Dubai visa types

There are many different of Dubai visa types you can apply for, depending on your nationality, the purpose of your visit to Dubai, your desired length of stay in Dubai, and the numbers of entries you require into Dubai. The different Dubai visa types vary, according to whether you are traveling for tourism, business, education, work, retirement, transit, investment, or other purposes to Dubai. Dubai entry requirements may vary according to which Dubai visa type being applied for.

Visa types

Travelers wishing to travel to Dubai can apply for the following Dubai visa types:

The above list provides the main Dubai visa types and Dubai entry permits required to enter and visit Dubai for specific purposes, including tourism, business, education, transit, and other temporary activities. Dubai residency visas can be applied for if you intend to reside in Dubai for long-term purposes. Such long-term Dubai residency visas include the Dubai residency visas, Dubai golden visas, and Dubai remote work visas.

Dubai Tourist visa

If you wish to visit Dubai for tourism activities and are not eligible to enter Dubai visa-free or obtain a Dubai visa-on-arrival at a UAE port of entry, then you should apply for a Dubai tourist visa. Depending on your travel plan, Dubai tourist visas can be issued for 30 or 60 days in duration, single or multiple entry.  

The Dubai tourist visa types are as follows:

Sponsored:

  • Dubai 30-day, single-entry tourist visa
  • Dubai 30-day, multiple-entry tourist visa
  • Dubai 60-day, single-entry tourist visa
  • Dubai 60-day, multiple-entry tourist visa
 

Self-sponsored:

  • Dubai 5-year, multiple-entry tourist visa
 

The 4 sponsored Dubai tourist visas can be extended twice for 30 days each renewal, while each 90-day visit on the self-sponsored Dubai 5-year tourist visa is extendable for an additional 90 days. Dubai tourist visa holders are not required to leave Dubai in order to apply for the Dubai visa renewal.

Dubai Business visa

In an effort to boost the local economy and attract world-class talent, the Dubai business visa is offered to foreign citizens intending to come to Dubai for long-term business, investment, start-up, or other commercial activities. Business people, whose experience includes setting up a business and who wish to set up another business in Dubai, are eligible to apply for this visa if they meet a particular set of requirements and obtain a nomination approval by one of the Dubai government-certified business incubators. 

Dubai business visa holders will be permitted multiple-entry into Dubai with a permitted stay of 6 months, as well as sponsor their family members and nominate 3 staff members for residency.

The Dubai business visa is not to be confused with the Dubai work permit, which involves Dubai residency and has its own set of requirements, based on your nationality, the type of skilled/unskilled work you do, and the local Emirati employer sponsoring your work in Dubai.

Dubai Student visa

A Dubai student visa is for foreign nationals, over 18 years old, who will enter Dubai for educational enrollment activities. The Dubai student visa is valid for one year, extendable for another year, if the Dubai student visa holder is still enrolled in a higher-level institution.

In an effort to attract exceptional skill and talent, Dubai now offers a long-term 5-year student visa for students who have proven outstanding educational achievement.

Dubai Transit visa

There are 2 types of Dubai transit visas:

  • 48-hour Dubai transit visa (free)
  • 96-hour Dubai transit visa (AED 50)
 
The 48-hour Dubai transit visa and 96-hour Dubai transit visa must be issued through a UAE airline, before traveling to Dubai. Neither the 48-hour Dubai transit visa nor the 96-hour Dubai transit visa is extendable.

Dubai Patient and Companion visa

A Dubai patient and companion visa is for foreign nationals, who will enter Dubai for medical treatment, in addition to the companion who will be attending to them during their treatment. The Dubai patient and companion visa is sponsored by the licensed Dubai medical institution where the applicant will be treated and is valid for 60 days from the date of issue.

The 2 types of Dubai patient visas are:

  • Medical treatment entry permit, single entry
  • Medical treatment entry permit, multiple entry

Both Dubai medical entry permits allow for a 90-day stay and are extendable, based on the patient’s continued need for medical treatment.

The 2 types of Dubai patient companion visas are:

  • Single-entry permit for patient’s companion 
  • Multiple-entry permit for patient’s companion

Both Dubai patient companion entry permits allow for a 90-day stay and are extendable, if companion can provide a certified medical report that states the patient’s continued treatment and the necessity of companion’s presence.

Dubai e-Visa for GCC residents

A Dubai e-visa is available to GCC residents, who are required to apply online for a Dubai e-visa in order to enter Dubai, in addition to their family members and companions, who will be traveling with them. The GCC resident e-visa is valid for 30 days from the issuance date and allows for a 30-day stay, extendable for another 30 days. The entry permit for a companion of a GCC citizen is valid for 60 days from the issuance date and allows for a 60-day stay, extendable for another 60 days.

Please be advised that family members and companions must travel with the GCC resident in order to enter Dubai. Both the GCC resident’s passport and residency must be valid for 3 months from the arrival date into Dubai.

Dubai Retirement visa for UAE residents

Dubai offers UAE residents, over 55 years old, the Dubai retirement visa, if they meet one of the following requirements:  

  • Invest AED 2 million in Dubai real estate property
  • Hold funds of AED 1 million or more
  • Receive an income of AED 20,000 per month or more

Holders of this long-term Dubai retirement visa for UAE residents can be renewed for another 5 years if the requirements continue to be met.

Dubai visa FAQ

The most popular Dubai visa is the Dubai tourist visa, available to any foreign national who is not eligible to enter Dubai visa-free or obtain a visa-on-arrival. The Dubai tourist visa is available as single or multiple entry, for 30 or 60 days, and is extendable twice. Dubai now offers a self-sponsored long-term Dubai 5-year tourist visa, which does not require a local sponsor to apply on your behalf. Eligible applicants can apply online if they meet a set of requirements. Dubai 5-year tourist visa holders can extend once for an additional 90 days.

All Dubai visas are valid for 60 days from the visa issuance date, except Dubai transit visas, which are only valid for 30 days.

A single-entry 60-day Dubai visa costs $399 US, while a multiple-entry 60-day Dubai visa costs $649 US.

In order to become a Dubai resident, you must be sponsored through a local Emirati host for long-term activities in Dubai, such as employment, educational enrollment, or medical treatment. In an effort to boost the local economy and attract world class talent, Dubai now offers self-sponsored long-term visas for business, investment, retirement, and outstanding achievement purposes, which allow for longer durations of stay.