Dubai is on its way to becoming the most exquisite destination for tourists from all over the world. Today the city of gold has become the tourists’ first choice to visit because of its luxurious lifestyle, amazing nightlife, fascinating architecture, giant shopping malls, and wonderful skylines, to name a few!
Dubai is one of the fascinating cities everyone dreams of visiting once in their lifetime.
However, tourism and employment are two key reasons why Dubai – the city of gold- entices many people from all over the world. People who want to visit Dubai for any reason must have the most important legal document – a visa that authorizes foreign nationals to enter the country.
A tourist visa is a conclusive proof that ensures your legal rights to travel and stay in Dubai for a certain time. If you are planning your next trip to Dubai, you’re at the right place!
In this blog, we will showcase every aspect you need to know about the Dubai tourism visa, along with the exhaustive procedure for the Dubai UAE tourist visa extension.
Let’s get started!
Types of Visas in Dubai UAE:
There are various kinds of visas that the Dubai Government issues based on the purpose of your visit. Let’s plunge into some of its important types:
- Business Visa
- Remote Work Visa
- Tourist Visa
- Retirement Visa For UAE Residents
- Transit Visa
- Student Visa
- Patients & Their Companion Entry Permits
Difference Between Dubai Tourist Visa and Visit Visa
The primary difference between a visit visa and a tourist visa for Dubai is its core purpose. If you want to go to Dubai for tourism and leisure purposes, you will require to obtain a tourism visa. On the other hand, if you visit Dubai for business purposes, to attend seminars, or for anything else, you must obtain a visit visa for Dubai.
Dubai Tourist Visa Applicability:
The Dubai Government issues tourist visas to any eligible individual tourist from all around the world. Any person who is not eligible for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry to Dubai is eligible to obtain a tourism visa.
A female below 18 can only acquire a tourist visa for Dubai if she travels with her parents. It means that an individual female below 18 years of age traveling alone is not eligible to apply and get a Dubai tourism visa.
Additionally, children traveling with adults are eligible to get a free tourist visa every year between 15th July and 15th September. Sounds’ good, right?
Validity of Dubai UAE Tourist Visa
UAE Government issues 30 days, 90 days, single entry, as well as multiple-entry tourist visas to tourists. You can opt for any of the options according to your plan to stay in the UAE.
Apart from that, you can also go with a five-year tourist visa that allows tourists to visit and exit Dubai UAE multiple times during the five years.
But you can’t stay more than 90 days during each visit; however, you can extend that time period for another 90 days.
You must know that the Dubai tourist visa is valid for a very short period of time (except for a five-year tourist visa). If you don’t leave the country before the visa expiry date, you will have to pay a fine, as the Dubai UAE Government has decided.
Contact any of the UAE embassies if you have any questions regarding the validity of your tourist visa.
Requirements for Obtaining Dubai Tourist Visa
The essential documents for acquiring a tourist visa for Dubai are a valid (original) passport and a return flight ticket. The passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of travel to or entry into the Dubai UAE.
The citizens of certain countries are also eligible to get a Visa on Arrival. Check out the complete list of countries whose citizens are permitted for the Visa on Arrival by the UAE government.
The person eligible for a Visa on Arrival can obtain a visa for a month when he/she enters Dubai UAE airports. If the person wants to live for more than 1 month, he/she must contact and apply to the immigration office at the airport or local immigration office in the UAE.
On the contrary, citizens of the other nations who are not eligible for a Visa on Arrival have to apply for a tourism visa before visiting Dubai. They can get tourist visas in various ways, either through their respective embassy, a local UAE sponsor, or a local hotel or travel agency/licensed travel agent.
Required Documents For A Dubai Tourist Visa:
To apply for a Dubai visa, you will have to gather all the below-mentioned documents:
- Passport copy of the UAE local sponsor
- Passport copy of the sponsored
- Travel insurance
- Copy of confirmed flight ticket
- Approval letter from a bank
- Passport-size photographs
- Visa fees payment proof
- Visa application form
Where Can You Apply For a UAE Tourist Visa & Its Extension/Renewal?
There are various ways you can apply for Dubai visas:
- The eChannels portal
- The website of GDRFA – Dubai
- Emirates Visa Online
- GDRFA Dubai Mobile Application:
- Google Play
- App Store
- ICA eChannels Mobile Application
- Dubai Now Mobile Application
All the above ways for the UAE visa application are online. So, you can process anytime from anywhere at your convenience.
Complete Procedure of UAE Dubai Tourist Visa Application
- Open the Emirates Visa Online website.
- Select the visa type for which you want to apply (Either single entry visa 14 days, 30 days, or 90 days).
- Now provide information about your nationality and where you live currently.
- Read and agree to all the terms and conditions shown in the portal.
- Click on the start button.
- Upload all the necessary documents, including photographs, passport, national ID, etc.
- Fill out the complete visa application form.
- Don’t forget to verify the details you provided.
- Pay the required visa fees.
- Once your visa application is approved, you will get it through email.
Tourist Visa Extension Dubai UAE
Yes, definitely! One can easily extend any kind of tourist visa for 30 days twice. The best part is that the tourists/visitors need not leave UAE to extend their visas. The second renewal or extension should be done before the validity of the first renewal expires.
Tourists/Visitors have to pay AED 600 at the time of each renewal. If you stay more than the validity of your tourist visa or don’t renew/extend the same, you will be liable to pay a fine of AED 100 for each day of overstay. Penalties will be chargeable after 10 days of visa expiry.
Rules of Dubai Visa Extension Are Not Applicable To
The rules and regulations regarding the renewal or extension of a Dubai visa do not apply to the following:
- Visitors/tourists who are residents of GCC countries.
- Residents accompanying GCC nationals.
- Visitors came to visit Dubai on special entry permits.
- Visitors who are on 96-hour permits for special missions.