visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Visa types
- 9
Do you need a visa for Dubai?
Check the ICP UAE visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.
Dubai visa types
- 48-hour transit
- Layover, quick transit — 48 hours
- 96-hour transit
- Short layover with city visit — 96 hours
- 14-day tourist
- Quick tourism, transit — 14 days
- 30-day tourist (single entry)
- Tourism, family visit, short business — 30 days
- 30-day tourist (multiple entry)
- Multiple visits within 30 days — 30 days per entry
- 60-day tourist (single entry)
- Extended tourism, longer family visits — 60 days
- 60-day tourist (multiple entry)
- Frequent business trips — 60 days per entry
- 90-day tourist (multiple entry)
- Long stays, regional travel — 90 days per entry
- 5-year multiple entry
- Regular business travelers — 90 days per visit
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Dubai depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Dubai visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — typically 15–90 days depending on the agreement.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa or visa on arrival for tourism, business, or family visits.
Visa on arrival is available for eligible nationalities holding a valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, or South Korea.
Documents required for a Dubai visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist visa (30-day / 60-day / 90-day) · 6+ months validity from date of entry, 2+ blank pages.
- Passport-size photoTourist visa (30-day / 60-day / 90-day) · white background, recent (within 3 months).
- Completed visa application formTourist visa (30-day / 60-day / 90-day) · Completed visa application form.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist visa (30-day / 60-day / 90-day) · confirmed flight booking.
- Proof of accommodationTourist visa (30-day / 60-day / 90-day) · hotel booking or invitation letter.
- Proof of return or onward ticketTourist visa (30-day / 60-day / 90-day) · Proof of return or onward ticket.
- Bank statementsTourist visa (30-day / 60-day / 90-day) · 3 months showing sufficient funds.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
- Valid passportVisa on Arrival (eligible nationalities) · 6+ months validity.
- Valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, or South KoreaVisa on Arrival (eligible nationalities) · Valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, or South Korea.
- Return or onward ticketVisa on Arrival (eligible nationalities) · Return or onward ticket.
Dubai visa fees and processing time
- Processing fee
- Expedify's fee for checking, preparing, and filing your application — Expedify — fixed, shown upfront
- Government fee
- The official Dubai visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Total
- Processing fee + government fee — What you pay — shown before you start
- 30-day tourist (single entry)
- 2–4 working days
- 60-day tourist
- 3–5 working days
- 90-day tourist
- 3–5 working days
- Visa on Arrival (eligible nationalities)
- On arrival
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Dubai visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the UAE visa-exemption list for your nationality.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of the UAE or ICP for your country
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of the UAE or ICP for your country.
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist.
Submit your application
through an authorized travel agency, airline portal, or hotel-sponsored service.
Track your application and collect your eVisa when a decision is made
Track your application and collect your eVisa when a decision is made.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Dubai's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the agency/embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Dubai is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or visa-exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Dubai visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Passport validity under 6 months
your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your travel date.
Previous UAE visa violation or overstay
if you've overstayed a UAE visa before, your new application may be flagged.
Poor quality passport scan
blurry, dark, or cropped scans get rejected.
Photo not meeting specifications
wrong size, wrong background color, glasses, or face not centered.
Incorrect application details
name spelling must match your passport exactly.
Security concerns or name match
some names are flagged for security screening.
Frequently asked questions
Dubai visa questions, answered.
More for your Dubai trip
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.