Understanding the Major UAE Tourist Visa Requirements

The UAE, besides being one of the fastest-growing economies in the Middle East, features numerous exquisite architectural marvels. It also has a diverse range of markets, historical and cultural sites, and so forth. All these factors attract innumerable tourists from all corners of the globe, all year round.

As a tourist, you can stay in the UAE to explore all its attractions, tourist sites, and more. For this, you would simply need a UAE tourist visa, which can be availed for different validity periods. However, before you pack your bags and plan a voyage, you must gather all the details necessary to secure a tourist visa.

Let’s discuss the primary UAE tourist visa requirements, the documents required for UAE tourist visa, and all the related aspects.

Who is Eligible for a Tourist Visa?

If you are considered ineligible for a visa on arrival or unable to secure a visa-free entry to the country, you would be required to have a UAE tourist visa. While applicants from most countries can apply for this visa, certain UAE tourist visa requirements must be kept in mind before applying.

Listed below are the general UAE tourist visa eligibility criteria that you must fulfil first –

• Women below 18 years of age must be accompanied by their parents during their stay in the UAE
• Children below 18 years of age travelling with their parents between July 15 and September 15 are eligible for a free visa for their visit

It’s worth noting that the UAE tourist visa requirements can vary as per the selected type of visa. For instance, if you are applying for a UAE 5-year tourist visa, you would be required to have a bank balance of at least USD 4,000 (or equivalent in another currency) for the last 6 months or more, a medical or health insurance plan that is valid in the UAE, and so forth.

How to Apply for a UAE Tourist Visa?

Various modes of application are available if you wish to apply for a UAE tourist visa. After verifying that you clear the UAE tourist visa requirements, you can go for any of the following modes to apply for the visa –

1. Through Airlines

Numerous airlines offer visa services as a part of add-on services to customers. While travelling to the UAE, you can select this facility on the condition that you are travelling with the same airline for your visit.

The specifics of the visa services provided by airlines vary as per your chosen airline. For more information, you can visit the official website of your chosen airline.

2. Via Agencies and Hotels

You can also get your tourist visa UAE with the help of licenced agencies and hotels in the country. However, similar to the conditions set by the airlines, the said hotels and agencies would require you to avail of their services to offer you their visa services.

For instance, you may opt for getting your tourist visa from a particular hotel in the UAE. In this case, you may be required to have bookings or reservations with that specific hotel to be considered eligible for their visa services and assistance.

3. Using the Official Websites

You can also visit the official websites of agencies like the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA).

On these portals, you can easily apply for a tourist visa for UAE online by completing all the steps on the respective portals. Moreover, these agencies have their own applications offering similar services, namely UAEICP and DubaiNow. You can even download these applications on your phone and apply there.

Keep in mind that no UAE embassy issues tourist visas directly. Thus the most convenient way to obtain a tourist visa is to contact any UAE-based airline or tour agency/hotel or even visit the official portals discussed above. Before submitting any official documents or making any payment, it is advisable to check the authenticity of the agency.

Validity of the Tourist Visa

The validity of your tourist visa to UAE can range from 30 to 90 days, depending upon the visa that you select. You can extend the validity of your UAE tourist by up to 60 days as per reports.

Documents Required for UAE Tourist Visa

Check out the list given below to find out the general tourist visa documents required for UAE –

• Passport copy
• Passport size colour photo
• Medical or health insurance that is valid in the UAE
• Bank account statements
• Return tickets
• Tour itinerary – bookings related to accommodation, travel, activities, and more

Keep in mind that besides the ones listed above, other tourist visa documents required for UAE may be asked for as well.

Check out the next section to see what people have been asking with respect to UAE tourist visa requirements as well as the documents required for UAE tourist visas –

FAQ's