Dubai Visa Requirements
If you are planning to visit Dubai soon for a short period, it is essential to know you would be in need of a visa. It is also important to know what Dubai visa requirements are before proceeding with your visa application. This will save you from unexpected delays and as well hasten your application process.
Dubai is a popular city majorly known for its rich lifestyle and excellent architecture. With rapid growth within four decades, the city is filled
with astonishing skyscrapers and buildings that come in various shapes and sizes. It also houses the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.
Making a trip to the highest point of this building is an experience you would never want to miss. Dubai also has deserts and beaches worth exploring. It is a place full of job or business opportunities.
However, if you would be visiting this remarkable city anytime, note that you will need a visa. And if you would be applying for a visa to visit this country, it is important to know the requirements and also know if you are eligible to visit the country. It is also worth noting that the visa requirements are not the same for all countries.
However, in this article, we will be discussing the visa requirements for each category, and how to go about it.
Dubai Visa Requirements
The requirements to get approval for a Dubai visa differ based on nationality. The requirements for citizens from the United States are different when compared to that of citizens from other countries. The visa application process is quite simple for US citizens than for other nationalities. Based on these differences, the visa application processes and requirements are into four categories:
- Visa requirements for US citizens
- Visa requirements for non-US
citizens - Visa requirements for GCC nationals
- Visa requirements for other nationalities
US Citizens
People from the United States who have regular international passports do not require a visa to travel to the UAE. Rather, they can get their visa on arrival at Dubai airport (or any other airport in the UAE). The passport bearer should however ensure that his/ her passport is duly signed. He/ she should also make sure the passport’s expiry date is six months away from his/ her
visit to Dubai. US citizens also need a confirmed ticket for a round trip or a ticket to travel to any other country.
However, these conditions are only applicable if the person (US citizen) wants to stay in Dubai (UAE) for one month. If he or she is staying longer than a month, then he/ she must apply to the immigration office to take a permit for the stay.
Non-US Citizens
Other than British citizens overseas, the visa requirements for the Non-US countries below are to obtain a visa on arrival at Dubai or any UAE airport. The visa however has a validity of only 30 days. If for any reason the applicant wants to stay beyond 30 days, he/she must apply to the immigration office at the airport for a permit. The applicant must also have a return ticket to his/her country or a ticket to any other country, which must be duly confirmed. He/ she must also ensure his/ her passport doesn’t have an expiry date within six months after arriving in the UAE.
The above requirements are only for citizens of the non-US countries below
Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Northern Ireland (Except the British overseas citizens), Liechtenstein, Lithuania Finland, France, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brunei, Vatican, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Austria, Bahrain, Andorra, Australia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Denmark, Estonia, Republic, Canada, China, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Kuwait, Iceland, Ireland, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Qatar, Romania, Oman, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Norway Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Monaco.
GCC Nationals
GCC nationals are those who live in any of the countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council. These countries include Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar. People residing in these countries and are working at top positions have the grace of a 30 days visa at any UAE airport. The 30-day visa is, however, not renewable. Once it expires, they have to leave Dubai or any of the cities of the UAE. The categories of people eligible for this type of visa are engineers, doctors, managers, or employees working in the public sector. Other Nationalities
For citizens of countries that do not fall under the non-US countries, they can only get their visa through their local embassies, hotels in UAE, or sponsors from the UAE. Their visa must however be approved before they can visit the UAE.
Types of Dubai Visa
There are many types of visas for individuals wishing to visit the city of Dubai or any other part of the United Arab Emirates. Intending travelers must however pay a certain amount of fees and must present all necessary documents relating to the type of visa they will be applying to. The different types of Dubai visas or UAE visas include
- Entry service permit visa
- Tourist visa
- Visit visa
- Multiple entry visa
- Transit visa
- Golden visa
- Visa on arrival
- Substitute visa
- Diplomatic visa
You can read detailed information on the different types of UAE visas here.
Conclusion
Just like many other countries, if you are traveling to Dubai for any occasion, you need a visa to be eligible to stay in the country. However, the type of visa you will apply for depends on your purpose of visit and also the country in which you live. No matter the type of visa, there are
certain requirements that you must meet in order to qualify to stay in the city. It is therefore important that you ensure you meet all requirements before applying for a Dubai visa as Dubai has very strict laws. You should also respect their culture so as to enjoy your stay throughout your stay in Dubai.
FAQs on Dubai Visa Requirements
How much bank balance do I need for Dubai Visa?
An applicant for Dubai Visa must present his/ her bank statement duly stamped by the bank. He/ she must not have less than AED3000 in his bank balance.
Is Dubai Visa easy to get?
Dubai issues different types of visas depending on the applicant’s purpose of travel and nationality. If you have all the necessary visa requirements and are eligible, getting a Dubai visa is quite easy.
How long is the Dubai Visa process?
Dubai visa processing usually takes approximately 3 to 5 working days.