Guide to Extend Visit Visa in UAE

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai is perhaps one of the most traveled destinations for people on vacations. There is no denying that Dubai has reinvented itself as the go-to place in the last decade and hosts visitors from all over the globe. Getting a UAE visa has become very easy in recent times but following the correct protocol and fulfilling all the requirements is an absolute necessity, however.

Anyone who wants to stay in the UAE for more than just 14 days has to apply for a visit visa. In order to successfully do that, you must have one of the following who will be your sponsor:

• UAE Resident
• Company
• Hotel licensed to operate in the UAE

What is the Difference Between UAE Tourist Visa and UAE Visit Visa?

The biggest difference between tourist visas and visit visas in the UAE is their time validity; the tourist visa in UAE is only valid for 30 days whereas the visit visa can be extended up to 90 days.

Here are some clear distinctions between both:

• Tourist visa can only be used for tourism and leisure purposes whereas a visit visa can be used for business meetings, to attend a seminar, or for any other purpose.
• With a tourist visa, you can stay for 14 days or 30 days and it is extendible for 40 days period whereas with a visit visa you can stay for 90 days.

Dubai’s visit visa fee is higher than the tourist visa fee. 90 days Visit Visa will cost your AED 825 whereas 30 days Tourist Visa will cost you AED 305.

• You cannot convert your tourist visa into another visa but a visit visa can be converted into an employment visa
• Tourist visa is only valid for 2 months while visit visa is valid up to 6 months
• The sponsor of a tourist visa can be friend, relative, or local hotel and agency in UAE but in case of a visit visa, he should be a citizen of the UAE.

Different Types of Visit Visas for Dubai

• 90 days visit Visa – The 90 days visit visa to Dubai has a validity of 58 days from the date on which it is issued, and it allows you to visit UAE for a maximum of 90 days from the date of entry. Visa fee for 90 days visa is AED 825.
• Single-entry long-term visa, Leisure 90 days – The validity of this visit visa for Dubai is additionally 58 days, and it’s last for 90 days from the date of entry.
• EVisa – Dubai visitors can apply for a web visa upon its approval is going to be sent to the applicant’s registered email. UAE nationals, Expatriate residents in UAE, GCC nationals living within the UAE, Residents of GCC, and guests will all apply for entry permit/visit visas for themselves, families, friends and relatives, and staff.
• Multi-entry long-term visa, 90 days – Unlike the eVisa, this one is a multi-entry visa that is valid for 58 days from the date of issue and is restricted to 90 days from the date of initial entry into the UAE. The Dubai visa fee for 90 Days Multi-entry long-term visa is 1655.
• Multi-entry short-term visa, 30 days – The validity of this visa is 58 days and allows a stay of 30 days from the date of entry. This UAE visa fee for 30 days Tourist Visa is AED 305. Express 30 days Tourist Visa costs AED 469.
• 30 days (GCC resident) visa and 30 days (GCC accompanied) visa – For the GCC resident, the visa is valid 60 days from the issued date, and therefore it is valid for 30 days from the date of entry with the exception to increase it for another 30 days

How to Renew Your Visit Visa in Dubai?

Now that we have a good understanding of what the visit visa is all about, there are four ways through which you can renew your visit visa in Dubai, and are as following:

1. Application to DNRD Office
   • If you want to remain in the United Arab Emirates then you can visit the Department of Naturalization and Residency (DNRD) and fill out an application. This application submission will cost you AED 500 and you can remain in the UAE
2. Visa Run
   • Another common method is called visa run. You can leave and then return to the UAE again by booking a visa run; this is easily doable from Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Bahrain, Doha, or Kish Island
3. Visa Flight
   • This method is going to cost from AED 500 to AED 1000; this will primarily be the cost for the flight (excluding the visa charges). Once you have landed, enter the departure terminal at the airport and take a flight back to the UAE. Once you reach UAE, you can get a new visit visa which will be valid for another 30 to 60 days. This method is not only costly but also time-consuming.
4. Drive Over Border
   • In order to successfully go through with this method, you will need an exit stamp from the border. Once you have that, you can drive to the Oman border control. Keep the ticket they give you because you will need to show that to the authorities once you eventually head back to the UAE. Head to the immigration office, get an entry stamp, and a new visa. The exit stamp from Oman will cost you AED 60. The last step is to head back to the UAE border and get your new visit visa approved.

In relation to the visit visa, here is an important law; Article 12 of the Federal Law No. 6 of 1973 Concerning Immigration and Residence as amended by virtue of Law 7 of 1985, Law 13 of 1996, and Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2017 states:

Any foreigner entering the Country with visit visa or permission shall have to leave the Country on the expiry date of such visa or permission either through cancellation or expiry period thereof – unless he has obtained a residence license.

Any foreigner who is exempted from the requirement of obtaining a permit or visa in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 2 of this law must leave the country within a period not exceeding thirty days as of the date of entry into the country unless he obtains a permit to stay during this period.

Renewing or Extending Tourist Visa

While we are on the topic, we should also understand the process for extending your tourist visa as well. All types of visas, including tourist visas, can be extended for 30 days twice. This is possible without having to step a food outside the UAE.

Visitors and tourists can apply for the second renewal before the expiry of the first one against AED 600 each time of renewal.

Visa overstayers who do not renew, as above, will have to pay AED 100 fine for each day of their overstay, to be calculated from 10 days after the visa expiry.

However, the new rule for extension does not apply on the following categories:

• visitors and tourists who are residents in GCC countries
• residents accompanying GCC nationals
• those on special entry permits
• those on 96-hour permit for special missions.

UAE Visit Visa Requirements for Non-US Citizens

The visitors traveling from the below-mentioned countries are all allowed a one-month stay on their visit visa:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brunei, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Kuwait, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (Except the British overseas citizens), Vatican.

In order to avail and be eligible for the one-month visit visa, you will need to have the following documents available to yourself:

• Original passport
  • The passport must have six-month validity from the time of arrival in the UAE
• Round-trip airline ticket or a ticket to another destination

UAE Visit Visa Requirements for US Citizens

The United States citizens do not need to have a visit visa to enter into UAE if they have a valid passport. The citizens are allowed to remain in the UAE for up to 30-days. If they want to continue staying in the UAE then they will need to contact the immigration officer at the airport or check with the local immigration department for further information.

However, the following are the additional documents they must possess for the entry to be possible:

• Original passport
  • The passport must have six-month validity from the time of arrival in the UAE
• Confirmed round-trip flight ticket or ticket to any other destination port

UAE Visit Visa Requirements for GCC Nationals

Although this is common knowledge but it is important to mention that the GCC, Gulf Cooperation Council, countries do not require a visa to visit the UAE. The countries included in the GCC bracket are Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Not all the citizens but those working respectable jobs such as doctors, engineers, government employees are all eligible for a 30-days non-renewable visit visa. Others would have to go through an additional process to be able to become eligible.

UAE Visit Visa Requirements for Other Nationalities

Countries that have not been addressed above are all required to contact the UAE embassy and after fulfilling all the requirements and presenting a valid passport, your application will then be assessed. Alternatively, the option to obtain a visa through a local UAE sponsor or a local UAE hotel is also a realistic possibility.

It is important to note that visit visa rules and regulations keep changing. The information provided is updated but might not necessarily apply to the future, which is why you should always consult the official authorities before finalizing your decision.

To Summarise

All types of visit and tourist visas can be extended for 30 days twice, upon applying for it and after successful approval by the relevant authority. This can be done without the need to leave the country.

Visitors and tourists can apply for the second renewal before the expiry of the first one against AED 600 each time of renewal.

Visa overstayers who do not renew, as above, will have to pay AED 100 fine for each day of their overstay, to be calculated from 10 days after the visa expiry.

However, the new rule for an extension does not apply to the following categories:

• Visitors and tourists who are residents in GCC countries
• Residents accompanying GCC nationals
• Those on special entry permits
• Those on 96-hour permits for special missions

FAQs

Here are some of the most asked questions and their answers.