Dubai receives tens of millions of visitors every year, and the UAE government has made the visit visa process largely digital and straightforward. Whether you are applying independently through the ICP portal, via an airline, or through a UAE-based sponsor, this guide covers everything you need in 2026 with the latest fees and rules.

Do You Even Need a Visa?

Before going through the application process, check if your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry or visa on arrival. As of June 2026, citizens of the following countries get a free visa on arrival in Dubai:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, and Vatican City.

GCC passport holders (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar) also enter without a visa.

If your nationality is not on this list (including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, and most African and South Asian countries), you must apply for a visit visa in advance.

Types of Dubai Visit Visa in 2026

GDRFA Dubai officially lists four types of tourist/visit visas as of 2026:

Type	Duration	Entry	Extendable	GDRFA Fee
Short-term single entry	30 days from entry	Single	No	AED 250
Short-term multiple entry	30 days per visit	Multiple	No	AED 690
Long-term single entry	90 days from entry	Single	No	AED 600
Long-term multiple entry	90 days per visit	Multiple	No	AED 1,740

5-Year Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (ICP): A longer option introduced by the Federal Authority ICP allows a 5-year multiple-entry visa where each visit can last up to 90 days. This requires no local sponsor but needs proof of at least USD 4,000 minimum bank balance and valid health insurance.

Note: The fees above are GDRFA base fees. If you apply through a travel agency or airline, expect additional service charges ranging from AED 100 to AED 400 on top.

New Visa Categories Introduced in 2025 and 2026

The UAE introduced several important changes that are still active in 2026:

• AI Specialist Visa: For professionals working in artificial intelligence fields, sponsored by qualifying entities.
• Entertainment and Events Visa: For performers, production crew, and event specialists.
• Cruise and Luxury Yacht Visa: For cruise ship crew and luxury marine tourism workers.
• Business Exploration Visa: For investors and entrepreneurs scouting opportunities in the UAE.
• Visa-to-Work Conversion: Several visit visa categories can now be converted to a work or residence permit without leaving the UAE, saving travel costs.
• Content Creator Golden Visa: Dubai launched long-term residency for influencers, podcasters, and visual artists under the Creators HQ programme.

Sponsor Salary Requirements 

If a UAE resident is sponsoring your visit visa, the minimum monthly salary they must earn depends on the relationship:

Relationship to Sponsor	Minimum Monthly Salary
Spouse, children, parents (first-degree)	AED 4,000
Second or third-degree relatives	AED 8,000
Friend (no family relationship)	AED 15,000

Sponsors must also provide proof of kinship when applying for any visit visa for a relative.

Required Documents for Dubai Visit Visa 

The exact document list was updated in September 2025 when the UAE made the passport cover page mandatory for all entry permit applications.

For all applicants:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the travel date
• Passport external cover page copy (new mandatory requirement from 2025)
• Recent passport-size photograph (white background)
• Confirmed return flight ticket
• Hotel booking confirmation or host residence details

For Pakistani, Afghan, Iraqi, and Iranian nationals only:

• Valid National Identity Card (CNIC / National ID)

For sponsored visit visas (family/friend sponsor in UAE):

• Sponsor’s Emirates ID copy
• Sponsor’s valid UAE residence visa page
• Salary certificate of sponsor (meeting the AED 4,000 / 8,000 / 15,000 threshold)
• Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)

For the 5-year multi-entry visa (no sponsor):

• Bank statement showing minimum USD 4,000 balance
• Valid health insurance

Who Can Apply for a Dubai Visit Visa

There are four main ways to apply depending on your situation:

1. Through a UAE-based sponsor (friend or relative):

Your host in the UAE applies on your behalf through the GDRFA portal or an AMER center. They must meet the salary requirement for your relationship tier.

2. Through a UAE airline:

Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, and Air Arabia all offer visa application services for passengers who hold a confirmed flight booking. This is the most common route for first-time visitors.

3. Through a licensed travel agency:

Travel agencies handle the full process including documentation, fee payment, and follow-up. They charge a service fee on top of the government fees. This is convenient but costs more.

4. Directly through ICP or GDRFA portals:

The ICP portal (icp.gov.ae) handles federal applications including the 5-year multi-entry tourist visa. The GDRFA Dubai portal handles Dubai-specific visas. Both portals are available 24/7.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Choose your visa type

Based on your purpose (tourism, family visit, business exploration) and intended length of stay, select the correct visa category. For most tourists, a 30-day or 90-day single-entry tourist visa is sufficient.

Step 2: Identify your application channel

Decide if you will apply via an airline, a travel agency, a UAE sponsor, or directly through ICP/GDRFA.

Step 3: Gather all documents

Prepare your passport, passport cover page copy, photo, return ticket, hotel booking, and any sponsor or relationship documents. Pakistani nationals must also include their CNIC.

Step 4: Submit the application

Submit through your chosen channel either online or in person. For online applications, you will need a UAE Pass or registered account on the GDRFA portal.

Step 5: Pay the visa fees

Fees are paid online at the time of submission. The GDRFA base fee for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa is AED 250, plus 5% VAT. Agency or airline fees are separate.

Step 6: Wait for processing

Standard processing takes 2 to 5 working days. Express processing through some agencies or airlines can complete in 24 to 48 hours at an additional cost.

Step 7: Receive and verify your visa

The approved visa is sent electronically via email as a PDF. Verify all details (name spelling, passport number, entry date) carefully before traveling.

Step 8: Travel and enter UAE

Present your printed or digital visa at the UAE port of entry. The visa validity starts from the date of issue, and the permitted stay clock starts from the day you enter.

Fees Breakdown (What to Actually Budget)

When applying through an agency or airline, the real cost is higher than the government base fee. Here is a realistic total cost range for 2026:

Visa Type	GDRFA Base Fee	Agency/Service Fee	Realistic Total
30-day single entry	AED 250	AED 100 to AED 200	AED 350 to AED 450
30-day multiple entry	AED 690	AED 100 to AED 200	AED 800 to AED 900
90-day single entry	AED 600	AED 150 to AED 300	AED 750 to AED 900
90-day multiple entry	AED 1,740	AED 150 to AED 300	AED 1,900 to AED 2,050
5-year multi-entry (ICP)	AED 650 to AED 1,200	Varies	AED 700 to AED 1,500

Overstay Fines in Dubai

Overstaying your Dubai visit visa carries serious financial penalties. The official GDRFA rates are:

• AED 100 per day for every day beyond the permitted stay
• AED 200 out-pass fee to process the exit
• If the overstay is under 30 days, you can settle the fines at Dubai airports at the time of departure
• If the overstay is more than 30 days, you must visit GDRFA headquarters in person before being allowed to leave

Repeated overstays can result in a UAE entry ban. This is not waivable and can affect future visa applications across all UAE emirates.

Can You Extend a Dubai Visit Visa?

Extension rules vary by visa type. The GDRFA 30-day and 90-day tourist visas issued since 2026 are marked as not extendable at their base terms. However, some conditions apply:

• If your visa was issued by an airline or hotel (not directly through GDRFA), the sponsor may apply for a one-time extension.
• The ICP 5-year multi-entry visa allows re-entry after a departure, effectively resetting your stay clock.
• Status conversion (changing from visit visa to work permit or residence visa) is now possible without leaving the UAE for several visa categories, as per the 2025 ICP reforms.

If extension is not possible and you need more time, exit and re-enter using a multiple-entry visa or apply for a fresh single-entry visa from outside the country.

Common Reasons for Visa Rejection

Understanding why applications get rejected helps you avoid them:

• Incomplete documents: Missing passport cover page (new 2025 requirement), no return ticket, or absent hotel booking.
• Passport validity below 6 months: Applications are rejected at screening if the passport expires within 6 months of the travel date.
• Sponsor salary below threshold: If your UAE sponsor earns less than the required tier, the application will not be approved.
• Previous overstay record: Any prior overstay on a UAE visa significantly reduces approval chances and may require a clearance letter.
• Mismatched information: Name spellings that differ between passport and application form cause delays or rejections.
• Fake or altered documents: UAE immigration authorities cross-verify bank statements, salary certificates, and hotel bookings. Submitting falsified documents results in permanent bans.

Passport Validity: New Rule 

Since September 2025, it is now mandatory to submit the external cover page of the passport along with all other documents for every UAE entry permit application. This means scanning both the data page and the front cover of the passport separately. Applications that only include the data page will be returned incomplete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply for a Dubai visit visa without a UAE sponsor?

Yes. The ICP 5-year multi-entry tourist visa requires no local sponsor. You apply directly through the ICP portal with proof of USD 4,000 minimum bank balance and valid health insurance.

Q: How long before my trip should I apply?

Apply at least 7 to 10 days before your travel date for standard processing. During peak season (November to March), allow 2 weeks. For UAE embassy applications from Pakistan, at least 14 days before departure is mandatory.

Q: Can a Pakistani apply for a UAE visit visa online?

Yes, Pakistani nationals can apply through a UAE-based sponsor via the GDRFA portal, or through airlines and travel agencies online. Direct applications through ICP for the 5-year visa are also available online.

Q: What is the 5-year UAE visit visa and who qualifies?

It is a multiple-entry visa valid for 5 years issued by ICP with no local sponsor required. Each visit allows up to 90 days inside the UAE. Applicants need a minimum bank balance of USD 4,000 and valid health insurance.

Q: Is health insurance mandatory for a Dubai visit visa?

Health insurance is mandatory when converting a visit visa to a residence permit inside the UAE. For the 5-year ICP self-sponsored visa, health insurance is also required at the time of application. For standard tourist visas, it is recommended but not always mandatory at entry.

Q: What happens if my Dubai visa expires inside the UAE?

You begin accumulating an overstay fine of AED 100 per day from the day after expiry. If the overstay exceeds 30 days, you cannot settle fines at the airport and must go to GDRFA headquarters.

Q: Can I convert a visit visa to a work visa inside Dubai?

Yes. Following the 2025 ICP reforms, several visit visa categories can now be converted to work or residence permits without leaving the UAE. This requires the employer to initiate the process and the applicant to have valid health insurance.

Q: What is the minimum salary for a UAE resident to sponsor a friend’s visit visa?

AED 15,000 per month. This is the highest salary tier and applies when the person being sponsored has no family relationship with the sponsor.