Most visited nations and everyone’s dream is to travel to the United Arab Emirates, but you should remember to apply for a visa before you leave. A visa is a legal document attached to your passport by the country you are visiting. So, if you are planning to visit UAE for business purposes, tourism or to visit your close ones like family and friends you’ll need a UAE visit visa. The UAE government offers multiple types of visas like, visit visas, depending upon the purposes and duration of your stay in the country.
We will provide you with a brief on every aspect of the Emirates visa requirements and the procedure to follow to get the visa.
Types of Visit Visa
The government of UAE offers different types of Emirates visit visas restricted to the rules and regulations that a visa holder should follow:
1. UAE is an outstanding country in the middle of a desert but the nation has more for its visitors. The country already lives in the future and has every luxury somebody can dream of. Thus, the UAE attracts millions of tourists throughout the year. The tourist visa is issued to individuals who plan to explore the cities of UAE like Sharjah, Dubai, etc. The Emirates tourist visa can be valid for 30 or 90 days and is non-renewable. Many countries like the USA, and the UK can apply for a visa on arrival.
2. Other than tourism, the UAE also hosts travelers visiting the country for business purposes, conference meetings, international events, sports tournaments, and especially for medical treatment. Thus, this type of visa is taken from a different perspective and the traveler details shouldn’t be tampered with or filled incorrectly to avoid any action on future visits. The visit visa can be valid for 30, 90, or 180 days and can be renewed for an additional 90 days.
3. Transit Visa: The transit visa is issued to individuals who are transiting through the UAE and have a layover of more than 8 hours. Anyone planning to enter the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for any reason other than an airport transfer must obtain a one-time use Emirates transit visa. The transit visa is of two types, one is 48 hours transit and the other half 96 hours transit. The transit visa is also an e-visa that can be applied prior to reaching the territory of the UAE.
However, the visa policy can be different for many nations as some of the countries like, the United Nations of America, United Kingdom, Schengen countries, etc, and GCC countries, can receive the transit visa on arrival in any of the UAE’s International Airports.
Once you acquire your transit visa, you can explore the city you have landed in and can also meet your friends and families before you leave for your other destinations. Thus, if you are traveling for business purposes to the UAE, the transit visa is the best option for you to finish your work and leave the country. In short, if you have some short-term work or traveling from one country to another via the UAE, you need a transit visa, depending upon the nationality of the traveler and the duration of your layover.
Eligibility Criteria
There are particular rules and regulations that make you eligible to acquire a UAE visa.
- Travelers should have a valid passport with a minimum of sick months validity.
- Visitors should not be convicted of any criminal activities, nor have any criminal charges against them, or must not be banned from entering the UAE.
- One should have booked confirmation of the hotel or accommodation they are staying in or should provide valid residency proof of the host.
- Travelers should have a confirmed return ticket or forward travel ticket.
- Travelers visiting UAE must possess sufficient funds to cover their expenses until they reside.
How to Apply for UAE Visit Visas
Ordinary passport holders are not subject to applying for a Visa via the UAE Embassy in their country. Thus, they can apply from online or registered travel agencies. The procedures to follow while applying for UAE are:
- Visit the official website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) – Dubai or Abu Dhabi, depending on your arrival airport.
- Click on the “Visa Services” option and select the type of visa you want to apply for.
- Fill up the visa application forms with your personal details and upload the required documents with the correct information without any mistakes.
- Pay the visa fee online using your credit or debit card.
- Once your application is processed and approved, you’ll receive an email with your e-visa.
Note that the processing time for a UAE visit visa is usually between 1 and 5 working days.
Fees for UAE Visit Visa
The costs for applying for a UAE visa vary depending upon the type of visa one is applying for. Current fees according to the types of visas are:
- Tourist Visa – If you are applying for a tourist visa then it cost AED 350 (about USD 95) for 30 days, AED 750 (about USD 205) for 90 days
- Visit Visa – For visiting visa the application cost for AED 700 (about USD 190) for 30 days, AED 1800 (about USD 490) for 90 days, AED 3600 (about USD 980) for 180 days
- Transit Visa – AED 50 (about USD 14) for a transit visa, only a visa for 96 hours is charged but a Transit visa for 48 hours is free of cost.
Conclusion
Dubai is a major draw in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is one of the most rapidly expanding countries in the world. The United Arab Emirates visa is necessary for anybody planning to go to Dubai. Dubai visa are now issued electronically and sent to the applicant through email. There is no physical imprint of the visa in the passport; rather, it is a digital document. Depending on their reason for travel, Indians may choose between a single-entry Dubai tourist visa or a multiple-entry business visa issued by Dubai.