How to Extend Your UAE Tourist Visa in 2026

What a UAE tourist visa extension is

A UAE tourist visa extension renews an existing short-term visit visa so a traveller can stay longer without leaving the country. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) processes these extensions through the official ICP portal and the UAEICP app. A 30-day in-country extension costs approximately AED 620 (USD 169) [VERIFY]. The extension applies to standard tourist and visit visas; work, residence and study visas follow separate renewal rules.

Travellers usually extend their visa to finish a longer trip, attend events, or wait for a flight without triggering overstay fines. Two consecutive extensions are often possible, which can add up to 60 days to the original stay [VERIFY]. Before extending, confirm your nationality's entry rules on our complete UAE visa guide for every nationality.

How to extend your UAE tourist visa step by step

The ICP portal handles the full extension online, so most travellers complete the process without visiting a service centre. Follow these numbered steps.

1. Check eligibility. Confirm your current visa is a tourist or visit visa that permits extension, and note its expiry date.
2. Open the ICP portal. Go to icp.gov.ae or open the UAEICP app and create or log into your account.
3. Select the visa service. Choose the "Extend Visa" or visit-visa renewal service from the visa menu.
4. Enter your details. Provide your passport number, current visa number and personal information exactly as printed on your documents.
5. Upload documents. Attach a passport copy and a recent photo with a white background if requested.
6. Pay the fee. Pay approximately AED 620 (USD 169) [VERIFY] by card to complete the 30-day extension.
7. Receive confirmation. Download the new visa or extension approval once ICP processes the request, usually within a few working days [VERIFY].

Apply at least a few days before your current visa expires. If you have not yet received your original visa, our step on how to choose between 30-day and 90-day UAE tourist visas explains which option may reduce the need to extend at all.

UAE visa extension fees in 2026

The ICP charges a fixed government fee for each tourist visa extension. The figures below are indicative; ICP can revise fees, so confirm the current amount on the portal before paying.

Overstay fines and how to avoid them

The UAE overstay fine is approximately AED 100 (USD 27) per day [VERIFY current rate]. The fine begins once the visa expiry or any grace period ends, and it accrues daily until the traveller pays at the airport, an immigration office, or through the ICP portal. Repeated or long overstays can affect future entry, so extending on time is the safer choice.

• Note your exact visa expiry date when you arrive.
• Apply for the extension before the expiry, not after.
• Keep payment confirmation until you leave the UAE.
• If you have already overstayed, settle the fine promptly to limit the total cost.

For the full breakdown of charges, grace periods and payment points, read our dedicated guide on what UAE overstay fines cost and how to pay them.

When extending is not the right option

An extension suits travellers who need a short additional stay on the same visa. In some cases a fresh visa or a quick exit-and-re-entry makes more sense, particularly when two extensions have already been used or when a different visa type fits the trip better. A visa run to a neighbouring country resets the stay for some nationalities [VERIFY], though it adds travel cost and time. Travellers planning longer stays should compare a 90-day tourist visa against repeated extensions before deciding.

Frequently asked questions