First, we must know that visas to enter the UAE are different and the procedures for obtaining them vary from one country to another, and there are some countries that do not require a permit or a visa to enter the UAE and a few, such as the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) where they can enter the UAE without obtaining a visa or entry permit.
A few countries do not require a permit or visa to enter the UAE while other citizens who are not part of the visa-free or visa-on-arrival visa are expected to apply and obtain a visa prior to travel.
But before we dwell on the types of visas that foreigners apply for to immigrate to the UAE, we must first note that the entry visa or permission to enter the UAE is only a short-stay permit obtained by foreigners who have met all the requirements for the type of visa they applied for; they must have a passport valid for at least 6 months.
The entry permit is issued by the General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs, which varies according to the purpose of visiting the UAE such as work, Tourism, visiting a friend or relative, transit, study and others.
Entrepreneur visa:
In order to be eligible for an entrepreneur visa, you must first obtain the approval of a government-approved incubator currently in the UAE H-2071 in Dubai. After your application has been approved, you should go to the federal authority for identity and citizenship to apply for an entrepreneur visa; if your application is approved, you will receive a link to download the required documents and complete the visa procedures; then an email will be sent with details and procedures for receiving the visa; if your application is rejected, you will have to apply again after 90 days.
If you are a resident of the UAE, you will be granted a visa for 30 days and within 30 days you will have to convert your visa from temporary to permanent; if you are resident outside the UAE you will be granted a visa for six months during which time you will have to convert your stay from temporary to permanent:
“Khidma1” foundation at Emirates Towers in Dubai
The federal authority for identity and citizenship:
https://icp.gov.ae/
The entrepreneur visa holder has the right to sponsor their family according to the conditions specified in the federal authority for identity and nationality, as well as nominating three business partners or employees for gold residency.
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Tourist visa:
Depending on the nationality of the tourist, there are nationalities that do not need an entry permit for the UAE and there are nationalities that need to have a prior entry permit.
If you are of the following nationalities or a GCC citizen, you do not need a visa on arrival:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Pune , Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Vatican City, United Kingdom, and United States of America .
For women under the age of 18, they can only get a Dubai Tourism Visa if they are travelling with their family.
The tourist can also obtain for his children under the age of eighteen what is known as a fee-free visa, and this exemption applies during the summer vacation period only, which runs from July 15 to September 15 of each year; According to a Cabinet resolution passed in July 2018.
According to the latest updates, obtaining a UAE tourist visa is easy and its procedures are more flexible than before. The nationality of the traveler to the UAE is no longer an obstacle for obtaining a tourist visa; the federal authority for identity and citizenship in the UAE has identified four requirements, which are as follows:
- Bank statement for the last six months with a balance of 4,000 $ or its equivalent in foreign currencies.
- Health insurance for the traveler.
- Color photograph of applicant.
- Color copy of applicant’s passport. The passport must be valid for at least three months.
Types of tourist visa:
There is a short-term tourist visa and a long-term tourist visa
The short-term tourist visa enables the tourist to stay in the UAE for 30 days, with the possibility of renewal twice without having to leave the UAE.
The long-term tourist visa enables the tourist to stay in the UAE for 90 days and is extendable for a similar period.
How to apply for a Dubai Tourism Visa:
UAE embassies or its consulates abroad do not issue tourist or visit visas but you can obtain a tourist visa through:
- The visa services of airlines which impose certain conditions and controls in order to issue your tourist visa on your behalf.
For example, flydubai airlines, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Air Arabia.
2 – The Dubai Tourism Visa can also be obtained through travel agencies and hotels provided that the tickets are purchased through their offices, as well as the commitment to the hotel, but we must acknowledge the need not to pay any amount or send a copy of an official documents until ascertaining the credibility and reliability of the agency, and ensuring it is an authorized and licensed agency.
Tourist visa validity:
As an effective step to support the tourism sector in the United Arab Emirates; and according to the latest update, a tourist can obtain a tourist visa without a guarantor, with multiple trips, and even for all nationalities, with a validity period of five years and enabling its owner to stay in the UAE for 90 days each time, extendable for a similar period, this is by submitting a request to extend the period of residence within the UAE, according to the newspaper Al Emarate Al Youm.
Visitors and tourists can apply for the second renewal before the expiration of the first renewal for AED 600 each time renewal, and in case of exceeding the length of stay by ten days without applying for renewal; the tourist or traveler will have to pay a fine of one hundred AED for each exceeding the length of stay.
It should be noted that the extension or renewal procedures do not apply to the following categories:
- visitors and tourists who are residents in GCC countries
- residents accompanying GCC nationals
- those on special entry permits
- Those on 96-hour permit for special missions.
Study visa (student visa):
This type of visa is granted to:
- Excellent and distinguished foreign students coming from abroad receive a “student visa and enroll in universities, colleges and higher education institutions in the UAE.
- Expatriate students residing in the UAE who wish to pursue their studies at various universities and higher institutes.
Student visa two types:
Five-year (long-term) visa:
This type of visa is granted to students who are academically excellent from schools and universities:
School students:
The student who graduated from high school should receive a rating of excellence, which represents at least 95% of the average in public or private schools.
College students
The student must receive an excellence rating upon graduation from the university located in the UAE or abroad, meaning that he will receive an estimate at a rate of at least 3 3.75 GPA
One-year visa:
A one-year student visa can be renewed for a similar period with the need to provide official proof of continuity of study provided that it is issued by one of the higher education institutions in the UAE.
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Documents required to apply for a student visa:
- If the student is a new student, the student must submit an official acceptance letter from one of the accredited universities in the UAE.
- The presence of a sponsor for a student visa, whether university, relatives or a parent
- Pass a medical fitness test from a Government Medical Center in the UAE
- Final approval of the visa application by the General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs (the competent authority for Visa and visa affairs in the UAE).
- Obtaining the final approval from the competent department for Visa and visa affairs for foreigners, which is the General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Visit visa and issuance fees:
There are four types of visitor visa:
Short-term visa for a trip or one-time:
- It extends only thirty days from the date of entry. The fee for issuing the fee is AED 505, knowing that you must add AED 650 if the sponsored is within the country
- Can be extended twice (first time 30 days), (second time 20 days).
- The extension fee is AED 810 each time in addition to Amer centers fees.
Visa for several trips "leisure visa"
- The period of thirty days from the date of entry to the UAE, can be extended twice and is a short-term visa, the fee for which is AED 805, knowing that you must add AED 650 if the sponsored within the country.
- Can be extended twice (first time 30 days), (second time 20 days).
- The extension fee is AED 810 each time in addition to the Amer centers fee.
Visa for one trip (long-term):
- Lasts for 90 days from the date of entry, the issuance fee is AED 950
- Can be extended twice (first time 30 days), (second time 20 days).
- The extension fee is AED 810 each time in addition to Amer centers fees.
Long-term, multi-entry tourist visa:
- It extends for 90 days from the date of entry, and the fees are 1855 AED.
- It can be extended twice (the first time is 30 days), (the second time is 20 days).
- The extension fee is 810 dirhams each time, in addition to the fees of the Amer centers.
Documents to be submitted to obtain a visitor visa:
- Request Emirates Vision from Ameer centers or through the GDRFA Dubai smartphone application.
- A colored solar photo with a white background for the sponsored.
- A color copy of the valid passport of the sponsored.
The sponsor’s valid passport and original Emirates ID. - The sponsor’s IBAN bank account number.
- Attested consanguinity certificate.
- The residence contract is valid.
- Latest electricity and water bill.
- Salary certificate in Arabic for government and semi-governmental sector employees and free zones.
- Employment contract certified for private sector employees.
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Fines:
In case of visa violation or overstay, a fine will be imposed by the relevant authorities in the UAE in the following amounts: AED 200 for the first day, AED 100 for each subsequent day, and AED 100 additional service fee when leaving the country.
The law grants residents a grace period of 30 days for the purpose of settling their situation, and for any fines to be imposed during this period; if the resident exceeds the grace period and the resident exceeds the 30 days, he will be fined as follows: AED 125 for the first day, AED 25 for each subsequent day, AED 50 for each exceeded day after six months of the grace period, and AED 100 for each exceeded day after one year of the grace period.
Fines can be paid at Dubai airports or the main building of the administration, but in case of exceeding 30 days, the fines will be paid at the main building only.
Transit visa:
A transit visa (or transit through the UAE) of 48 hours is free without a fee, and another for 96 hours for only AED 50. The transit visa can be obtained through the national airlines in the UAE, and the visitor must apply for and obtain the visa before coming and entering the country. Both types of transit visa cannot be extended or renewed.
Documents that must be submitted for the 48-hour and 96-hour visa:
- The validity of the passport or travel document should not be less than three months before entering the UAE
- Provide a passenger photo with a white background.
- The passenger must have a ticket to continue his journey.
- The passenger must be heading to a country other than the country which he came from.
Retiree visa:
s a long-term visa granted to pensioners who are at least 55 years old and extend for a period of 5 years automatically renewed:
Conditions for obtaining a retirement visa:
- Have a monthly income of at least AED 200,000 per month or
- Investment in real estate worth two million dirhams
Financial savings of AED million and above - The application for a retiree visa is submitted to either The General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs or the Dubai Land department.
Retirement visa fees:
After obtaining the approval of either The General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs or the Dubai Land and property department, the pensioner will have to pay the amount of 3.714.75, this amount covers the costs of all visa procedures including entry permit, visa status adjustment, residence stamp, as well as administrative fees, medical examination and Emirates ID.
Golden visa in UAE (Golden Residency):
The beginnings of this initiative came in 2019 when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum adopted the system of permanent residence (Gold Card), which was then limited to certain groups; and by the beginning of December 2020, major changes were adopted to this decision by granting gold residency to a larger and wider segment of the privileged groups of society, whether for a period of ten years or five years automatically renewed.
The ten-year visa differs from the five-year one depending on the categories eligible for each.
The Golden Residence in the UAE is awarded to the following categories:
- Real estate investment
- Academic Excellence
- Talents
- Investors
- Entrepreneurship
For more information about the Golden Residency in the UAE, the procedures for obtaining it and the conditions of each of these categories, please see the following link:
Golden visa in the UAE
Visa and coronavirus:
As of August 30, 2021, the national emergency crisis and Disaster Management Authority and the federal authority for identity and Citizenship announced the opening of applications for receiving tourist visas for vaccinated tourists from all countries, who have received the full dose of covid-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization, with the mandatory conduct of rapid laboratory testing at the airport RAPID PCR TEST.
Types of UAE passport:
Under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE was able to make the UAE passport the top passport in the world in 2018, where the UAE passport rose from the 27th place in 2016 to the first place in the world in 2018, where the holder of the UAE passport can travel or enter 178 countries, almost 90% of the world without a visa.
The type of passport is determined by Article No. 26 of the UAE passport law issued by Decree No. 17 / 1972, the following are the types of UAE passports:
Blue passport granted to all categories of people
Diplomatic passport (red) is granted to the following categories:
- Any current or former cabinet minister.
- Members of the ruling family on the order of the crown prince.
- The president of the Federal National Council or its members.
- Heads of UAE advisory councils during their term of office.
- Members of the consular and diplomatic corps only without interns.
- Heads of local departments.
- Presidents and members of the executive councils of local governments during their term of office only.
- Former presidents of the Federal National Council.
- Members of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, during their term of office only.
- Military personnel, technicians and administrators assigned to representative missions of the State abroad in their children up to the age of 21, and their wives, provided that they are holders of citizenship or UAE passport, during the period of work of their spouses only.
Special mission passport-UAE light blue passport
This type of passport is granted to state employees, both citizens and non-citizens, when they are assigned official duties abroad, and is issued only at the request of the governors of the UAE, as well as with the approval of the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation; provided that the holder of the mission holds a valid passport in order to issue the passport of special tasks for him, with the need to return the passport of special tasks after expiration to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation.
The holder of a diplomatic or special mission passport is entitled to use this passport only for the purpose for which it was granted.
Green passport (special passports):
This type of passport is granted to the following categories:
By order of the governor this type of passport is granted to members of the ruling families
- Members of the Federal National Council after the end of their term of office
- Assistant ministers and their equivalents
- Ambassadors appointed to this degree after the end of their term of office
- Undersecretaries of ministries, assistant undersecretaries and similar general managers
- Executive directors during their tenure
- Members of advisory councils in the UAE during their term of office only.
Electronic passport:
The Ministry of Interior has issued what are known as electronic passports, which are characterized by high technical and security characteristics for citizens of the country where the electronic passport data can be read remotely through the last electronic chip on the last page of the passport.
The official authorities to which to apply for the issuance of a UAE passport or renew the passport or even issue a replacement are:
- General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs, the Directorate also provides passport renewal service at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports around the clock
- federal authority for identity and nationality through the online passport issuance service
- E-portal for citizenship and residence – echannels
- embassies and consulates of countries abroad
Documents required to apply for or renew a UAE passport
- Recent profile photo
- Original or photocopy of ID card
- Original or copy of Abstract
In case you want to renew the passport you have to:
- Present the passport that has expired or is about to expire.
- Recent profile photo.
- Air ticket in case of renewal at the airport.
** For inquiries about passport services in Dubai, please contact Amer service in Dubai on 8005111
** To inquire about passport services in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, you can inquire through:
Call 600522222 of the federal authority for identity and citizenship call center or
Contact with the General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs in the related emirate.
** You can view the law of entry and residence of foreigners and immigration to the UAE through the following link :
**You can also view the UAE nationality and passports law at the following link:
