How to Apply for a UAE Tourist Visa (Types, Fees & Overstay Fines)
Most visitors need a tourist visa. Some nationalities get visa on arrival instead, so check first. You can apply online through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or Dubai GDRFA. You can also apply through a UAE-based airline, a licensed travel agency, or a hotel. You can choose 30, 60, and 90-day stays. Each stay can be single entry or multiple entry. There is also a 5-year multiple-entry visa that you sponsor yourself. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Varies by type & channel (confirm current fee in portal)
- Total time:
- ~2–5 working days
- Steps:
- 7 steps
- Where to apply:
- u.ae
Last reviewed November 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due May 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UAE sources(November 2026).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go Self-check
Check if you need a visa
Many nationalities get visa on arrival instead. Examples are the UK, the US, the EU, Australia, and Japan. Check the status of your nationality on u.ae or ICP before you apply.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go Self-check
Pick your visa type and channel
Choose a 30/60/90-day visa. Choose single entry or multiple entry. Or choose the 5-year multiple-entry visa. You can apply on ICP smart services or on GDRFA Dubai. Or apply through a UAE airline, such as Emirates, Etihad, or flydubai. If you use an airline, you must fly with them. Or apply through a licensed travel agency or a hotel. If you use a hotel, you need a ticket and a hotel booking with them. From November 2026, Dubai is adding tourist-visa applications through Visit Dubai, the official Dubai tourism website, for single- and multiple-entry visas; GDRFA Dubai still assesses applications and issues the visas. Fees start at Dh200 for a 30-day single-entry visa, excluding VAT, and applications are typically processed within three working days (per the Visit Dubai visa section, reported by Gulf News, 1 Nov 2026).
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Minutes
Submit the application
Enter your passport details. Upload photo/passport/insurance. For the 5-year visa, upload your bank statements too. Then you, or your sponsor (airline/agency/hotel), send the application to ICP or GDRFA.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay At application Varies by type (one ICP 60-day category: AED 350)
Pay the government fees
Pay online by card. Agency/airline/hotel prices include their service charges on top of the government fees. Here is one verified ICP category. It is a 60-day visa for nationals of certain countries. The countries are India, Kenya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and South Africa. The applicant must hold a US, EU, or UK visa, or a specified residence permit. The fee is AED 250 for issuance, plus AED 100 for smart services. This category cannot be extended. Check the current fee for your exact visa type in the portal before you pay.
Click to mark as done
- Receive Varies — confirm in the portal
Get your entry permit
You get your visa as an e-visa or entry permit by email. Most entry permits give you 60 days from the date of issue to enter the UAE. Check the validity printed on your permit. There are exceptions. For example, e-visas for GCC residents give 30 days from the date of issue, per u.ae.
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- Follow Up Before expiry
Extend before expiry if needed
You can extend most standard tourist and visit visas from inside the UAE. But the 60-day ICP category above cannot be extended. So check your visa type first. Apply on ICP or GDRFA, or ask the sponsor who issued your visa. Check the current extension fee in the portal.
Click to mark as done
- Receive By last permitted day Overstay AED 50/day
Leave on time
Leave the UAE by the last day of your permitted stay. The overstay fine is AED 50 per day, set by ICP. Pay any fines before you leave, or before you change your status.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a UAE embassy issue my tourist visa?
No. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. Apply online through ICP or GDRFA. Or apply through a UAE airline, a licensed travel agency, or a hotel, per u.ae.
Do I need a sponsor for a tourist visa?
For a standard tourist visa, the airline, hotel, or travel agency acts as your facilitator or sponsor. The 5-year multiple-entry visa is different. You sponsor it yourself, and you need no host, per u.ae.
What happens if I overstay?
You pay a fine of AED 50 per day. This is stated on the official ICP service page. Pay your fines before you leave the UAE, or before you change your status.
How do I apply for a UAE tourist visa?
First, check if you need a visa: many nationalities get visa on arrival instead, such as the UK, the US, the EU, Australia, and Japan, so check the status of your nationality on u.ae or ICP before you apply. Then pick your visa type and channel: a 30, 60, or 90-day stay, single entry or multiple entry, or the 5-year multiple-entry visa you sponsor yourself, applying on ICP smart services or GDRFA Dubai, or through a UAE airline, a licensed travel agency, or a hotel, since UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. Then submit the application with your passport details and photo, passport, and insurance, plus bank statements for the 5-year visa, sent by you or by your sponsor to ICP or GDRFA. Then pay the government fees online by card, noting that agency, airline, and hotel prices include their service charges on top of the government fees. Then you get your entry permit by email as an e-visa or entry permit, and most entry permits give you 60 days from the date of issue to enter the UAE, so check the validity printed on your permit. Then extend before expiry if needed, since most standard tourist and visit visas can be extended from inside the UAE, but you must check your visa type first, as some categories cannot be extended. Then leave on time: the overstay fine is AED 50 per day, set by ICP, so pay any fines before you leave or before you change your status. In short, a UAE tourist visa lets you visit for 30, 60, or 90 days, single or multiple entry, or 5 years multiple entry on the self-sponsored visa, and you apply through ICP, GDRFA Dubai, an airline, an agency, or a hotel.
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