United Arab Emirates · Visa guide
United Arab Emirates · Visa guideUnited Arab Emirates UAE Tourist Visa
A tourist visa to visit Dubai and the United Arab Emirates — short-stay visas of 30 or 60 days.
- ProcessingNormal processing is about 5-6 working days from submission; an express service is available within about 48 hours
- Visa categoryUAE Tourist Visa
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United Arab Emirates UAE Tourist Visa — overview
The UAE Tourist Visa lets Indian travellers visit Dubai and the United Arab Emirates for tourism — short-stay visas are issued for 30 or 60 days, as single or multiple entry.
Applications are made through a visa application centre. The visa category is determined by your flight itinerary, and you must qualify under one of the eligibility criteria — a strong travel record, financial records, or an invitation from an immediate family member residing in the UAE on family status.
Lifeset Overseas confirms which eligibility route fits you and builds the file so the application is straightforward.
How UAE tourist visas actually work for Indian passport holders
The UAE Government portal is explicit: "A tourist visa is for those who are not eligible for visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE. You can apply for a tourist visa through airlines, hotels and travel agents." It also warns that "the UAE's embassies do not issue tourist visas. In order to get a tourist visa to the UAE, you need to get in touch with one of the UAE-based airlines, a tour agency or a hotel (where you intend to stay) in the UAE who will apply for" the visa. Most Indian travellers therefore obtain the visa through the airline they fly with (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai), a licensed UAE hotel or a licensed tour operator, or directly online through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or, for Dubai, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
The visa types
Single-entry tourist visa
- Official position
- GDRFA Dubai: "an entry visa for a single visit for the purpose of tourism for a period of 30 or 60 days", sponsored by "one of the establishments working in the field of tourism"
Multiple-entry tourist visa (30 or 60 days)
- Official position
- Issued through a UAE tourism establishment after the prescribed fee and financial guarantee
Multiple-entry 5-year tourist visa
- Official position
- "enables tourists to enter the UAE multiple times on self-sponsorship and remain in the country for 90 days on each visit, and can be extended for further 90 days" — available to all nationalities
Fees are set by ICP or GDRFA and charged through the sponsoring airline, hotel or agent, so the amount you pay depends on the channel and the add-ons they bundle. Ask for the government fee and the service charge separately before paying.
The 5-year multi-entry visa: what ICP requires
The federal portal lists three conditions for the self-sponsored 5-year visa: "a bank balance of 4,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currencies during the last six months", "a valid health insurance policy applicable in the UAE, valid for 180 days", and "a ticket showing continuing or return journey from the UAE". Each visit is capped at 90 days, extendable once for a further 90 days, and the visa itself is valid for five years from issue. This is the right product for NRIs' parents and frequent business travellers who want to avoid applying every trip.
Passport validity and what the sponsor will ask for
Sponsoring airlines, hotels and agents apply on your behalf, so they collect your documents: a passport that is valid for at least six months, a passport-style photograph, your confirmed ticket and accommodation, and, for some channels, a bank statement or a guarantee deposit. If you book through a hotel, the portal notes the visa is arranged "provided you purchase the ticket through them and maintain hotel reservation with the specific hotel".
Visa on arrival and visa-free entry
Some Indian passport holders qualify for visa on arrival under specific ICP rules that depend on other visas or residence permits they hold. Those rules change and are applied at the border by ICP, so confirm your own eligibility on the ICP portal or with your airline before relying on it rather than on a travel agent's assurance.
If you are refused or overstay
UAE tourist visa refusals usually come without detailed reasons, most often from security screening, a previous overstay or an unpaid fine, or an earlier visa that was never cancelled. Overstaying a tourist visa attracts daily fines and can block future entry, so leave before the visa expires or extend it through the sponsor before it lapses.
Official sources
- UAE Government portal — Tourist visa: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/tourist-visa
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuance of a single-entry tourist visa: https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/f9e586fe-0642-11ec-0320-0050569629e8
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuing a multi-entry tourist visa (5 years): https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/7fe37963-b7f8-11ed-5210-4cd98f768936
Quotations above were checked against these pages on 30 September 2026. Fees and rules change; the official page always prevails.
6 items
Documents you need
Visa application form
The UAE visa application form, duly completed.
Confirmed onward ticket
A confirmed onward air ticket showing the applicant's name and the entry and exit from the UAE.
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.
Hotel booking
A valid confirmed hotel booking with the applicant's name and check-in/out dates matching the flight tickets.
Eligibility evidence
Proof under one criterion — a travel record (a visit in the last 3 years, or a valid US/UK/Schengen/Australia/Canada/Japan visa), financial records (Form 16 or ITR, or fixed deposits), or an invitation from an immediate family member in the UAE.
5 steps
How the process works
Typical processing: Normal processing is about 5-6 working days from submission; an express service is available within about 48 hours.
Step 1
Free eligibility review
We confirm which eligibility criterion you meet and the correct visa duration for your trip.
Step 2
Build and verify the file
The onward ticket, hotel booking, passport copy and eligibility evidence are prepared and checked.
Step 3
Submit at the visa application centre
The completed form and documents are submitted at the nearest visa application centre.
Step 4
Visa processing
The application is processed — normal service in a few working days, with an express option available.
Step 5
Visa issued
The visa is issued, valid for 30 days from the date of issue for travel to the UAE.
Transparent
Costs & fees
Item
Amount
UAE tourist visa fee
Confirmed at booking — by visa duration (30 or 60 days) and entry type. An express option is available.
Varies by duration
Service charge
Fees are paid in INR; once paid, the visa fee is non-refundable.
Included / confirmed at booking
Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.
3 answers
Frequently asked questions
Short-stay tourist visas are issued for 30 or 60 days, as single or multiple entry. The visa must be used within 30 days of the date of issue.
You qualify under one of three routes — a travel record (a trip in the last 3 years or a valid US/UK/Schengen/Australia/Canada/Japan visa), financial records, or an invitation from an immediate family member residing in the UAE.
Normal processing is about 5-6 working days; an express service can issue the visa within roughly 48 hours.
Why it matters
Going it alone vs filing with us
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.
Refused before?
A refusal isn't the end
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
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Other United Arab Emirates visas
UAE Transit Visa
A short transit visa for a stopover in the UAE — 48-hour and 96-hour visas for travellers en route.
Study Visa
The UAE's student visa is a sponsorship: the licensed university obtains your residence permit itself. The draw is branch campuses of Western universities a short flight from home; the caution is price and the need to check WHOSE degree you actually receive.
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United Arab Emirates visitor visa: get a straight answer before you pay the fee.
- Honest assessment
- Fixed all-in fees
- No handovers between staff
- Licensed in Patiala
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