Visa policy of the United Arab Emirates
Visitors to the United Arab Emirates must obtain a visa prior to travel unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or one of the countries whose citizens are eligible for visa on arrival.
Citizens of member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council have a freedom of movement in the UAE, except for citizens of Qatar who are no longer allowed to enter, unless they are a family member of a resident.[1][2]
All visitors visiting the United Arab Emirates must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months.
Visa policy map
Visa-free
Nationals of the following 37 countries may enter the UAE without a visa for 90 days out of 180 days unless otherwise stated.[1][3]
|
|
1 — Except for the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
2 — Not subject to the 180-day restriction.
3 — Freedom of movement. May enter with an ID card.
4 — Not applicable to passports stamped "Article 17, paragraph 2".
5 — For holders of normal passports only.
| Date of visa changes | ||
|---|---|---|
Canceled
|
Holders of passports for public affairs issued by China also do not require a visa.
Visa on arrival
Holders of normal passports issued by the following 18 countries and territories are eligible to obtain a free UAE visa on arrival, which is valid for 30 days.[7] Extension is possible for a fee.[1]
1 – Only applicable for British citizens, British Overseas Territories citizens and British Subjects who have a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode.
Holders of normal passports issued by 
India are eligible to obtain a free 14 day visa on arrival provided they hold a valid visa issued by the United States or a Green Card.[1]
Diplomatic and service category passports
Holders of diplomatic, service category passports of Albania, China, Colombia, Georgia, India, Saint Lucia and Vanuatu and holders of diplomatic passports of Chad, Costa Rica, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mauritius and Russia do not require a visa.
Holders of diplomatic or service category passports of Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Vietnam can obtain a free visa on arrival. Holders of diplomatic passports only of Belarus, Jordan and Kazakhstan can also obtain a free visa on arrival.
Future changes
UAE signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries but are not yet ratified or applied:
Brazil – on 16 March 2017 for ordinary passports[10]
Costa Rica – on 16 January 2017 for service and ordinary passports[11]
El Salvador – on 21 September 2017 for diplomatic passports[12]
Kazakhstan – on 15 Jan 2017 for service passports[13]- Kazakhstan – on 23 May 2017 for ordinary passports[14][15]
Kenya – on 25 February 2017 for diplomatic passports[16]
Montenegro – on 18 October 2017 for all passports[17]
Papua New Guinea – on 21 October 2017[18]
Solomon Islands – on 21 October 2017[19]
Ukraine – on 2 November 2017 (not signed yet)[20]
Transit visa
Passengers on all international airlines may enter the United Arab Emirates for 96 hours after obtaining a transit visa at the airport. The time difference between the two flights must be over 8 hours and the passenger must continue to a third destination. Passengers also must have a hotel booking. This is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, Somalia, and Yemen.[1]
Requirements for visa application
For all others nationals who are not granted visa-free or visa on arrival, UAE visas rules vary according to nationality, age and gender. For example, for Moroccans, Algerians, Libyans, Mauritanians and Tunisians minimum age requirement to apply for a visa is 40. For other nationalities, the minimum age requirement to apply for a visa is 21 for men and 23 for women.[21][22]
Airline visas
Visitors normally require a sponsor but visas can also be arranged online through an airline if they are arriving on Air Arabia,[23] Air Astana,[24] Emirates,[25] Etihad[26] (and Air Baltic[27] and Air Serbia[28]), flydubai,[29] Turkish Airlines[30] and Indigo Airlines[31]
Entry refusal
Entry to the UAE is refused to nationals of these countries:[1]
Israel
Qatar - Qatari nationals who are family members of UAE citizens/residents are permitted entry to the UAE.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-hotline-to-help-emirati-qatari-families-1.66502
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ All EU Citizens To Get UAE Visa On Arrival From March 22
- ^ UAE Visa for other Nationalities
- ^ [4]
- ^ https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/find-visa-requirements-results.aspx?NC=KR&NV=Korea%2c+Republic+of&DC=AE&DV=United+Arab+Emirates&h=e178e09a990294ed89e2fda9a0f38bfbfc40cf
- ^ http://www2.anba.com.br/noticia/21874441/diplomacy/brazilian-tourists-to-not-need-visas-for-uae/?indice=0
- ^ UAE, Costa Rica amend visa waiver agreement
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ [8]
- ^ [9]
- ^ UAE, Montenegro extend visa exemption for all passport holders
- ^ [10]
- ^ [11]
- ^ https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2336323-ukraine-uae-agree-on-visafree-regime.html
- ^ [12]
- ^ [13]
- ^ [14]
- ^ [15]
- ^ [16]
- ^ [17]
- ^ [18]
- ^ [19]
- ^ [20]
- ^ [21]
- ^ "Welcome to travel2dubai with IndiGo". indigo.travel2dubai.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.