Today, the UAE has people from more than 200 different countries, and it’s still open to welcoming more from all over the world. Like many other places, if you want to visit the UAE, you need to get a visit visa.
Do you want your family to come visit you in the UAE? Or maybe you’re planning a short trip to the UAE to see your loved ones. Either way, you’re in the right spot to get all the info you need about UAE visit visas. Let’s look into it without wasting any time!
An introduction to visit visa UAE
A visit visa lets you come to the UAE for a certain time. Usually, you need someone to sponsor you for this visa, like a family member, friend, airline, or travel agency. But not everyone needs a visit visa to go to the UAE. People from countries like the USA, UK, and Japan can get a visa when they arrive in the UAE.
It is like entering a country for different reasons like vacation, seeing family or friends, doing business, getting medical treatment, studying, or just passing through on your way to somewhere else.
Visit visa new and Visit visa extension
A visit visa is a document that allows a person to enter a country for a temporary stay. In the context of the UAE, a visit visa permits travelers to enter the country for a limited period, typically ranging from a few days to several months, depending on the type of visa and its validity.
If you want to stay in a country past the expiration date on your visa, you can apply for visa extension. This involves filling out some forms and giving some documents to the immigration office. If they approve it, you can stay for a bit longer without having to leave the country and get a new visa.
Types of visit visa in UAE
Dubai has different kinds of visas, and which one you pick depends on why you’re going there.
Tourist visa
You can get a tourist visa by yourself without needing someone in the UAE to help you out.
UAE has two types of tourist visas: a 14-day visa, where you can stay for up to 14 days, and it’s valid for two months, and a 30-day visa, where you can stay for up to 30 days, and you need to finish your trip within 60 days of getting the visa. Tourists can stay in the UAE for up to 30 days if they’re sponsored by UAE airlines, hotels, or travel agencies. You can also extend the 30-day visa for up to ten more days, but there are some rules you have to follow.
5-year Multiple entry UAE visit visa
If you want to explore the UAE freely over time, the 5-year multiple entry tourist visa is a great choice. It lets you visit the country multiple times over five years, giving you plenty of chances to discover all the amazing things the UAE has to offer.
With the 5-year multiple entry tourist visa, travelers can come in and out of the country many times over five years. It’s perfect for people who visit often, travel for business, or have family and friends in the UAE. If travelers give the required papers and meet the rules, they can easily extend their visa without any issues.
Job seeker Visa
At the end of 2022, the UAE changed its visa rules, which was a big deal for immigration. One of the changes was the new jobseeker visa, meant to attract young and skilled people to look for jobs there. These rules started on October 3, 2022, after getting approved in April of the same year. Experts thought this new visa would bring lots of people looking for jobs. They said the changes would make it easier for people to come to the UAE to find work, moving towards a more flexible and modern system for immigration and jobs.
The new jobseeker visa is for people in different skill levels according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, as well as recent graduates from the top 500 universities worldwide. You don’t need someone to sponsor you or host you for this visa. You need at least a bachelor’s degree or something similar. The visa lets you enter and exit the UAE for 60 days at a time.
Business visa
The Business Visa for the UAE, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi is a permit slip for foreigners to come and do business there. There are different types, like the Golden Visa, Short-Term Visit Visa, Investor Visa, Entrepreneur Visa, Mission Visa, and Freelance Visa. Each one is designed for different situations, whether you’re just visiting for a bit or planning to invest or work independently for a long time.
Residential visa
If you want to live and work in the United Arab Emirates for a long time, you need a UAE Residence Visa. Having this visa comes with lots of perks, like being able to open a bank account, get loans, travel to some countries without needing a visa, enroll your kids in schools, get a driver’s license, and use government health services and insurance.
To get a UAE Residence Visa, you need to fit into one of these groups: working for a government office or a company, studying at a UAE school, being a family member of a UAE citizen or foreign resident (like a child, parent, or maid), investing in the UAE, buying property there, or planning to retire in the UAE.
Application Process
Getting a Dubai/UAE tourist visa is super easy now with the online e-visa system. You can apply for it right from your computer or phone, thanks to services like Ex Arabia, a top tours and travels in Abu Dhabi. No more struggling to get visa appointments, waiting in long lines, or dealing with tons of paperwork. Now, getting a UAE visit visa is super cool!
- Visit the official website or authorized visa service provider Abu Dhabi website to start your application process.
- Complete the online visa application form with correct information. This might include passport number, contact number, arrival date, etc.
- Scan and upload the required documents, such as passport copy, passport-sized photograph, flight itinerary, hotel reservation, and any additional documents as specified by the visa service provider.
- Pay the visa fee online using a credit or debit card. The fee varies depending on the type and duration of the visa.
- Once you submit your application, it will be processed by the immigration authorities. You may receive updates on the status of your application via email or through the online portal.
New UAE Visit Visa Extension Rules – 2024
The rules for extending visit visas in the UAE have changed a lot lately. In 2024, you can extend a 30-day or 60-day visit visa for up to another 60 days at a time. You can also extend your visa while you’re in the UAE, which is called an in-country extension. But you have to use the same agency that gave you your original visa. Another option is the airport-to-airport visa change, where you quickly leave to a nearby country and come back to get a new visa.
Visit Visa Extension options available
You can only renew your visit visa two times at most, with each extension lasting up to 60 days. If you extend your visa on the last day, you’ll have to pay a fee of 100 AED. So, it’s important to renew your visa before it expires to avoid extra charges.
Visit visa UAE cost
Here are the visa fees from GDRFA, excluding service fees. For single-entry long-period visas, like the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day visas, the fees range from AED 200 to AED 400. If you’re looking for multi-entry visit visas, the costs vary from AED 300 to AED 700, depending on the duration of the visa. Additionally, there are visit visas specifically for exploring job or business opportunities, ranging from AED 200 to AED 400 for durations of 60 days to 120 days.
It’s essential to remember that visa fees are non-refundable, and the amount you pay could change depending on the details you provide in your application. Moreover, when applying online, you might need to pay a security deposit. Be sure to check the government website for the latest updates on fees, as they are subject to change. Or else you can directly contact the best visa agency Abu Dhabi as they are always updated with the latest government updates.
Fines for overstay
If you stay in the UAE after your visit visa expires, you might have to pay fines. The government recently got rid of the 10-day grace period, so it’s best to extend your visa before it ends. Starting from February 2024, you’ll be charged AED 50 for each extra day you stay in the UAE after your visa expires.
FAQs
- How long does it take to process a UAE visit visa application?
Processing times can vary, but it typically takes 4-5 days to a couple of weeks for a UAE visit visa application to be processed.
- Can I work on a UAE visit visa?
No, visit visas are typically for tourism, visiting family or friends, or conducting short-term business activities. Working on a visit visa is not permitted and may result in legal consequences. And the employer is responsible for covering the costs of recruitment expenses, as stated in the Labour Law.
- What should I do if my UAE visit visa application is rejected?
If your UAE visit visa application is rejected, you may seek clarification from the immigration authorities regarding the reasons for the rejection. You may also consider reapplying if you believe the rejection was due to a misunderstanding or error.
- Can I sponsor my family members for a UAE visit visa?
Yes, UAE residents can sponsor their family members for visit visas, allowing them to come to the UAE for a temporary stay. Requirements and procedures may vary depending on the relationship between the sponsor and the applicant.
- Can I travel to other countries from the UAE on a visit visa?
Yes, you can usually travel to other countries from the UAE on a visit visa, but it’s essential to check the visa requirements of the destination country before traveling.
- Do I need a sponsor to apply for a UAE visit visa?
In many cases, yes, you will need a sponsor to apply for a UAE visit visa. The sponsor can be a relative, friend, employer, or authorized entity such as an airline or travel agency.