Last reviewed: 16 October 2026
This guide covers every nationality applying for a Dubai (UAE) tourist visa: who needs one, real visa types and fees, documents and photo rules, how to apply, processing times, what happens after approval, and the mistakes that delay an application.
Do You Need a Visa for Dubai?
Dubai doesn't issue its own visa -- entry is governed by UAE federal immigration rules, administered by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in each emirate. Whether you need to apply in advance depends on your passport and any other travel documents you hold:
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Citizen of a UAE visa-exempt country (most GCC, EU, UK, US, several others) | Entry stamp on arrival, no application needed -- confirm your specific nationality on the official u.ae entry and exit rules page, since the exempt list is updated periodically. |
| Hold a valid US, UK or EU-member-state visa/residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand -- plus a passport valid 6+ months -- and your own nationality isn't already exempt | Likely qualify for a visa on arrival under the UAE's conditional visa-on-arrival rule, confirmed effective for the latest group of nationalities from 25 June 2026 (UK document added 18 August 2026). |
| None of the above | Apply for a UAE eVisa online before you travel -- this is the route most travellers use, and what the rest of this guide walks through. |
| Travelling on a tour package, with an airline add-on, or hosted by a UAE resident | Your tour operator, airline (e.g. Emirates, Etihad) or host may arrange a sponsored visa on your behalf -- ask them directly about cost and timing. |
Sources: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Fragomen immigration alert.
Special cases we've covered in detail
- Indian passport holders with a US visa/Green Card, or a UK/EU residence permit -- a specific conditional visa-on-arrival route exists for this group, with its own qualifying-document table and exceptions (OCI/PIO cards and Schengen tourist visas do not qualify). See UAE entry options for Indian passport holders with US, UK or EU documents.
- UAE visa for Filipinos -- since 25 June 2026, eligible Filipino passport holders can also get visa on arrival under the same conditional-document rule, with UK added on 18 August 2026. See the full breakdown, including AED/PHP costs in our guide.
- GCC residents (non-GCC nationals living in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman or Bahrain) often qualify for different fees and, in some cases, visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry based on their GCC residence rather than their home-country passport. See our UAE visa for GCC residents hub for the country-by-country breakdown.
UAE eVisa Types
If you're applying online rather than using visa on arrival, you'll choose from a small set of standard tourist eVisa types, built around stay length and how many times you can enter the UAE on the same visa:
- Single-entry visas (commonly 14, 30 or 60 days) -- let you enter the UAE once and stay for the stated number of days from your entry date. The right choice for a single trip.
- Multiple-entry visas (30 or 60 days, and a long-validity 5-year option) -- let you enter and exit the UAE repeatedly within the visa's validity window, each stay capped at the stated number of days. Useful if you're visiting more than once, or combining Dubai with a side trip to a neighbouring country. See our dedicated 5-year multiple-entry visa guide if you travel to the UAE often.
Exact visa-type names, validity windows and entry conditions are shown in the live comparison table below, pulled directly from our current visa-type catalog rather than a fixed list here -- so it never falls out of date when a type is added, retired or re-priced.
UAE Visa Fees: Government Fee + Service Fee
Every UAE visa has two components: the government fee set by UAE immigration authorities, and a service fee charged by whichever platform or agent processes your application for you. The table below breaks both out separately so you can see exactly what you're paying for, instead of one bundled number.
| Visa Type | Validity | Entry | Government Fee | Service Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Days Visa | 14 days from the date of entry | Single Entry | $ 100.00 | $ 69.00 | $ 169.00 |
| 10 days Leisure Visa | 10 days from the date of entry | Single entry visa | $ 100.00 | $ 59.00 | $ 159.00 |
| 96 Hour Transit Visa | 96 hours from date of entry | Single Entry | $ 100.00 | $ 49.00 | $ 149.00 |
| 14 Days Visa (Multiple Entry) | 14 days from the date of entry | Multuple Entry | $ 300.00 | $ 99.00 | $ 399.00 |
| 30 Days Visa | 30 days from the date of entry | Single Entry | $ 100.00 | $ 89.00 | $ 189.00 |
| 30 Days Visa (Multiple Entry) | 30 days from the date of first entry | Multiple Entries | $ 270.00 | $ 160.00 | $ 430.00 |
| 90 days Job Seeker visa | 90 Days from the date of entry | 90 days single entry | $ 448.00 | $ 300.00 | $ 748.00 |
| 60 Days Visa | 60 days from the date of first entry | Single Entry | $ 310.00 | $ 190.00 | $ 500.00 |
| 60 Days Visa (Multiple Entry) | 60 days from the date of first entry | Multiple Entries | $ 475.00 | $ 250.00 | $ 725.00 |
| 90 Days Single Entry visa | 90 days from the date of first entry | Single Entry | $ 400.00 | $ 239.00 | $ 639.00 |
| 90 Days Visa (Multiple Entry) | 90 days from the date of first entry | Multiple Entries | $ 580.00 | $ 300.00 | $ 880.00 |
Example pricing for Indian applicants. Your exact government fee and service fee depend on your nationality — select your country to see your price.
If you'd rather apply directly on an official government channel instead of through a facilitator like evisa-uae.org, you can do so via ICP Smart Services -- government fees are the same either way, but you won't pay a service fee, and you take on the application yourself without any support if something goes wrong.
Documents You'll Need
Requirements vary slightly by nationality and visa type, but almost every UAE tourist eVisa application needs:
- Passport -- a clear colour scan of the bio-data page, valid for at least 6 months from your intended entry date. An emergency or temporary travel document is not accepted.
- A recent passport-style photo -- see the exact specification below.
- Confirmed return or onward flight ticket.
- Hotel booking or other proof of accommodation for your stay.
- Proof of sufficient funds for your trip, for some nationalities -- a recent bank statement is usually accepted.
- Additional documents for some nationalities -- certain passports require an employment letter, a no-objection certificate, or a specific sponsor document. If one applies to you, it's flagged during the application.
UAE Visa Photo Requirements
Photo specifications follow the ICP's biometric standard, itself aligned with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) passport-photo guidelines:
- Size: 43 × 55 mm (roughly 1016 × 1300 pixels for a digital upload).
- Background: plain white, with no patterns, shadows or borders.
- Taken within the last 6 months, in full colour, facing forward with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
- No glasses, unless worn for a documented medical reason. No headwear, unless worn for religious reasons -- and even then, your full face from chin to forehead must stay visible.
- Face coverage: roughly 70–80% of the frame, not a full-body or distant shot.
The exact pixel and file-size limits shown on the upload screen at checkout take priority over any guide, including this one -- different intake systems (ours, ICP's own portal, or a third-party agent) can enforce slightly different digital limits even when the physical photo spec is identical. If in doubt, a sharp, high-resolution photo that meets the physical spec above will satisfy any of them.
How to Apply for Your Dubai Visa Online, Step by Step
Applying through evisa-uae.org takes most travellers under 15 minutes:
- 1Choose your visa type
Pick the stay length and entry type (single or multiple) that matches your trip -- see the UAE eVisa types section above if you're unsure.
- 2Fill in your details
Enter your personal information, passport details and planned travel dates. Double-check the spelling against your passport -- this is the single most common cause of delay (see Common Mistakes below).
- 3Upload your documents
Your passport bio-page scan, photo, and return ticket/hotel booking if required at this stage.
- 4Review and pay securely online
Check the government fee + service fee breakdown shown at checkout, then pay by card.
- 5Track your application
Use your reference number to check progress any time on our application tracking page.
- 6Receive your eVisa by email
Once approved, your eVisa is emailed to you as a PDF -- print a copy or keep it accessible on your phone for check-in and arrival.
Ready to apply for your Dubai visa?
Start your application online in a few minutes.
Apply for Your UAE VisaUAE Visa Processing Time
Standard online eVisa processing takes 24–48 hours once we receive your application with all required documents correctly completed -- the same figure we quote across our nationality-specific guides, so you're seeing one consistent number regardless of which page you landed on. Processing can take longer during UAE public holidays or periods of very high application volume, and is always an estimate, not a guarantee, since final approval rests with UAE immigration authorities.
Visa on arrival, where you qualify, is issued at the airport counter itself (or in advance via ICP Smart Services), so there's no multi-day wait -- the trade-off is that it only covers the specific eligible nationalities and document combinations described above.
After Your Visa Is Approved
Check your UAE visa status
Once your application is submitted, you can track your eVisa application status using your reference number. If your visa was issued directly by an airline, sponsor, or another service rather than through us, see our full guide on how to check UAE visa status through the official ICP and GDRFA portals.
"OK to Board" (OTB)
"OK to Board" is an airline-level check, not a UAE government approval -- some airlines must get electronic clearance from the destination country's immigration system before letting a passenger board, to avoid being fined for carrying an inadmissible passenger. For UAE-bound flights, this is typically confirmed automatically once your visa is verified in the airline's system; it isn't something you request separately in most cases. If you're unsure whether it applies to your airline and route, confirm directly with your airline before departure.
Travel insurance
Travel or medical insurance isn't a blanket legal requirement for every UAE tourist visa, but several visa categories and sponsors require proof of coverage, and it's good practice regardless -- UAE private healthcare can be expensive without it. See our UAE travel medical insurance page, or the detailed UAE travel medical insurance requirements guide for what's typically required and recommended coverage levels.
Arrival in the UAE
Have your passport, a copy of your eVisa or qualifying document, your return ticket and hotel booking ready at immigration. Admission remains at the border officer's discretion, even with an approved visa.
Extending Your Stay
Need more time beyond your visa's stay validity? Usually you can apply for an extension before it expires rather than letting it lapse. See our UAE visa extension page for eligibility, cost and how to apply.
Overstaying Your Visa
Overstaying a UAE visa carries a daily fine from the day your permitted stay ends, and can affect future entry if unresolved. See our UAE overstay fine guide for the current rate, or our grace period guide if you've just missed your exit date.
If Your Visa Is Rejected
A small share of applications are rejected -- most commonly over a mismatched name or passport number, a photo that doesn't meet spec, insufficient passport validity, or a missing document for your nationality. Rejections are decided by UAE immigration authorities, not evisa-uae.org. See our UAE visa rejected: what to do next guide for the likely cause and how to reapply.
Common Mistakes That Delay a Dubai Visa Application
- Name or passport number typos -- a single mismatched character against your passport can hold up or reject the application.
- Passport validity under 6 months from your travel date -- renew before applying, not after.
- Photos that don't meet the spec -- a coloured background, glasses, a cropped shot, or a photo older than 6 months are the most common causes of rejection at this step.
- Choosing the wrong entry type -- picking single-entry when you plan to leave and re-enter the UAE means you'll need a second visa.
- Applying too close to your travel date -- standard processing is 24–48 hours, leaving no room to fix a document issue. Apply a few days ahead where possible.
- Assuming visa-on-arrival eligibility without checking -- the conditional rule only applies to specific nationality and document combinations. Use the eligibility checker first.
- Losing your digital eVisa copy -- save it to your phone and print a backup; it may be requested before boarding or on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose your visa type, fill in your personal and passport details, upload your document and photo, pay the government + service fee online, and wait for approval -- typically 24–48 hours.
A Dubai tourist visa is simply a UAE tourist eVisa -- Dubai doesn't issue its own separate visa. Apply through an online facilitator like evisa-uae.org or directly via ICP Smart Services, choosing a 30- or 60-day single- or multiple-entry type based on your trip length.
There are three routes: visa on arrival if you hold a qualifying US, UK, EU or other approved visa/residence permit; an eVisa applied for online before you travel, which covers most travellers; or a sponsored visa arranged by an airline, hotel or UAE-based host. Use our eligibility checker to find out which applies to you.
They're the same thing. Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the UAE, and entry is controlled by federal UAE immigration rules administered by ICP and GDRFA Dubai -- there's no Dubai-only visa distinct from the UAE visa covered throughout this guide.
"Visit visa" and "tourist eVisa" refer to the same product for most travellers. Apply online, choose single- or multiple-entry based on whether you'll leave and re-enter the UAE during your trip, and submit your passport scan, photo and travel documents.
A UAE eVisa is an electronic entry authorisation issued before travel, linked to your passport number rather than a physical stamp or sticker. You apply and pay online, receive a PDF by email once approved, and present it (alongside your passport) on arrival.
It depends on your nationality and any other travel documents you hold. Citizens of several visa-exempt countries don't need one; some nationalities qualify for visa on arrival if they hold a qualifying US, UK, EU or other approved document; everyone else needs to apply for an eVisa before travelling. See the "Do You Need a Visa for Dubai?" section above, or use the eligibility checker for a personalised answer.
Only if your nationality is on the visa-exempt list, or you hold a qualifying document (a valid US, UK or EU-member-state visa/residence permit, or residence in Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand) alongside a passport valid 6+ months. This conditional rule doesn't cover every nationality or every traveller within an eligible nationality.
A passport valid 6+ months, a recent passport-style photo on a plain white background, a confirmed return or onward ticket, and proof of accommodation. Some nationalities need an additional document, flagged during the application.
43 × 55 mm (about 1016 × 1300 pixels), plain white background, taken within the last 6 months, full colour, no glasses or headwear unless medical or religious, face filling roughly 70–80% of the frame.
Standard online eVisa processing takes 24–48 hours once your application and documents are complete. Visa on arrival, where you qualify, is issued at the airport itself with no multi-day wait.
It depends on visa type, duration and your nationality -- every UAE visa fee is a government fee plus a service fee if you use a facilitator. See the itemised fee table above for current pricing by visa type.
You'll typically need to identify the cause -- commonly a document, photo or eligibility issue -- and reapply with it corrected. See our UAE visa rejected guide.
Cancellations within 7 working days of submission, before processing starts, are refundable minus a flat USD 55 fee, per our refund and cancellation policy. Visas rejected by UAE immigration authorities are not refundable.
Save your eVisa PDF, confirm with your airline whether "OK to Board" clearance applies to your route, and check you have travel insurance if your visa category or sponsor requires it.
Sources
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs — UAE grants visa on arrival to nationals of six countries
- Fragomen — UAE visa-on-arrival program changes affecting several nationalities
- u.ae — Entry and exit rules for residents and visitors
- ICP Smart Services — official visa application and status-checking portal
- evisa-uae.org refund and cancellation policy, and current visa-type fee catalog
evisa-uae.org is a private visa facilitation service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any UAE government agency. Visa eligibility, fees and processing times are ultimately determined by UAE immigration authorities; confirm current rules directly with ICP (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or GDRFA before booking non-refundable travel.