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United Arab Emirates visa guide

United Arab Emirates UAE Transit Visa

A short transit visa for a stopover in the UAE: 48-hour and 96-hour visas for travellers en route.

Processing
Normal processing is about 5-6 working days from submission; an express service is available within about 48 hours
Support
Your own consultant

Your journey with Lifeset

United Arab Emirates visitor visa, from first message to passport back.

  1. 1Day 0Tell us your planWhatsApp or a call. A consultant asks the right questions and says plainly whether a United Arab Emirates visitor visa is realistic for you.
  2. 2Same dayYour tailored checklistA document list for your case, not a generic one. You collect; we answer every "which one?" on WhatsApp.
  3. 3As documents arriveReview and refusal checkEvery paper is checked. Gaps in funds, ties or travel history are flagged and fixed before anything is submitted.
  4. 4Within 3 working daysFile ready, appointment bookedForms and cover letter done; your the visa centre appointment is booked, subject to the slots the centre has open.
  5. 5Appointment dayBiometrics and submissionYou attend the visa centre with a file assembled in the order the officer reads it.
  6. 6DecisionDecision receivedWe track the file to the decision. Approved: your passport comes back with the visa. Refused: our professional fee comes back under the Refund Policy and we plan the reapplication.

Side by side

Three ways to file your United Arab Emirates uae transit visa. Here is what each one includes.

  • Government licence you can verify

    Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024, District Magistrate Patiala

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • One fixed, all-in fee quoted upfront

    GST included; embassy and centre fees at cost

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Professional fee back if refused

    Under the published Refund Policy

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Refusal-trigger check before filing

    Funds, ties and history checked against the refusal reasons we see most

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Cover letter written for your case

    Not a template

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Appointment or interview booked for you

    VFS, BLS or consulate, at your nearest centre

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Named consultant on WhatsApp till decision

    The person who reads your file is the one who answers

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • GST invoice from a registered Pvt Ltd

    Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd · GSTIN 03AAOCP3999C1Z5

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

“Varies” means it depends on the agent; ask for their licence number and refund terms in writing. The full, sourced comparison

United Arab Emirates UAE Transit Visa — overview

Start here

The UAE Transit Visa is for travellers making a short stopover in the United Arab Emirates en route to another destination. It is issued as a 48-hour or a 96-hour single-entry visa: ideal for stopovers and short business stops.

The visa is valid for 30 days from the date of issue, and you must hold a valid visa for the destination country you are travelling on to. Applications are made through a visa application centre.

Lifeset Overseas confirms which transit visa fits your itinerary and prepares the file so the stopover is straightforward.

UAE transit visa for Indian passport holders

The UAE Government portal states it plainly: "The UAE issues two types of transit visas: one for 48 hours, and another for 96 hours. Transit visas are sponsored by the UAE-based airlines and must be processed and approved before entering the UAE." You cannot obtain one at the airport on arrival; the airline you fly with (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia) arranges it against your confirmed onward ticket.

When you need one

You need a transit visa if you will leave the airport's international transit area during a connection in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, for example to stay overnight or see the city. Passengers who stay airside on a same-terminal connection generally do not. If you qualify for a UAE visa on arrival under ICP rules that depend on other visas or residence permits you hold, that may replace a transit visa; confirm with your airline before booking.

What the airline will ask for

A passport valid for at least six months, the confirmed onward ticket out of the UAE within 48 or 96 hours, a photograph, and the visa for your final destination where one is required. Fees are set by the airline's sponsorship channel; ask for the government fee and the service charge separately.

Official sources

Quotation checked against the UAE Government portal on 30 September 2026. Rules change; the official page always prevails.

Documents you need

6 items
  • Visa application form

    The UAE visa application form, duly completed.

  • Confirmed onward ticket

    A confirmed onward Emirates ticket showing the applicant's name and the entry and exit from the UAE, highlighted. Emirates sponsors this visa, so the ticket must be on Emirates.

  • Photograph

    One recent coloured passport-size photo with a white background, front-facing.

  • Passport copy

    A coloured copy of the passport cover and bio page, valid for at least 6 months at the time of travel.

  • Destination-country visa

    A valid visa for the destination country you are travelling on to from the UAE.

  • Stopover details

    A confirmed hotel booking for both the 48-hour and the 96-hour visa, in your name, with check-in and check-out dates that match your flight tickets.

How the process works

5 steps

Typical processing: Normal processing is about 5-6 working days from submission; an express service is available within about 48 hours.

  1. Step 1

    Free eligibility review

    We confirm whether the 48-hour or 96-hour transit visa fits your itinerary.

  2. Step 2

    Build and verify the file

    The onward ticket, destination-country visa and passport copy are prepared and checked.

  3. Step 3

    Submit at the visa application centre

    The completed form and documents are submitted at the nearest visa application centre.

  4. Step 4

    Visa processing

    The application is processed: an express option is available.

  5. Step 5

    Visa issued

    The transit visa is issued, valid for 30 days from the date of issue.

Costs & fees

Transparent

Item

Amount

48-hour transit visa

Inclusive of service charge and tax. An express option is available at a higher fee.

From INR 1,085

96-hour transit visa

Fees are paid in INR; once paid, the visa fee is non-refundable.

Confirmed at booking

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

Frequently asked questions

3 answers
  • Both are single-entry transit visas for a stopover in the UAE: the 48-hour visa allows a stay of up to 48 hours, the 96-hour visa up to 96 hours. Both must be used within 30 days of issue.

  • Yes: you must hold a valid visa for the destination country you are travelling on to from the UAE.

  • Normal processing is about 5-6 working days; an express service can issue the visa within roughly 48 hours.

Going it alone vs filing with us

Why it matters

On your own

  • Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
  • Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
  • No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
  • Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
  • A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

  • An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
  • A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
  • Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
  • Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
  • Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.

A refusal isn't the end

Refused before?

A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a United Arab Emirates visa has been refused, we:

  • Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
  • Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
  • Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
  • Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. Read the refund policy

Your Lifeset team

Licensed in Punjab · Based in Patiala

Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll help you understand your options and the fee before you decide.

Prefer us to call you?

Leave your number and travel plans

Check your UAE Transit Visa file on a call.

Tell us the country and your situation. A consultant tells you what is missing.

Call or WhatsApp me about this enquiry. We never sell your details.

Other United Arab Emirates visas

Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · DM Patiala

Talk to a licensed consultant before you spend a rupee.

Tell us your destination and situation. We will say plainly whether the visa is realistic, what it costs all-in, and what could get it refused. Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM.