UAE Tourist Visa Documents Checklist 2026
Most UAE visa delays come from paperwork, not from the traveller. This checklist covers the passport and photo specs, what each application channel asks for, and the small mistakes that send files back.
Most UAE visa delays come from paperwork, not from the traveller. This checklist covers the passport and photo specs, what each application channel asks for, and the small mistakes that send files back.
For a standard UAE tourist visa you need a colour scan of a passport valid for at least six months from your entry date, a recent colour photograph, a confirmed return or onward ticket and proof of where you will stay. GDRFA Dubai also lists health insurance valid in the UAE as a condition of its tourist visas. Some channels, nationalities and visa types add documents on top, which are set out below.
This page is about the paperwork. To compare 30-day, 60-day and 5-year visas and their fees, see our UAE tourist visa types and costs page. If you are not sure you need a visa at all, start with do I need a visa for Dubai.
Requirements are as of September 2026. The issuing authority can always ask for more, so treat this as the minimum.
Scans and photos are the most common reason an application comes back for correction. Get these right before you open the application form.
ICP and GDRFA portals set their own upload limits for file size and format. Check the upload screen before you scan, and keep a high-quality original you can resize.
UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. You apply through a UAE-based sponsor, and each one has its own extra conditions on top of the core checklist. The online steps themselves are covered in our UAE e-visa application guide.
Airline visas are only for the airline's own passengers. For Emirates, the ticket must already be issued, the flights into and out of Dubai must be Emirates flights on one booking, and the ticket number should start with 176. If you stay in a hotel, the hotel dates must match your flight dates. Emirates asks for at least four international working days before arrival and quotes processing of about three to four working days.
GDRFA Dubai single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas must be sponsored by an establishment working in tourism. Expect to send the passport copy, photo, ticket and, from the countries listed above, a national ID copy. GDRFA lists 48 hours for completion once the sponsor submits a complete file.
When you stay with a relative, Emirates accepts a valid tenancy contract in the name of your father, mother, brother or sister in place of a hotel booking, plus proof of relationship. If a UAE resident is sponsoring your visit visa directly, they will also need their own residence and income documents; ask them to check the current conditions with ICP or GDRFA before you book flights.
This self-sponsored visa needs a six-month bank statement showing a balance of USD 4,000 or the equivalent, health insurance valid in the UAE, a round-trip ticket, a photo and a passport copy with six months' validity.
Most nationalities use the same checklist. A few have documented extras, and some face closer scrutiny, so check your own passport's page before you apply.
Every child needs their own passport and their own visa. For family applications, Emirates asks for proof of relationship such as a birth certificate. If a child travels with only one parent, carry a signed consent letter from the other parent and the child's birth certificate, as airlines and immigration officers can ask for them.
GDRFA Dubai lists medical insurance valid in the UAE among its tourist visa conditions. Private treatment in the UAE is expensive, so choose a policy that covers the whole stay. Our travel insurance for Dubai page explains what cover to look for.
Visa fees are non-refundable, so a rejected or duplicated application usually means paying again.
The visa arrives by email as a PDF. Save it on your phone and print a copy. Emirates notes that Dubai immigration carries out random visual screening, and visitors picked for it must show a hard copy of the visa or the visa number confirmation page. Without one, a copy costs AED 30, payable in AED.
For what happens at passport control, eGates and customs, use our Dubai airport entry checklist.
Every applicant needs a colour copy of a passport valid for at least six months, a recent colour photograph and a confirmed return or onward ticket. Most channels also ask for a hotel booking or proof of where you will stay, and GDRFA Dubai lists health insurance valid in the UAE as a condition of its tourist visas.
Not for a standard 30-day or 60-day tourist visa arranged through an airline or tour company, although the authorities can ask for extra documents. The 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa does require a six-month bank statement showing a balance of USD 4,000 or the equivalent.
GDRFA Dubai lists medical insurance valid in the UAE among the conditions for its single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas, and the 5-year visa needs health insurance too. Buy a policy that covers the UAE for your full stay before you apply, and keep the certificate with your visa.
Emirates asks for a sharp colour photo on a plain, light-coloured background, taken in even front lighting. Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression, eyes open and uncovered, no hats or caps, and glasses only if the lenses are clear and free of glare. Your face should fill most of the frame.
GDRFA Dubai and Emirates both ask applicants from Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan for a copy of their national identity card in addition to the passport. Afghan applicants provide the Tazkira ID.
Yes. Emirates notes that Dubai immigration runs random visual screening, where visitors must show a hard copy of their visa or the visa number confirmation page. If you have no copy, a charge of AED 30 per copy applies, payable in AED.
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