Dubai has been extremely successful in attracting scores of shoppers, holiday makers, tourists, business persons and job seekers. The far-sighted vision & hard work of Sheikh Maktoum has turned this Emirate into the most happening destination. The following phrases are being frequently used all over to describe this great city, viz. zero crime rate city, fastest growing tourism destination, city of skyscrapers, city of gold, city of dreams, the new land of the rising sun etc. No wonder then, that this Emirate is brimming with confidence, vibrancy & dynamism.

With Citizens from over 200 countries being attracted to Dubai, for various reasons as described above, a Dubai Visa has become very much in demand! Well you guessed right. It is. Find below a guide to the different types of Dubai Visas, Tips to remember, Important Do's and Don’ts, & Dubai Visa Requirements. Reading these carefully before proceeding ahead in your quest to obtain a Dubai Visa is highly recommended.

Follow the rules and regulations of the United Arab Emirates Government in regards to obtaining a Visa. Always use your judgment. Please always apply with the authorised agents.

Types of Dubai Visa

On Arrival Visa:

Passport holders of the countries given below can get Visa on arrival, valid for 30 days:

• GCC citizens viz. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, entering the UAE with valid passports.

• Resident visa holders from GCC (certain designations only)

• CItizens of 34 countries viz.

France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

This permit is renewable for 30 more days. The above country citizens are also exempt from the refundable deposit and health insurance rules.

Visit Visa:

• Residents of Dubai can apply for a 30 or 90 day non-renewable visit visa for a spouse or blood relation.

• UAE Nationals are allowed to sponsor friends on visit visas with approval from the authorities.

Tourist Visa:

This is applicable ro all nationalities. Tourist visas are for 30 days, renewable once for 30 days.

Student Visa:

Is issued for 60 days and can be renewed twice for another 30 days. Students must be registered in one of the universities in the UAE and must obtain health insurance.

Multiple Entry Visa:

This one is for frequent Business travelers to the UAE. They should have a relationship with a reputable company here. It is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. However, each visit must not exceed 14 days.

Visa for Expos & Conferences:

To attend conferences, exhibitions or festivals, this visa can be obtained for a 30-day period. It is non - renewable.

Mission Visa:

A Dubai Visa for the purpose of temporary work in UAE can be obtained for a maximum of 180 days. It can be renewed for another 180 days. An applicant must obtain the permit from the Labour Ministry to get the visa.

Transit Visa:

A Dubai Visa is issued to travelers transiting through UAE airports. It is issued for 96 hours and must be sponsored by an airline operating in the UAE. The visitor must have a valid ticket for onward flight.

Citizens of Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger and Yemen are not eligible for the 96 hours visa on arrival.

Residence Visa:

A Residence Visa is issued to those who intend to reside indefinitely with a person who is already a resident. It is issued to the immediate kin of a resident for 3 years. The residence visa becomes invalid if the resident remains out of the UAE for more than six months at a time.

Investor Visa:

This Visa is issued to expatriate investors entering in partnership deals with locals, for a period of 3 years. The foreign investor must hold a minimum stake of AED 70,000 in the share capital.

Employment Visa:

A Dubai Visa is issued to Employees of a company in the UAE, by the Immigration Department to a foreign national upon the approval of the Ministry of Labour. When the employee has entered UAE on the basis of the employment visa, the sponsor company arranges to transfer this visa to a residence visa.

Dubai Visa Requirements:

• Passport and 2 photocopies

• 4 photographs

• Duplicate application form

• Letter or fax from the sponsor in the UAE to the concerned embassy

• Letter from the applicant's company plus photocopy

Important Tips:

• A sponsor should have the visitor’s date of arrival and flight details, and a photocopy of the first few pages of the visitor’s passport which should be valid for at least 3 months.

• German citizens can get a 1 or 2 year multiple-entry visa from the UAE Embassy in Germany. Sponsor not required. Maximum duration of stay cannot exceed 3 months a year.

• US citizens can get a 1 to 10 year multiple-entry visa (Free) from the UAE Embassy in USA. Sponsor is required. Maximum duration of stay cannot exceed 6 months a visit.

• UK citizens can get a 1 to 2 year multiple-entry visa (Free) from the UAE Embassy in Great Britain. Sponsor is required. Maximum duration of stay cannot exceed 6 months a visit.

Do's and Don’ts:

• The various types of Dubai Visa are valid for a period of between 14 to 60 days from the issue date. The visitor has to enter the country before this period, else the visa expires.

• If a Dubai Visa is valid for 30 days, that does not mean 1 month, as a month can consist of 31 days also. An extra day overstay can cost you AED 100 as fine.

• One need not travel to Kish Island in Iran, for the purpose of changing Visit Visa to Work Permit.You can now do this by paying a small fee.

NOTE: Dubai Visas can be sponsored by a travel agency, hotel, a company or department with which you are doing business in the UAE, an Emirati, or an expatriate individual (eg. a relative or friend resident in the UAE).

You can receive competitive price quotes from leading Dubai Visa Services Providers. These are authorised and registered by the UAE Government. You can then choose the one that suits you best.