United Arab Emirates Visa – 7 Ways to Apply for UAE Visa Online, E-Visa, Visa On Arrival in 3 Easy Steps

Comprising of 7 emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Quwain, Ras al Khaymah, and Fujairah – the United Arab Emirates is one of the most intriguing and exciting places in the world. The cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi with their high-end hotels, a glitzy nightlife, and impressive buildings are just the beginning of what’s on offer. Head out into the arid countryside and you’ll find all sorts of wondrous sights – waterfalls, huge sand dunes, archaeological sites and much more! In this article learn more about how to apply for UAE Visa at the United Arab Emirates embassies and consulates, UAE visa appointment booking, Visa on arrival, UAE visa online, United Arab Emirates e-visa, Processing time at the UAE visa application centers, UAE visa application form, apply from USA, India, China, Philippines, Russia, UAE visa application requirements, flight itinerary or round trip ticket or return flight booking or flight reservation, UAE visa types, Travel insurance, Hotel reservation or proof of accommodation.

Applying For United Arab Emirates Visa

If you are in possession of a passport from any of the following countries, you don’t need a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates:

Please take note of the following regulations in case they refer to you:

ID – may enter with an ID card

1 – Not application to passports stamped “Article 17, paragraph 2”

2 – Including holders of passports for public affairs

3 – For holders of biometric passports only

Holders of the following countries are able to enter the United Arab Emirates by obtaining a visa on arrival for a maximum of 30 days

Regulations that apply:

1 – Only applicable for British citizens, British overseas territories citizens, and British subjects who have a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode

In addition, citizens of India who are in possession of a valid visa or who are residents of the US or residents of the EU are eligible for a visa on arrival for a maximum of 14 days.

If you are from a country not mentioned above, you need to apply for a visa to be able to enter the United Arab Emirates.

Types of visas for the United Arab Emirates

 There are a few types of visas available for the United Arab Emirates and the one you will apply for will depend on your reason for traveling there:

1. Tourist – for those not eligible for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry
2. Medical reasons – if you wish to have medical treatment under the sponsorship of the medical establishment, government and private hospitals
3. Retirement – for those over the age of 55 who wish to retire in the United Arab Emirates
4. Transit – for those who wish to transit through the UAEs airports. Citizens of Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, and Yemen are not eligible for a transit visa
5. Student – if you wish to study in the UAE either being sponsored by parents or relatives OR if you wish to study higher education
6. Work – if you wish to work in the United Arab Emirates
7. Service – if you have been delegated to perform a business role in the UAE

Where to apply for the UAE visa

The application process for a visa for the United Arab Emirates is not like others where you apply through an embassy or consulate. UAE embassies do NOT issue tourist visas, so in order to get a United Arab Emirates visa you must apply through a sponsor who will be responsible for you during your stay in the UAE. Sponsors can be:

1. A hotel or travel agency – on your behalf, they can apply for the following types of visa:

– 30-day tourist visa

– 14-day service visa

– 30-day visit visa

2. A number of airlines
3. Individuals – relatives or friends already resident in the UAE can apply on your behalf for a visit visa

Applying through a hotel or travel agency

In order to apply through a hotel or agency, the business should be licensed, and you must purchase a ticket through the agency and/or make a booking with a particular hotel.

If you apply for your tourist visa through an agency, you must make sure they are genuine. To help you find this out, you can contact your local UAE embassy in your country and you will find the details of the embassies near you:

Applying UAE visa through an airline

You can apply for your tourist visa through a number of airlines, but you must fly with them as well as meeting other conditions to be able to do this. Check the specific websites of these airlines for more information:

Air Arabia

Fly Dubai

Etihad Airways

Emirates

Applying UAE visa via sponsorship from friends or family

In order to apply for your tourist visa through friends or family, you must send them the following documents:

1. Copy of your passport
2. Copy of your immigration status, such as a green card or valid visa etc.

Your sponsor will then go to their local immigration office in the United Arab Emirates to process the application. Please make sure your sponsor sends a copy of the visa to you, so you have it in your possession when you arrive in the UAE. Once there, you will receive the original visa.

Other ways to apply for your UAE visa

If you have a look at the website of the Official Portal of the UAE Government, you will see there are other ways to apply for your UAE visa:

If you wish to apply for a new visa, you have 3 options to do so via online methods:

The eChannel Portal For The United Arab Emirates Visa

You can apply for an eVisa through the website of the Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship. Scroll down and choose “Individuals”:

You will need to register and create an account before you can proceed with applying for your visa:

The websites of GDRFA

You can also apply online through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner Affairs (GDRFA). There is a different website for each emirate:

Dubai

Sharjah

Ajman

Ras Al Khaimah

Fujairah

Mobile Applications

You can also apply for your UAE entry visa through:

1. the ICA UAE eChannels for Apple and Android
2. the GDRFA Dubai app for Apple and Android

Applying UAE visa through a visa service center

If you live in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, or Tunisia you have the option of applying through one of the UAE visa centers. These service centers process work-related visas only. If this applies to you, go to the website of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation and you will find out where the visa centers are located:

The UAE visa service centers

Colombo – Sri Lanka

Address: 112, Kumarathunga Munidasa Mawatha, Colombo

Phone: 0094112554777

Fax: 0094112554774

Email: conscolombo@mofa.gov.ae

Opening hours Monday to Friday 9 am – 4 pm

Jakarta – Indonesia

Address: Menara Prima 2, Podium Arcade floor — Block 6.3 Lingkar Mega Kuningan Jak-Sel

Phone: +6221-25985500

Fax: +6221-57940086/7

Email: consoffice.jakarta@mofa.gov.ae

Opening hours Monday to Friday 9 am – 4 pm

Nairobi – Kenya

Address: Nyerere Road – P.O. Box 42222 – 00100 – Nairobi – Kenya

Phone: +254709991777

Email: Nairobi@mofa.gov.ae

Opening hours Monday to Friday 9 am – 4 pm

Dhaka – Bangladesh 

Address: EMPORI FINANCIAL -Road #93 plot # 6 Ground floor Gulshan North Avenue, Dhaka

Phone: +8809609111000

Email: consdhaka@mofa.gov.ae

Opening hours Sunday to Thursday, 9 am – 4 pm

Cairo – Egypt

Address: Block 77, Street 90, Fifth Settlement, New Cairo, near Al-Ahly Bank

Phone: +2 0226730000 – +2 0226730004

Email: conscairo@mofa.gov.ae

Opening hours Sunday to Thursday, 8 am – 3 pm

New Delhi – India

Address: Ground Floor, Ambience Commercial Complex (Ambience Tower), VASANT KUNJ

Phone: +91 11 3921 7555

Email: consular.newdelhi@mofa.gov.ae

Opening hours from Monday to Friday 9 am – 4 pm

Tunis – Tunisia

Address: Panorama Building, Bourse Street, Lake 2, Tunis

Phone: +216 71100700

Email: constunis@mofa.gov.ae

Opening hours from Monday to Friday  8 am – 3 pm

You can contact any of these service centers if you have any queries about applying for your UAE visa.

If you live in any of these countries and you wish to apply for a work visa, you must make an appointment in order to apply. Click on the link:

Enter your e-mail address and passport number, and you will be able to make an appointment to visit one of the centers:

The United Arab Emirates Visa Application Process and Requirements

Typical turnaround times are around 3-4 business days, but it could take longer depending on where you are applying, the type of visa, and your nationality. However, depending on how and where you are applying, it could take as little as 1-2 days, but it’s still advisable to apply for your UAE visa well in advance of your trip because if you leave it too late it may not be processed time. Generally, you can apply a maximum of 58 days prior to your travel dates.

If you are applying through a visa service center, you will need to make an appointment. If you are applying through online channels, including the GDRFA or an airline, you can do everything through the aforementioned websites. The application form can be completed online.

Step 1: Get your documents ready

You must ensure that you have all the required documents when you submit your visa application. Missing paperwork will mean that your application is incomplete and it will not be accepted by the visa authority and/or your application will be rejected. In addition, you need to provide originals as well as photocopies of everything.

Documents you need to get ready are:

1) Visa application form fully completed and signed along with a color photo

2) Passport valid for 6 months past trip to UAE and colored photocopy of pages

3) Confirmed return flight booking – it is highly recommended to not purchase the ticket until the visa is approved

4) Proof of immigration status in the US – green card or valid visa etc.

5) Bank approval letter

6) Invitation letter from a host in the UAE

7) Consent, ID, and proof of residence of parents/spouse for female applicants who are above 18 years old and traveling alone

8) Income tax return or 6 x salary slips

9) Marriage and/or birth certificate

10) Details of escorts and/or relatives for family sponsorship applications

11) Travel insurance with minimum cover of 150,000 AED ($41,000) to cover emergencies, accidents, and repatriation

12) Financial guarantee

13) Business license

14) Employment contract and/or sponsor passport

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Please be aware, this may not be everything that is required for your application. You should check the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai for further information on the requirements:

Step 2: Submit your UAE visa application

If you are submitting your UAE visa application through online channels, you will upload the required documents, but if the visa authority requires any further information, they may contact you and ask you for further information and/or ask you to attend an interview.

They could ask you questions like:

1. Have you been to the United Arab Emirates before?
2. What do you know about the UAE?
3. Are you meeting anyone there?
4. Why do you wish to go to the UAE?

Don’t panic if you get asked any of these questions, simply answer them politely and precisely. The visa staff are only trying to get enough information about your application in order to make a decision about your visa application.

You’ll also have to pay the relevant fee for your visa which you can do online.

UAE Visa Fee

Please note, these fees will be charged in the local currency of the country you are applying from.

You may also have to provide biometric data in the form of a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photo.

Step 3: Receive UAE visa

Once your visa application has been processed and approved, you will be notified with the results.

If you are applying online, your visa will be returned via e-mail.

If your visa application has not been approved there will be a reason why. Typically, applications get refused for a variety of reasons including:

You have a previous tourist visa, but you did not enter the country

1. There were errors in your application
2. Your photo did not meet the required specifications
3. Missing documents
4. You applied for the wrong type of visa

You must make sure you are applying for the correct type of visa, so spend time looking at what types are available, so you can apply for the one that best matches your circumstances. If you had a previous visa in your passport but did not use it, you must make arrangements with the travel agency or sponsor to cancel the first one before you apply. There must be no errors, such as spelling or wrong passport numbers, when applying, and you must provide all the relevant documents. Also, the photo you provide must meet certain specifications.

FAQs

1) Where can I apply for a tourist visa for the UAE?

You must have a sponsor to be able to apply for a tourist visa. Sponsors can be travel agencies, airlines, or family or friends already in the UAE

2) When can I apply for my visa for the UAE?

You can apply no longer than 58 days and a minimum of 24 hours prior to your departure date, but you should check the relevant websites of the visa authority you are applying through. Also, if you apply too late, your visa may not be processed in time

3) Will I definitely get a visa if I apply online?

No. The decision about whether to grant a visa or not lies with the UAE immigration authorities

4) If I apply through a particular airline, once I get my visa, can I change the airline I am flying with?

No. If you apply through Emirates, for example, you must fly with them. Otherwise, you will not be permitted to enter the country

5) My passport will expire soon. Can I still apply for a United Arab Emirates visa?

Your passport must have at least 6 months remaining. If it does not, you must apply for a new one before applying for your UAE visa

6) Do I need to print out a copy of my visa?

Yes you do, and you must take a copy with you when you travel

7) Will the visa fee be refunded if my application is rejected?

No. UAE immigration authorities do not refund fees even though applications are rejected

8) I am a US citizen, do I need a visa for the UAE?

Yes, but you are eligible for a visa on arrival, so there is no need to arrange one prior to arriving in the UAE

Conclusion

You can apply for your United Arab Emirates visa in one of the following ways:

1. Through a hotel or a travel agency
2. Through an airline
3. Through sponsorship by an individual
4. The e-Channels portal
5. The website of the GDRFA
6. Mobile applications
7. Service centers

Then, all you have to do is:

1. Get your documents ready
2. Submit your application
3. Receive your visa

Hopefully, you’ll receive your visa without any problems and you can look forward to your amazing trip to the United Arab Emirates.

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

Worldwide Visa Requirements