UAE Visa Application & Requirements

The UAE is visited by millions of people each year due to the amazing places you can find there. Starting from the futuristic and modern architecture up to the beautiful historic buildings.

If you want to visit UAE you might need a visa for it.

Read this article to find out everything you need to know about UAE visas.

Who needs a visa to Dubai or other Emirates?

To apply for a visa to Dubai or the other Emirates will depend on your home country. Not every country is allowed to enter the UAE without a visa, however, there are those that are visa-exempt.

Nevertheless, before traveling to the UAE we recommend that you always contact the embassy or consulate for more information regarding the visa requirements as well as whether your country is visa-exempt or not.

UAE visa-exempt countries

If you are from the following countries you can travel to UAE with only your passport or ID:

Oman
Kuwait
Bahrain
Saudi Arabia

180 days visa-free countries

The only country that is allowed to stay in the UAE for a period of a maximum of 180 days is Mexico. You will not be required a visa because Mexico is a visa-free country in UAE.

However, there are also some countries where you can stay for up to 90 days within the period of 180 days. These countries are:

European Union countries
Honduras
Iceland
Norway
Montenegro
Russia
Switzerland
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

90 days visa-free countries

If you are from the following countries then you can stay in the UAE for 90 days:

Argentina
Barbados
Brazil
Chile
Nauru
Paraguay
Serbia
Solomon Islands
Seychelles
Uruguay

30 days visa-free countries

Countries that can stay in UAE for up to 30 days are:

China
Japan
Macau
Ukraine

UAE visa types

The UAE visas are categorized into the following:

Tourist visa - Granted for tourism purposes
Residence visas - This type of visa is classified into a work visa, student visa and family visa
Long-term residence visa - Granted mostly to investors or those who want to stay in the UAE for a long period of time
Transit visa - Issued to those who want to travel to a third country through UAE

UAE visa requirements

If you want to apply for a UAE visa then you should keep in mind the following requirements:

A valid passport
Copies of passport pages
Biometric photos
Round trip ticket
Accommodation evidence
Medical insurance
A letter stating the purpose of travel
Legal residence evidence
If you are visiting someone you will need to provide the relationship you have with them as well as their residential and financial status
If you have traveled to the UAE before then you must provide evidence
You may also be required to provide your financial status, address, and certificate of marriage

How to apply for UAE visa?

You should know that you can not apply for a UAE visa through an embassy or consulate and you can not submit the application yourself.

In order to apply for a UAE visa, it should be done by someone who lives in the UAE, a host or sponsor, or a travel agency.

How long is a UAE visa valid for?

A UAE visa normally is valid for 60 days, however, the length of the time after entering will depend on the intent of your trip.

Tourists are allowed to stay for 30 days. You are only permitted to stay for four days when you are transiting. Work visas in the UAE are only valid for two months, after which you must either change it to a residency permit or leave the state.