Visa policy of the United Arab Emirates explained

The visa policy of the United Arab Emirates allows citizens of certain countries to enter the United Arab Emirates without a visa. Citizens of certain other countries must obtain a visa from one of the UAE diplomatic missions. Alternatively, they may obtain an online visa through Smart Service or airlines.

All visitors must have a passport valid for at least 6 months, or 3 months if holding a residence permit. Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries need only show a government-issued ID card.

Visa exemption (free visa on arrival)

Ordinary passports

Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories may enter the UAE without a visa for the following period:[1]

Freedom of movement

180 days

90 days

90 days within any 180 days

  • All European Union member states (except Ireland)

90 days within any 12 months

30 days

ID - May enter with an ID card.
1 - For holders of biometric passports without "Article 17" stamp.
2 - Days above are for holders of ordinary passports only, non-ordinary passports are visa-exempt for 90 days within any 6-month period instead.
3 - Applicable for both holders of ordinary passports and passports for public affairs.
4 - Only applicable for British citizens, British Overseas Territories citizens and British Subjects who have a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode.

Non-ordinary passports

In addition to countries whose citizens are visa-exempt, holders of diplomatic or official/service passports of Algeria, Burkina Faso (30 days), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Grenada, India, Indonesia (30 days), Jordan, Liberia, Morocco, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Thailand (30 days), Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam (30 days) and holders of diplomatic passports of Armenia, Burundi, Chad, Congo DR, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Uzbekistan do not require a visa for 90 days (unless otherwise stated).

Future changes

United Arab Emirates has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet been ratified or applied:

CountryPassportsAgreement signed on
Ghana[15] All6 August 2021
Jamaica[16] Diplomatic, official 23 September 2019
[17] Diplomatic 23 April 2019
Papua New Guinea[18] All21 October 2017
Kenya[19] Diplomatic25 February 2017
Guyana[20] AllSeptember 2024

Online Visa

Citizens of other countries have the option to obtain an online visa by two ways:

Smart Service

Visitors may obtain a visa online through Smart Service for Dubai[21] or other emirates.[22] Passengers must have a printed e-Visa confirmation.

Airline Visa

Visitors may obtain a visa online through an airline if they are arriving on Air Arabia,[23] Air Astana,[24] Emirates,[25] Etihad[26] (and Air Baltic, Air Serbia, flydubai,[27] Turkish Airlines[28] and Indigo Airlines.

Transit visa

Passengers on all international airlines may enter the United Arab Emirates for 96 hours after obtaining a transit visa at the airport.

The time difference between the 2 flights must be over 8 hours and the passenger must continue to a third destination.

Passengers also must have a hotel booking. This is not applicable to citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, Syria, Somalia, Yemen.

All travellers in transit are exempt from entry fees for the first 48 hours; this short time may be extended for up to 96 hours for a fee of 50 AED.[29] [30]

Substitute visa

Citizens of India with an ordinary passport valid for 6 months from the arrival date with a visa issued by the USA which is valid for a minimum of 6 months may obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days. They may apply before departure.[31] Indian citizens may extend their stay for an additional 14 days.

The UAE has also introduced a new Green Visa for people with bachelors degrees who earn Dh15,000 (4,084 USD) or more per month.

The five-year visa policy would offer greater stability and flexibility to middle-income workers in the education sector and attract new talent to the Emirates.[32]

UAE Golden Visa

The Golden Visa was invoked by the government of the United Arab Emirates in 2019,[33] under Cabinet Resolution No.56 of Organization of Residence Permits for Investors, Entrepreneurs and Professional Talent, 2018.[34] The UAE Golden Visa costs 136,000 USD for investors.[35]

Admission restrictions

Citizens of Nigeria are required to hold a hotel booking or an accommodation address for the whole period of their intended stay.

Citizens of South Sudan who hold a "business passport" are refused entry into the United Arab Emirates, but are allowed to transit in the UAE.

Use UAE Visa for other countries

The UAE visa or residence permit is accepted as a substitute visa and this visa allows simplified entry into the following countries:

Visitor statistics

Emirate of Dubai

Most visitors arriving to Emirate of Dubai were from the following countries of nationality:[40] [41] [42] [43]

style=background:Countrystyle=background:2022style=background:2019style=background:2018style=background:2017style=background:2016style=background:2015
1,842,000 1,970,000 2,032,000 2,073,000 1,800,000 1,601,000
1,311,000 1,030,000 829,000 862,000 1,037,000 1,002,000
1,216,000 1,565,000 1,568,000 1,529,000 1,638,000 1,542,000
1,043,000 1,200,000 1,212,000 1,265,000 1,245,000 1,188,000
758,000 728,000 678,000 530,000 240,000 211,000
590,000 667,000 656,000 633,000 607,000 602,000
422,000 560,000 567,000 506,000 462,000 461,000
n/a 989,000 857,000 764,000 540,000 450,000
n/a 501,000 513,000 598,000 607,000 513,000
503,000 472,000 462,000--->
Total 14,360,000 16,730,000 15,920,000 15,790,000 14,900,000 14,200,000

Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Hotel guests checking in hotels in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi were from the following countries of nationality:[44]

style=background:Countrystyle=background:2019style=background:2018style=background:2017
450,000 416,000 360,000
396,000 401,000 372,000
267,000 278,000 261,000
204,000 194,000164,000
184,000 169,000 160,000
175,000 183,000 181,000
163,000 168,000 152,000
128,000 142,000 131,000
Total 5,100,000 5,043,821 4,852,405

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UAE visa information . . 31 December 2017 . 28 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828191104/https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visas/index.aspx . live .
  2. Web site: It's official! Visa-free travel to UAE for all Seychelles passports as of Thursday . Sharon Uranie . 14 July 2015 . . 31 December 2017 . 30 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191130120030/http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/3322/It%27s+official+Visa-free+travel+to+UAE+for+all+Seychelles+passports+as+of+Thursday . live.
  3. Web site: Memorándum de Entendimiento entre la República Argentina y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos sobre Exención Mutua del Requisito de Visa para Titulares de Pasaportes Ordinarios . Memorandum of Understanding between the Argentine Republic and the United Arab Emirates on the Mutual Exemption of the Visa Requirement for Holders of Ordinary Passports . es . . 31 December 2017 . 17 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170917171819/http://tratados.mrecic.gov.ar/tratado_ficha.php?id=11198 . live .
  4. Web site: UAE visa-waiver deal with Chile. . UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation . 31 December 2017 . 12 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140920/https://www.mofa.gov.ae/EN/MediaCenter/News/Pages/25-12-2017-UAE-Chile.aspx . live .
  5. Web site: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceae/chn/xwdt/t1520811.htm . zh:驻阿联酋大使倪坚出席中阿扩大免签范围换文仪式 . zh . 19 December 2017 . Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Arab Emirates . 31 December 2017 . 22 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052757/http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceae/chn/xwdt/t1520811.htm . live .
  6. Web site: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-kiev/press/article/details/7340?lang=ru.
  7. Web site: Detalji. Mvp.gov.me. 22 April 2019. 5 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210305034538/https://mvp.gov.me/vijesti/183379/Stupio-na-snagu-Protokol-o-izmjenama-i-dopunama-Sporazuma-izmedu-vlada-Crne-Gore-i-Ujedinjenih-Arapskih-Emirata-o-ukidanju-viza.html. live.
  8. https://concordia.itamaraty.gov.br/detalhamento/11945 Agreement between the government of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the government of the United Arab Emirates on mutual visa waiver for holders of a normal passport
  9. Web site: MoFAIC -- News -- UAE citizens exempt from pre-entry visa to Barbados. Mofa.gov.ae. 22 April 2019. 19 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190519144040/https://www.mofa.gov.ae/EN/MediaCenter/News/Pages/01-06-2018-UAE-Barbados.aspx. live.
  10. Web site: UAE, Mexico exchange MoU on visa exemption. Gulfnews.com. 11 October 2018 . 22 April 2019. 8 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308150805/https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/uae-mexico-exchange-mou-on-visa-exemption-1.2288826. live.
  11. Web site: Ambasada Republike Srbije u Ujedinjenim Arapskim Emiratima . 2019-05-14 . 2021-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210224150220/http://www.abudhabi.mfa.gov.rs/lat/newstext.php?subaction=showfull&id=1557820439 . live .
  12. Web site: Emiratis can now visit Paraguay without pre-entry visas. 2019-09-01. 2019-09-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190901124611/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/americas/another-country-added-to-visa-free-travel-list. live.
  13. Web site: Los colombianos podrán visitar los Emiratos Árabes Unidos sin visa, a partir del 5 de marzo . 2020-02-24 . 2020-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224234520/https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/newsroom/news/colombianos-podran-visitar-emiratos-arabes-unidos-visa-partir-5-marzo . live.
  14. Web site: Maryana Ahmadova . Azerbaijan, UAE initiate visa-free travel . Trend.Az . . 10 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710182550/https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3770561.html . 10 July 2023 . en . 8 July 2023 . live.
  15. Web site: UAE and Ghana signed a visa exemption agreement.
  16. Web site: 2019-09-23 . UAE and Jamaica signed a visa exemption agreement . 2022-04-08 . jamaica-gleaner.com . en . 2022-04-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220414053931/https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20190923/jamaica-united-arab-emirates-sign-visa-waiver-agreement . live .
  17. Web site: 2019-04-23 . UAE and South Sudan signed a visa exemption agreement . 2022-04-08 . wam . 2022-04-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220414124723/http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302757683 . live.
  18. Web site: UAE and Papua New Guinea signsed a visa exemption agreement . Khaleejtimes.com . 2017-10-21 . 2019-09-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903084951/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/rest-of-asia/uae-signs-visa-exemption-mou-with-two-pacific-countries . live.
  19. Web site: Kenya and UAE signed a visa exemption agreement. 2017-03-02 . 2017-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303050733/http://www.nation.co.ke/news/1056-3827198-3bjcnqz/ . live.
  20. https://x.com/UAEMissionToUN/status/1838760277279469656
  21. Web site: Dubai Online Visa.
  22. Web site: Online Visa for other emirates.
  23. Web site: Visa and passport information - Air Arabia. Airarabia.com. 2014-01-23. 2013-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20131123091603/http://www.airarabia.com/en/visa-and-passport-information. live.
  24. Web site: Visas. Air Astana. 2016-03-02. 2016-03-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311115514/http://airastana.com/kaz/en-us/Plan/Visas. live.
  25. Web site: UAE visa information - Visa & passport information - Before you fly - Emirates. Emirates. 2013-12-20. 2020-05-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200525071013/https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/. live.
  26. Web site: UAE visa - Etihad Airways. 2014-01-23. 2013-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20130412060323/http://www.etihad.com/en/before-you-fly/visas/. live.
  27. Web site: UAE Visas. Flydubai.com. 2014-01-23. 2012-07-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20120701013745/http://www.flydubai.com/en/about-us/uae-visas/. live.
  28. Web site: Turkish Airlines. Evize.turkishairlines.com. 2016-07-13. 2013-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20130509072859/https://evize.turkishairlines.com/. live.
  29. Web site: UAE announces new visa rules for residents, jobseekers and tourists . 14 June 2018 . Gulf Business . 22 April 2019 . 22 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190422144903/https://gulfbusiness.com/uae-announces-new-visa-rules-residents-jobseekers-tourists/ . live.
  30. Web site: В ОАЭ отменили визы для транзитных туристов. 14 June 2018 . Tourdom.ru . 22 April 2019. 16 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180616130606/https://www.tourdom.ru/news/v-oae-otmenili-vizy-dlya-tranzitnykh-turistov.html . live.
  31. Web site: Smart Service.
  32. Web site: 2022-04-28 . What the UAE's new green visa means for teachers . 2022-05-02 . The National . en . 2022-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220502101804/https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/education/2022/04/28/what-the-uaes-new-green-visa-means-for-teachers/ . live.
  33. News: Bell . Jennifer . UAE Golden Visa: Are you eligible and how do you apply? . 21 February 2023 . . 16 February 2023 . en.
  34. Web site: Golden Visa UAE . live . Future Vision . 2021-12-15 . 2021-12-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211215074006/https://www.futurevisionme.com/golden-visa.
  35. News: Gokulan . Dhanusha . More investors seek second passports, UAE Golden Visas amid global headwinds . 21 February 2023 . . en.
  36. Timatic.
  37. Web site: Azerbaijan grants UAE residents visa on arrival . 29 July 2018 . 2020-01-02 . 2020-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200102140216/https://gulfbusiness.com/azerbaijan-grants-uae-residents-visa-arrival/ . live.
  38. Web site: On Approval of the List of Countries, Whose Visa and/or Residence Permit Holders May Enter Georgia without a Visa for an Appropriate Period and under Appropriate Conditions . 2020-01-02 . 2020-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200102140528/https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/2867377%3Fpublication%3D0 . live.
  39. Web site: Uzbekistan Visa for UAE Citizens and Residents . 2023-09-06 . www.advantour.com.
  40. Web site: Visitor by Nationality - Emirate of Dubai 2017. Dsc.gov.ae. 2018-10-18. 2018-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102841/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%20%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9%202017.pdf. live.
  41. Web site: Visitor by Nationality* - Emirate of Dubai (2014 - 2016). Dsc.gov.ae. 2018-10-18. 2019-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190618064725/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25B2%25D9%2588%25D8%25A7%25D8%25B1%2520%25D8%25AD%25D8%25B3%25D8%25A8%2520%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25AC%25D9%2586%25D8%25B3%25D9%258A%25D8%25A9%25202016.pdf. live.
  42. Web site: Visitor by Nationality by years . 2020-09-02 . 2017-10-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171003133417/https://www.dsc.gov.ae/en-us/Themes/Pages/Tourism.aspx?Theme=30 . live .
  43. https://www.dubaitourism.gov.ae/en/research-and-insights/annual-visitor-report-2022 Annual visitor report 2023. Dubai
  44. Web site: Abu Dhabi Hotel Report 2018 . Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism . 31 December 2018 . 4 March 2019 . 6 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111401/https://tcaabudhabi.ae/DataFolder/reports/hotel-establishment/2018/Hotel-Performance-Monthly-Report-YTD-EN-Dec-2018.pdf . live.

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